Visitors to the island of Madeira can choose to hike the Levadas, ride a snowless sled, taste local wine and explore the capital of Funchal. The cruise port of Funchal is near the center of the city and is easy to get around, whether by choosing to book a cruise excursion through the ship or exploring independently.
How to Get Around Madeira (Funchal)
Cruise Ship Shuttle – Usually the cruise ships that visit Funchal will offer a shuttle into town since it’s still a good walking distance away. Normally the shuttle operates between the ship and the main avenue (Avenida do Mar) stopping in front of the Palace Sao Lourenco. The travel time is about 15 minutes and generally costs $5 each way.
Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus in Funchal – For 12 Euros per person, passengers can ride this bus all day getting on and off whenever they want. There are 17 different stops running at a frequency of every 20 to 30 minutes. With the purchase of this bus tour, passengers are also entitled to ride the city bus for free, too.
Cable Car to Monte – Visitors can travel by a modern funicular lift from the seafront of Funchal to the mountain village of Monte. The cable car takes passengers over the old town where one can see the stone terraces and irrigation ditches (Levadas) that are now popular hiking trails. Each gondola holds eight passengers and takes about 15 minutes to reach the top.
What to Do in Funchal
Village of Monte – This mountain village has attracted travelers since the 19th century, when visitors rode a steam train up the mountain from Funchal. The Tropical Palace Garden is a popular attraction in Monte. An alternate way to get there is with the public bus #20 or #21. Another place to visit in Monte is the Our Lady of Monte Church, an 18th century church.
Snowless Sled Ride – From the village of Monte, visitors can take a 20-minute ride in a two-seater wicker basket, called a sledge, down the paved streets of Funchal. The sleds are steered by men dressed in white cotton clothes that run alongside the baskets. Since the ride does not finish at the bottom of Funchal, passengers must either walk 30 minutes back to the seafront or take a taxi for about 20 Euros.
Levada Madeira Walks – Levadas are the irrigation ditches that date back to the 16th century, built to bring water from the heavy rainfall of the north part of Madeira to the plantations, vineyards and vegetable gardens of the south. Today the Levada walks are a network of 1,350 miles of walking trails that run beside the irrigation ditches. Maps are available at the tourist kiosks.
Botanical Gardens – This 35,000 m² property is home to a wide collection of indigenous Madeiran plants as well as over 2,000 exotic plants from all over the world. It is located about 3 km from the center of Funchal and one can take the public bus #31 to get there.
Old Blandy Wine Lodge – Discover the wines of Madeira at this old building located in the heart of town. Visitors can view the large oak and satinwood casks that contain gallons of wine as well as learn about the traditional canteiro system for aging wines. Wine tasting is offered from 5 Euros to 18 Euros per glass. Visitors also have the option to purchase wines, decanters and accessories, too.
Embroidery Factory – Funchal is famous for its embroidery and the Oliveira Embroidery Factory is the largest on Madeira with around 50 employees. The factory and showroom are located in the historical center of Funchal, selling items such as towels, bed linens, napkins and tablecloths.
Europe cruises to Funchal, the capital of Madeira, offer cruise excursions that include a mix of many of the above attractions. For passengers that want to explore on their own, Funchal is an easy port for seeing many attractions in one day.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
