Funchal is best enjoyed outdoors. Ride a cable car over the rooftops to Monte, watch whales from a boat off the coast, or wander through gardens that bloom year-round in the subtropical air. The city has enough churches, museums, and viewpoints to fill several days, but the real draw is the combination of sea, mountains, and mild weather that makes everything feel slightly more vivid than it should.
Helicopter Rides
One of the best ways to see the city is from the air. Several operators run helicopter tours of varying lengths from Funchal. The Bay of Funchal circuit takes about ten minutes. You need at least four passengers to fly, and the weather has to cooperate.
Monte Cable Car
The cable car departs from Almirante Reis in the old town and climbs for fifteen minutes over the rooftops to Monte, covering more than 3,600 meters. From the gondola you get a bird's-eye view of the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and the terraced hillsides above the city.
Whale and Dolphin Watching
The Atlantic drops off steeply just beyond the coast, which means deep-water species pass close to shore. Boat trips from the marina regularly spot bottlenose and common dolphins, and in season you may see sperm whales, sei whales, and humpbacks.
Monte Toboggan Rides
Once the main transport from Monte to the city center, the wicker toboggans are now purely a tourist attraction, and a genuinely thrilling one. Two drivers in white steer the sled down steep streets using their rubber-soled boots as brakes. The ride covers about two kilometers in ten minutes, reaching speeds up to 50 km/h.
Big Game Fishing
Boats leave from Funchal's marina for deep-sea fishing. Blue marlin and big-eye tuna run from June to September; other months may bring blue sharks or hammerheads. Operators provide gear and instruction for newcomers.
Lido Promenade
The seafront promenade stretches along the coast lined with palm trees and gardens. It connects several bathing complexes and restaurants, and offers wide views across the water. A good place for an evening walk.
Gardens of Madeira
Funchal has gardens everywhere, from carefully maintained public parks to wild hillside terraces. The Municipal Garden in the city center covers 8,300 square meters of flowers and plants from Madeira and around the world. The Monte Palace Tropical Garden, reached by cable car, is the most spectacular.
Igreja de Sao Pedro
Construction of this church began in 1590 but was not completed until the 18th century because the design was changed repeatedly. The delays produced something beautiful. Walk up Calcada de Santa Clara and look back at the church tower to see the distinctive rooster atop colorful tiles.
Madeira Story Centre
An interactive museum near the cable car station that walks you through the island's history, from its volcanic origins through the first Portuguese settlements to the present. Allow about an hour.