Things to do in Funchal

The size of the island of Madeira is very misleading, and visitors are often surprised by the wealth of attractions the island has to offer. The list of things to see ranges from historic monuments and churches, botanical gardens, cobblestone streets and old villages to the natural beauty encompassing rugged countryside, volcanic caves and spectacular beaches.

Santa Maria

The oldest street in Funchal is the Santa Maria, first laid out in 1430 through the neighbourhood of the same name. This cobblestone street has access to many old buildings with refurbished faades, which offer a glimpse into the region's traditional architecture. A local fish market displays enormous tuna and scabbard fish. Many other attractions line this street including the Corpor Santo Chaple, the Barreirinha Bathing Complex and the cable car building, which offers transport to the hills of Monte. Several restaurants and an art museum can also be found along this thoroughfare.

Monte Church

A cable car from Funchal offers scenic transportation to the summit of Monte, which has some of Portugal's most ancient and picturesque palaces, with an old-world charm that's increasingly difficult to find in today's world. The church at Monte, Nossa Senhora do Monte, is dedicated to the patron saint of Madeira, Our Lady of the Mount. Faithful pilgrims come to this site to fulfill vows and pray at the entombed site of Austria's Charles I. The emperor died in 1922 at the Quinta Jardin do Imerador.

Monte Palace Tropical Garden

Among the many attractions here is the tropical garden, which once belonged to the Quinta do Prazer in the 1700s. This garden displays the gamut of flora indigenous to the island of Madeira. There is a museum on-site that displays minerals and another with exhibits of sculpture from Zimbabwe. The Monte Palace Tropical Garden has undergone renovation and has achieved even greater status as a botanical garden. It features exotic plants indigenous to South Africa, Belgium, Scotland and other countries. In addition, there are Japanese koi fish in ecologically-friendly lakes that use no chemicals in their purification process.

Monte sledge rides

No trip to Monte would be incomplete without a ride on the traditional Monte sledges. These wickerwork sledges are pushed by two sledge drivers, called 'carreirors', and are propelled on wooden runners all the way to Funchal, nearly two miles away.

Terreiro da Luta

Less than a mile from Monte is Madeira's largest monument, built in honour of Our Lady of Peace after German submarines bombed Funchal in 1917. At that time, the citizens of Madeira vowed they would build a statue in honour of Senhora do Monte (Our Lady of the Mount) if peace was restored. Construction of this five-metre statue was completed 10 years later.

Funchal Ecological Park

The Funchal Ecological Park is situated halfway between Poiso and Monte. This area boasts many natural attractions for visitors including Pico Alto, which is found in the Ribeira das Cales area. This section has a belvedere with views overlooking Funchal. The Cho da Lagoa is also located here, with access to two of Madeira's highest points: Pico Ruivo (6,107 feet) and Pico do Areeiro (5,937 feet). It is also a possible to walk to Poo da Neve, which is a stone igloo built high above sea level, used to keep ice gathered during snowfalls and hailstorms.