Funchal is the kind of city that rewards curiosity. Named after fennel. Built on sugar and wine. Shaped by explorers. Today it’s a city where you can eat espetada at a cliffside restaurant, ride a cable car above the clouds, drink poncha in a bar that hasn’t changed in 40 years, and be back at the marina in time for sunset. This guide covers everything.
📍 Jump to a section
Know Before You Go
History & Curiosities
From fennel fields to the Age of Discovery
Funchal was founded in 1421 by Portuguese navigator João Gonçalves Zarco. The name comes from funcho — fennel — which covered the hillsides when the first settlers arrived. A city named after a weed that turned into one of the Atlantic’s most important ports.
Its location in the middle of the ocean made Funchal an essential stop during the Age of Discovery. Ships carrying spices, gold, and maps of the world regularly anchored here.
Funchal founded by João Gonçalves Zarco. Named after funcho (fennel).
Sugar trade — known as “white gold” — brings prosperity and European merchants to the city.
Pirates attack Funchal. The nuns of Santa Clara flee to the interior valley — today’s Curral das Freiras.
Madeira wine becomes the island’s most famous export. Over 400 years of tradition continue today.
European aristocracy discovers Funchal — mild climate, exotic gardens, slow pace. Tourism begins.
Named after a weed
Funchal gets its name from funcho — fennel. When the first settlers arrived in 1421, the plant grew wild across the hillsides. It stuck.
Pirates changed the map
In 1566, pirates attacked Funchal and the nuns of Santa Clara fled deep into the mountains — creating the village now known as Curral das Freiras.
World’s Leading Island Destination
Madeira has won the World Travel Awards’ top island prize multiple times. Funchal is the city at the centre of it all.
Christmas lights capital of Europe
Each December, Funchal’s streets are transformed into one of the most spectacular Christmas light displays in Europe. Visitors fly in just for it.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s hometown
Born in Funchal in 1985. The city returned the favour with an airport bearing his name and a museum dedicated to his career.
The world’s oldest urban transport?
The Monte toboggan dates to the 1850s. Wicker sledges guided by local carreiros have been sliding down these streets for over 170 years.
Over 1 million visitors a year
Funchal is one of the most visited cities in Portugal. Many arrive by cruise ship — the port regularly hosts some of the world’s largest ocean liners.
Botanical paradise
The Madeira Botanical Garden showcases over 2,000 plant species from around the world. The island’s subtropical climate does the rest.
Top Attractions
Things to Do in Funchal
Monte Cable Car
The smoothest way up to Monte — 20 minutes above the rooftops of Funchal, the harbour, and the Atlantic. Running since 2000, the cable car connects the seafront to Monte village. Take it up, combine with the Palace gardens and toboggan ride, walk or take the car back down.
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
A former luxury estate turned public garden. Exotic plants from five continents, koi ponds, blue-and-white azulejo tile panels telling the history of Portugal, and sculptures hidden among the foliage. Give yourself at least two hours.
Monte Toboggan
Two local carreiros in white uniforms guide a wicker sledge down 2km of Monte’s cobbled streets. Dating back to the 1850s, it’s part tradition, part spectacle. Starts at the Monte church, ends near the Babosas cable car station. One of those things you only find in Funchal.
Funchal Old Town — Zona Velha
The oldest part of Funchal. Narrow streets, fishing boats, and nearly 200 painted doors — each one a different artwork by a different artist. Walk from the Forte de São Tiago towards Rua de Santa Maria. Best explored on foot in the early evening when restaurants open and the light is golden.
Mercado dos Lavradores
Three floors of Madeiran produce. Top floor: tropical fruits, vegetables, flowers, and spices. Ground floor: meat. Lower floor: fresh fish including the island’s famous black scabbard. Best before 10am on a weekday when it’s full of locals doing their shopping. Go hungry.
Blandy’s Wine Lodge
Over 200 years of Madeira wine history in the middle of the city. The old St. Francis Lodge houses cellars, barrels, and an archive of the wine trade. The tasting at the end — a glass of something aged longer than most buildings in your hometown — is the point. Tours available daily.
CR7 Museum
Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Funchal and the city hasn’t let him forget it. The museum on the marina charts his career from Madeira to Madrid and Manchester — trophies, Ballon d’Or awards, and a bronze statue outside that gets more photos than the cathedral. Worth 45 minutes even if you’re not a football fan.
Sé Cathedral
Funchal’s cathedral dates to the late 15th century — one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city. The exterior is simple, almost austere. The interior ceiling, made from intricately carved local wood, is one of the finest examples of late Gothic craftsmanship in Portugal. Free to enter. Quiet in the morning.
Madeira Botanical Garden
Over 2,000 plant species spread across terraced gardens above Funchal. Views over the city and the sea from almost every path. The garden was originally a private estate — the main house still stands. Allow 2 hours. Combine with the cable car route from Monte via Babosas for a scenic descent.
Funchal Marina & Lido — the seafront promenade connects them both on foot.
Where to Eat
The Best Restaurants in Funchal
📍 Funchal centre
The restaurant locals actually go to. Traditional Madeiran cooking, honest prices, no pretensions. If you want to eat like someone who lives here, this is the place.
📍 Lido
Argentine-run steakhouse with serious cuts of meat. Funchal’s best option for carnivores who want something beyond espetada.
📍 Funchal
Authentic Madeiran espetada — beef on a bay laurel skewer, sea views, generous portions. The classic experience.
↗ Must try: Espetada madeirense
📍 Funchal
Creative cuisine using Madeira’s local ingredients. Chef Júlio Pereira brings a contemporary edge to island flavours.
📍 Funchal
Modern take on traditional Madeiran food. Meat and fish, local ingredients, well-presented. A good dinner choice.
📍 Lido
Reliable quality, sea views, good fish and meat. The kind of restaurant that never disappoints.
📍 Lido seafront
Fresh fish on the rocks above the Atlantic. Outstanding sea views. The setting alone is worth the trip.
↗ Must try: Espada com Banana — black scabbard fish with banana, a uniquely Madeiran combination
📍 Funchal
Refined seafood restaurant by the chef behind Kampo and Yakuza. Creative techniques, local ocean produce.
↗ Must try: Octopus carpaccio
📍 Funchal
Shellfish specialist. Casual, welcoming, good for groups. Order the seafood platter to share.
📍 Funchal
Elegant seafood with impeccable service. Well-presented dishes, fresh ingredients, a step up in occasion.
↗ Must try: Grilled seabass with lemon and herbs
📍 Funchal centre
Also worth coming for fish. The daily specials — grilled sardines, bacalhau — are the honest, homemade side of Funchal cooking.
📍 Funchal
Smoothie bowls, fresh salads, grain bowls. Everything made with locally sourced produce. Bright, colourful, genuinely good.
↗ Must try: Avocado toast or smoothie bowls
📍 Funchal
Farm-to-table concept. Seasonal dishes built around whatever comes from Madeira’s farms. The vegetable risotto changes with the seasons.
📍 Lido
Gourmet pasta and Mediterranean dishes in a sophisticated setting. The handmade ravioli paired with a good glass of wine is a proper evening.
📍 Lido
Madeiran-style pizzas with local ingredients and Italian technique. Thin, crispy, unpretentious.
📍 Funchal
Fresh handmade pasta, traditional Italian recipes. Homemade tagliatelle with slow-cooked tomato sauce using local tomatoes.
📍 Funchal
Wood-fired pizzas, cosy atmosphere. The truffle pizza — mozzarella, mushrooms, truffle oil — is the standout.
📍 Funchal
High-end sushi experience. Exceptional quality and presentation. The omakase menu is the right way to go — let the chef decide.
↗ Must try: Omakase menu
📍 Funchal
Japanese techniques with a modern twist. Sashimi made with fresh local fish — the island’s ocean waters make a difference you’ll taste.
📍 Funchal
Cosy local favourite for casual sushi. Consistently good, unpretentious. The tuna tataki is the move.
📍 Funchal
Wide selection of sushi and sashimi. Good for groups with mixed preferences. The Osaka roll is the signature.
Where to Drink
Bars, Poncha & Rooftops
Start with poncha — Madeira’s signature drink made from sugar cane rum, lemon, and honey. Every bar makes it slightly differently. Then move to the rooftops.
🍹 Poncha Bars
🥂 Rooftop Bars
🌙 Eat & Drink Late
For when dinner runs late and nobody’s ready to stop. These three serve food late — proper food, not just snacks.
🌊 Ready to explore Funchal?
Browse curated tours and experiences departing from Funchal — whale watching, jeep tours, canyoning, levada walks and more. Selected local partners, honest prices, no upfront payment.
Quick Answers
Funchal FAQ
Information correct at time of writing — February 2026. Always verify opening hours and prices locally before your visit.
