Holidays in Funchal, Madeira

The capital of Madeira, Funchal is a cosmopolitan harbour town located in the beautiful amphitheatre-shaped green valley with an impressive backdrop of volcanic mountains. Gentle hills rising up to 1200 metres, the highest parts of Funchal offer a breathtaking view over the natural harbour and the Atlantic Ocean. One of the best ways to explore the city is to take a cable car up to the suburb of Monte and indulge in the view. Funchal's cobbled streets wind up to the hills where you will find art galleries, antique shops, botanical gardens and wine shops. There is also a lovely harbour dedicated to private yachts, tourists boats and cruise ships - all cargo ships have been moved to outside Funchal making the old harbour more picturesque. There is a good array of seafood restaurants at the harbour serving fresh ‘catch of the day’. The main tourist area is located west of the city centre at Funchal Lido, offering a range of shops, restaurants and cafes.

Funchal is all about culture, history and its beautiful setting. If you can tear yourself away from this idyllic setting, take a day trip to Praia Formose and enjoy its rocky beach with black sand and shimmering waters.