Funchal
Madeira Island
Last update: August 2023
Autonomous Region of Madeira
Fourth most visited city in Portugal
Funchal was the first town to be founded on the Madeira Archipelago, discovered
by the Portuguese in 1418. The friendly city is the capital of
Autonomous Region of Madeira.
Funchal has
an excellent structure to welcome its numerous visitors: good hotels, resorts,
restaurants, spas, golf courses, among other facilities, such as an
International Airport.
Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal © Images of Portugal
Funchal in the 15th century
"At the end of the 15th century, with the validity of the Order of Christ of D. Manuel, Duke of Beja,
he himself encourages the planning and structuring of the progressive and prosperous town of Funchal,
ordering the Town Hall to be raised, sending the pillory and building a new church,
begun in 1493, later elevated to the category of Cathedral" [Municipality of Funchal].
City of Funchal
The overseas trips continued and the small village grew, on the route of
Portuguese navigations.
"At the beginning of the 16th century, in 1508, Funchal was elevated to the rank of city and,
a few years later, in 1514, the seat of a bishopric" [Municipality of Funchal].
Funchal, with around 112,000 inhabitants, is the capital of
Autonomous Region of Madeira.
Funchal has
an excellent structure to welcome its numerous visitors: good hotels, resorts,
restaurants, spas, golf courses, among other facilities.
Municipal Market of Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal © Municipality of Funchal, illustration
Where is Funchal?
The capital of
Madeira is located on the south coast of
Madeira Island.
The city is 972 km from
Lisbon and the
flight time there is 1h15 minutes.
What to see in Funchal?
Funchal is the gateway to discover the
lush vegetation of Madeira Island,
its pleasant climate for most of the year and visit the island's main tourist attractions.
Learn more:
Tourist attractions in Madeira Island
What to do in Funchal?
There are many and varied activities to be done in
Funchal:
Jewish College of Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal © Municipality of Funchal, illustration
•
beaches
•
visit the tourist attractions
•
rides and trails
•
play sports: water sports, golf
•
wellness tourism: saunas
•
wine tourism: discover the wines of Madeira
Find out more:
What to do in Funchal
Sports in Funchal
Madeira is an excellent option for practicing sports, especially sports
nautical.
Find out more:
Sports in Funchal and Madeira
Funchal at Night
There is no shortage of options to spend memorable nights in Funchal: cafes, bars, restaurants and
concert halls offer a varied program that satisfies most of their audiences.
visitors.
Find out more:
Funchal at Night
Where to eat in Funchal
Traditional Madeiran cuisine or Portuguese cuisine, there are several options for you
savor during your stay in Madeira. Not to mention the sophisticated restaurants that offer
European and international cuisine on the menu. See our suggestion of some tables where
taste the Espeteda de Vaca and other typical dishes.
Find out more:
Where to eat in Funchal and Madeira
Where to stay in Funchal
Good hotels, inns, accommodation close to the inhabitants, apartments for rent for
season and other options make life easier for visitors who want to stay a few
days on the hospitable island of Madeira.
Find out more:
What to take from Funchal and Madeira
What to take from Funchal
Madeira's rich craftsmanship is already well-known. Enjoy your vacation and take souvenirs
for your family or friends. Visit a shop with the beautiful and varied Handicrafts of
Wood.
Find out more:
Souvenirs from Funchal and Madeira
Events in Madeira
Land of folklore, music and carnival, Madeira prepares events throughout the year
music and sports, for example, which will motivate you to stay in this paradise
on vacation. check below
Find out more:
Events in Funchal and Madeira
Madeira Wine
One of the best known wines in the world,
Madeira Wine is the great
ambassador of this region of Portugal.
Holidays in Funchal
In a beautiful bay on the south coast is the city of
Funchal, the capital of the archipelago. Of indisputable beauty and pleasant climate of the Atlantic,
Funchal is the gateway to discover these paradise islands.
Some distances
Madeira Island is located about 685 km from the coast of Africa (closer to Morocco), 973 km from Lisbon,
520 km from the island of Gran Canaria, and 891 km from the island of Santa Maria, the closest to the Azores archipelago.
Cathedral of Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal © Diocese of Madeira, illustration
Gastronomy
Lovers of good food will have many opportunities to taste the typical snacks and specialties
of the varied and traditional cuisine of Madeira.
Find out more:
Madeira Cuisine
Nice weather
Temperatures in Madeira hover around 20°C most of the year. Including the water temperature
sea is 26°C in summer (17°C in winter).