Funchal
Madeira Island

Last update: August 2023

Regions of Portugal

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, Ilha da Madeira, Portugal © Images of Portugal
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.


Mercado Municipal do Funchal, Ilha da Madeira, Portugal © Município do Funchal, ilustração
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:


Colégio dos Jesuítas do Funchal, Ilha da Madeira, Portugal © Município do Funchal, ilustração
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
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).





Top Cities

Greater Lisbon

In addition to the largest urban agglomeration in the country (Lisbon), Sintra, Cascais, Loures, Almada and Oeiras complete the podium of the Top 5 largest cities in Portugal.

Greater Porto

In the north of the country, in Greater Porto, other important cities are Vila Nova de Gaia, Braga, Matosinhos, Gondomar and Guimarães.

Learn more

Main cities


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