{"id":56766,"date":"2026-01-15T15:18:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T12:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/funshal\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T15:37:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T12:37:48","slug":"funshal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/en\/funshal\/","title":{"rendered":"Funchal – a guide to the capital of Madeira"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Funchal<\/strong> – the capital of the archipelago, located on the southern part of the main island, between the ocean and the mountains, is the largest city on Madeira. It is warm here all year round, making it a great place for active vacation lovers. Geographically, this city is exceptionally diverse, especially if you don’t limit yourself to just this city, but also explore the neighboring regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that if you come here expecting a bustling European city, be prepared for disappointment. Because Funchal is not like the big mainland cities of Portugal – Porto or Lisbon. The architecture here is much simpler, and it\u2019s not a reason to go to Madeira. For example, I met an unhappy Ukrainian woman in Funchal who had not figured out in advance what exactly to expect in Funchal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I will tell you about Funchal, why you should go here, what to see in the city and what convenient routes there are directly from Funchal if you decide to stay here for your entire time in Madeira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where Funchal is located on Madeira<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Funchal<\/strong> is almost the southernmost city on the island of Madeira, located right on the ocean shore. It is adjacent to several smaller mountain towns, including the beautiful municipalities of Canico, Monte, S\u00e3o Gon\u00e7alo, and C\u00e2mara de Lobos<\/strong>. Although these municipalities are technically not Funchal, they are very close to the city and are usually included in every tourist route in Funchal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city is one of the sunniest on the island, and Funchal has a year-round warm climate. The surrounding nature is an interesting combination of ocean and mountains, European and African flora. The south of the island is especially notable for its incredible number of banana trees, which grow here\u2014on mountain terraces among the homes of local residents. Even in the city, there are banana “gardens”<\/strong>, between which there are streets and walking paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, Funchal is one of the few places where you can get to the mountains in less than an hour, hike in the mountains, and then come down to the beach and swim in the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get to Funchal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The easiest<\/strong> way to get to Funchal (and Madeira in general) is by plane<\/strong>. There are more than a dozen daily direct flights from Lisbon, as well as several daily flights from Porto. One-way tickets can cost as little as 30 euros if booked in advance or if you fly in low season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also direct flights, for example from low-cost carriers Wizz Air<\/strong> and EasyJet<\/strong> from various European cities: Warsaw, Budapest, Rome, and others (I flew from Rome for 35 euros one way). From Canada, there is one direct weekly flight from Toronto. If you are coming from elsewhere, you will usually need to make a connection in Lisbon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon arrival at the airport named after Cristiano Ronaldo<\/strong>, don\u2019t be surprised that the young Portuguese man became a legend of the island during his life. He was born here, and every local boy will proudly wear a shirt with his name, playing football on local fields. So, the airport is named after the most famous resident of Madeira in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Note<\/strong>: Another way to get to Funchal is by cruise ship<\/strong>. The port of Funchal is included in routes along the Canary Islands and Madeira. But a one-day visit won\u2019t allow you to fully enjoy Madeira and the city itself; this is another way to travel that I won\u2019t write about here.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

How to get to Funchal from Cristiano Ronaldo Airport<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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If you are not going to rent a car at the airport<\/strong> after arriving, use public transport. There is a shuttle bus Aerobus<\/strong>, which leaves from the arrivals area towards Praia Formosa<\/strong>, stopping at several hotels along the way. You can view the schedule of the shuttle bus on the company’s website<\/a><\/strong>. A ticket costs \u2013 6.4 Euro for adults, 3.2 Euro for children.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taxi<\/a><\/strong> is the only alternative to the shuttle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We booked a car in advance on Rentalcars.com<\/a><\/strong> and picked it up at the airport\u2014so we didn’t need to take the bus and immediately set off to explore the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Keep in mind:<\/strong> Funchal Airport is one of the most difficult in the world for airplane landings. Only super-experienced pilots fly here. Plus, there are strict rules for landing permits during storms and strong winds. If the wind is too strong, planes are often redirected to nearby airports in the Canary Islands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of bad weather, instead of Funchal, we ended up in South Tenerife. Wizz Air provided a hotel, transfer, and dinner for all passengers. And the next morning, when the weather improved, we flew from Tenerife to Madeira. Effectively, we lost one day, but that\u2019s better than if the plane flew back to Rome.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Transport in Funchal and Getting Around Madeira<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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To get around the city of Funchal<\/strong>, all you need is your feet, and from time to time, trips by public transport. The city is quite compact, and most things to see and do are located in the city center. Most hotels are also located here or stretch along the beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For slightly longer distances, it is always easy to take a taxi or order a ride with Uber\/Bolt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get around Madeira and explore beyond the city, you definitely need a car<\/strong>. Public transport (buses) exists, but it won\u2019t get you everywhere on the island. And most travelers don\u2019t have enough time to sit waiting for (rare) buses and figure out how they connect, especially in small towns and villages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So plan to rent a car to explore outside the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you plan to rent a car, I always recommend checking prices on Rentalcars.com<\/a><\/strong>. This is a rental website that includes offers from all major international rental companies, as well as many smaller local agencies, which often have much better rates. You\u2019ll be able to find good deals here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When is the best time to visit Funchal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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No matter the season, Funchal usually has a warm climate. The average temperature in January and February (the coldest months) is about 16 \u00baC, and in August and September (the warmest months) it rises to 26 \u00baC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The climate is truly ideal<\/strong>: mild and pleasant weather all year round and minimal extreme conditions. At the same time, in Funchal you can experience all four seasons in a single day: in the morning on the beach under the blazing sun, and in the evening put on a hat and jacket when you go up to the mountains (or vice versa).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The generally optimal time for a visit is considered to be between April and September<\/strong>. Except for June\u2014at this time thick clouds hang over the island. Later in the summer, the days are warmer and drier. This is also the best season for those who want to watch whales and dolphins (although they are present all year round).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By autumn<\/strong>, rain becomes more likely, though not usually enough to ruin your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you love flowers, four weeks after Easter a wonderful flower festival begins in Madeira, during which Funchal and the entire island are decorated in beautiful colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From October to March<\/strong> the weather can vary, but it is still a good time to visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In winter<\/strong> there can be heavy rains, but they are usually short-lived. However, the weather in Madeira is definitely better than in most European countries. It is considered not the time for a beach vacation\u2014although we did swim in the ocean (the air temperature during the day was +20, water +19\u2103).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were in Madeira in the 20s of January<\/strong>\u2014it rained once in Funchal. And since the weather on Madeira is changeable and very dependent on the ocean, you still need to take a raincoat and not worry about rains. Just go when you can and enjoy. It\u2019s better to focus on other factors, such as high and low season<\/strong>, whale watching season, Christmas, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A special time is December<\/strong>, during which Funchal is usually \u201cfilled\u201d with people who came to celebrate Christmas and New Year on the island. This is the most expensive<\/strong> time of year to travel to Funchal. But it is still worth it, because the people of Madeira celebrate Christmas and New Year with unmatched fireworks and festive events.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

So, whenever you decide to visit Funchal\u2014it will always be beautiful!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to stay in Funchal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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As I mentioned above, you can choose to base yourself in Funchal itself, or in the towns that adjoin it. It depends on what type of vacation you choose: beach, active\u2014traveling the island by car and hikes in the mountains and to the northern side of the island. Or you simply fly in for a few days in Funchal, for example for the holidays\u2014Christmas and New Year. Or you decided to add an island vibe to your mainland Portugal explorations. Besides, the location and surroundings of the hotel matter\u2014are you traveling by rented car or by public transport?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can book a hotel anywhere in Funchal and still be close to all the main attractions. Essentially, you just need to decide how much you want to spend per night and what amenities you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with Funchal as your base, you can reach almost any point on the main island in less than 1-2 hours (if you are traveling by car).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotels in the center of Funchal close to public transport stops<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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