4 hours Funchal
Funchal Old Town & Monte Tour
Painted doors of the Zona Velha, the market, then the cable car up to Monte and the wicker toboggan back down.
from €35
Check availabilityFunchal
Two thirds of the island's population lives in and around Funchal, and it is the only place where you can happily spend a week without a car. It is also the natural base for a first visit.
Where to go
Zona Velha
The painted-door lanes of Rua de Santa Maria.
Monte Palace Gardens
Reached by cable car; allow two hours.
Toboggan run
Wicker sledges down to Livramento. Touristy and genuinely fun.
Lido promenade
Sea-front walking from the city to Câmara de Lobos.
Book it
Guided options
1.5 hours Funchal
Madeira Wine Cellar Tasting
A guided tasting through Sercial to Malmsey in a working Funchal lodge, explaining why the island's wine is aged the way it is.
from €25
Check availability
3 hours Funchal Marina
Dolphin & Whale Watching from Funchal
A marine-biologist-led catamaran trip into the deep water south of Funchal, where pilot whales and three dolphin species are resident year round.
from €40
Check availabilityGuides on this subject
Things to Do
Best Things to Do in Funchal
How to spend two or three days in the capital without a car, and what to skip.
7 min read
Practical
Madeira Without a Car
It is entirely possible — with buses, transfers and a few well-chosen tours.
6 min read