Mad about Madeira: Fun in Funchal
We’re all mad about Madeira, the volcanic island with its dramatic rugged landscapes, namesake wine, and wild coastline.
Just as we settled Lady Yeya into her new school routine, it was time for half-term break in mid-October. Half-term break already? We had just gotten back from Paphos, Cyprus six weeks ago! I suppose this is our new normal now: travelling during school holidays. But with another soon-to-expire BA companion voucher, we settled on taking the beautiful island of Madeira.
Madeira is a subtropical volcanic island off the coast of Morocco. This Portuguese island is famous for being the birthplace of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, its namesake Madeira wine, and lush dramatic landscapes. Engineers can marvel at Madeira’s extensive networks of tunnels and elevated highways connecting the north to the south. Its two longest tunnels on Madeira are over 3km (1.9mi) long. With little flatlands, the expanded airport runway was built on a platform over the sea, and supported by 180 columns. Nature lovers and avid walkers will be mad about Madeira for its miles of levada (irrigation channels) or verada walks through mountain peaks, lush valleys, and ancient forest.
Families alike will be mad about Madeira. It is a lovely place for those who enjoy a mix of culture, adventure, and nature. Let’s start with a culture with a list of family-friendly things to do in Funchal.
Stroll around Funchal Old Town & the Waterfront
A small island with approximately 253,000 people, nearly fifty percent of the population resides in Madeira. Lively Funchal Old Town is packed with narrow alleyways, commercial shops, and cafes and restaurants. Located in the city centre on Av. Arriaga is one of Maderia’s famous landmarks – the Cathedral of Funchal (Sé). Along the way, you’ll find Blandy’s Wine Lodge if you want to stop and enjoy its famous Madeira wine. Colourful Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmer’s Market) is a must for its bustling atmosphere and perfectly curated fruit and flower shops. Around the corner is Rua de Santa Maria where you can enjoy street art of nearly 200 painted doors. Funchal has a lovely waterfront area known as Praca do Povo where you can enjoy some people-watching, take a stroll, and enjoy the views. In fact, the whole island is spoiled with numerous scenic vistas and beauty spots.
Ride the Funchal Cable Car to Monte and Take Toboggan Ride Down
Located around the island, Madeira has seven cable cars but the most popular cable car is the Funchal-Monte (Teleférico do Funchal). It is very best on cruise ship days especially in the mornings. The ride from Funchal Old Town takes about 20 minutes one-way for a scenic ride up 1,902 ft (580m) covering 2 miles. The views of the Atlantic and red-tile roofs are spectacular. Monte Palace Tropical Garden is adjacent to the cable car entrance which is worth a visit.
What goes up, must come down. Here you have a few options getting back down to Funchal: return trip on the cable car, a taxi, or take a wicker toboggan down. A toboggan what? In the 19th century, wickerwork was an important industry in Madeira and taking a toboggan ride is an old method to get down to the village quickly. It is touristy and busy, but with a young child in tow, we felt more comfortable taking a taxi back to Porto Mare in the Lido area where we were staying.
Enjoy Monte Palace or the Botanical Gardens
Botany enthusiasts will be mad for Madeira. Known as the island of flowers, there are so many beautiful gardens and green spaces to enjoy in Funchal. The two popular gardens are Monte Palace and the Botanical Garden. But if you have time for one garden, many have suggested Monte Palace and it would be our pick as well. From what I read there are some 100,000 plant species in a beautifully landscaped and tranquil setting. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to explore Monte Palace as we took the cable car up rather late in the day to avoid the crowd.
Take a Photo at the Cristiano Ronaldo Statue
Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo is like god in Madeira, where he was born and raised in a poor working-class family. Even the airport bears his name as Aeroporto Internacional da Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo. Today there is a dedicated statue of Ronaldo located on the port in front of the Pestana CR7 Funchal Hotel and the CR7 Museum. Be sure to take a photo with Cristiano Ronaldo’s statue and send it to all your football-loving friends. His mother’s all-white seven-story mansion is just a stone’s throw away at the roundabout. Nearby is the lovely Santa Catarina Park and playground with beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Lido Area and Promenade do Lido
The Lido area has a large concentration of hotels and resorts, about a 15 minute walk to the port and another 10 minutes to Funchal Old Town. It is a quieter part of town, but perfect for young families. We stayed at Porto Mare located right in front of the Complexo Bainear do Lido. Situated on the clifftop, Porto Mare has lovely views of the Atlantic Ocean. There are plenty of nearby amenities from supermarkets, shops restaurants, all within walking distance. The footpath along the Promenade do Lido is great for a leisurely stroll or an energetic run to Praia Formosa.
There are plenty things to do in Funchal, from street art to wine-tasting, city parks with views, gardens galore, and architectural gems. If you need a change in scenery from the resort pool, it’s worth spending a few days exploring Funchal.
Next up: Mad about Madeira – Island Tours
