Things to do in Funchal
The unmissables
Most booked
Madeira: Porto Moniz, Seixal & Fanal Forest Jeep Tour★ 4.92 (3,853) · 7h 30m
Top rated
Madeira Jeep Safari: Porto Moniz, Seixal & Cabo Girão Day Trip★ 4.83 (1,007) · 7h
Best value
Madeira Dolphin & Whale Watching: Hybrid-Electric Catamaran★ 4.56 (2,222) · 3h
Recommended (7)
Madeira Jeep Safari: Pico do Areeiro, Santana & Rum Tasting★ 4.85 (927) · 7h€ 67View ›
Funchal Old Town Walking Tour & Wine Tasting★ 4.74 (591) · 2h€ 16.40View ›
Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo: Self-Guided Sunrise Hike & Transfer★ 4.77 (332) · 8h€ 49View ›
Madeira: Jeep Safari to Cabo Girão & Boca dos Namorados Views★ 4.78 (325) · 3h€ 44View ›
Madeira: Scuba Diving Lesson & Sea Dive with Instructor★ 4.79 (288) · 2h 30m€ 42View ›
Madeira Canyoning: Beginner Rappel & Waterfall Jumps★ 4.95 (266) · 6h€ 70View ›
Madeira East: Pico do Arieiro, Santana Houses & Rum Tasting Tour★ 4.93 (264) · 7h€ 35View ›Top rated (10)
Madeira: Private Half-Day Tour with Skywalk & Fishing VillageYou’ll ride up winding roads above Funchal with a local guide, try or watch the Monte toboggan run, gaze out from Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint, and step onto Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk before wandering through a classic Madeiran fishing village—all with private pickup and plenty of stories along the way.
Madeira: 4x4 Open Roof Island Day Tour with Cabo Girão & Natural PoolsYou’ll ride an open-roof 4x4 across Madeira’s wild coastlines with a local guide—standing on Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk, getting misted by Véu da Noiva waterfall, swimming in Porto Moniz’s volcanic pools, then sipping poncha in a sunny village tavern. Expect laughter, honest food, and landscapes that linger long after you leave.
Madeira: Private Classic Car Tour with Poncha & Cabo GirãoYou’ll ride through Madeira’s west coast in a classic car with a local guide, stopping for poncha in Câmara de Lobos, tasting village life along narrow roads, standing above the Atlantic on Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk, and pausing for coffee with mountain views. It’s relaxed but full of real moments — perfect if you want to feel the island instead of just seeing it.
Funchal West Tour: Waterfalls, Natural Pools & Cabo GirãoYou'll visit five distinct stops across Madeira's western coast — a working fishing village, a glass cliff walkway, forest trails, ocean swings and volcanic pools beneath a waterfall. Lunch is included at the main swimming stop, and the tour handles all the driving and timing, so you only have to show up and move between places. Entrance fees for Cabo Girão and the natural pools are separate, but everything else is arranged.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see the quieter, wilder side of Madeira in one day without renting a car or planning stops — the fixed route covers five different landscapes and a swim, which is what makes a full west-coast day possible in the time you have.
Madeira: Sidecar Motorcycle Tour to Cabo Girão & Câmara de LobosYou’ll feel every curve of Madeira’s west coast as you ride in a classic sidecar past cliffs, fishing villages, and ocean views. Sip coffee by Câmara de Lobos’ harbor, brave Cabo Girão’s skywalk with your local guide nearby, and watch sunlight shift across terraced hillsides. This isn’t just sightseeing—it’s feeling part of island life for an afternoon.
Madeira: Canyoning Adventure with Pickup & Free PhotosYou’ll feel nerves turn into laughter as you rappel waterfalls and leap into clear pools with expert guides in Madeira’s wild canyons. Gear is sorted for you—just bring courage—and there’s time for snacks mid-river before heading back with free photos as proof of your adventure.
Madeira: Private All-Terrain Island Tour with Custom RouteYou’ll ride across Madeira in an all-terrain vehicle with a local guide who listens to what you want — whether that’s mountain views, volcanic pools, or hidden bakeries. Expect spontaneous stops, real conversations, and moments you’ll remember long after your shoes dry out.
Madeira: Private 4x4 Jeep Day Trip East or West IslandYou’ll ride an open-roof jeep across Madeira’s dramatic east or west, stopping for mountain views at Pico do Areeiro or dipping your toes in volcanic pools at Porto Moniz. With a local guide leading the way and pickup from Funchal included, expect real stories and unexpected moments—like tasting bread in Santana or feeling Atlantic winds whip your hair.
Madeira: Private 4x4 Jeep Tour with Custom Route & PickupYou’ll ride open-top through Madeira’s wildest corners with a local guide who lets you set the pace — glass skywalks at Cabo Girão, volcanic caves in São Vicente, lunch by the sea in Porto Moniz. It’s all private: just you, your people, and wherever curiosity leads. That feeling of wind-in-your-hair freedom stays with you long after.
Madeira: Canyoning Ribeira das Cales & Funchal PickupYou’ll start your day picked up in Funchal and head straight into Madeira’s lush Laurissilva Forest for beginner-friendly canyoning with local guides. Expect swimming through clear pools, rappelling waterfalls (the tallest is 18 meters), sharing laughs over snacks mid-canyon — then returning home tired and proud. It’s an adventure that sticks with you.
Lowest price (10)
Funchal: 3D Fun Art Museum & Optical IllusionsYou'll spend an hour or two moving through 40 interactive 3D art installations, posing for photos that look digitally altered but aren't, and discovering how optical illusions actually work. Entry, taxes and access to every room are included. It's the kind of place that works just as well for a solo traveler wanting something different as it does for families or groups looking for an activity that doesn't require planning or physical effort.Is it for me?Book this if you want an indoor activity in Funchal that doesn't require physical fitness, works for mixed-age groups, and gives you something genuinely different to do—the interactive nature of the rooms is what makes it engaging for both adults and children, and the included fees mean you're not paying extra once you're inside.
Funchal Airport - City: Private Transfer with Local DriverYou’ll step off your flight in Madeira and spot your driver waiting with your name — no hunting for taxis or figuring out buses. Enjoy a smooth ride in an air-conditioned car through Funchal or Caniço, maybe pick up some local tips from your driver along the way. It’s a gentle welcome you’ll remember long after you unpack.
Funchal: Pico do Arieiro Sunset & Stairway to Heaven HikeYou're picked up from your Funchal-area accommodation and driven to Pico do Arieiro, Madeira's third-highest peak. From there, you hike 1.2 kilometers to the Ninho da Manta viewpoint and cross the famous Stairway to Heaven ridge. You return to the summit to watch the sunset paint the sky and mountains in gold and orange for about thirty minutes, then get dropped back at your hotel. The whole evening takes around four to five hours from pickup to return.Is it for me?Right for travelers with moderate fitness who want to see Madeira's highest views at golden hour without arranging their own transport or timing — the pickup and drop-off handle the logistics, and the briefing means you know what the ridge walk involves before you start. Not suitable if you're pregnant, have cardiovascular concerns, or are uncomfortable with heights.
Madeira: Santana Typical Houses & Pico do Arieiro Full DayYou visit five distinct landscapes in one day: a wicker-making village, a peak above the clouds, a UNESCO forest with a trout farm, a village of painted triangular houses where you stop for lunch, and a dramatic eastern coastline. The driver handles all the navigation and timing, the vehicle is climate-controlled, and every entrance fee is already paid. You leave Funchal in the morning and return by evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the main landscapes of Madeira in one day without arranging your own transport or paying entrance fees separately — the fixed itinerary and included vehicle mean you cover six distinct stops without navigating or timing yourself.
Madeira: Ponta de São Lourenço Snorkeling Trip with GuideYou’ll slip into clear Atlantic water at Ponta de São Lourenço with a local guide beside you, learning quirky facts about Madeira’s marine life as you float above colorful fish and volcanic rocks. Expect salty air, laughter over mispronounced Portuguese fish names, and that rare underwater calm that lingers long after you dry off.
Madeira Island: Santana & Ponta de São Lourenço Full-Day TourYou start at a mountain peak with views across the island, pass through the northeast's dramatic coastline at Ponta de São Lourenço, stop in Santana for lunch among its famous thatched houses, and visit a rum factory. An optional 45-minute forest walk through UNESCO-protected Laurel Forest can be added if booked in advance. Transport is in an air-conditioned vehicle and the tour suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Madeira's contrasting landscapes—mountains, coast, and village culture—without arranging transport or timing between stops. The fixed itinerary and included lunch mean you're not deciding what to do each hour; the optional forest walk lets you add depth if you plan ahead.
Madeira East Tour: Pico Arieiro, Santana & Ponta de São LourençoYou visit eight locations across Madeira's east side in one day: a mountain peak at 1,818 meters with possible cloud views, a forest walk in the Laurissilva, traditional Santana village, two viewpoints, and the rocky eastern peninsula. A guide leads the route and manages timing; entrance fees to Pico Arieiro and the forest walk are separate, and lunch is on your own. The route can shift if weather turns, so flexibility helps.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to see the full east side of Madeira in one day without renting a car or planning eight separate stops—the guide handles the route, timing and navigation, leaving you to focus on the views and the villages.
Levada do Caldeirão Verde: 16km Madeira Hike & WaterfallYou start with a pickup from Funchal, ride to the trailhead at Pico das Pedras, then walk 16 kilometers through tunnels, along historic levadas, and past waterfalls deep in the Laurissilva forest. The hike takes 4.5 to 5.5 hours at your own pace, ending at Caldeirão Verde lake before your driver brings you back down the mountain.Is it for me?Right for hikers with moderate fitness who want to move at their own pace through Madeira's forest without a group. Expect a full day out — the 16 kilometers and 4.5 to 5.5 hours of walking is what lets you reach the lake and experience the levadas and tunnels without rushing.
Madeira Peaks: Pico do Arieiro 4x4 Tour & Cristo Rei ViewpointYou’ll ride an open-roof 4x4 from Funchal up winding roads to Pico do Arieiro’s windswept summit, bounce through Santo da Serra’s eucalyptus-scented trails with your local guide, and end with calm sea views at Cristo Rei viewpoint above Garajau cliffs. Includes central Funchal pickup and drop-off—bring a jacket for those mountain winds.
East Madeira: Pico do Arieiro, Santana & Ponta de São LourençoYou're picked up from your hotel and driven through five distinct landscapes — mountain peak, ancient forest, traditional village, coastal cliffs, and historic town — with a local guide explaining the geology, history and culture as you go. Lunch is included if you choose it, and the small-group format means the van doesn't feel crowded. You're back in Funchal by evening, having covered the east side of the island without arranging transport or timing it yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the contrasting landscapes of East Madeira — mountains, forest, villages, and coastal cliffs — in a single day without renting a car or planning the route yourself; the small-group format and local guide mean you get context for what you're seeing instead of just passing through.
