Things to do in Funchal
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Madeira: Porto Moniz, Seixal & Fanal Forest Jeep TourYou’ll ride out from Funchal with a local guide into Madeira’s wild north — from São Vicente’s waterfall to Seixal’s black sand beach and Porto Moniz volcanic pools. Feel ancient forest mist at Fanal and test your nerve on Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk. It’s equal parts laughter, scenery, and small surprises along the way.
Madeira Dolphin & Whale Watching: Hybrid-Electric CatamaranYou board a purpose-built catamaran in Funchal and spend 2.5 to 3 hours cruising Madeira's southern coast with land-based spotters directing the boat to dolphins and whales. The hybrid-electric engines run silent so the animals stay calm, and your certified guide explains what you're seeing while the boat passes Cabo Girão, a traditional fishing village, and other coastal landmarks. Two viewing decks, trampoline nets at the bow, and onboard bars mean you're comfortable the whole time.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see dolphins and whales without the guilt of disturbing them — the silent engines and land-based spotters mean the animals stay calm and you get a genuine encounter instead of a chase scene.
Madeira Jeep Safari: Porto Moniz, Seixal & Cabo Girão Day TripYou’ll ride through Madeira’s wildest corners by jeep—standing over cliffs at Cabo Girão, swimming in Porto Moniz’s lava pools, wandering Seixal’s black sands. With a local guide sharing stories (and maybe poncha), every stop feels personal. Expect laughter, sea air, bumpy roads—and moments that stick with you long after you’re home.
Madeira Jeep Safari: Pico do Areeiro, Santana & Rum TastingYou’ll ride up winding roads in a 4x4 jeep from Funchal to Pico do Areeiro’s wild summit, walk ancient levadas through laurel forest, share lunch in Santana’s colorful village houses, taste fiery Madeira rum by the sea and end with Atlantic views that linger long after you leave.
Funchal Old Town Walking Tour & Wine TastingYou walk through Funchal's oldest neighborhoods with a university-trained guide, starting at the 1940s Farmers' Market with its hand-painted tiles, moving through 16th-century churches filled with baroque art, and ending with wine tasting at a traditional lodge. The whole thing takes two hours, includes your guide and escort, and you don't have to arrange transport or figure out which streets matter — the guide does that.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand how Funchal's oldest neighborhoods actually work — the market where people shop, the churches with real art inside, the streets where locals live — rather than hit the main sights in isolation. The university guide is what makes the difference; they know why these places matter to the city, not just what year they were built.
Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo: Self-Guided Sunrise Hike & TransferYou get picked up at your Funchal hotel, transferred to Pico do Arieiro with a map and route notes, then hike at your own pace to Pico Ruivo over roughly three hours. The return transfer from the Ecological Park brings you back to your accommodation. No guide, no fixed schedule, no group rhythm — just the mountain and your own timing.Is it for me?Right for hikers who want mountain views and freedom of pace without arranging transport or hiring a guide — the transfers handle the logistics so you can focus on the walk itself.
Madeira: Jeep Safari to Cabo Girão & Boca dos Namorados ViewsYou’ll ride through Madeira’s wild hills by open-roof jeep with a local guide, pausing at Câmara de Lobos Bay and stepping out onto Cabo Girão’s dizzying glass skywalk before climbing up to Boca dos Namorados for silent valley views you might not expect. Includes pickup and drop-off so you don’t have to worry about logistics — just bring your nerves for heights.
Madeira: Scuba Diving Lesson & Sea Dive with InstructorYou’ll start with a relaxed pool lesson before heading into Madeira’s wild Atlantic for your first real dive — all with an experienced instructor by your side. Learn how the gear works, practice underwater signals, then explore up to 12 meters deep among local fish. Includes all equipment and a certificate so you can keep diving elsewhere. That first breath underwater? You’ll never forget it.
Madeira Canyoning: Beginner Rappel & Waterfall JumpsYou get picked up from Funchal, driven to the canyon, fitted with full safety gear, and guided through rappels, swims and jumps at 1,500 meters elevation over 5 hours. Professional guides (at least two) handle all technical instruction and safety, and you receive photos from the day. No experience required, though you need to be comfortable in water and have moderate fitness. The fixed schedule means transport, equipment and timing are all arranged — you just show up ready to move.Is it for me?Right for anyone curious about canyoning but nervous about trying it — the Level 1 difficulty and beginner-focused guides mean you learn as you go, and the pickup from Funchal removes the logistics of finding the canyon yourself. Requires moderate fitness and comfort in water, and works best if you're ready to be wet and moving for several hours straight.
Madeira East: Pico do Arieiro, Santana Houses & Rum Tasting TourYou’ll ride up to Pico do Arieiro for wild mountain air, wander through Santana’s rare triangle houses with a local guide, taste fresh-made rum in Porto da Cruz, and catch coastal views from Pico do Facho—all with hotel pickup from Funchal. Expect honest moments: wind in your face, laughter over lunch breaks, maybe even a wave from a local gardener.
Madeira Peaks & Santana Day Tour: Open Roof 4x4, Rum & CliffsYou’ll ride an open-roof 4x4 from Funchal up to Pico do Arieiro’s high peaks, walk through Laurissilva forest to Balcões viewpoint, visit Santana’s famous thatched houses, sip local rum in Porto da Cruz, and end at Ponta de São Lourenço’s volcanic cliffs. Expect moments of silence, laughter with your guide, and landscapes that linger long after you’ve left.
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: Skywalk, 4x4 Vineyards & Wine Tasting Day TripYou’ll stand above the Atlantic on Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk, ride off-road through green valleys, taste fresh honey at a local museum and sip Madeira wines among working vineyards. With pickup in Funchal and a local guide sharing stories along the way, this day trip leaves you with new flavors — and maybe new friends too.
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.
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.
Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: Blandy's, Lunch & North CoastYou visit two historic wineries — Blandy's in Funchal and Barbeito's on the return — with tastings of red, white, rosé, and fortified Madeira wines. The day includes a drive through the UNESCO Laurissilva Forest, a walk through vineyards in São Vicente, a traditional espetada lunch with local wine, and a stop at a North Coast viewpoint. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Funchal are included, so you don't arrange transport yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste Madeira's wines at the source without arranging your own transport, timing the stops, or deciding which wineries to visit — the fixed itinerary and included pickup handle all three.
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 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: 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.
Madeira 4x4 Private Tour: Custom Day Trip with GuideYou’ll ride a private 4x4 with your own local guide across Madeira—think mountain peaks like Pico do Arieiro, quiet valleys such as Curral das Freiras, and cliff-top stops at places like Cabo Girão. Expect real conversations, homemade bread for lunch, and views you might not believe until you’re standing there yourself.
