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Funchal Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Pace: balanced Scenic Charming Relaxed Historic
Ideal trip length
3–7 days
Busiest
Jun-Sep

Updated September 2026

Funchal

About Funchal

Terraced gardens rise above Atlantic streets, giving Funchal a calm, scenic identity as Madeira’s Portuguese capital, known for gardens and wine.

Old Town’s painted doors and Mercado dos Lavradores lead into the Monte Cable Car and Toboggan Ride, while Madeira Botanical Garden and levada walks open onto the island’s green landscapes. June through September brings the clearest season for outdoor outings, and most stays run three to seven days.

Funchal suits couples with its marina, historic lanes and Atlantic views. Portuguese shapes the local culture, while English is also widely understood; a glass of Madeira wine adds a fitting final taste.

Where to stay

Hotels in Funchal

Book direct on our own Funchal hotel pages — no booking fee.

Stay like a local in Funchal

Places to stay in Funchal

Best for

Ranked by verified guest score, then stars. Based on 538 of 555 hotels with verified data.

Best for families

Family rooms listed · 37 hotels qualify

  1. Quinta Paços do Lago9.8/10 · 116 reviews
  2. Les Suites at The Cliff Bay - PortoBay9.6/10 · 87 reviews · 5-star
  3. OurMadeira - Babosas Village9.6/10 · 147 reviews · 4-star
  4. Quinta Jardins Do Lago9.5/10 · 249 reviews · 5-star
  5. Reid's Palace A Belmond Hotel Madeira9.5/10 · 239 reviews · 5-star

Best for drivers

Free parking · 13 hotels qualify

  1. Bordal Houses9.6/10 · 56 reviews · 4-star
  2. Casa Velha do Palheiro Relais & Chateaux9.2/10 · 119 reviews · 5-star
  3. Melia Madeira Mare8.8/10 · 423 reviews · 5-star
  4. Vila Camacho Guest House8.8/10 · 566 reviews · 3-star
  5. The Views Oasis8.7/10 · 179 reviews · 4-star

Best for a pool

Swimming pool listed · 55 hotels qualify

  1. Quinta B.9.8/10 · 102 reviews · 4-star
  2. Three House Hotel9.6/10 · 378 reviews · 4-star
  3. Castanheiro Boutique Hotel9.4/10 · 195 reviews · 4-star
  4. Savoy Palace - The Leading Hotels of the World - Savoy Signature9.3/10 · 459 reviews · 5-star
  5. Barceló Funchal Oldtown9.1/10 · 720 reviews · 5-star

Funchal at a glance

Check-in / check-out
4:00 PM / 10:00 AM
Free parking
175 of 273 hotels (64%)
Pool
195 of 538 hotels
Climate
Subtropical
Languages
Portuguese and English
Local currency
EUR (EUR)
Local time
(GMT+0)
Ideal trip length
3–7 days
Cost level
3 of 5 · our research
Suggested area to stay
Old Town (Zona Velha)
Tap water
Generally described as safe to drink
Tipping
Appreciated for good service

History, culture and food in Funchal

History

95 · Outstanding

Culture

90 · Outstanding

Food

90 · Outstanding

Family 80 · Very good

Our own 0–100 ratings for this one destination. They describe a city; they are not a league table of cities.

Food to try

Espetada Bolo do Caco Poncha Espada (Black Scabbardfish)

Hotel facts in Funchal

Based on 538 of 555 hotels with verified data.

Hotels that listHotelsShare
Free parkingof hotels with verified parking175 of 27364%
Swimming pool195 of 53836%
24-hour front desk80 of 53815%
Facilities for disabled guests81 of 53815%
Family rooms44 of 5388%
Kitchen or kitchenette10 of 5382%
Airport shuttle0 free292 of 53854%

Pools and room sizes by star rating

StarsPoolStandard room
3-star43 of 26519 m²usually 12 m²–20 m² · 16 hotels
4-star124 of 22422 m²usually 18 m²–27 m² · 30 hotels
5-star18 of 1836 m²usually 30 m²–40 m² · 17 hotels

When to visit Funchal

How good each month is here, on this destination's own scale. It compares months within this city, never one city against another.

Best months: April, May, June and September Busiest: Jun-Sep
  1. Jan
    47

    Christmas and New Year Celebrations

  2. Feb
    45

    Madeira Carnival

  3. Mar
    44

    Madeira Carnival

  4. Apr
    63

    Madeira Flower Festival

  5. May
    61

    Madeira Flower Festival

  6. Jun
    61

    Atlantic Festival

  7. Jul
    42

    Hot, very sunny

  8. Aug
    46

    Very busy; book early

  9. Sep
    58

    Madeira Wine Festival

  10. Oct
    53

    Madeira Nature Festival

  11. Nov
    37

    Mild, some rain

  12. Dec
    52

    Christmas and New Year Celebrations

Things to do in Funchal

8 places worth your time, grouped by when they are at their best.

Best in the morning

4 places

Mercado dos Lavradores

Old Town 1.5 hours

Indoors Good for children

Madeira Botanical Garden

Monte 2 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Levada Walks

Island surroundings 4 hours

Outdoors Good for children
Book tours
See all
Levada Serra D´Agua

4.9 (19 reviews)2 hours

Rabaçal - Levada das 25 Fontes

4.8 (4 reviews)8 hours

Kings Levada

5.0 (2 reviews)

Levada do Norte

4.5 (2 reviews)

Levada Cauldron Green

3.5 (2 reviews)7 hours

Levada dos Maroços

5.0 (1 review)3 hours

Levada da Referta

4.0 (1 review)4 min

Dolphin & Whale Watching Tour

Funchal Marina 3 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Best in the afternoon

1 place

Blandy's Wine Lodge Tour

City Center 1.5 hours

Indoors

Any time of day

3 places

Explore Old Town Painted Doors

Old Town 1 hour

Outdoors Good for children
Things to book

Tours and activities in Funchal

Guided tours, day trips and tickets to book alongside your stay.

Before you go to Funchal

Our own ratings and notes on eating out, signature experiences, who the city suits and planning ahead.

Eating out

Espetada 95 · Outstanding
Bolo Do Caco 87 · Outstanding
Poncha 78 · Very good
Espada (Black Scabbardfish) 70 · Good

Signature experiences

Monte Cable Car & Toboggan Ride 95 · Outstanding
Mercado Dos Lavradores 91 · Outstanding
Madeira Botanical Garden 88 · Outstanding
Levada Walks 84 · Very good
Blandy's Wine Lodge Tour 81 · Very good
Explore Old Town Painted Doors 77 · Very good
Dolphin & Whale Watching Tour 74 · Good
CR7 Museum 70 · Good

Who it suits

Couples 95 · Outstanding
Families 87 · Outstanding
Friends 78 · Very good
Adventure 70 · Good

Planning tips

Wear comfortable shoes for hills and cobblestones. 95 · Outstanding
Book popular activities like cable car or dolphin tours in advance. 83 · Very good
Try a Poncha from a local bar for an authentic experience. 70 · Good

Ratings and recommendations are curated from local travel data.

Near Funchal

Straight-line distance from the centre of Funchal.

Frequently asked questions about Funchal

How many places to stay are there in Funchal?

There are 550+ hotels, apartments and other places to stay in Funchal. They include 53 hotels and 340+ apartments.

When is the peak season in Funchal?

The peak season in Funchal is Jun-Sep.

Which area is a good base in Funchal?

The travel guide suggests staying in Old Town (Zona Velha) when visiting Funchal.

Are there tours and activities in Funchal?

Yes, 390+ tours and activities are listed in Funchal.

How many hotels in Funchal have free parking?

175 of the 273 hotels in Funchal with verified parking details list free parking (64%). 67 charge for parking.

What is the usual check-in time at hotels in Funchal?

4:00 PM at 221 of the 505 hotels with a verified check-in time. The next most common time is 3:00 PM (175 hotels).

What time is check-out at hotels in Funchal?

10:00 AM at 222 of 516 hotels with a verified check-out time; 11:00 AM at 153.

How many hotels in Funchal have a pool?

195 of 538 hotels with verified data list a swimming pool.