A Perfect Day in Funchal, Madeira
Starting off in the Morning
You'll want to wake up early for this day: both because of how packed it is and also some of the below attractions are best experienced before 9 AM. If breakfast is not included at your hotel, grab yourself a Bolo do Caco for breakfast. A traditional bread from Madeira, it can best be described as an English muffin of sorts filled with delicious items like eggs and butter. Casa do Bolo do Caco is one of the best in the city, but most places will have delicious sandwiches!
Next pass on through the Mercado dos Lavradores. Roughly meaning a farmers market, it is filled with magnificent produce, flowers, and - most notably - the freshest fish you'll find in all of Portugal. Make sure to go early as this is when the fishermen pull in their catch - any later than 10 and you'll miss it!
Once done at the market, head a little further east to get to the Cable Car that transports you up to the tiny village of Monte. While I know Monte technically isn't in Funchal, the cable car up should be a top attraction for all visitors. With a stunning panoramic of the city, it is both comfortable and worth the views!
Once up in Monte, there is a good bit to explore. The center of the village is a quaint, leafy square with shops around it - typically tourist souvenir heavy but a few with nice artistic pieces. Further, there are several stellar viewpoints looking out over the city of Funchal. While exploring, history buffs should make sure to visit Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte. A typical pretty Portuguese church dating back 200 years, the religious site holds the tomb of Charles IV - the last emperor of Austria. If beautiful gardens are more your thing, make sure to enjoy the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. If you want to make a coffee stop, Greenhouse Coffee Roaster can provide you a delicious fix!
You can meander as much as you'd like up in Monte, but you likely won't need more than 2 hours to see the whole village. Once you've finished exploring, head back down the mountain in style - on a Carreiro! The Carrieros are historic toboggans that slide down the roads from Monte back into Funchal pushed by two men. Originally designed to make it easier for people to descend the steep roads, today they mainly serve as a tourist experience. Find the guys with the straw hats and queue up for a fun ride!
Once at the bottom of the Carreiro route, you should find plenty of taxi's that can bring you back to the center of Funchal. If you want to explore more up on the mountain, ask them to drive you over to the Madeira Botanical Garden! A wonderful celebration of flora seen on the island of Madeira, it is a great stop on the way down. If you choose to go to the gardens, there is a Cable Car that can take you back into the city.
If you chose to take a taxi from the Carrieros, I recommend going back to the Mercado dos Lavradores as this is quite convenient to the rest of the city. This should put you at about lunch time. You are sure to find a delicious restaurant exploring the streets of downtown Funchal - I recommend trying something out as you explore the white alleyways. While exploring, don't forget to stop in Funchal's 500-year old cathedral, an impressive work of Gothic architecture!
After you've had lunch and explored town, the day would be incomplete without sampling the islands namesake drink - Madeira. Made by warm aging wine (drastically different than the cool aging techniques of Port) and finishing the fermentation with a grape liquor, Madeira is decadent and drank as either an aperitif or an after dinner drink. To see the aging process and try some of the product in Funchal, I highly recommend a visit to Blandy's Wine Lodge. Blandy's being one of the more famous brands of Madeira, the cellars allow you to sample the product and see the warm-aging process up close with a guide. You can even buy some to take home!
As a football fan, I would be remiss to not include the museum dedicated to Madeira's most famous son: Cristiano Ronaldo. Born on the island, Ronaldo spent most of his childhood on the island and still returns regularly on holiday. He opened a "museum" honoring his legacy in Funchal - and by museum I mean a glorified trophy room. If you do look football and more specific Ronaldo (or Real Madrid for that matter), you can justify the €5+ to get in. If not, feel free to let your husband go in and have fun for 20 minutes while you enjoy the port outside.
At this point, you've had a long day. Head back to your hotel and take a nap before dinner.
Later in the evening, I recommend taking a quaint walk through the old city to dinner. The town is much quieter and you can really observe the beautiful historic architecture better. If you are looking for a wonderful dining experience, make your way to Armazém do Sal. A former salt cellar, the historic restaurant occupies both an alleyway and the old cellar - there isn't a bad table in the house! Serving delicious fine Portuguese food, it is the best way to end your day!
Of course if you need to spread this out over two days, go for it! This is fairly busy for one day ;)
If you have another day on Madeira, I highly recommend asking a taxi driver to take you around the island, You can either head east towards Santana - home to hobbit-like huts that are tradition on Madeira - or westward to the villages of Câmara de Lobos, Ribeira Brava, Porto Moniz, and São Vicente. The scenery is unmatched on the island. If a driving tour isn't your speed, a hike along side a levada - a traditional irrigation canal - might be a great outdoor activity for you as well!
Some Hotel Recommendations
I've included some hotel recommendations in case you need lodging as well:
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