Funchal Holidays - Compare Prices & Departure Dates

Funchal is the main town and capital of Madeira, an island in the Atlantic Ocean which, although autonomous, is part of Portugal.

The island, known as the ‘Pearl of the Atlantic’, is 340 miles north west off coast of North Africa and has a very temperate climate, making it a favourite year-round holiday destination for British holidaymakers looking for a relaxed holiday with gentle sightseeing and walks.

Funchal is a natural harbour town dating back to the 16th century and its narrow cobble-stone walkways and streets lined with mosaics has plenty to keep tourists happy. Madeira is renowned for it’s flora, old buildings, rocky mountains and excellent seafood, not to mention the cake and wine bearing the island’s name.

The local currency is the euro and the official language is Portugese. There is no time difference between the UK and Funchal.

Both charter flights and low-cost airlines fly in to Funchal Airport (IATA code FNC) from London and regional airports in the UK. The airport is in Santa Cruz, which is around 40 minutes’ drive away from Funchal.

The flight time from London airports is around three and a half hours, whilst from Scottish airports it’s a four hour flight to reach the island.

If you go to Funchal on a package holiday, you will probably be transferred from the airport to your accommodation by coach. If you choose to travel independently, hire cars are readily available at the airport, there are taxis outside, or you can take one of the local buses.

Once in resort, the town can easily be explored on foot, but if you want to go further afield and explore the whole island, a hire car is useful, otherwise you can use the local orange buses or book up for excursions with your tour operator.

Funchal attracts those who want to take the sightseeing at their own, gentle pace whilst enjoying the warm temperatures.

Funchal isn’t really about lazing on the beach, although Praia Formose is just outside the town and offers a pebble and black sand beach and there are lidos in and around Funchal town. Many visitors prefer to wander around taking in the beautiful flower displays and gardens in the area and spending time visiting the historic buildings and museums. There is also lots of good walking routes to follow in and around Funchal, affording views over the bays.

‘Must sees’ include the 15th century Se Cathedral, the 16th century Town Hall and the Botanical Gardens. Also recommended are the Monte Palace Hotel gardens, Santa Clara convent and Sao Lourenco Palace. There are also several interesting museums and art galleries to visit in and around Funchal.

Behind the town you can take the cable car up to visit the Monte mountain village and take in the views.

On the outskirts of Funchal town is Pestana Park Resort which houses a casino built in an eye-catching modern style. If you fancy your luck you can try your hand at over 200 slot machines and seven roulette tables. Nightclubs aren’t really the thing in Funchal, but the Pestana Park does have a cabaret show and nightly entertainment as well as the casino.

If shopping is your thing, you will be pleasantly surprised by Funchal. The Madeira Shopping centre at Santa Quitera houses over 80 shops and 20 cafes, restaurants and bars, as well as having a seven screen cinema. The centre is perfect for an evening stroll as it stays open until 22:00. Next door is Microlandia with bowling and video arcade games.

Golfers will be happy too, with several golf courses on the island and equipment available to hire for visiting players.

Most of the hotels in Funchal are around the western area of the town. There is a good choice of accommodation with hotels, guest houses and self-catering options available in a varied price range.

Funchal is a good place for shopping, with lots of boutiques, craft shops and art galleries dotted around the streets of the old town. Head to the Madeira Centre, the modern indoor shopping centre just outside Funchal town centre, for the ‘High Street’ style shopping, but if you want a more authentic shopping trip, take a browse around the Funchal market.

Good quality and best value purchases include handmade leather goods including shoes, embroidery and carpets.

A part from the famous Madeira cake, the island is famous for the Sherry-like drink Madeira wine. Not far from the casino is a wine lodge which offers tours of the vineyard, a chance to see how the wine is made and, of course, taste the end result before buying some in the lodge shop.

The main focus of food in Funchal is on Madeiran and Portugese dishes, often based on seafood which is plentiful and very fresh, such as ‘espada’ (scabbard), tuna and swordfish.

Local foods to try include ‘bolo do caco’, which is a sort of chewy bread which accompanies many main meals. You’ll also often see ‘picado’ (beef and peppers) and ‘espatada’ (a sort of beef kebab) on local restaurant menus.

If you’re looking for fast food, the Madeiran equivalent is ‘prego’, which is a grilled thin slice of steak served in a bread bun.

Cakes and pastries are very much loved by the locals, so be prepared to be tempted by tasty delights such as that famous Madeira cake and ‘bolo de mel’ which is a honey and molasses cake.

You must try the Madeira wine, or for something refreshing and non-alcoholic order a ‘brisa maracuja’ which is a passion fruit nectar drink.

Overall, prices are fairly reasonable in the restaurants and bars of Funchal, where you can eat a good main course or between 10 and 15 euros. If you want to splash out, there are several gourmet and high class a la carte restaurants to try too.

Funchal enjoys a mild climate year round, with temperatures moving between 16 and 20 or so degrees. This means Madeira is a favourite destination year round for those who like the warmth, but not too hot.

The main season is from June to October, so outside of these times you’ll find accommodation is cheaper. The area does, however, get very busy at Christmas time, so accommodation prices go up and you’d need to book in advance.

• Gentle walking, sightseeing and meandering around holidays
• Relaxing
• A pleasant winter sun getaway

• Party animals
• Lazing on a beach in the scorching sun
• Those who like a full-on pace

Visit Portugal – the official Tourist Office website for Portugal, including Madeira
Madeira Tourist – a useful website with what’s on guide and holidaymaker reviews of restaurants and accommodation on the island

Funchal, the main town on the Portugese island of Madeira, is a great choice for those wanting a low-key, relaxing holiday. With beautiful gardens, coastline and old town to explore, Funchal makes for a pleasant year round destination.