Island gardens, levadas & Madeira wine
Funchal
Funchal · Flower-filled capital of Madeira
The capital of the subtropical island of Madeira, Funchal spills down volcanic slopes in a blaze of flowers, terraced gardens and cliffside miradouros. Cable cars, wicker toboggans and levada trails make it an outdoor wonderland mid-Atlantic.
Top sightsSights
Monte cable car & toboggan
Ride up, then slide down in a wicker basket sled.
Botanical Garden
Terraced gardens of exotic subtropical plants.
Cabo Girão skywalk
A glass platform atop one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs.
Mercado dos Lavradores
A tiled market of tropical fruit, flowers and fish.
Levada walks
Trails following the island’s historic irrigation channels.
What to eatFood
Espetada
Beef skewers grilled over bay-laurel wood.
Bolo do caco
A flat sweet-potato bread served with garlic butter.
Madeira wine
The island’s famous fortified wine, sweet to dry.
Good to know
- Levada hikes range from easy strolls to vertigo-inducing trails.
- Try poncha, the local sugarcane-and-honey drink.
- New Year fireworks over the bay are world-famous.
Getting there
Funchal is reached by air; its clifftop airport has frequent flights from Lisbon and Europe.
Next city
Lisbon