Portugal
A day in Funchal
Madeira’s capital Funchal is a vibrant city packed between the Atlantic Ocean and green mountains. Join us for a day from late breakfast until midnight through this surprising city.
Start your day at Mercado dos Lavradores
We start our day at the Mercado dos Lavradores. The perfect place to stroll around, watch the flower and fruit stands and even taste some local fruits like “ananas-banana” which basically tasted like a mix between pineapple and banana. Grab a late breakfast of early lunch at A Confeitaria [no.mercado]. We would highly recommend the focaccia with grilled vegetables. And of course… a pastel de nata!
Take the cable car to Monte
Feel like a bird and fly over the terracotta roofs of thousands of houses all the way to the top of the mountain to a village called Monte.
Monte Palace Madeira
Selected as one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world, Monte Palace Madeira is a must visit while visiting Funchal. Stroll along the bridges and narrow alleys between the most epic trees and plants. The eyecatcher of this park is the old palace right in the middle. You’ll need +/- 2h to discover the gardens.
The famous sleighs of Monte
One of the most famous attractions in Funchal are the sleighs of Monte. These old wooden sleighs are being pushed from the hill over the narrow and steep roads of the village. It’s for thrill seekers but still mainstream enough that many family’s dare to do it.
Take the cable car back to the city
Rua de Santa Maria & the yellow fort
Back down in the city we head over to the Rua de Santa Maria. In this narrow street you’ll find over 200 doors painted by local artists. At the end of this street you’ll stumble on a big yellow fort overlooking the ocean. After which you can walk back to the city center via the boardwalk.
Fine dining at Kampo
We’ll end our day at Kampo. This fine dining restaurant is the perfect place to taste local specialties with a twist. We went for a 4 course discovery menu selected by the chef. Make sure to taste some local wine paired with the dishes!
