Cruise ships visiting Madeira dock in the harbour of Funchal, located on the island's south coast.
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From the ship it is a 20 minute uphill walk into town, the pavement is uneven and the walk not recommended for wheelchair users. Taxis from the ship to the centre of town are €7.50 per taxi.
The cable car station located at Av. do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses, 9060-190 Funchal. It's only a quick 6 minute drive or an enjoyable half-hour walk from the cruise port.
Can you walk down from Funchal cable car? Depending on how quick or slow, it is a steep hill down and most seem to do it in about 30 minutes, but there are several very nice cafes on the way own to break the walk up.
Madeira is totally doable without a car, so if like me you don't drive, you're going to be pleased with how decent the bus system is for seeing plenty of the island. For the bits that are harder to achieve by bus, there are plenty of minibus private tours, but more on that later…
Walking Tours in Funchal, PortugalCreating your own self-guided walk in Funchal is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Moderate / high difficulty if you walking down (some walk the other way!). We took funicular (one-way 11 euro) to the top (Monte) and then walked the trail all the way down to Funchal. The first 1 km is a stone road. Then approximately 2km of steps in clay, often very steep.
Most places in Madeira do take cards, but you'll need some cash for buses, and I've heard that some of the cable cars only take cash too (the cable car from the promenade in Funchal does take cards). The small shops and cafes I visited all took cards but it's best to have some money just in case.
Located in Funchal, the Complexo Balnear do Lido, open year round, is a place for swimming enthusiasts, either in the sea or in a saltwater pool. Formosa Beach - A long beach that combines pebble and sandy areas, offering a complete swimming experience along the coast of Funchal.
With the privilege of being a little closer to the sky, they can then safely and peacefully contemplate the rugged profile of this volcanic island. The Funchal Cable Car and the Botanical Garden Cable Car, which connect the city of Funchal to the parish of Monte, are a must on any tour around the island of Madeira.
Funchal is generally considered safe for female travelers. The city is known for its friendly locals and low crime rate. Women should still take the usual precautions when traveling, such as avoiding walking alone at night and keeping valuables out of sight.
We went in April and whilst I agree that Madeira is a stunning island particularly in the interior we found it much cooler than the Canaries at the same time of year. It depends what you want in a holiday but you only need to look at how green the island is to realise that there must be significant rainfall.
Cruise Ships ActivityThe movement of cruise ships in the Autonomous Region of Madeira is quite intense. During the high season it is common for several ships to arrive and depart from the port of Funchal every day, attracting tourists to discover the beauties of the island.