Why is Funchal famous?

With grand botanical gardens and impressive ocean panoramas from weathered palaces, the city rises up the mountainous hills to make the most of the splendid natural setting. Funchal is also the gateway to the rest of Madeira island's nature-laden attractions, with the archipelago's principal port and airport.



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The laid-back city owes much of its historical prominence to white gold, Madeiran sugar. Today Funchal is known for its appealing temperatures, wine and crafts.

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Madeira is renowned for its landscapes, lore—and its legendary wine, which graced the tables of America's Founding Fathers.

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Breathtaking Scenery. It may surprise you to hear that Madeira is actually quite often compared to North America's dream destination of Hawaii. We'd have to agree that the Portuguese island does bear many resemblances to the Aloha State, among which include its lush landscapes and awe-inspiring scenery.

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Madeira is renowned for its landscapes, lore—and its legendary wine, which graced the tables of America's Founding Fathers.

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Natural Beauty: Madeira is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, including lush green valleys, rugged coastlines, and majestic mountains. The island's diverse scenery offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities and a high quality of life for nature enthusiasts.

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Madeira is geologically located on the African Tectonic Plate, although it is culturally, politically and ethnically associated with Europe, with its population predominantly descended from original Portuguese settlers. Its population was 251,060 in 2021.

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The official language spoken in the Madeira archipelago is Portuguese, but a majority of the local population is proficient in English, especially in the more tourist-heavy spots.

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Madeira is located on the eastern coast of Atlantic Ocean, about 600 km distant from Maroko and 1000 km from Portugal. Even though Madeira is closer to Africa than it is to Europe, it belongs to Portugal as one of its two autonomous regions.

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The average standard of living tends to be a bit lower than in mainland Portugal, and the local autonomous government gives generous subsidies coming from the tourist industry revenues and from the Portuguese national budget. Go where the locals go and everything will be cheap.

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The favorable climate of the island also contributed to the land thrive, and wheat production has become one of the greatest wealth of the island. This cereal was exported on a large scale for the Portuguese possessions on the African coast, giving thus the first cycle of Madeira economic history.

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Amazing and stable weather denotes April through November as the best time to visit Madeira. April to mid-June is known for price cuts and moderate crowds. This period can offer you unforgettable hiking among lush green vegetation, and you can join famous Madeira Flower Festival.

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Walking in Madeira, especially Funchal is easy, although there are streets such as Rua de Santa Maria and others in the Zona Velha (Old Town) that are cobblestoned. We recommend comfortable walking shoes and take water with you.

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Poncha is the most well-known alcoholic drink on the island, made with sugar cane brandy, sugar and lemon juice. But, in addition to the traditional version, there are other versions that are worth trying.

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The capital of Madeira is the perfect city to explore at your own pace. Walking around Funchal is always a pleasant experience, as the green of the mountains and the blue of the ocean accompany you while you discover this city by the sea.

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Madeira's national currency is Euro (EUR), which comes in denominations of 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€, 100€, 200€ and 500€ notes. Coins come in 1, 2,5, 10, 20 and 50 cent and one and two euros denominations. Banks are open from 8:30 am to 15:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

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If you don't already know, Funchal is the capital city of a magical Portuguese island archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic known as Madeira.

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How about Madeira? Geographically (and weatherwise) it's closer to Africa than Europe… just 500km west of Casablanca in fact, though it's technically Portugal and about a three-hour flight from London. Funchal is the island's only real city.

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Many emigrated illegally to escape military service and avoid the wars in the colonies (Angola and Mozambique), and also because they could not afford the high cost of the emigration process by legal means.

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Madeira in general isn't an expensive place to live. Housing, transport, and food are quite affordable for expats staying in Madeira longer term.

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The Portuguese have three meals a day, between 7:30 and 10 a.m. we have breakfast, consisting of drinking coffee or fruit juice with toast or a sandwich. The main meals are lunch, between 12:00 and 2:30 p.m., and dinner between 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.

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Liquid creations. Poncha is Madeira's signature cocktail, traditionally thrown back by Portuguese fishers to keep the lurgy at bay.

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Madeira wine is fortified with brandy during fermentation to raise its alcoholic content to 18–20 percent.

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