Madeira Day trips – Madeira Itinerary for a day in Funchal.
Madeira is a wonderful port stop, full of Portuguese warmth and charm.
The options for day trips in Madeira are many and varied. It’s a great cruise stop off as the ships pull in to the main city and it’s easy to navigate yourself.
We’ve put together itineraries for a day in Madeira if your port stop is Funchal. Enjoy them as they are or mix and match to create your own perfect port stop.
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Table of Contents
1. Flying high {minimum 4 hours} – Madeira Day trips
The Cable Car ride in Funchal is one of the best day trips in Madeira and can give you a fantastic overview to the city.
Taking around twenty minutes the terminal is very close to the port so easy to walk along to. Or you can take a public bus along the sea front.
The cable car isn’t as scary as some as it works its way upwards along with the land so you are never too far from the ground.
Take a combination ticket for Monte Palace Tropical Gardens at the top which are a beautiful shaded space if it’s hot.
There’s a lovely cafe here too to sit and have some coffee and cake for a while.
When you’re ready to return either take the cable car straight back to the bottom. Or if you’re feeling daring you can take the toboggan run where you will be whizzed down the hill by two men who steer the sledge effortlessly.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the toboggan doesn’t go all the way to the bottom and it’s a long walk back to the port so worth taking a taxi or bus back to the seafront.
Book your skip-the-line cable car & Botanical Gardens ticket here
2. Taking to the seas {3.5 hours} – Madeira Itinerary for a day in Funchal
Take the Santa Maria de Colombo, a reconstruction of Christopher Colombus’s ship. It heads out of Funchal port daily at 10.30 and 3pm (check times below).
The three-hour trip will take you along the side of Madeira’s coastline. It will give you a great view of the island and on summer days will dock so you can swim in the sea alongside the boat.
In the winter as well as other seasons the Santa Maria is out looking for dolphins and whales in the sea here.
It’s a great, fun trip for all the family. Make sure you’re at the boat at least 15 minutes before it’s due to set sail.
Book your skip-the-line tickets to the Santa Maria de Colombo here
3. Enjoy some retail therapy {3 hours} – Madeira port stop
Funchal city centre is easy to get to and a trip to the covered market in the old town is a great way to soak up some of the atmosphere of the island.
Downstairs are flowers and plants and upstairs the fruits and vegetables. The large selection of passion fruits are particularly lovely.
After you’re all shopped out make your way to Reids. The most famous of hotels on the island and well known for its afternoon tea on the terrace overlooking the sea.
It’s the perfect location to enjoy some time relaxing and enjoying the warmth of this island.
4. Hit the water park {2 hours} – Madeira Day trips
Kids will love the Santa Maria de Colombo boat or the cable car (and most definitely the toboggan). But if you’re looking for somewhere really easy then head for Aquaparque water park.
This is the perfect place to cool off and relax and the kids will absolutely love it. It’s inexpensive compared to many European waterparks and whilst it’s not huge it’s a great place to spend a couple of hours fairly close to the port.
5. Make it to the north of the island {flexible times} – Funchal port stop
If you would like to see more of the island but not on one of the cruise’s official tours then take a tour with a Madeira based operator.
We took a northern tour and it was wonderful to get off the beaten track.
In an hour you can be on the north coast (which we found in winter often had better weather than Funchal and the south).
Here are lava pools to swim in, traditional Madeiran houses to spot and little local restaurants to enjoy.
Book your tickets in advance here
Top Tips – what to eat – Madeira Itinerary for a day in Funchal
Try and grab some pastel de nata. The Portuguese custard tart that is creamy and delicious.
Any bakery or patisserie will sell them.
Also look out for Bola de Caco. There are a number of shops selling this round, flat bread in Funchal and it is typical on the island.
It comes stuffed with ham or cheese, smothered in garlic or best of all chocolate and is delicious.
Top Tips – what to buy on a Madeira Day trips
Madeira is well-known for its lace with Bordal being the most famous. There are some lovely examples of it in the shops near the port.
You can buy traditional tablecloths and napkins but their bedspreads are particularly beautiful.
There are plenty of shops that sell Madeira wine or the rums made on the island.
We found even in the ‘Spa’ shops there was a little selection of local foods and drinks at good prices.
If you have longer to spend on the island you can read our winter’s stay on Madeira with kids. Also see more detail of some of these activities there and watch our video of our time on the island.
We also visited Madeira on our P&O cruise to Madeira, the Canary Islands and Lisbon which you can read about here.
We’d love to know if this is useful or if you’ve found any other places we should include on our port stops to Funchal, Madeira post.
An ultimate guide to Portugal with kids
I’ve never been to Madeira before but it looks beautiful! What a gorgeous place to visit x
Madeira seems to be fast becoming a new hot spot, seems beautiful.
That cable car looks like the kind of thing that would scare me rigid but I bet my kids would adore it!
My mum has a time share here and she absolutely loves it and wishes she went more than once a year 🙂
I have never been but I do love a good Portuguese Tart, they are delicious x
I’d love to visit Madeira one day! Those flat breads look and sound amazing
Madeira is on my travel bucket list so it’s great to see a day to day iternary. I don’t know much about the island other than it’s so pretty so I’ll save this post for future reference!
What an amazing view to see whilst in a cable car. I need to do this trip!
Never been but it looks so fun and awesome! Great pics and nice write up!