Sights and ideas for your own trip to Madeira

Madeira Excursions and Tickets

- Cruise Ship Berths

As a rule, the cruise ships moor at the long South Pier and/or the North Pier in Funchal. However, if these berths are already reserved and occupied by other cruise ships, it can also happen that the ship is anchored on site, i.e. the own ship is lying at anchor. In this case, the guests are brought ashore by tender boats. This often means that excursions or shore excursions undertaken on your own may be delayed. In order to be able to keep to the time schedules of the tours booked and carried out with the respective shipping companies, these excursionists are preferably brought ashore first. At the berths in the island's capital, there is a tourist information stand that is open for a few hours after the arrival of a ship. Normally, there are also plenty of taxis waiting at the pier, some of which offer round trips as well as normal trips. As a rule, fixed prices are charged, but in most cases they are negotiable. Round trips and transfers with vintage cars and vintage buses are also offered at the pier.

- Tourist Information

A little to the north and not far from Funchal Marina is the Tourist Information Office at Avenida Arriaga 18. The almost adjacent city centre, with its many shops, is close by and easy to reach on foot. The distance from the berths of the South Pier to the centre is about 1.5 kilometres.

- Public Transport

Funchal has a fairly well-developed bus network. The yellow buses of Horarios do Funchal mainly operate in the city area. To reach other places on Madeira, you can also use one of the intercity buses, which are also operated by other companies. Most of the bus routes, including the sightseeing buses, meet in Avenida do Mar, opposite Funchal Marina and close to the cable car station. As there is no unified transport network, each operator sells its own tickets. However, these can also be purchased from the driver in the buses and are only valid on that bus. A new ticket must be purchased when changing buses. 

Bus operator:

- Horarios do Funchal

- Bus Network Horarios do Funchal

Bus operator intercity Madeira: 

- Sam

- Rodoeste

- EACL

- Horarios do Funchal

Excursion offers and admission tickets from

GetYourGuide

further tours and transfers...

- City Tours

Hop On Hop Off bus lines are also available to explore Funchal. Due to different providers, yellow and red buses are on different tours. The stops of the red buses of City Sightseeing are distributed over two routes. The blue line makes a total of 11 stops, including as far as Monte and Livramento. The buses run daily from 09:45-17:15 and take 60 minutes to make one round. The red line, on the other hand, stops at 21 stations and takes 90 minutes for a complete round. It is on tour daily from 09:30-17:00. The common start is in the immediate vicinity of the marina on Avenida do Mar. The city tours start every 20 minutes. The round of the yellow double-decker buses lasts 85 minutes and has stops at 23 stations. Every day from 09:00-17:30, these buses leave every 30 minutes from the Avenida do Mar street.

- Yellow Bus Ticket

- Ronaldo Museum

The Museu Cristiano Ronaldo is located at the harbour. For fans of the footballer born in Funchal in 1985, a visit is almost obligatory. It is not particularly large, but displays many interesting things such as certificates, trophies, pictures, jerseys and interactive screens. It is also possible to have your picture taken with your idol. This is done electronically via a screen or you can use your wax likeness. The exhibition is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00-18:00 and costs 5 euros per person. 

- Museu Cristiano Ronaldo

- Tuk Tuk Tour and CR7 Museum Entry

- City Park

From the beautifully landscaped grounds of Santa Catarina Park, you get a good view of the moorings. The park, which is located on a hill and open to the public, is fenced in but still open daily from 07:00-21:00. The main access is on Av. Do Infante, right by the bus stop. The green areas include shade trees, sculptures, a pond, a small chapel and a playground.

- Madeira's History

The Madeira Story Centre is located near the Funchal cable car station. The museum provides information on the history of Madeira, from the origins of settlement to modern times. The integrated restaurant offers local cuisine on the renovated roof terrace. Souvenirs are available in the shop, although prices are usually somewhat higher than in the surrounding area. The museum is open daily from 09:00-19:00 and admission is 5 euros per person.. 

- Madeira Story Centre

- Funchal-Monte Cable Car

Near the shore is the valley station of the Cable Car, Teleferico Funchal - Monte. It takes about 30 minutes to get there on foot from the South Pier. A ride up to Monte takes 15 minutes. Once at the top and during the ride, you have a great view of Funchal. From here you can take another cable car to the Botanical Gardens, explore the surroundings, enjoy the view, visit the tropical garden or take the famous basket sledges on the way back. When you enter the gondola, photos are taken, which you can then purchase at the top station. The cable car operates daily from 09:00-17:45 and the cost of a ride is 10 euros per person. The return fare is 15 euros. Children aged 7 to 14 pay half price. In addition, combined tickets for the botanical garden, for the tropical garden and for the Yellow Bus sightseeing tours are offered. Monte is also accessible by the yellow city buses on routes 20, 21, 22 and 48. For example, in Funchal there is a stop on bus no.21, not far from the Electricity Museum on the street Rua 31 de Janeiro. In Monte, a stop is located at the Sanctuary Park. 

- Cable Car Teleferico Funchal – Monte

- Monte - Botanical Garden Cable Car

Another cable car, the Teleferico Jardim Botanico, takes you from Monte to the Botanical Garden, which is well worth seeing. This cable car operates daily from 09:00-17:00. A single ride costs 8.25 euros per person and direction. Children aged 7 to 14 pay 4.15 euros. A return ticket costs 12.75 euros per adult and 6.40 euros per child. Combined tickets for the botanical garden and for the use of both cable cars are also available. 

- Cable Car Teleferico Monte – Botanical Garden

- Ticket for the cable car at the Botanical Garden

- Botanical Garden

The gardens of the Botanical Garden (Jardim Botanico) were laid out over an area of 35,000 square metres and opened in 1960. They are located about 200 to 350 metres above sea level and offer an enormous variety of plants. On the grounds, which are divided into five sections, is a former manor house that houses a museum of natural history, the Natural History Museum. The botanical garden is open daily from 09:00-18:00. In the summer months until 20:00. Buses on routes 29, 31 and 31A stop nearby. Admission costs €5.50 each for adults and €2 each for people up to the age of 18. Children under 6 are admitted free of charge. 

- Botanical Garden

- Monte Church with a View

The pilgrimage Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, inaugurated in 1818, rises impressively above Monte. The window painting in the high altar depicts the Virgin Mary. In a side aisle is the tomb of the last Austro-Hungarian emperor, Charles of Habsburg. After climbing a few steps, you get a great view of the city and the harbour from the accessible roof. Recommended in good weather.

- Tropical Garden

The very well-maintained and extensive Tropical Garden Jardim do Monte Palace, is located in the immediate vicinity of the sanctuary. An eastern entrance can be found directly opposite the cable car, at the mountain station (Caminho do Monte 174). The impressive complex is open daily from 09:30-18:00. Admission costs 12.50 euros per person from the age of 15. Children under 15 and accompanied by a paying adult are admitted free of charge. A park map with lots of interesting information is available at the ticket office. The Monte Palace Museum is integrated into the park. No additional fees are charged for a visit. The two permanent exhibitions worth seeing are African Passion and Mother Nature Secrets. 

- The Tropical Garden of Funchal

- Basket Sleigh Ride

Halfway back from Monte you can take the famous Basket Sledges, which can be found at the foot of the stairs to the church of Nossa Senhora do Monte. The ride is 2 kilometres and takes about 10 minutes. The sledges are each driven by two carreiros. The men, dressed in white, skilfully steer the vehicle through the sometimes narrow, public alleys and streets. You are photographed during the ride. You can buy the photo and other souvenirs at the destination in Livramento. The rest of the way back can be done on foot (magnificent views), by bus or taxi. A single trip with the basket sled costs 25 euros, two people 30 euros and a maximum of three people 45 euros. It is quite cramped in the sledge. The basket sleds do not run on Sundays.

- Museum of Sacred Art

The Museum of Sacred Art, Museu de Arte Sacra is located at Rua do Bispo 21, in the centre of Funchal. The building of the small museum was constructed as early as the 16th century and also houses many exhibits from that time. It is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00-12:30 and from 14:00-18:00.

- Portuguese Collections

The Quinta das Cruzes Museum on the Calçada do Pico shows exhibits from past times in its exhibition rooms. Portuguese sculptures, paintings and furniture from the 17th to the 19th century are exhibited here. There is also a collection of silver and Chinese porcelain on display. It is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00-12:30 and from 14:00-17:30. Sunday from 10:00-13:00.

- Electricity Museum

An Electricity Museum is located at Rua da Casa da Luz 2, in a building of the former thermal power station. The Museu de Electricidade documents the introduction and development of electricity on the island. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00-12:30 and from 14:00-18:00. Sunday and Monday are closed.

- Steep Cliffs with Skywalk

Near the town of Camara de Lobos, one encounters the second highest cliffs in the world. They are located west of Funchal, on the south coast of Madeira. The Cabo Girão rise almost 600 metres above sea level and also entice visitors with a glass skywalk that offers an impressive view. Easy to reach by taxi, rental car or one of the sightseeing buses. You can get down to the rocky coast by lift or cable car in Fajã dos Padres and Sitio do Rancho (Camara de Lobos).

- Excursion Portals and Excursion Providers

Via the tour and excursion providers GetYourGuide, Meine Landausflüge and Viator, you can book various excursions, activities, tours, tickets and entrance fees on Madeira, which are often offered at much lower prices than comparable excursions by the shipping companies. Thus, if you book in good time, you can realise a large number of excursions on your own.

A small pre-selection of shipping company-independent excursion offers

for, in and around Funchal,

we have put together for you here.

- Cruises and Special Offers

If you haven't booked a Canary Islands Cruise yet, but would like to get to know Madeira personally and take excursions on your own, you will find great offers from the major cruise operators in the German-speaking world. Aida, Costa and Tui Cruises - Mein Schiff offer charming itineraries with their modern cruise ships, along with other interesting destinations. Book your next dream holiday directly with your favourite cruise line at fair conditions.

All ocean and river cruises can also be booked conveniently and inexpensively online with the cruise specialist Kreuzfahrten-Zentrale Astoria. You can choose from a wide range of daily offers from various shipping companies. These include AIDA Cruises, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and TUI Cruises. The popular special offers are also attractive, with which you can travel particularly cheaply and possibly also get a great bargain.

Shore excursions Madeira ..... go to 2nd page

More port information of popular cruise destinations in the Canary Islands

Fuerteventure - Puerto del Rosario

Gran Canaria - Las Palmas

La Palma - Santa Cruz de la Palma

Lanzarote - Arrecife

Madeira - Funchal

Morocco - Casablanca

Tenerife - Santa Cruz de Tenerife