Madeira
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Madeira - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Sort by:
51 Recommendations
{{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }}
0 Recommendations
Loading...
-
21. Casa Colombo Museo do Porto Santo
In his former home, this small museum is dedicated to the life of explorer Christopher Columbus. You can visit his restored kitchen and bedroom, look at maps of his journeys, and gape at treasures from a Dutch boat that sank off Porto Santo in 1724.
Travessa da Sacristia 2–4, 9400-176, Portugal291 983 405Sight Details
Rate Includes: €2, Closed Mon. -
22. Casa-Museu Frederico de Freitas
This delightful rose-colored museum has been renovated in the style of a 19th-century quinta (country estate). You can find antique furniture, hand-woven carpets, and paintings collected by the Madeirian lawyer and world traveler Frederico de Freitas, who resided here in the early 20th century. Don't miss the adjacent Casa dos Azulejos, a museum dedicated to decorative tiles from Spain, Persia, Turkey, Holland, and Syria that date from medieval times to the 19th century, as well as Portuguese tiles rescued from demolished buildings on the island.
Calçada de Santa Clara 7, Funchal, Madeira, 9000-036, Portugal291 202 570Sight Details
Rate Includes: €3, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
23. Casino da Madeira
Located inside the Pestana Casino Park, this betting house was designed by the world-renowned Brazilian modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer. You must be at least 18 years old to enter, although children are permitted in the Bahia restaurant. Dress is smart casual (no beach sandals allowed). There's also a dance club downstairs called the Copacabana, which holds neon light-filled parties—often with live Brazilian music—on weekend nights.
Av. do Infante, Funchal, Madeira, 9004-513, Portugal291 140 424Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
24. Engenhos da Calheta
Dating back to the 19th century, this working sugar cane factory is at its liveliest in April and May, right after the harvest that leaves a honey-like scent hanging in the air. You can take a self-guided tour to see how the local rums and liqueurs are made, then sample a few in the tasting room for a small fee.
Av. Dom Manuel I 29, 9370-135, Portugal291 822 264Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
25. Engenhos do Norte
A visit to the working sugar cane mill is a reminder that the industry once played a pivotal role in the region. The mill operates during April and May, immediately after the sugar cane harvest, but a visit any time of year will let you see the various stages of the steam-driven production. After walking around the mill, you can finish up in the Rum House to sample some of the beverages made with the crop.
Rua do Cais 6, Porto da Cruz, Madeira, 9225-050, Portugal291 742 935Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
26. Fonte da Areia
Near the village of Camacha, this spring once had the purest water on the island, which is why it was used for medical treatments. The water does not spring forth with such abundance today, but is still considered sacred by locals. To reach the spring, drive west out of the village along the coastal road.
Fonte da Areia, PortugalSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
27. Fortaleza de São João Baptista do Pico
It's a steep walk to get to the fortress, but it's worth the effort for the dazzling views of Funchal. The Fort of the Peak was built in 1611 to protect the settlement against pirate attacks. Today, you can view parts of the ramparts, as well as visit a small museum that has prints of the building over the years on display. A coffee shop with great views over the city offers a chance to refuel before heading back down the hill.
Calçada do Pico, Funchal, Madeira, 9000-206, Portugal291 645 377Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sat. and Sun. -
28. Fortaleza de São Tiago
The robust yellow fortaleza dates to 1614, if not earlier, when French corsairs began to threaten Funchal's coveted deepwater harbor. Thanks to continuous use—by British troops when their nation was allied with Portugal against Napoléon, and during the visit of Portuguese King Dom Carlos in 1901—much of the military stronghold has been preserved, though it's now a bit decrepit. You can wander around the ramparts, which offer interesting views over the old town and sea below.
Rua do Portão de São Tiago, Funchal, Madeira, 9060-250, Portugal291 213 340Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. and Sun., Free -
29. Grutas de São Vicente
Just outside the village of São Vicente, you'll find a series of underground caves formed during Madeira's last volcanic eruption around 890,000 years ago. Half-hour tours led by enthusiastic guides descend about 1 km (½ mile) into the chocolate-colored rock caverns. Next door, the Centro do Vulcanismo is a slightly dated but still interesting interactive exhibition detailing the region's volcanic past, complete with a 3-D film that transports you to the center of the earth. Note that the caves are currently closed for maintenance and scheduled to reopen in 2023, so check before you visit. Dress appropriately: it's slippery underfoot and you'll often get dripped on from above.
Sitio do Pé do Passo, 9240-039, Portugal291 842 404Sight Details
Rate Includes: €8 -
30. Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte
A peek into the cool interior of this hilltop church reveals several ornate carved golden altar pieces, a grand organ, and gilded chapels decorated with colorful azulejo tiles. The tiny statue above the altar was found by a shepherdess in the nearby town of Terreira da Luta in the 15th century and has become the patron saint of Madeira. The church also contains the tomb of Emperor Charles I of Austria, the last Hapsburg monarch. He was exiled to Madeira, developed pneumonia, and died on the island in 1922. Standing in front of the church rewards you with dramatic views of the city and ocean.
Rampa da Sacristia 1, Monte, Madeira, 9050-208, Portugal291 783 877Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
31. Madeira Story Centre
Fun for children, this museum is a great introduction to Madeira for first-time visitors. It's not high tech, but a series of models, paintings, archival footage, and multimedia displays explain the history and culture of the island, from volcanic beginnings through the days of pirates to the flying boats that brought the first plane passengers to Funchal. There's a rooftop terrace with fine views over town—including the cable car that glides past—as well as a souvenir shop, café, and daily activities for kids.
Rua Dom Carlos I 27–29, Funchal, Madeira, 9060-051, Portugal291 639 081Sight Details
Rate Includes: €5 -
32. Miradouro da Portela no Porto Santo
One of your first stops on Porto Santo should be at the Portela viewpoint, which overlooks the harbor, the town, and the long ribbon of beach. Nearby is the hilltop Capela de Nossa Senhora da Graça, one of the oldest churches on the island, dating back to 1851.
Portela, PortugalSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
33. Miradouro do Pico das Flores
This scenic overlook at the end of a bumpy ride off the far western end of the beach offers dramatic panoramic views of the uninhabited islet of Ilhéu de Ferro rising out of the turquoise water. Look to the west and you can also see the main island of Madeira on a clear day.
Pico das Flores, PortugalSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
34. MUDAS. Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Madeira
On a cliff top just outside Calheta, Casa das Mudas is the unlikely setting for one of Madeira's leading art galleries. The museum is split between a 16th-century home that once belonged to the granddaughter of famed Portuguese explorer João Gonçalves and a dramatic modern building of interlocking cubes. The gallery has hosted exhibits featuring the works of Picasso, Dalí, and Francis Bacon, as well as the works of acclaimed local artists. Even if you don't go inside, it's worth visiting for its pristine location.
Rua Simão Gonçalves de Câmara 37, 9370-139, Portugal291 820 900Sight Details
Rate Includes: €4, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
35. Museu CR7
Dedicated to Madeiran soccer megastar Cristiano Ronaldo, this museum attracts huge numbers of fans of all ages and nationalities who flock here to admire the player's many awards and trophies, watch some of his many footballing highlights, and even pose for photos with computer-generated images of CR7 himself. Outside, a giant statue (which made headlines when many people questioned its resemblance to Ronaldo) is an obligatory free photo opportunity for any visiting sports fans.
View Tours and ActivitiesAv. Sá Carneiro, Funchal, Madeira, 9004-518, Portugal291 639 880Sight Details
Rate Includes: €5, Closed Sat. and Sun. -
36. Museu da Baleia
This innovative museum tells the story of Caniçal's whaling-focused past and conservation-minded present through exhibits of antique fishing implements, vintage photographs of fishermen, and life-size replicas of whales and dolphins. If you have kids, opt for the 3-D movie that takes you under the sea inside a submarine.
Rua Garcia Moniz 1, Caniçal, Madeira, 9200-031, Portugal291 961 858Sight Details
Rate Includes: €10, Closed Mon. -
37. Museu da Quinta das Cruzes
Once the home of a Genoese wine-shipping family, the 17th-century building and grounds of this museum are as impressive as its collection of antique furniture, paintings, drawings, sculpture, and ceramics. Of special interest are the palanquins—lounge chairs once used to carry the grand ladies of colonial Madeira around town. Don't miss the small garden filled with ancient stone columns, window frames, arches, and tombstone fragments rescued from buildings that have been demolished around the island. It also has an alluring café.
Calçada do Pico 1, Funchal, Madeira, 9000-206, Portugal291 740 670Sight Details
Rate Includes: €3, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
38. Museu de Arte Sacra
Funchal's Museum of Sacred Art has Flemish paintings, polychrome wood statues, and other treasures displayed in a former bishop's palace. Most of the priceless paintings were commissioned by the first merchants of Madeira, who traded sugar for Flemish art so they could decorate their private chapels. The Adoration of the Magi was painted in 1518 for a wealthy trader from Machico and was paid for not in gold, but in sugar. You can tell how important this commodity was to the island by examining Funchal's coat of arms: it depicts five loaves of sugar in the shape of a cross. The museum offers guided tours in English on Wednesday and Thursday at 11 am.
Rua do Bispo 21, Funchal, Madeira, 9000-073, Portugal291 228 900Sight Details
Rate Includes: €7; guided tour €10, Closed Sun. -
39. Museu de História Natural do Funchal
The Funchal Natural History Museum, the oldest museum in Madeira, displays more than 41,000 specimens of animals and plant life found on Madeira and in its seas—including a ferocious-looking collection of stuffed sharks. Attached is a small aquarium where you can watch the graceful movements of an octopus and view a family of sea turtles. The museum is just a short walk from the city center, near the Sao Pedro Church.
Rua Mouraria 31, Funchal, Madeira, 9004-546, Portugal291 229 761Sight Details
Rate Includes: €3.98, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
40. Palácio de São Lourenço
Built in the 17th century as Madeira's first fortress, the St. Lawrence Palace is still used as a military headquarters. If you make an appointment in advance, you can see the grand ballroom and other state rooms filled with sumptuous works of art and antique furniture.
Av. João Gonçalves Zarco 1, Funchal, Madeira, 9001-902, Portugal291 202 530Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sat. and Sun.
-
{{ (numCurrentPage-1)*numPageLimit+index+1 }}.
{{ item.neighborhood }} | {{ item.first_keyword }}{{ item.review }}
{{ item.address }}{{ item.phone[0] }}{{ item.details.title }} Details
{{ item.details.content.toString() }}View Tours and Activities -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
No sights Results
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName }} Sights in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:
