Why go?
The ‘Garden Island’ of Madeira is a lush subtropical paradise like no other and it was a firm favourite of Winston Churchill, who came here to paint and to escape. Cruise into the capital of Funchal and explore a graceful city that is the perfect gateway to the island’s bountiful charms.
Cruise port location
Cruise ships dock in the main harbour. If you dock directly at the quayside the centre of the city lies just a 20 minute walk away. It’s a slightly longer walk from the outer quay.
Can I walk to any places of interest?
The dramatic Nini Design Centre overlooks Funchal’s port and is worth popping into both for its cultural interest and its restaurant. The city centre lies within walking distance along a pleasant waterfront.
Getting around
Funchal city centre is relatively flat and easy to navigate, though the island in general is famously rugged and mountainous. An efficient network of local buses snakes off around Madeira and there is also a handy cable car service up to the popular village suburb of Monte.,
