Funchal today: what's on and what's open

What's on this week

From the city's culture agenda and the Region's events guide. Several days a month the market's top floor holds a themed fair (antiques, handcraft, gastronomy, fashion), 09:00–17:00: Levadinho says so at the top on the day.

What's open today

Market

• Mercado dos Lavradores Mon–Fri 07:00–19:00; Sat 07:00–14:00; closed: Sun, public holidays

Cable cars

• Teleférico do Funchal (Funchal – Monte) Daily 08:45–17:45; closed: Christmas Day
• Teleférico do Jardim Botânico (Monte – Jardim Botânico) Daily 09:00–17:00; closed: Christmas Day

Toboggans

• Carreiros do Monte Mon–Sat 09:00–18:00; closed: Sun, public holidays

Gardens

• Monte Palace Madeira Daily 09:00–18:00 (October–March; check other months)
• Jardim Botânico da Madeira Daily 09:00–17:30; closed: Christmas Day

Museums

• Museu Quinta das Cruzes Tue–Sat 10:00–17:30; closed: Mon, Sun, public holidays
• Casa-Museu Frederico de Freitas Tue–Sat 10:00–17:30; closed: Mon, Sun, public holidays
• Convento de Santa Clara Tue–Sat 10:00–12:30, 14:00–17:00; closed: Mon, Sun, public holidays
• Museu de Arte Sacra do Funchal Mon–Fri 10:00–17:30; Sat 10:00–13:30; closed: Sun, public holidays
• Museu A Cidade do Açúcar Mon–Fri 09:00–17:30; closed: Sat, Sun, public holidays
• Museu de História Natural do Funchal Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00; closed: Mon, some public holidays
• Museu de Fotografia da Madeira – Atelier Vicente's Tue–Sat 10:00–17:00; closed: Mon, Sun, public holidays
• Museu da Electricidade – Casa da Luz Tue–Sat 10:00–12:30, 14:00–18:00; closed: Mon, Sun, public holidays
• Fortaleza de São João Baptista do Pico Mon–Fri 10:00–12:30, 14:00–17:00; closed: Sat, Sun, public holidays
• MAMMA – A Star is Born Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00; Sun 10:00–15:00; closed: Mon, public holidays
• Design Center Nini Andrade Silva Daily 10:00–23:00; closed: public holidays
• Madeira Wine Company – Adegas de São Francisco Mon–Fri 10:00–18:30; Sat 10:00–13:00; closed: Sun, public holidays

Most public museums close on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. On a Sunday the open ones are the gardens, the cable cars, MAMMA, the Design Center and the Natural History Museum.

Lidos and the sea

• Complexo Balnear do Lido ·
• Complexo Balnear da Ponta Gorda ·
• Poças do Gomes – Doca do Cavacas ·
• Complexo Balnear da Barreirinha ·

Funchal's seafront pools are run by Frente MarFunchal. Entry: adults €6, ages 7–17 €2, under 7 free; Praia Formosa beach is free. Hours change with the season. Frente MarFunchal

The city by area

Zona Velha (Old Town)

Rua de Santa Maria and its painted doors, the Mercado dos Lavradores, the cable car station up to Monte, the Fortaleza de São Tiago and the Barreirinha lido.

The centre

The Sé cathedral, Avenida Arriaga and the Jardim Municipal, Praça do Município with the Museu de Arte Sacra, the Madeira Wine Company lodge, and the marina and Avenida do Mar on the seafront.

Up the hill (São Pedro, Santa Clara)

The Museu Quinta das Cruzes, the Convento de Santa Clara, the Casa-Museu Frederico de Freitas, the Natural History Museum, and the Fortaleza do Pico above the city.

Lido and Estrada Monumental (west)

The hotel district, the Lido and Ponta Gorda pools, and the seafront promenade on to Praia Formosa and Câmara de Lobos.

Monte (above the city)

Up by cable car from the Old Town: the Monte Palace garden, the church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, the toboggan ride down, and the second cable car to the Botanical Garden.

Getting back: last buses to the centre

Most people ride the cable car down from Monte too; the bus is the way down after the cable car stops at 17:45, or if you'd rather not pay for the ride back. You can also walk down. Times are when the last bus leaves that stop, from the Horários do Funchal timetable.

Street parking (pay-and-display) is charged Monday to Friday 08:00–20:00 and Saturday 08:00–14:00; on Sundays and public holidays it is free. Frente MarFunchal

Questions

Is the Mercado dos Lavradores open on Sunday?

No. The market opens Monday to Friday 07:00–19:00 and Saturday 07:00–14:00; it is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Which museums are open on Mondays in Funchal?

The Museu de Arte Sacra, the Museu A Cidade do Açúcar, the Fortaleza do Pico, the Madeira Wine Company lodge and the Design Center. Most other museums close on Mondays.

Is street parking free on Sundays in Funchal?

Yes. Pay-and-display street parking is charged Monday to Friday 08:00–20:00 and Saturday 08:00–14:00; on Sundays and public holidays it is free.

What time does the Monte cable car run?

Every day from 08:45 to 17:45, except Christmas Day. After that, city buses run from Monte down to the centre until late evening, or you can walk down.

Sources

Events: the city's culture agenda (cultura.funchal.pt) and the Region's events guide (eventsmadeira.com). Hours: each operator's site and the Regional Directorate for Culture. Market fairs: Mercados do Funchal. Lidos and parking: Frente MarFunchal. Weather and sea: IPMA. Buses: Horários do Funchal.