Funchal is the capital of the Madeira Islands and is said to be named after the copious amounts of fennel that grow on her shores. The city is fairly small and is easily explored on foot, it is the perfect place for couples old and young to discover the history of these Islands and share a relaxing and romantic getaway together.
Things to do and see:
- Santa Maria Ship – Take this chance to experience travel on a fifteenth century galleon ship. This ship is a replica of Columbus’s ship and is has a crew in full pirate dress on board to attend to your needs. The ship sails daily and has a bar and refreshments on board.
- Markets – Usually at weekends, but occasionally during the week you will find traditional markets where you can pick up many bargains as well as local produce. The markets sell many products including fruit, veg, toys, clothes, books, CD’s and DVD’s.
- Surfing – The potential for surfing around the Madeira Islands has only been recognised in the last few years but surfing is now becoming a more common and celebrated sport on the Island. The waters receive swells from the North Atlantic Ocean and as a result enjoy many waves including point breaks and reef breaks.
- Nature – Funchal has many beautiful gardens including The Japanese Garden which is home to birds, animals and fish and is as good as a trip to the Orient. The Monte Tropical Gardens is also well worth a visit and houses over 100,000 different species of plant from all over the world.
Getting there: Once you have arrived on the Madeira Islands, transport to Funchal is easy and readily available. You have the option of taxis, a bus service that costs a few Euros or alternatively keep hold of the boarding card you used for your flight and you can travel on the Aero bus from the Airport to Funchal town centre for free.
Location and weather: Funchal is located on the South Coast of the Madeira Island and the weather in Funchal is warm and pleasant most of the year. The average temperatures in the summer months are around 24˚C with temperatures reaching 30˚C. The average temperatures in the winter months are around 17˚C.
Top tip: Spend an evening touring the Marina, located in the centre of Funchal it is a beautiful place to enjoy a meal.
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