Funchal Travel Forum

We're in Funchal one day in November....on a Saturday.
I know we could walk around on our own, take the cable, visit Monte, do the toboggan down, visit the market and a wine lodge, have lunch and spend a leisurely
day. Another option is to hire a private taxi for 3-4 hours and still do a few of the above.

A third choice is to go touring for the entire day with Strawberry World Tours.
They offer East OR West:

BEST OF THE WEST - Full Day Tour € 29 per person
This tour departs from the Monumental Lido 09.00 hrs - Camara de Lobos - Cabo Girão - Ribeira Brava - Encumeada - São Vicente - Seixal - Porto Moniz - Paúl da Serra - Bica da Cana - Return to Monumental Lido

BEST OF THE EAST - Full Day Tour € 29 per person
This tour departs from the Monumental Lido 09.00 hrs - Camacha - Poiso - Pico do Arieiro -Ribeiro Frio - Santana - Faial - Porto da Cruz - Portela - Ponta São Lourenço - Santa Cruz Return to Monumental Lido

ANY THOUGHTS ON HOW TO BEST SPEND THE DAY?????

Thanks,
Karen

Hi

I would stay in Funchal there is lots of nice things to see for a day. Try to look at the Funchal page here on VT it will give an idea of things to do.

;-) Have fun

If you've got a good few hours to a full day, it would be more fun and make good travel sense to try to see more of Madeira than just hanging out in Funchal. Take a tour or you could very well design a tour on your own to areas that would interest you most by hiring a private cab/driver at your own pace and schedule. Consult the main tourist office in Funchal and they'd be glad to offer sensible advice. The small fishing villages, hill towns and tranquil places on the island are quite rewarding beyond the small city concept of Funchal. But give an hour or two as well exclusively to Funchal, it's a very charming place. Don't miss a tour of the wine bodegas, as well as a quick trip to the rioteous but highly colourful local market. Happy trails.

If the best of the west is going to cost you 29 euros pp I would definetely do that one. Thats a pretty cheap price and that has to be an eight hour tour. But you may not be able to do the toboggan ride it all depends on how long your in port.

The Cabo Girao is really breathtaking

And you'll love the drive up there.

if u stay in funchal u dont really c madeira.do either the west or east tours with strawberry world. the west is probably the most scenic but the east is also very nice and u visit santana where u will c the traditional madeiran thatched houses.the coaches r very comfortable and there is plenty of legroom.might have to put up with a joint english/german commentary but that's not much of a problem.did both tours a couple of weeks ago.

if u stay in funchal u dont really c madeira.do either the west or east tours with strawberry world. the west is probably the most scenic but the east is also very nice and u visit santana where u will c the traditional madeiran thatched houses.the coaches r very comfortable and there is plenty of legroom.might have to put up with a joint english/german commentary but that's not much of a problem.did both tours a couple of weeks ago.