Madeira district, Madeira, Portugal

Places to visit near Funchal

Funchal is a city in Madeira district, Madeira, Portugal, home to about 100,847 people. Within 50 km by road there are 240 places to visit — 42 churches, 33 hill stations & viewpoints, 35 forts & heritage and 30 waterfalls. The must-see places are Fortaleza Do Pico (2 km), Santa Clara Church and Monastery (3 km) and Casa Museu Frederico de Freitas (3 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Funchal on the map

Funchal, Madeira
Funchal, Madeira district, Madeira, Portugal. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Funchal at a glance

Location
Madeira district, Madeira, Portugal
Population
about 100,847
Coordinates
32.6657° N, 16.9255° W
Places within 50 km
240 (64 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Funchal

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Funchal: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Funchal

Things to see near Funchal, by type

Churches near Funchal

43 churches within 100 km of Funchal. The closest is Igreja de São Roque (1 km); the best-known is Santa Clara Church and Monastery (3 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Madeira →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Funchal

36 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Funchal. The closest is Pico Dos Barcelos (2 km); the best-known is Terreiro da Luta (4 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Terreiro da Luta · viewpoint · Madeira · ~4 km · Must-see
  • Camara de Lobos · viewpoint · Madeira · ~7 km · Must-see
  • Boca Dos Namorados · viewpoint · Madeira · ~7 km · Must-see
  • Arieiro · viewpoint · Madeira · ~10 km · Must-see
  • Torres · viewpoint · Madeira · ~12 km · Must-see
  • Ruivo · viewpoint · Madeira · ~13 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Madeira →

Forts & heritage near Funchal

35 forts & heritage within 100 km of Funchal. The closest is Quinta Dom João (1 km); the best-known is Fortaleza Do Pico (2 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Madeira →

Waterfalls near Funchal

30 waterfalls within 100 km of Funchal. The closest is Pisão (4 km); the best-known is Cascata Dos Anjos (22 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Madeira →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Funchal

28 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Funchal. The closest is Botanical Garden (3 km); the best-known is Madeira Botanical Garden Engineer Rui Vieira (4 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Madeira →

Museums near Funchal

20 museums within 100 km of Funchal. The closest is Universo de Memórias João Carlos Abreu (2 km); the best-known is Casa Museu Frederico de Freitas (3 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Madeira →

A one-day trip from Funchal

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 9 km on the road.

  1. Start in Funchal
  2. 2 km Fortaleza Do Pico · heritage site, Madeira
  3. 1 km Santa Clara Church and Monastery · monastery, Madeira
  4. 1 km Casa Museu Frederico de Freitas · museum, Madeira
  5. 1 km Madeira Optics Museum · museum, Madeira
  6. 1 km Igreja de São João Evangelista Do Colégio Do Funchal · church, Madeira
  7. 3 km Back to Funchal

Plan a longer trip from Funchal — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Funchal

No traveller has reported from around Funchal yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Funchal

    All places near Funchal by distance

    Within 15 km of Funchal

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Funchal by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches4243Igreja de São Roque (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints3336Pico Dos Barcelos (2 km)
    Forts & heritage3535Quinta Dom João (1 km)
    Waterfalls3030Pisão (4 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens2628Botanical Garden (3 km)
    Museums1920Universo de Memórias João Carlos Abreu (2 km)
    Beaches & coast1717Casino da Madeira (3 km)
    Other attractions1414Madeira Toboggan (3 km)
    Caves77Lovers Cave (3 km)
    Parks66Santa Catarina Park (3 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves66Ilhéu da Forja (4 km)
    Treks33Passeio Público Marítimo (5 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs22Ribeira de João Gomes (3 km)

    Funchal: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Funchal?

    Fortaleza Do Pico (heritage site, about 2 km), Santa Clara Church and Monastery (monastery, about 3 km), Casa Museu Frederico de Freitas (museum, about 3 km), Madeira Optics Museum (museum, about 3 km), Igreja de São João Evangelista Do Colégio Do Funchal (church, about 3 km), Vicentes Photography Museum (museum, about 3 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Funchal?

    240 places on Spotwander: 42 churches, 33 hill stations & viewpoints, 35 forts & heritage, 30 waterfalls, 26 wildlife, forests & gardens.

    Which is the nearest church to Funchal?

    Igreja de São Roque, about 1 km by road; Capela da Conceição (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Funchal?

    Pico Dos Barcelos, about 2 km by road; Romeiras (2 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Funchal?

    Quinta Dom João, about 1 km by road; Fortaleza Do Pico (2 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Funchal?

    Start in Funchal, visit Fortaleza Do Pico, then Santa Clara Church and Monastery, then Casa Museu Frederico de Freitas, then Madeira Optics Museum, then Igreja de São João Evangelista Do Colégio Do Funchal, and drive back — about 9 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Funchal?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Funchal

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Funchal’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Funchal on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.