Funchal Old Town & Cable Car
Zona Velha do Funchal / Teleférico do Funchal
The 'Colorful Doors' old town and waterfront of the capital, Funchal. From here, a 15-minute cable car rises 560 meters to the hilltop village of Monte.
Funchal's Old Town (Zona Velha) is a former fishing neighborhood, centered on Rua de Santa Maria. Since 2010, the 'Open Doors' art project has invited artists to paint on the wooden doors of homes, turning the whole street into an open-air gallery. Lined with seafood restaurants and small bars, it is the place to try black scabbardfish with banana, Espetada (grilled beef skewers) and Poncha, a sugarcane spirit. At the eastern end of the Old Town by the sea stands the 17th-century Fortaleza de São Tiago. To the west, the seafront promenade leads to the downtown cathedral, the CR7 Museum and the harbor. The lower station of the Funchal cable car is at Almirante Reis Park by the Old Town's seafront. The line is about 3.2 km long and climbs to Monte in 15 minutes, with views over red-roofed houses and the bay. A one-way ticket costs about €13 and a return about €20. At the top you can visit Nossa Senhora do Monte Church and the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, then ride a wicker toboggan back down. Plan for half a day. Notes: the Old Town is lively at night as a nightlife area. Cable car queues are long at midday in peak season, so go in the morning if possible.
Opening hours
Old town open all day; cable car about 9:00 a.m.–5:45 p.m.
Nearby sights
- Mercado dos Lavradores
- Funchal Cathedral (Sé)
- Blandy's Wine Lodge
- CR7 Museum
- Madeira Botanical Garden
- Monte Palace Tropical Garden & Monte Toboggan
- Palheiro Gardens
- Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint