The shape of the city
Funchal climbs from the harbour. Several hundred metres of altitude separate the seafront from the upper districts, and the top station of the cable car to Monte sits at around 560 metres. That is not a footnote but the dimension that governs distances, prices and views.
The old town, the market and the harbour are at the bottom; the quieter residential areas with the long view are at the top. In between you drive or take steps — walking uphill is further than the map suggests.
Where to stay
For walkers, the Zona Velha and the area around the Avenida: everything within reach, in exchange for noise and no parking. For quiet and a view, the hillsides — with a car or the bus as a precondition, not an option.
If you intend to travel the island, Funchal is the practical base, because the roads meet here. Every drive time on the region pages is measured from Funchal.
The cable car
The line from the seafront to Monte is transport more than attraction, but it saves a tedious climb and delivers the view across the amphitheatre. At the top are the pilgrimage church and the tropical garden.
You come back on foot, by bus, or in a wicker toboggan — the last of these is a tourist ride and is priced as one.
