Private Funchal Old Town, Cristo Rei & Mountain Roads TukTuk Tour

The Mercado dos Lavradores has been the heart of Funchal’s fresh produce trade since it opened in 1940, its entrance decorated with traditional azulejo tile panels. Inside, stalls piled with tropical fruit, flowers and the day’s catch spread across several floors, often watched over by flower-sellers in traditional Madeiran dress. It’s a great stop for photos and a taste of local life.

Funchal’s Old Town is best known for streets like Rua de Santa Maria, with its collection of brightly painted doors, narrow cobbled lanes and traditional local restaurants. These historic corners are one of the most characterful and photogenic sides of the city.

Pináculo is one of Funchal’s most photographed viewpoints, offering a rare perspective that looks back over the city from the cliffs of São Gonçalo. From here, enjoy sweeping views over the bay, the harbour and the Atlantic Ocean, with plenty of time for photos.

The coastal road to Garajau offers sweeping views over the Atlantic Ocean and Madeira’s rugged south coast, a quieter and wilder side of the island than the streets of Funchal. At the end of the road stands Cristo Rei, an Art Deco statue of Christ dating from 1927, making it the oldest of its kind in the Portuguese-speaking world, predating the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro by several years.

Terreiro da Luta is home to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace, the largest monument on Madeira, built in 1927 after islanders promised to honour Our Lady if peace returned following German U-boat attacks on Funchal during the First World War. At its base, a rosary made from the chains of the sunken ships still tells that story. Beyond the monument, there are sweeping views back over Funchal and the bay, in a much quieter setting than the city below.