Twenty minutes west on the VR1. Funchal rewards a car right up until you reach the centre, at which point it firmly does not.
Park once and walk. The Almirante Reis and Campo da Barca car parks put you a few minutes from the old town without attempting the one-way system.
Worth your time:
- Mercado dos Lavradores — go before 11:00, and treat the fruit-sellers' free samples as the sales pitch they are
- Zona Velha — the painted doors of Rua de Santa Maria
- The cable car to Monte, then the wicker toboggan down if you want the story
- Blandy's Wine Lodge for madeira tasting, which is a fine reason to have a designated driver
More island guides
45 min from our office
Pico do Arieiro
Sunrise above the clouds at 1,818 m — the drive most people remember longest.
25 min from our office
Ponta de São Lourenço
Red cliffs, no trees, and the driest corner of the island — 25 minutes from the office.
1h 15min from our office
Porto Moniz
Volcanic rock pools on the north-west corner — the island's best long drive.