Funchal

[jeanmonti]

Does anyone have any recommendations for activities in Funchal? We are considering the jeep tours, but there are a lot of companies to choose from. Your input would be very helpful!

 

[BigJon]

We were there last year on the Disney Magic EBTA. We took a taxi to the cable car. It would have been a very long walk, and I'm glad we took the taxi.

On the way up, the views were great. You can see the Disney Magic in the distance...

We took the one-way trip to the top, but you could also do the round trip. At the top, we took a left and walked along this road...

 

[BigJon]

The walk wasn't that far, and we came to the Church at Monte. We walked up the steps to the church, and then took some more steps that went to the top of the church.......(the views just got better!!)

On the street in front of the church is where you get on the famous toboggan ride. Me and my wife loved it. My niece said it was the scariest thing she's ever done. At one point the street was not as steep, and they had to pull us for a short distance.....

Where the toboggan stopped, we took a taxi back in to town, at the Mercado...

The market had fruits I had never seen before, vegetables, fish, spices, gifts, etc....

 

[BigJon]

After we left the market, we walk West toward the Cathedral....

We walked into Blandy's Winelodge. I don't care much for the wine making process, but they had a couple of benches, and clean restrooms, and it was a nice place to take a break. Right beside of the Blandy's was the municipal gardens....

We walked down some other streets exploring, and by this time, we weren't that far from the ship, so we walked back. After I got on the ship, I took this picture looking up toward the Church at Monte, where the toboggan ride starts (cable car on the far right)

 

[SleepyV]

There is a hop on hop off bus that tours through Funchal and out westward too. As a port it is very accessible and easy to do on your own. BigJon's pictures sum it up pretty well. I would say that if you are planning the cable car head up early in the day as it will get cloudy and misty by lunch time up there.
The ship will dock practically in the centre of town. If it is a jeep tour you are interested in the landscape is beautiful.
Food and drink are reasonably priced and there are lots of street cafes.
Enjoy Funchal.

 

[Peggytc]

Last year we did the tour that takes you through Funchal, to Camara dos Lobos, and ends at a Madeira wine tasting. I highly recommend this tour, it was a great balance of everything walking, bus, information, and pauses to take pictures and explore. We got lucky, and ended up with extra time on the island since our ship made such good time, and we got to also just walk around Funchal on our own for awhile and explore.

Oh, and the price last year was incredibly reasonable (especially since we also did a tour in Malaga which eas more expensive and just awful, so to us paying $55 or whatever it was in Funchal was a deal!)

 

[Peggytc]

Does anyone have any recommendations for activities in Funchal? We are considering the jeep tours, but there are a lot of companies to choose from. Your input would be very helpful!

I imagine you will be on the same boat as we will in September
One more thing I forgot to mention is that if you decide to skip tours and explore in your own, the night before there should be a presentation about Funchal on the ship. You should attend this to give you some info and ideas what you may want to see.

 

[gismo1554]

I think they also show that presentation in your stateroom don't they? That makes it easier to slot in to getting changed for dinner time

I've booked this our - http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...sions/madeira-portugal/charms-of-old-madeira/

I think this is the one that peggytc was on about. It seemed to be a good mix of tour, time to buy souvenirs and a tasting in the Wine Lodge. It runs 10am-1pm and as its a Disney tour my theory was if there's a delay they will hold the ship for the tour to get back. We aren't in Madeira long and I was concerned that I might be late back if I did something on my own.

Like SleepyV mentioned, there is a hop on hop on bus tour in Funchal as well and they are usually really good. Did one in Malaga and Santa Cruz last year with the same company and thy were very informative. - http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/portugal/funchal.htm

 

[SleepyV]

I've booked this our - http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...sions/madeira-portugal/charms-of-old-madeira/

I think this is the one that peggytc was on about. It seemed to be a good mix of tour, time to buy souvenirs and a tasting in the Wine Lodge. It runs 10am-1pm and as its a Disney tour my theory was if there's a delay they will hold the ship for the tour to get back. We aren't in Madeira long and I was concerned that I might be late back if I did something on my own.

I think thats a good choice given the limited time you have in port. It seems to pack in the main highlights. The hop on hop off bus goes to Câmara de Lobos too. Its a pretty tiny village.

 

[gismo1554]

Thanks SleepyV.

 

[jeanmonti]

Thanks everyone! Fantastic advice and great pics!

 

[Peggytc]

I think they also show that presentation in your stateroom don't they? That makes it easier to slot in to getting changed for dinner time

I've booked this our - http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...sions/madeira-portugal/charms-of-old-madeira/

I think this is the one that peggytc was on about. It seemed to be a good mix of tour, time to buy souvenirs and a tasting in the Wine Lodge. It runs 10am-1pm and as its a Disney tour my theory was if there's a delay they will hold the ship for the tour to get back. We aren't in Madeira long and I was concerned that I might be late back if I did something on my own.

Like SleepyV mentioned, there is a hop on hop on bus tour in Funchal as well and they are usually really good. Did one in Malaga and Santa Cruz last year with the same company and thy were very informative. - http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/portugal/funchal.htm

Yes this is the one I did! Hope you get the same your guide we did, she was brilliant.

 

[gismo1554]

Thanks Peggy!

 

[disdel]

We loved Madeira, and did a DCL-offered jeep tour. We thoroughly enjoyed that as well as exloring in Funchal. I don't think you will go wrong with any of the options mentioned here. Wonderful people, food, drink, sights and natural beauty.