Holiday rentals in Funchal

The capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, Funchal is a little known but a beautiful city to explore, especially as its Mediterranean climate guarantees visitors warm summers and mild winters. A small city that is easy to walk around, staying in one of many beautiful holiday apartments in Funchal is the best way to enjoy the city like a local. With its name coming from the Portuguese for fennel (“funcho”) which is found in great quantities throughout the island, this is a rich green city and the perfect base to also explore the rest of Madeira.

Experience Funchal like a local

A historically important old port, the waterfront of Funchal has many pedestrian friendly promenades and this is where locals stretch their legs and walk their dogs. From here you can admire the volcanic dark sand of the city’s beaches as well as a number of impressive yachts and possibly even cruise liners in the marina. Grander views can be enjoyed in the Funchal Botanic Gardens, which was originally created to save a number of rare species of indigenous Madeiran plants and is located a couple of kilometers up the hillside which overlooks Funchal and Atlantic. To reach even higher heights take the cable car, which takes people up to Monte, home to more lush greenery in the Royal Palace Gardens. To get back down to sea level, it is considered obligatory that you take the toboggan; these oversized wicker baskets are big enough for two to sit upright in and are driven by two men dressed 19th century style white clothes and a straw hat, as has been the case since 1850. Unsurprisingly considering its location, food from Madeira features a number of fish dishes and the most famous local delicacy is the espada com banana, scabbard fish with bananas. World famous for the fortified wine it gives its name to, Madeira also produces other dry and sweet wines and one of the best ways to learn about this is by going on one of the many wine tours of Funchal.

Renting holiday accommodation in Funchal

Though the city is still off the beaten track of the usual city break destinations, self-catering accommodation in Funchal is a popular and affordable way to enjoy a short or longer break in a city under the sun. HouseTrip’s apartments in Funchal include mountainside apartments offering stunning sea views and centrally located waterfront villas with swimming pools. Find the perfect home from home in Funchal with HouseTrip today!