How much does it cost to travel to Funchal?
You should plan to spend around $101 (€93) per day on your vacation in Funchal. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $34 (€31) on meals
- $11 (€9.94) on local transportation
- $113 (€103) on hotels
A one week trip to Funchal for two people costs, on average, $1,420 (€1,304). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Funchal has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Funchal expensive to visit?
Prices in Funchal are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Funchal is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Europe for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Novi Sad, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Avignon.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Funchal Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Funchal?
The average Funchal trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Funchal travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
€103
($113)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
€9.94
($11)
|
Food 2
|
€31
($34)
|
Entertainment 1
|
€15
($16)
|
Alcohol 2
|
€8 -
24
($9 - 26)
|
Accommodation Budget in Funchal
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Funchal is $56 (€52). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Funchal is $113 (€103). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Funchal? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Funchal
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Funchal is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $11 (€9.94) per person, per day, on local transportation in Funchal.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$11
€9.94
How much does it cost to go to Funchal? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Funchal will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Funchal
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Funchal can vary, the average cost of food in Funchal is $34 (€31) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Funchal should cost around $14 (€13) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Funchal is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$34
€31
Typical prices for Food in Funchal are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Funchal, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Funchal
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Funchal typically cost an average of $16 (€15) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$16
€15
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Funchal
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Funchal is $4.21 (€3.87), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$4.21
€3.87
Alcohol Budget in Funchal
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $17 (€16) on alcoholic beverages in Funchal per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$17
€16
Funchal On a Budget
Funchal, Portugal
Funchal is the capital city of the autonomous region of Madeira on the island of Madeira. The city is located to the south between the cities of Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. It is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it has a population of over 100,000 people and is, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. It's appeal as a tourist destination has made it the leading Portuguese port for cruise line dockings.
The climate in Funchal is mild Mediterranean. Temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year and there are two main seasons. The time between October and March has more rain and slightly cooler temperatures with highs ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. The time between April and September is drier and warmer, although June is sometimes notable for its persistent cloudiness over the bay. Average high temperatures range from 21 to 26 degrees Celsius. The city's elevation rises from sea level to 800 meters. In the northern suburbs, clouds, fog and rain are not uncommon, even when it is sunny near the sea. Temperatures are also somewhat cooler at the higher altitudes.
Sights
There are some interesting sights throughout Funchal. A popular place to spend some time is Jardins Do Palheiro, which is a manor with a nice public park. The manor is British colonial in style, but is not open to the public. The park is public though and is a pleasant place to explore. Madeira Botanical Gardens is also interesting. It has over 2000 plants and a view of the city that makes it well worth the visit. Santa Clara Convent dates back to the 15th century and is a national monument. Also be sure and head over to Mercado Dos Lavradores and pick up some fresh, locally grown fruit. It's a lovely market, but do ensure that you're not being overcharged for the fruit, particularly if a cruise ship is in town as vendors are known to hike prices up for travelers. Other popular sights include the Monte Palace Hotel Gardens, Sao Lourenco Palace, Se Cathedral and Colegio Church.
Neighborhoods
As a tourist, you will likely explore most of Funchal's waterfront area, as well as the market and the city squares. These areas have the best atmosphere and give you the most interesting experience while you're in town.
Activities
There are several interesting activities you can enjoy during your time in Funchal. If you have time, many people enjoy playing golf at the Palheiro Golf Course. Also make sure you take a ride on the Funchal Cable Car. It has a great view of the city and the upper station is at Monte, where you can visit the Monte Palace gardens as well as the church at Monte. You can then catch a different cable car down to the botanical gardens. It is best to purchase a combination ticket.
Madeira Paragliding Adventures is another unique activity in the area. There are tandem paragliding flights that have great views of the landscape and scenery.
Food and Dining
There are a good number of restaurants throughout town although the prices can be quite high. Many of the restaurants offer both traditional Madeiran and Portuguese food. One of the most common dishes, which you can find almost anywhere, is espada com banana, or scabbard fish with banana. It is usually served with a fresh salad and potatoes. Bacalhau, or dried and salted codfish, is a little more expensive but is worth trying. Bacalhau com natas, or codfish in cream sauce is a version that is both common and delicious.
If you want to grab a drink, you'll find that Funchal has a generally tame atmosphere and the bars are usually very quiet.
Transportation
There are several daily flights between Lisbon and Funchal, as well as connections to other cities in Portugal. Although the airport used to be nerve whacking with its short runway, it has now been expanded and can accommodate all types of planes.
Funchal's compact city center can easily be explored on foot, but to go elsewhere in the city you should take the orange buses. It's easy to buy a Giro Card for about 2.50 euros. This allows you two journeys, and you must then add additional money to make further trips, but the price remains cheaper than if you simply pay the bus driver. Most buses can be caught in the waterfront area.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.