Is Funchal expensive to visit?
Funchal is a smaller destination that attracts a broad range of travelers, encompassing various travel styles, spending practices, and budget options. You'll find a wide array of accommodation options, such as luxury hotels, mid-range places, or budget-friendly hostels.
Funchal can become quite costly if you let it, but there are ways to save money, such as looking for discounts and coupons.
On average, budget travelers spend $55 (€49) per day, mid-range travelers spend $130 (€116) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $278 (€248) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to Funchal.
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. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Funchal cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
It's important to be realistic about your budget for Funchal. Many assume they can visit on a shoestring, but most travelers find that to be very challenging. Think about what matters to you when traveling. Is it staying in a resort, visiting all the attractions, or dining out at nice restaurants? These factors will determine how much you spend on your trip.
What Does It Mean to Be a Budget Traveler?
While you might think you're a budget traveler, without giving up many of your usual comforts, you'll likely need to spend more than the $55 per day that backpackers often spend.
Backpackers often work within this tight budget by staying in hostel dorms, eating fast food or street food, using public transit, and mainly visiting free attractions.
Fortunately, there are plenty of hostels available in Funchal, such as 109 Funchal Hostel, Santa Maria Hostel, and 29 Madeira Hostel. In these hostels, you can discover cheap dorm accommodations and a great social atmosphere, though amenities may be few.
What Makes You an Average Traveler?
Couples and families enjoying a vacation will probably want to stay in a mid-range hotel, eat at popular dining spots, and explore the key museums and attractions that have entry fees. A trip to Funchal wouldn't be complete without visiting its major attractions, museums, sights, and landmarks. Keep in mind that most activities cost money. Thus, it's reasonable to expect your daily budget to be around $130 per person, per day.
There are plenty of hotels and vacation rentals available in Funchal. If you're traveling with companions, sharing a hotel with a partner, friend, or kids can help lower costs. Families should seek out hotels and dining options that are suitable for children. Castanheiro Boutique Hotel is a wonderful family-friendly hotel, and Arts In Hotel Conde Carvalhal is another excellent choice. For more family and couple-oriented hotels, visit our hotel cost guide for Funchal here.
Want to Escape the Daily Grind in Style?
If you want an all encompassing getaway with top-notch amenities and exceptional service, get ready for a daily cost around $278. Staying in upscale hotels, dining at acclaimed restaurants, indulging in lavish activities, and using taxis or private drivers to navigate the destination will require a more luxurious budget. Also, higher-end tours are common with luxury travelers, such as Adventure Trikes Private Tour in Madeira - offered by Viator.
Accommodation Budget in Funchal
In Funchal, the price of hotels can really surprise you. Some are much more expensive, offering higher luxury and amenities. Peak season rates soar, with off-season averages around $86 and peak season rising to an average of $160. Prices typically range from $54 to $297, but hostels remain cheaper, especially in dorms. To save money, book during the low season or take advantage of special promotions and advance deals.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Funchal for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $117 (€103). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $59 (€52) per night. These costs are 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.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Funchal include:
- Castanheiro Boutique Hotel starting at $138
- Pestana Casino Studios starting at $95
- Arts In Hotel Conde Carvalhal starting at $107
- Hotel Porto Mare - PortoBay starting at $97
- Hotel Baia Azul starting at $94
Choosing to travel outside of and in the low or shoulder season will give you lower hotel prices and less tourist congestion.
Transportation Budget in Funchal
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $11 (€9.94) per person, per day, on local transportation in Funchal. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Funchal is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$11
€9.94
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.
If you're driving, check that your hotel has parking available.
A few of the typical hotel transfers and transportation services include:
- PR8 Sao Lourenço Hike Transfer for $93 details
- Madeira: Private Monte Tour By Cable Car with Transfer for $116 details
- Arrival and departure transfers to Funchal and Airport for $18 details
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
One of the biggest draws for travelers is the food, so be sure to savor the local flavors.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in Funchal can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Funchal is $62 (€54) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$62
€54
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Funchal is around $61 (€54) per person, with previous travelers spending from $25 to $145. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Funchal are as follows:
- Breakfast: $6 to $18
- Lunch: $9 to $24
- Dinner: $18 to $43
- Coffee: $5
- Fast Food or Street Food: $9
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.
Countless hotels provide breakfast as part of your stay, but some will add it as an additional fee. The price and quality can change based on the hotel. Being informed ahead of time can aid in deciding whether to budget extra funds. You might enjoy the delightful buffet offered at the hotel, or perhaps a more economical option would be a nearby bakery or cafe.
Instead of buying drinks, bring a water bottle. It's also an environmentally friendly option.
When planning your tour, don't forget to check what meals are included. You might have to pay for some of your own food, which could add to your expenses.
If you want to experience the culture in Funchal, a food tour or cooking class is a great way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
- Madeiran Traditional Dinner for $93 details
- Private Walking Food Tour Around Funchal for $33 details
- Amazing Dinner with Folklore for $51 details
Below are some standard food costs in Funchal, gathered from real travelers. These prices should give you a general idea of what you can expect to spend on dining and meals. Keep in mind, though, that your own costs may differ depending on your taste in restaurants, travel habits, and menu choices.
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Funchal
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Funchal typically cost an average of $17 (€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.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$17
€15
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.
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.
A nice way to explore destinations in Funchal is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Private Half day tour around Madeira Island for $203 details
- Let-Me-Surprise-You Private Full-Day Tour in All Terrain Vehicle for $290 details
- Full Day Tour to West Madeira Island for $72 details
Funchal, Portugal
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.