Ditch the rental! Day trips from Funchal without a Car
You don’t know Madeira until you get out of the city centre. Even if you’re happily staying in Funchal, here are a few day trips to other parts of the island that you can make using public transport and save on rental costs.
Porto Moniz
Porto Moniz, at the northwestern point of the island, is my favourite daytrip from Funchal. If you’re renting a car, it will take you less than an hour to get there. But, if you’re using buses, you need to figure out some logistics with Rodoeste. Option number 1 is catching bus number 5 to Arco de São Jorge at 07h35, which will get you to Porto Moniz at 10h50. The alternative is number 80 to Porto Moniz via Calheta, departing at 10:00 and scheduled to arrive at 13h30.
To come back from Porto Moniz, you need to catch bus number 80 again at 16:00, arriving in Funchal at 19h40, giving you a total of 5 or 2.5 hours to enjoy the natural lava swimming pools. If you want to stay longer, the only alternative is taking a taxi or an Uber, which will set you back a prohibitive 70 to 90€ (which is, in fact, the price of renting a car for the day, giving you some food for thought.) Either way, Porto Moniz is well worth the effort of waking up early and figuring out these logistics.
Alternatively, you can sign up for a Porto Moniz and Fanal private tour or on a Skywalk, Porto Moniz, Seixal and Fanal tour (69€ per person). Even though these are the most expensive options, they will give you an opportunity to see two of my favourite places on the same day: Porto Moniz and Fanal, along with other popular spots like Cabo Girão and Seixal. All doable without a rental!
Curral das Freiras
Another day trip from Funchal is Curral das Freiras, Madeira’s only village without sea access. Tucked between the massive mountains, Curral often remains isolated from the rest of the island whenever a natural disaster occurs. But the isolation helped Curral forge its own identity and local products, including chestnut soup and several chestnut cakes. If you’re visiting in Autumn, it’s really a must-see. In early July, there’s also a “sour cherry fest” that draws a sizable crowd.
The logistics to visit Curral das Freiras using public transport are somewhat easier. You can catch bus 81 from Horários do Funchal next to the cable car. The trip should take half an hour and there's a bus going at 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:30 and 13:15 (Monday through Friday). On Saturdays, the bus departs at 08.45, 10:00, 11:30 and 13:15; while on Sundays there’s only a service at 09:05, 11:40, and 13:15.
You can come back to Funchal using the same bus at 14h30 or 17h35 (weekends) or at 14h30, 16h15 or 17h55 (weekdays). Therefore, there’s a lot of flexibility, making for an excellent half-day trip.
Ponta de S. Lourenço
Reaching Ponta de São Lourenço, you may feel like you landed on another island entirely. In fact, more than one movie has been filmed here due to its dry, Martian-like landscape. For fans of trails and hikes, it’s a stunning 6 km route (roundtrip) that usually takes somwehere between 3 to 5 hours to complete. However, it’s extremely rewarding. You can see both the North and South sides of the island, each with different tones of blue. And, if you’re really lucky, you may even spot monk seals!
Now, the bad news: first, non-residents should purchase a ticket (3€) for the PR8 – Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço here. Then, I must warn you that this arid peninsula doesn’t offer any shade, which makes it harder to endure. Likewise, when it’s windy, there’s no protection. But there’s good news too. One, there’s a small café with a bathroom at the end of the trail where can rest for a while. In fact, there’s even a little beach! And two, this plan doesn’t require you to rent a car, because you can use public transportation.
To go to Ponta de S. Lourenço, take bus number 113 from CAM to Caniçal - Baía d’Abra. On weekdays, it departs Funchal at 07:00, 08:00, and 11:00 (fastest route). You can then catch the bus back at 12:00, 12:55, 13:55, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18.15 or 19.35. On Saturdays and Sundays there are also a few options, like going on the 09:00 bus and coming back at 14:00 or 15:00. Check the full schedule here.
Porto da Cruz
Another cute daytrip from Funchal is Porto da Cruz. Porto da Cruz is a small village on the Northeast corner of the island with an overpowering mountain, the Penha d’Águia, stunning volcanic cliffs, and a charming pocket beach. Apart from the waves and the undeniable natural beauty, Porto da Cruz is also known for its sugarcane mill and rum distillery, which you can visit. Engenhos do Norte opens from 9:00 to 18:00 on weekdays or from 10:00 to 17:00 on weekends. Now you’ll see where all the rum for the ponchas comes from!
Like with other daytrips I recommend on this post, you can also go to Porto da Cruz by bus. You can take SAM’s buses number 53, 78 or 208. Bus 208 to Porto da Cruz - Faial - Maroços leaves Funchal at 10:30 or 11:45 on weekdays, and it reaches Porto da Cruz 1:15 afterward. You can then come back at 18h00 on the same bus, so take your swimsuit!
Porto Santo
A lot of people turn Porto Santo into a day trip from Funchal. While I’m not particularly a fan of this plan, it’s technically doable and you can cross Madeira’s (the archipelago) second island off your list. You’ll need to catch the boat early at 08:00 and come back at 18:00, giving you more or less 6 hours in Porto Santo altogether. I’ve previously prepared an itinerary for a day tip to Porto Santo to help you make the most of the short timeframe.
To help with the logistics, Porto Santo Line currently offers a package that includes hotel transfers (from Funchal or Caniço) to save you some hassle. However, this is a plan I’d only recommend when the sea is calm. From mid-October until April, seas may be rougher and it’s not such a pleasant trip. As said, in the Autumn you’ll be better off visiting the Curral das Freiras, as I suggested before.
Come on, don’t stay just in and around Funchal, with a couple of guided tours to Cabo Girão or Pico do Areeiro. There are little villages, wonderful viewpoints, lava pools, waterfalls, and even a whole other island to discover. The road there may not be straightforward, but it’s rewarding. And that’s Madeira!
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links to tours and activities on GetYourGuide. If you book through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.