In short
Cruise ships in Funchal (Madeira) berth at the Pontinha pier: the centre is 15–25 minutes’ walk along the seafront, and the Monte cable car in the old town about 30. The ride up takes about 15 minutes; the wicker toboggans come down (not on Sundays). Madeira is an hour behind the Netherlands. Portugal: EU, Schengen and euro.
Where do cruise ships berth in Funchal? The port at a glance
Ships almost always berth alongside the Pontinha pier, and the town centre starts a few minutes’ walk away. The rest is in the table.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where the ship berths | Alongside; there are usually no tenders. Cruise ships moor along the Pontinha breakwater on the western side of the bay, where the cruise terminal is. The ship will tell you which berth applies to your call. |
| To the centre | About 1–2 km along a flat seafront: 15–25 minutes on foot to the cathedral and Avenida do Mar. The old town (Zona Velha) and the lower cable car station are about 2–2.5 km away, 25–35 minutes. There are taxis at the terminal and sometimes a shuttle — check the daily programme. |
| Typical call | Usually 8–10 hours. On New Year’s Eve ships gather in Funchal for its famous fireworks, and many stay overnight. |
| Time | Madeira is one hour behind the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. Check which time the ship is keeping and go by the clocks on board. |
| Money | Euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere. |
| Language | Portuguese. English is widely spoken in town and at the sights. |
| Documents | Portugal is in the EU and Schengen. If the ship comes from the Canaries or another Schengen port, there is usually no separate check; if it comes from the UK or Morocco, passports are checked on board or at the port. EU citizens usually just need a passport or national ID card (what to check). |
| Mobile data | Madeira is part of the EU, so roam-like-at-home applies. Make sure your phone has left the ship’s maritime network once you are ashore. |
| All aboard | Usually 30–60 minutes before departure. Go by the time in the daily programme and on your cruise card. |
What can you see in Funchal in one day?
Central Funchal stretches along the seafront: the port and Pontinha pier in the west, the cathedral and the market in the middle, and the old town, Zona Velha, with the lower cable car station in the east. Monte sits some 550 metres above the town.
Monte: cable car and toboggans
Walk along the seafront to Zona Velha (25–35 minutes), then ride the cable car up to Monte in about 15 minutes. Up there are the Nossa Senhora do Monte church and the Monte Palace tropical garden. Come down by wicker toboggan: about 2 km in 10 minutes to Livramento. From there, a taxi or bus takes you back to the centre.
Monte, the market and the old town
Monte in the morning, before the queues. After lunch, the Mercado dos Lavradores with its fruit, fish and flowers, the Sé cathedral and Rua de Santa Maria in Zona Velha with its painted doors. Before heading back, stroll along the seafront and through Santa Catarina park, which looks out over the port.
Cabo Girão and the mountains
The glass-floored skywalk on the Cabo Girão cliff is 20–30 minutes’ drive west. Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) is about an hour up into the mountains, often above the clouds. On your own, only by taxi with an agreed return time — otherwise take an excursion.
The Botanical Garden
From Monte a second cable car runs to the Botanical Garden: terraces of plants from around the world and a view over the bay. Or stay down in town: the seafront, Santa Catarina park, a café with Madeira honey cake — and back to the gangway with no rush.
Places on the map
The places from this guide, ready for your phone. “Map” opens Google Maps; “Walk from the pier” shows the walking route from where ships usually dock.
- Cruise pierMap
- Funchal Cathedral (Sé)MapWalk from the pier
- Zona Velha and Rua de Santa MariaMapWalk from the pier
- Nossa Senhora do Monte churchMap
- Monte Palace Tropical GardenMap
- Santa Catarina ParkMapWalk from the pier
- Madeira Botanical GardenMap
- Cabo Girão skywalkMap
- Pico do ArieiroMap
Which pier your ship uses depends on the day: check the daily programme.
What should you know about Funchal before you go?
- No toboggans on Sundays. The wicker toboggan ride (carreiros do Monte) runs Monday to Saturday, roughly 09:00 to 18:00, and is closed on Sundays and public holidays. It ends in Livramento, not on the seafront: from there it is about 3 km further down, by taxi or bus.
- The time zone. Madeira is an hour behind Central Europe. If the ship has not changed its clocks, 16:00 local time is already 17:00 on board. Only go by the time in the daily programme.
- Mountains and clouds. It can be sunny and 23 °C down by the sea while Monte is in cloud and noticeably cooler. Take a light layer up the hill.
- A year-round season. Madeira is one of the few calls that is warm in winter too. In spring the town holds its Flower Festival, and on New Year’s Eve many ships gather in the bay for the fireworks.
On your own or on a ship’s excursion?
Funchal, Monte, the toboggans and the Botanical Garden are easy to do on your own: the pier is by the town, the cable car is in the old town and signs are in English. If the town and Monte are your plan, you do not need an excursion.
A ship’s excursion makes more sense if you want to go deeper into the island: Pico do Arieiro, the levadas (walking paths along old irrigation channels), Porto Moniz with its natural rock pools in the north, or the village of Santana. The roads are steep and winding, fog can roll over the passes without warning, and the ship will wait for its own groups if they run late — it will not wait for independent passengers.
How do you get back on board in time in Funchal?
- The cable car queue. When several ships are in, a queue builds at the lower station by mid-morning. Go up straight after you get off, or after lunch.
- The toboggan queue. At peak times the wait can be long, and you still need to get down from Livramento afterwards. Do not leave the toboggans for your last hour.
- Back by ship’s time. Once more: Madeira is an hour behind Central Europe. Check the clocks on board before you go ashore.
- Zona Velha to the gangway is 25–35 minutes. Leave the old town at least an hour before all-aboard time, or take a taxi.
- Take with you. Your cruise card, the document your cruise line asked for, a light jacket for Monte, good shoes for the steep streets and a phone with the ship’s emergency number.
Where do cruises calling at Madeira start?
Funchal is a regular call on Canary Islands and Atlantic islands itineraries, on sailings from England and Portugal heading south, and on transatlantic repositioning voyages in spring and autumn. If you would like a cruise that calls here, look at these departure ports:
- Cruises from Tenerife — the Canaries and Madeira, winter included.
- Cruises from Gran Canaria — another winter start for the Atlantic islands.
- Cruises from Lisbon — Madeira is about a day and a half away.
- Cruises from Southampton — longer sailings from England to the Canaries and Madeira.
- Canary Islands cruises — seasons and routes in full.
Common questions
Where do cruise ships dock in Funchal?
Alongside the Pontinha pier on the western side of Funchal bay; there are usually no tenders. The centre and the cathedral are 15–25 minutes’ walk along the seafront, and the old town and the Monte cable car 25–35 minutes. There are taxis at the terminal.
How do I get from Funchal cruise port to the Monte cable car?
On foot along the seafront, about 2–2.5 km or 25–35 minutes, or by taxi from the terminal in 10–15 minutes. The lower station is in the old town, Zona Velha. The ride up to Monte takes about 15 minutes.
Do the Monte toboggans run on Sundays?
No. The wicker toboggan ride runs Monday to Saturday, roughly 09:00 to 18:00, and is closed on Sundays and public holidays. The toboggans go about 2 km down to Livramento; from there you need a taxi or bus to the centre.
What time zone is Madeira in?
Madeira is one hour behind the Netherlands, Belgium and mainland Spain — the same as Lisbon and London. The ship may keep its own time, so always check the clocks on board and the time in the daily programme.
Can I see more of Madeira than Funchal in one call?
Yes, with a taxi booked for an agreed time or an excursion. Cabo Girão with its glass skywalk is 20–30 minutes from town, and Pico do Arieiro about an hour into the mountains. For the north of the island, Porto Moniz and Santana, a ship’s excursion is the calmer option.
When is the best time for a cruise to Madeira?
Ships call at Funchal all year, and winter days are mild at around 18–20 °C. Spring brings the Flower Festival, and at New Year ships gather in the bay for the fireworks. Summer is warmer, but the mountains stay cool.
How the club fits in
Cruises calling at Funchal that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club’s search, or ask us and we will tell you which itineraries calling at Madeira are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Practical port information is summarised from public sources as of October 2026: berths, call times, entry rules and visiting arrangements may change. Before you travel, check the ship’s daily programme and the requirements for your passport. Percentages describe the club’s rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.