Funchal Town, Madeira. Open Daily. Free Entry.

Details

Accessibility:

Funchal is around 30 minutes from the modern, well-equipped airport. The port of Funchal, where many large cruise liners dock overnight, is directly in front of the main town with easy access to the city centre.

There are many car parks throughout the city with varying degrees of accessibility.  The most accessible parking spaces are usually found roadside. Wheelchair friendly taxis are available on request and busses are generally modern and well equipped.  Toilet facilities vary in their accessibility usually depending on the age of the property with modern hotels having more disability-friendly facilities than small bars in the backstreets of the Old Town area. Again, larger, more modern attractions will be better equipped for people with disabilities than small or older attractions. The streets in the centre of Funchal are mosaiced with small black and white cobbles but they are generally very well maintained and flat. Some areas of raised cobbles are even being flattened to make access easier.

Brief Description:

Funchal has a rich history both geologically and sociologically, both of which have played a great part in shaping the area.  From the volcanoes that formed the amphitheatre in which it nestles to the original settlers, pirates, rum, wine, sugar and religion that shaped the socio-economic and architectural side of the city there are a wealth of aspects to explore and discover.

The central, and oldest, areas of the town are dominated by narrow cobbled streets where you can enjoy al fresco dining, bars and street music.

Further Information:

Address:

Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Email:

None available.

Phone:

None available.

Website:

http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/funchal.html

Opening Hours:

Open all year round.

Directions:

To the city centre from the airport follow VR1 west to junction 11. Head south on ER103. At the first roundabout take second exit onto Rua de Outubro and follow south. This changes into Rua 5 de Outubro before reaching the seafront. Different areas of the city will require different junctions off VR1.

Latitude: 32.647036 Longitude: -16.905398

Transport:

There is a public bus service around Madeira, details of which can be found here: http://www.madeira-live.com/en/madeira-public-transport.html. There is also an excellent taxi service around the island, with wheelchair-friendly taxis upon request: http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/taxis.html.

Amenities:

Funchal offers a great many bars, restaurants, shopping malls, boutiques and attractions, many of which are disability friendly.  The streets in the city centre are usually a little hilly but not as steep as in the outskirts.