Funchal Old Town Free Tour

9.7
21 Reviews
Verified by: FREETOUR.com
Duration
2 hours
Meeting point
Capela de Santa Catarina Funchal
Languages
English
From €0
Tip based
Free Booking. Free Cancellation.
No fixed price — pay what you feel the tour is worth.

Overview

The Old Town of Funchal was the first Portuguese settlement outside of Portugal. Right away, a community of fishermen and seafarers was created. For centuries, these people lived in very precarious conditions.

Always an emblematic part of the city, in 2010 a project started to give a new face to the Old Town. Now, beautifully painted doors with art make Rua Santa Maria and the Old Town a unique outdoor gallery.

Before we get to the Old Town, we will pass by other important historical areas of Funchal. We will tell you the story of (possibly) the most popular drink in Madeira and recommend where you can try it.

Floods are part of the Madeiran History, a force of nature feared by the locals. Many attempts have been made to try and minimize the consequences of these events. Some of these events have been so catastrophic that people came up with supernatural explanations for them!

Highlights:
- São Lourenço Palace;
- Legislative Assembley;
- Varadouros Square;
- D. Manuel Bridge;
- Rua Santa Maria;
- São Tiago Forte;
- Igreja do Socorro.

Language: English

Funchal is a hilly city. We're going upstairs and downstairs on this tour.
Not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
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This activity includes:

  • Chapel of Santa Catarina
  • Santa Maria
  • Palácio de São Lourenço
  • The Legislative Assembly of Madeira

Our Guides

Lisa Camacho — Guide of Funchal Old Town Free Tour, Portugal
Lisa Camacho

Meeting point

Capela de Santa Catarina Funchal

On arrival

The Meeting point is inside Santa Catarina Park, in front of the white Chapel, next to the Christopher Colombus statue.
Upon arrival, please tell your name to the guide with the yellow umbrella with the Free Walking Tours Funchal logo.

Things to note

The guide will not answer the phone or reply to messages after the tour starts. If you need to contact the guide, please do so at least 5 minutes before the starting time.

If your group exceeds the number of people originally booked and the tour is at full capacity, we will be unable to accommodate the additional guests.

Please note that important information is provided at the start of our tours, and the guide will not repeat this for late arrivals. Punctuality is essential, and anyone arriving more than 15 minutes late will not be permitted to join the tour.

If you are unable to arrive within this timeframe, we kindly request that you reschedule your tour for another day. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Rating
9.7
Organisation
9.9
Atmosphere
9.6
Content
9.7
Guide
9.9
Usefulness
9.8
Reviews (21)
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Reviewed on Apr 02, 2025
“Superb Tour. ”
We highly recommend Lisa's brilliant tour. Very insightful and entertaining.
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Reviewed on Mar 15, 2025
“Great start of my holidays”
This was a great tour to give me an insight about Funchal. This 2 hours tour is quite comprehensive. You not only learn about past historical moments of the island but it also gives you insight about more recent history. There's also some useful tips for good local poncha bars and a bakery. Time flew by with learning about the fascinating history of Funchal with Lisa. Thank you!
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Reviewed on Feb 26, 2025
“Wonderful trip!”
What a splendid city tour! Lisa is an excellent guide. It's a great 2 hours walking around the city.
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Reviewed on Feb 15, 2025
“Thank you!”
Very nice tour! Totally recommend!
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Reviewed on Feb 15, 2025
“Fine”
????
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Reviewed on Feb 13, 2025
“Better than expected”
The information presented was put into social and political contexts, and Lisa was very willing and capable of answering all manner of questions.
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Reviewed on Feb 05, 2025
“Good overview of Old Town Funchal”
Very well organized, started on time and a good overview. On previous walks guides gave more personal recommendations for things like ice cream, meals, etc. which I appreciate being new to an area.
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Reviewed on Jan 24, 2025
“Enjoyable two hours in Funchal”
We had a great time Wednesday morning with our knowledgeable guide Lisa. Although there was plenty of walking, it was at a comfortable pace with plenty of stops full of interesting history. Lisa actively encouraged questions throughout and answered everything thrown at her. We would thoroughly recommended!
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Reviewed on Jan 15, 2025
“Old town tour”
Great tour this morning. Tour guide excellent Lisa. Plenty of history and lots of information. 2 full hours. Great way to see the old town of Funchal
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Reviewed on Jan 13, 2025
“Amazing Tour”
Lisa's Old Town walking tour in Funchal was the highlight of our trip! Her knowledge of the area's history was exceptional. She brought the stories of the old town to life with her engaging storytelling and passion for Madeira. We loved exploring the beautiful streets, the vibrant art in the Painted Doors Project, and learning about the fascinating history behind the landmarks. Lisa was also great at answering questions. If you're visiting Funchal, don’t miss this tour with Lisa. It’s a must-do! Thank you for a memorable tour!
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Reviews

Free Cancellation

You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.

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