Madeira · HISTORICAL TOURS
11 reviewed
Below are the 11 best historical tours, best first: what each one costs, how long it takes, and which kind of traveller it suits. Start at number one, it earned the spot.
4-hour food, wine and culture walk in Funchal. Small groups, all tastings included, menu translation help, and classic poncha.
“Our guide was really lovely and informative, and all of the food and wine we tasted was excellent. They certainly weren’t mean with the amount of food either, and we were very full at the end of the tour! All in all it was well paced and very good value.”
4-hour guided Taste Funchal walk in Funchal: market tastings, honey cake, custard tarts, Madeira wine and local drinks from $109.
“The guide was so pleasant! Loved all the places that were selected for our tour to try traditional Madeira food and drinks”
Private MadTuk tuk tuk tour through Funchal forts, museum, and viewpoints in about an hour, with pickup options and photo stops.
“Great one hour tour with Bruno to see the key points and attractions in Funchal centre. Helps to get your bearings and discover areas to return to and explore afterwards.”
Private 1-hour tuk tuk tour of Funchal’s Old Town: Santa Maria, São Pedro, and Sé, plus the Mudéjar cathedral façade.
“Nous avons adoré la visite du vieux Funchal. Andreia, notre guide super sympathique!! bravo😃”
Private 2-hour Funchal sidecar tour with pirate-history guide, Old Town landmarks, and eastern-bay photo stops. Up to 2.
“Absolutely fabulous time with Filipe who showed us the real Madeira. Great communication both before and during the tour - even sent us some photos afterwards. Stop thinking, and book.”
A 50-minute Fado show in Funchal with Madeira wine and history for about $30, delivered by mobile ticket.
“The singers were very good. The guitars and instrument players very good. The room was small, dark, and hot. We sat on plastic chairs. The singers knew some English and did ok translating the songs and information and history for us. I think we paid way too much for this experience. I would suggest half of what we paid is reasonable. If this was held in a local bar or place they really sang Fado, it would have had a good atmosphere.”
Private half-day tour of Funchal, Camara de Lobos, and Ponte dos Socorridos with flexible pickup, round-trip transfers, and a local guide.
“Richard promptly met us at the cruise terminal. We enjoyed the combination of a walking/driving tour of Funchal and Camara de Lobos, stopping for a Poncha and Nikita at a local establishment. We would recommend Richard without hesitation.”
A 1.5–2 hour audio walk through Funchal’s historic center, linking gardens, churches, maritime sights, and Madeira wine-era ties.
“A pleasant and Informative audio tour. The app worked well. My first audioguide, so I think it´s a nice option for solo travellers.”
Taste Venezuelan snacks, drive toward Camera de Lobos, build your own espetada, and end with poncha in Funchal. Small-group evening.
“What a great way to experience the island! I’ve taken this tour twice and each time was unique. Fábio was such a great guide with the best attitude and personality. He had great stories about Madeira and how locals enjoy it. We not only went to spots that were full of mostly locals but we got insight on how “the locals do things”. We had the opportunity to enjoy a few Ponchas and even a few viewpoints before our dinner. Our meal was a variety of espetadas. We had sausage, steak and even chicken wings with great wine and sides. By the end of the night I was so grateful…”
A 1-hour private tuk tuk tour through Funchal’s historic core, with panoramic views and key stops like Mercado dos Lavradores, the Cathedral, and City Hall.
“Es war schön, die große Altstadt von Funchal mit dem Tuktuk zu entdecken. Unser Fahrer ist auch auf unsere Wünsche eingegangen, an bestimmten Orten zu halten, Zeit zum Fotografieren bekamen wir auch, und während der Fahrt oder dem Fotografieren hat er uns die Besiedlungsgeschichte und Besonderheiten erzählt.”
See Funchal’s highlights in 1 hour on a MadTuk historical tuk-tuk tour with guided photo stops, old town orientation, and convenient pickup.
“We loved our tuktuk tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a good sense of humour. We learned a lot and have returned to the old town tonight because we felt more confident to explore after our tour!”
