Old Funchal Walking Tour

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Funchal, Portugal

High interest

Booked 4 times today.

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.7

· Nora_B ·

Mar 2026

Great walking tour across the old town. The guide was very friendly, informative and helpful. We were a small group which made it even more personal learning about Funchal. Definitely worth the price and would love to try other tours from them as well.

· Jeremy_H ·

Mar 2026

A excellent walking tour, the guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend. Well worth the price.

Explore our promoted experiences

Funchal, Madeira

5.0

(6)

Private half-day tour in Madeira

from $211

Full Day Jeep Safari Tour to Porto Moniz and Cabo Girão

from $76

Pico do Areeiro to Ponta São Lourenço: East 4x4 Expedition

Funchal, Madeira

5.0

(6)

Pico do Areeiro to Ponta São Lourenço: East 4x4 Expedition

from $67

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

Although Madeira is most famous for its natural landscapes, the Portuguese island also harbors a rich history. Receive an introduction to the history of Funchal during a walking tour that offers a more intimate glimpse into the Old Town than you’d get traveling by coach or car. This tour, which proves ideal for first-time visitors, allows you to benefit from the insider knowledge and personalized attention of your guide.

Orient yourself in Funchal with ease during a history tour
An ideal choice for history buffs and first-time visitors
Explore on foot for a more intimate glimpse into the area
Choose a start time to suit your schedule

What's Included

Driver/guide
Tour escort/host

Transportation to/from attractions

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Jesuits' College of Funchal
R. dos Ferreiros Estrada, São Martinho, 9000-082 Funchal, Portugal
Inside of Madeira University Rectory, Rua dos Ferreiras opposite the court house

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Colegio dos Jesuitas do Funchal

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Mercado dos Lavradores

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Zona Velha

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Assembleia Regional Da Madeira

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Funchal Cathedral

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Estatua Joao Goncalves Zarco

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Jardim Municipal do Funchal

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Igreja de Sao Joao Evangelista do Colegio do Funchal

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Colegio dos Jesuitas do Funchal

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Not wheelchair accessible

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.7

based on 540 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Student led walk in Old Town

Robin_H, Mar 2026

Money from these walks goes to a good cause, it supports students at the University. Our tour guide was not a student, but a volunteer. He was from the Netherlands. I think it would have been more lively if the tour had been from a local.

Funchal walking tour

Jeremy_H, Mar 2026

A excellent walking tour, the guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend. Well worth the price.

Loved it

Lyndon_M, Mar 2026

Excellent way to understand the island better. Very informative and knowledgeable guide and the wine tasting at the end made it even more special

Great walking tour, very...

Sukhvinder_B, Mar 2026

Great walking tour, very informative, interesting and very well organised. The tour guide very knowledgeable

Walking tour of old town Funchal

Susan_S, Mar 2026

Great tour takes 2 hours Funchal is hilly so make sure you have good walking shoes on. Guide was very informative and the tour helped us get our bearings

Great walking tour across the old town with a little surprise

Nora_B, Mar 2026

Interesting walking tour of the old city

Nicola_T, Feb 2026

Informative and entertaining walking tour of old Funchal, with well-informed guide Elae, finishing at the highlight, Jesuit Church.

Great walking tour

Trevor_P, Feb 2026

This is a fantastic way to get to see essential Funchal. Both of the guides are very knowlegeable of Madeira and Funchal.

So So Walking tour

derrick_a, Feb 2026

This tour would have been much better with a local guide. Also difficult to hear due to background noise and poor voice projection.

Absolutely brilliant...

David_A, Feb 2026

Absolutely brilliant tour, lovely guide Sarah. Would really recommend a tour at the beginning of your stay ..a real insight to Funchal and some great tips on places to visit in Madeira

Wonderful walking tour of Funchal Old Town

Mark_R, Jan 2026

Sarah was a lovely guide who took our small group of three on a very enjoyable tour of the old town and its historical sights.

Pleasant and informative

Natalia_P, Jan 2026

Very nice, easy, and informative tour with the knowledgeable guide who loves the city and can tell you a lot even though are not native, but enthusiastic students from other countries. Mine was from France.

Strolling thru Old Funchal

meheke, Oct 2025

Awesome, very informative. My tour guide was amazing. She explained everything in detail. Very knowledgeable

Super historical insight into Funchal and Madeira

Cat_B, Oct 2025

A light hearted and informative insight into the history of Funchal and Madeira. Enjoyed the guided stories and ability to keep us together despite the rain showers that day

Walking tour of Old Town, Funchal

Rita_B, Oct 2025

Elena (from Austria) took us on a 2 hour tour of the old town, Funchal. She was well informed, added some humour with a nice mix of history and local colour and invited us to ask questions. It was also great to know that these walking tours support student books and meals. Highly recommend. R&M

Visit all the old sites in town

Jan_G, Oct 2025

Well informed Guide with limited knowledge and no anecdotes. She told us what she knew but could not elaborate.

Very informative walking tour

Paul_B, Oct 2025

Very informative walking tour of Funchal which covered a lot of local history and a comfortable distance around Funchal.

Good introduction to Funchal

Carol_S, Oct 2025

Lovely relaxed tour, well spoken English. Gentle walk with stops at interesting places. Funds raised to help students who have financial issues and would have to give up courses.

Very interesting tour

Linda_N, Oct 2025

Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative. As this was our first time in Funchal it was a great way to see the city and find out about its history. Would definitely recommend

Informative Student Tour

Robin_J, Sep 2025

I found this informative and the route was easy given how hilly Funchal is. The guide was personable and there was a wine tasting at the end. The guides are students, so you're supporting a school. Just be aware that they are not likely to have the perspective of a native - my guide had lived in Madeira 3 months.

A walk through history

Helga_Y, Sep 2025

A good way to see areas of Funchal that you may not be aware of and to get some historical information.

Amazing tour of Funchal!...

VIOLETTA_H, Sep 2025

Amazing tour of Funchal! My guide was engaging and full of interesting facts, showing all the iconic spots. Learned so much and really enjoyed the experience — highly recommend!

Good guide and nice tour of the old city.

Doreen_W, Sep 2025

Good experience with a very knowledgeable guide. However the point of meeting although known locally as the Jesuits College, is actually the University of the Jesuits on the side entrance and this should be made clear on the instructions of where to meet.

Interesting and informative

Mhairi_C, Aug 2025

My husband, step-son and I went on the tour with Dulce and had a great time. The walk wasn’t hard and she gave us a really interesting insight into Madeira’s history. It was a great way to start our holiday.

Inspiring, confident young guide

Terry_C, Aug 2025

Very informative young guide. Used her local knowledge to pass on hints and tips for shopping and other tours. Great to hear that the money generated from the tours goes to local aspiring students.

Lovely introduction to Funchal

Jacqueline_B, Jul 2025

Excellent guide (German student spoke great English). Pleasant pace, showed us some interesting places, including market, churches, "oven street", painted doors street, Blandys Madeira wine building and town squares. I would have liked a little more info on the history of Madeira but my daughter was happy it wasn't too "historical"! Nice touch at the end with a little wine tasting. Great way to get acquainted with the centre of Funchal.

Funchal Walking Tour

John_M, Jul 2025

Oceane was a very good tour guide and explained everything very well. We enjoyed our walk and would recommend.

Wonderful tour with...

Jeanine_H, Jun 2025

Wonderful tour with Pedro! He was engaged and shared so much with us. I learned all about Lisbon and Portugal’a history. We saw so much in our time. It was everything I had hoped for. Highly recommend.

June 25 group holiday

Patrick_B, Jun 2025

Our guide was delightful, considerate and very knowledgable of the history of Funchal and Madeira in general. My wife is hard of hearing and once she knew this she made a point of having my wife stand close, so as not to miss what was being said. If you are interested in the history of the place you are visiting than look no further this tour is great value.

Great tour by volunteers

Lindsey_C, Jun 2025

A great tour with a young volunteer who spoke excellent English ( he was German) took the tour for7 of us of varying ages, kept the pace just right that nobody fell behind even if they stopped for photos. Aaron was friendly and knowledgeable and warned us about the scam prices in the capital and in particular in the old city. Nice little surprise at the end but I won’t spoil it for you 😜