Skip to main content

Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour and Catamaran Whale & Dolphin Watching

Funchal, Portugal
  • 5 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Perfect for travelers who prefer to explore at their own pace, this hop-on hop-off bus tour of Funchal allows you to do just that. See highlights such as Nossa Senhora do Monte Church, the Old Town, and the Funchal Market, and disembark at any of the stops whenever an attraction captures your attention. Your ticket also includes a catamaran cruise to search for dolphins and whales on the Atlantic Ocean.
  • 48-hour pass for a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Funchal and catamaran cruise
  • Ideal for travelers that prefer to explore independently
  • Check off Funchal highlights such as the City Gates, Quinta Magnolia, and Lido
  • Learn about Funchal history and culture with an audio guide

What's Included

  • Hop-on hop-off tour (48h ticket validity)
  • Catamaran cruise alongside Madeira’s coast
  • Sample a glass of Madeira wine at Old Blandy's Wine Lodge
  • Bordal Embroideries Factory free entry and 10% discount on its products
  • 10% discount when purchasing other Yellow Bus ticket (ever tour in every city)
  • Discounts on tickets to monuments, museums and leisure activities
  • Museums/monuments entrance
  • Hotel pick up and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Departure Point

  • You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.

Itinerary

Begin your hop-on hop-off tour at any of the stops listed below in the Itinerary section. Simply present your paper voucher to the driver, and exchange it for a 48-hour ticket.

Disembark to explore Funchal’s charming Old Town, soak up the ambience of Avenida do Mar (Funchal Marina), or browse for unusual souvenirs at the local market. Absorb stunning views at Pico dos Barcelos viewpoint or feel the midday sun at the Lido, all the while listening to commentary from your audio guide.

Your ticket allows you to hop on and off the bus as many times as you like during opening hours, and includes a discount to select restaurants, bars, and attractions in Funchal.

Your ticket also includes a cruise aboard a catamaran where you can see Funchal from a different perspective—the Atlantic Ocean. Climb aboard and keep your eyes peeled for local marine life, including dolphins, whales, turtles, and seabirds.
Sightseeing Tour, Whale & Dolphin Watching

29 Stops

9 Points of Interest

Duration: 5 hours

Operating Schedule: Departure point Hop-On Hop-Off Bus: Avenida do Mar (Near Marina). Departures every 30 minutes from 09h30AM to 12h30PM, and every 45 minutes from 1h15PM to 5h00PM. Duration: 1h50 Departure point Catamaran: VMT City Pier Quiosque (In front of Stop 2). Departures at 10h30 or 3h00PM. Check-in is obligatory 30 min. before the booked starting time. Duration: 3h

1

Avenida Do Mar

2

Varadouros Old Gate (City Gates)

3

Funchal Cable Car

4

Mercado dos Lavradores (farmers' market)

5

Bordal - Bordados da Madeira

6

Paços do Concelho do Funchal

7

Funchal Cathedral

8

Casino da Madeira

9

Quinta Magnólia Tennis & Padel

10

Funchal Bay

11

São Martinho parish church

12

Pico dos Barcelos viewpoint

13

Promenade do Lido

14

Câmara de Lobos

15

Câmara de Lobos

16

Pestana Promenade (1338)

17

Hotel Orca Praia

18

Hotel Praia Formosa

19

Doca do Cavacas

20

Forum Madeira

21

Pestana Carlton Madeira

22

Promenade do Lido

23

Hotel Porto Mare

24

Lido Promenade

25

Hotel The Cliff Bay

26

Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira

27

Rua do Marquês do Funchal

28

Cais de Cruzeiros

29

Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva

Points of interest passed by on this route

Yellow Bus Tours Funchal

Mercado dos Lavradores

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption

Casino da Madeira

Quinta Magnolia Gardens

Passeio Publico Maritimo e Jardins do Lido

Lido Beach

Bordal - Bordados da Madeira

Baia de Camara de Lobos

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Catamaran check-in is obligatory 30 min. before the booked starting time

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

3.7
based on 55 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

On/off bus tour with whale and dolphin watch

Dennis_L, Mar 2025
The hop on hop off busses are a great way to get around an unfamiliar city and find important sights and landmarks

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Dear Customer, Thank you for your contact. It is very rewarding for us to know our customers are satisfied! We work on daily basis so that our customers feel welcome and have an amazing experience with Yellow Bus tours. We are very much grateful for the time you took to give us this review and we will be looking forward for your next visit. Best regards, Yellow Bus Team

Sunny yellow

ZoltanJozsef_V, Apr 2020
Fantastic sunny day with yellow bus. I love it. The bus driver was excellent. The panoramic bus was great.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Customer , Thank you for your contact. It is very rewarding for us to know our customers are satisfied! We work on daily basis so that our customers feel welcome and have an amazing experience with Yellow Bus tours. We are very much grateful for the time you took to give us this review and we will be looking forward for your next visit. Best regards, Yellow Bus Team

Hop on bus tour

donaldf518, May 2019
I enjoyed riding the bus loop, it was easy to find. Was very dissappointed there was no internet. The region is very mountainous, So we visited areas we would not have reached on foot.

Most people have done a hop on - hop...

Dawn T, Mar 2018
Most people have done a hop on - hop off bus tour. This was good. Some of the audio jacks didn't work but we just moved seats to one that did. Would recommend.

Hard to rate it, as we hopped off at...

RobertP_C, Nov 2016
Hard to rate it, as we hopped off at the teleferico stop 3 and spent the rest of our time ashore up the hill, in the church, and in the gardens. We did not have time to get back on the bus ... more's the pity.

From $55.12

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 58 days in advance.

Compare Similar Experiences

1 / 3
Current
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour and Catamaran Whale & Dolphin Watching


5 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$55.12
Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour 3 in 1


2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$29.36
Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour in Madeira


2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$88.67
Whale & Dolphin Watching boat trip


2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$55.31