Christmas Trips · MADEIRA CHRISTMAS TOURS
The good madeira christmas tours fill weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 7 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Ride through Funchal’s decorated old town, cathedral, market, gardens, central square, and hotel district in a private open-top VW Beetle. Guides such as Miguel and Rodolfo add local stories, with hotel or cruise-terminal pickup and drop-off included.
“Fabulous way to see the Christmas lights with a very knowledgeable guide”
Ride through Funchal in a classic open-top Volkswagen Beetle while a local guide such as Rudolph, Rodolfo, Miguel, or Michael points out the city’s Christmas displays. The private 75-minute tour includes hotel pickup in Funchal and passes the Farmers Market, Old Town, and decorated hotel districts.
“We had a great time. Our driver was knowledgeable and willing to help first time visitors learn a little about Funchal while enjoying the beautiful Christmas lights!”
Board a VMT Madeira catamaran at Funchal Marina for a 1.5-hour New Year’s Eve cruise. You’ll watch the fireworks from the water, see Funchal lit up after dark, and enjoy champagne, wine, beer, or soft drinks. English and Portuguese guides are provided.
“It was a magnificent experience, very well organised, but most of all the fireworks were amazing :)”
Sail from Funchal Marina at 11:00 PM, view Madeira’s Christmas lights from the water, then settle in the bay for the midnight fireworks. English and Portuguese guides are provided, with champagne, Madeira wine, and snacks served on board. Return is planned for about 12:30 AM.
“Picie i przekąski no limit, widoki warte każdej ceny. 10/10 i chętnie bym tam wróciła”
Ride through Funchal’s Christmas displays in a private open-air tuk-tuk for about an hour. Your driver shares local history and culture, with stops for photos at places such as Miradouro Vila Guida, Avenida do Mar, and the old town. Joao is one named guide, though language options should be confirmed before booking.
“Great little trip around Funchal. Joao was very friendly and full of local knowledge. Would recommend to others wanting a fun way to see the town.”
Meet at Funchal Marina at 10:45 pm for about two hours on a small boat capped at 12 people. You’ll watch the fireworks over Funchal Bay, enjoy light snacks, and raise a glass of sparkling wine at midnight. The activity runs in English and returns to the marina.
“The fireworks were at risk of cancellation due to the weather and I am so glad the rains didn’t play spoilsport at the last minute. The agency assured us that the winds were fine and the only risk was us getting wet due to the rain forecast, and we were extremely lucky to have had good weather for the entire 2hrs or so we were onboard the boat. The guide was fun and informative and I highly recommend this to anyone looking to watch the fireworks this year.”
Ride through Funchal after dark with an English-speaking local guide, stopping at a city viewpoint, illuminated cathedral, Santa Maria’s painted doors, and Barreirinha Beach. Luis is one named guide associated with the tour, and pickup and drop-off within Funchal are included.
“We did a night time tuktuk trip with Luis who was great. He kept us well informed prior to our pick up from our hotel and was extremely knowledgeable on our trip, pointing out all the points of interest & history. Really enjoyed the trip with Luis.”
Pick a market, a lights run or a night in the snow.
