What to do in Funchal when it rains

Rain is one of a tourist’s main nightmares, especially when travelling to a paradisiacal place where the main attractions are natural.

But even when this unexpected event occurs, it’s still possible to do fun things in certain places, like Funchal, on the Island of Madeira.

Even when rain appears, it’s still possible to visit indoor and safe places where you’ll still feel like you’re sightseeing. Therefore, it’s good to keep an eye out for such places in case the weather isn’t great during your stay on the island. Below, check out some tips on how to make the most of your time in the Madeiran capital when it rains.

Visit museums and historical sites

If it’s raining, one of the best alternatives in Funchal is to visit its museums, which have a lot of history to tell and where you can be entertained for hours on end.

One of them, for example, is the Electricity Museum, which previously housed the old Funchal Thermal Power Plant. The venue features interactive elements that can keep you entertained if you enjoy science. There’s also the Natural History Museum, located in Palácio de São Pedro. In addition to exhibiting various animal and mineral species, the place also boasts a scientific library, as well as the Municipal Aquarium.

For the little ones, there’s the Toy Museum, located in Armazém do Mercado, which was created about 19 years ago, thanks to the collection of architect José Manuel Borges Pereira.

Don’t miss the Quinta das Cruzes Museum either, which has a very strong historical connection with the city of Funchal. For those who want to learn a bit more about the capital’s past, this is the perfect recommendation, which also features a library and a cafeteria.

Remember that besides the museums, there are also many interesting churches and cathedrals to visit, among them, the Convento de Santa Clara, the Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora, and the Igreja do Colégio São João Evangelista.

Keep in mind that there are a good number of such places in the city, such as the Museum of Sacred Art, the Museu Photografia Vicentes, and the Casa Museu Frederico de Freitas.

Research which ones interest you most, and check their opening hours.

In other words, if you enjoy history and sumptuous buildings from past eras, even a rainy day in Funchal can be rewarding.

See also: Museums in Madeira

Savour authentic Madeira wine

For rainy days, how about enjoying an excellent wine? That’s what you’ll find, for example, at Blandy’s Wine Lodge, the region’s oldest winery, with over 200 years of existence.

Besides taking a guided tour through the lodge’s cellars, you can also discover a little more about the family of these renowned producers.

And, of course: you can enjoy the winery’s tasting room, where you can see all the phases of Madeira wine production, sampling various grape varieties of the drink. On a rainy day, let’s agree it’s a perfect outing.

Savor local cuisine through soups

If there’s one food that truly represents Madeiran cuisine, it’s the soups. For example, there’s “Açorda“, also known as “hangover soup”, which is made with bread, garlic, oregano, and eggs.

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Among the best restaurants to taste this soup is Restaurante dos Combatentes, located at Rua de São Francisco, 1, and another at Rua Ivens, 1 and 2. For reservations, simply call +351 291 221 388.

Also take advantage of other local restaurants to enjoy these soups, especially in the morning, and if it’s raining. In other words, don’t limit yourself to just soups, but in cold weather, they are great opportunities to eat something different in Funchal.

See also: Typical Dishes and Sweets of Madeira

Enjoy some shopping

Another possibility to have fun and distract yourself in Funchal on rainy days is to go shopping at the capital’s main shopping centers.

There are various local markets and centers, such as Anadia Shopping (located in downtown Funchal), Arcadas de São Francisco (next to the Municipal Garden). There’s also Fórum Madeira (located right in the city’s tourist area) and La Vie (located in the center of Funchal).

In other words, it’s possible to make the most of Funchal’s rainy days by shopping and having fun, especially if you have more people with you.

And the best part: all these places are not far from each other, and you can quickly reach any of them with ease from wherever you are, and even visit more than one during the day.

A stroll through the city center streets and the Mercado dos Lavradores

If the day remains rainy all day long, and not just in the morning or afternoon, the ideal is to prepare an itinerary to make the most of your stay in the Madeiran capital.

You can, for example, take the opportunity to stroll through the city center streets, such as Carlo I and Santa Maria. The latter, by the way, features beautiful outdoor paintings.

In the afternoon, you can eat something at the Mercado dos Lavradores, including tastings of typical fruits, such as banana passion fruit, lemon mango, etc.

Indeed, at this market, you can enjoy various different foods. If you like such places, the market should be one of your mandatory stops.

A visit to the Botanical Garden, even in rainy or cloudy weather, can also provide beautiful and interesting experiences.

To better appreciate the landscape, you can even take the cable car, which departs from Avenida do Mar, and will offer a good panorama of the city, which will have a different feel in the rain, but still beautiful.

Tip: Buy your cable car ticket online here, avoid queues.

This way, you’ll enjoy the landscape, even if it’s not a sunny day, as the rains here are usually not heavy, allowing for good visibility of the city as a whole.

Final tips (when to visit and how to get to Funchal)

• One of the advantages of visiting Funchal is that you can go there at any time of year, as the climate, in general, doesn’t vary much.
• Even in winter, and with a higher probability of rain, Funchal remains very beautiful and pleasant to visit.
• By the way, if you want to visit Funchal when the city is crowded, the recommendation is to avoid New Year’s Eve, the Flower Festival (which takes place in spring) and also the month of August.
• To visit the island of Madeira, always check out Madeira travel packages on promotion.
• Even during times of low visibility in some natural spots, or even during rainy periods, the city holds other picturesque places that every tourist must visit.

Activities not to miss in Madeira