Our couple’s day #1 · Funchal

Hop-on hop-off in Funchal – is it worth it? Our honest experience

We’d always dismissed the hop-on hop-off bus as a touristy thing and smiled at it a little. Until today.

At our small guesthouse Casa das Flores above Funchal, we give our guests everything. We always have the best tips ready, prepare breakfast, and now and then we do the cleaning ourselves too. And who gets left behind? Exactly. Us.

So we’ve made a firm resolution: Monday is couple’s day! We take turns coming up with something to make the other one happy. Something a bit crazy is welcome, too. The main thing is that we do something nice together.

Today it was Michel’s turn. And what did he surprise me with? Tickets for the hop-on hop-off bus. 😄 Honestly, we’d always dismissed it as a touristy thing. Well. Until today.

First things first: yellow or red? Watch out!

Two hop-on hop-off buses run in Funchal, a yellow one and a red one. And here’s the thing: both follow practically the same route – only the price is different! The yellow one starts at €19, the red one at €26. We took the yellow one: valid for 24 hours, Funchal and Câmara de Lobos included, and there was even a little wine tasting at Blandy’s on top. So: keep your eyes open when buying tickets!

Key facts at a glance (as of October 2026)

Yellow bus (Yellow Bus): from €19 for 24 hours, Funchal + Câmara de Lobos, children aged 4–10 €9.50
Red bus: from €26
Start: stop 1 on the promenade in Funchal
Audio guide in many languages, including English
Hop on and off as often as you like

Off we go in Funchal

From our house it’s about a 20-minute walk down to the promenade, and that’s where we started. A cruise ship was in the harbour, so there was a short queue, but nothing to worry about.

💡 My tip: as soon as two or more cruise ships are in the harbour, it gets busy. Cruise passengers usually set off early in the morning, so better start a little later. Or check online beforehand which days fewer ships are scheduled, and plan your trip for then.

And then up to the top deck! The perspective alone: when you see everything from above, Funchal suddenly looks completely different.

Yellow double-decker Yellow Bus sightseeing bus at stop 1 on Funchal’s promenade under palm trees — This is where it starts: stop 1 on the promenade

Open top deck of the hop-on hop-off bus in Funchal with rows of seats, palm trees and blue sky — Open-top through Funchal

First stop: Pico dos Barcelos

At Pico dos Barcelos we hopped off for the first time and headed to the café. Coffee? Not for me, I never drink coffee. I had a freshly made smoothie. And with it – a little recommendation from me – homemade biscuits from Fábrica Santo António in Funchal. Do try them!

Sabine and Michel on the café terrace at Pico dos Barcelos with a smoothie and biscuits from Fábrica Santo António — Smoothie instead of coffee, with biscuits from Fábrica Santo António

There we sat, with a view over the whole bay, and really felt like we were on holiday. Simply amazing.

Câmara de Lobos: our highlight

Next stop: Câmara de Lobos. A small fishing village that has kept its authentic character. Colourful fishing boats in the harbour, red umbrellas above the lanes and lots of little bars and restaurants we can really recommend.

Colourful fishing boats on land in the harbour of Câmara de Lobos, Madeira — The colourful fishing boats are simply part of the picture here

And fish? It’s excellent here. We ate at one of the many little restaurants by the harbour. I had lulas, small baby squid. Michel went for bacalhau (salt cod), with little potatoes in a wonderful garlic oil and fresh peppers. Delicious!

And afterwards? Of course, a poncha is a must. You can get it all over Madeira, but in Câmara de Lobos it’s especially good.

Michel cheering under red umbrellas in a lane with restaurants in Câmara de Lobos, Madeira — Michel under the red umbrellas

Colourfully decorated lane in Câmara de Lobos with hanging decorations, red umbrellas and a poncha bar — Colourful lanes and poncha bars on every corner

💡 My money-saving tip: TheFork

Download the TheFork app! At many restaurants you get 30 to 50% off your food. And as if that weren’t enough, you collect points with every booking, so-called Yums, which you get back as an extra discount. Today it saved us €25.

With my code 81981635 you’ll get 1,000 Yums after your first booking – that’s up to €20 off your next meal.
👉 Download the TheFork app

Note: this is my personal referral code. You get 1,000 points, I get 500. Your price stays the same.

View over the bay of Câmara de Lobos with red roofs, the sea and steep cliffs — One last look over the bay before we leave

Back with the wind in our hair

We really enjoyed the ride back. Fresh wind in our hair, headphones in, and we learned quite a few things we didn’t know yet. And that’s despite living here!

Funchal’s coastline with palm trees and a view of the Cabo Girão cliffs under clouds — On the way back: a view along the coast all the way to Cabo Girão

To finish: a glass at Blandy’s

Back in Funchal, a little extra was waiting for us: our ticket included a wine tasting at Blandy’s, a glass of genuine Madeira wine. Of course we didn’t miss that!

Two glasses of Madeira wine at Blandy’s in Funchal, Michel laughing in the background — Cheers! A glass of Madeira wine

Historic wooden wine press at Blandy’s Wine Lodge in Funchal, Madeira — The old wine press at Blandy’s

My tip: Blandy’s is worth a visit anyway. The huge old wooden wine press alone is impressive, and everywhere there are bottles with vintages older than we are. If you have a bit of time, book the guided tour straight away. You’ll see how Madeira wine is made. Really fascinating!

Wooden shelves with old Madeira wine bottles of various vintages at Blandy’s in Funchal — Vintages older than we are

Our verdict: is it worth it?

Absolutely! You get a wonderful overview of Funchal and the neighbouring village, stunning views and lots of information along the way. And us? We had a wonderful day together. And along the way we collected new tips we can pass on to you. We can now happily recommend the bus to our guests, especially on their first day, to get to know Funchal.

Next Monday it’s my turn, and I already have an idea … Want to know what happens next? Then follow us on Instagram @casadasflores.madeira.

Looking for more ideas for your Madeira holiday? Which festivals are worth it, you can read in Madeira festivals 2026 & 2027 – and why we skip the Instagram hotspots when hiking, in Hiking on Madeira.

See you soon, with love
Sabine

Would you like to experience Madeira like this too, with insider tips from hosts who live here? Then come and stay with us at Casa das Flores! Take a look at our calendar. And of course we’re happy to help with poncha tips for Câmara de Lobos.

See available dates → Message us on WhatsApp →

Frequently asked questions

Is the hop-on hop-off bus in Funchal worth it?

Yes, especially on your first day: from the open top deck you see Funchal from a whole new perspective, and the audio guide tells you lots about the island along the way. You can hop off and on as often as you like, for example at Pico dos Barcelos or in Câmara de Lobos.

How much is the hop-on hop-off bus in Funchal?

The yellow Yellow Bus starts at €19 for 24 hours including Câmara de Lobos; children aged 4 to 10 pay €9.50. The red bus starts at €26. As of October 2026.

What is the difference between the yellow and the red bus?

Both follow practically the same route through Funchal, but the red one costs more. Our yellow ticket even included a glass of Madeira wine at Blandy’s.

What should you try in Câmara de Lobos?

A poncha, of course – you’ll find it on every corner here, and it’s especially good. And definitely a Nikita, which was invented in Câmara de Lobos! Really, you’re not supposed to say what’s in it beforehand, or nobody would dare to try it. I’ll tell you anyway: vanilla ice cream, pineapple or passion fruit, beer, wine and usually a dash of aguardente. Don’t worry, there’s an alcohol-free version too. Do try the passion fruit one, it’s so, so delicious! And for fresh fish, there are plenty of good restaurants around the little harbour.

How long is the ticket valid?

The cheapest ticket is valid for 24 hours from your first ride. There are also tickets for 48 hours or several days, some including Cabo Girão.

When is the best time for the bus tour?

When two or more cruise ships are in the harbour it gets busy, as cruise passengers usually set off early in the morning. Then it’s better to start a little later, or check online beforehand which days fewer ships are scheduled.

Where is the best place to stay in Funchal?

It depends on what you’re looking for. The big hotels with pools are in the Lido area in the west, close to the sea. In the old town (Zona Velha) you’re right in the middle of things, with restaurants and bars on your doorstep, though it can get noisy in the evening. For somewhere quieter with a view over the bay, look at the neighbourhoods above the city, like ours: Casa das Flores in Santa Maria Maior, above the old town. From us it’s about a 20-minute walk downhill to the old town, and the easiest way back up is by bus or Bolt.