Around Madeira

The IFCN (Institute for Forests and the Conservation of Nature) has issued a further update to the status of the island's walking routes following the inspection of storm damage. The main change is that PR9 is now again open. There have been several changes in quick succession, so it's worth keeping an eye on the IFCN website for recent updates. The following routes are now open:     PR 1 - Vereda do Areeiro     PR 1.1 Vereda da Ilha     PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo     PR 1.3 - Vereda da Encumeada     PR 2 - Vereda do Urzal     PR 3 - Vereda do Burro     PR 3.1 - Caminho real do Monte     PR 5 - Vereda das Funduras     PR 6 - Levada das 25 Fontes     PR 6.1 - Levada do Risco     PR 6.2 - Levada do Alecrim     PR 6.3 - Vereda da Lagoa do Vento     PR 8 - Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço     PR 9 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde     PR 10 – Levada do Furado     PR 11 – Vereda dos Balcões     PR 12 - Caminho Real da Encumeada (long-term part-closure for works)     PR 13- Vereda do

  There's a series of concerts  taking place roughly monthly in four of Funchal's museums: the Cidade do Açúcar Museum , the Henrique e Francisco Franco Museum , the Natural History Museum and Monte Station . The programme can be found here where tickets can also be purchased.  Alternatively, tickets (5 euros) can be purchased from the ticket office at the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias.

According to the local press, the introduction of entrance charges for the Cabo Girão viewing point have led to periodic queues.  More ticket machines have been ordered.  It is possible to buy tickets online in advance. The local authorities have produced a video showing to do it.

  Welcome to this site for visitors to Madeira. I hope it helps you to find places of interest on the island and to visit them. For general information on transport, see Getting Around and for what you need to know before you set out on foot, see Walking . Information on specific activities and destinations can be found in the menu. The main focus is on places you can visit in a day trip from Funchal, but we'll also look at some further-flung options if you're a repeat visitor or if you're staying for some time. NOTE: The official tourism website has been reorganised. For up-to-date information on the status of the official walking routes, check the page [you can change the language at the top] provided by the Institute for Forests and the Conservation of Nature ( IFCN ).

  There's currently free entry to Funchal's Natural History Museum - at Rua da Mouraria, 31- owing to significant redevelopment work. Unfortunately, this means that the aquarium - probably the most popular feature - is closed. However, the garden of aromatic plants is open as are the galleries of the permanent collection, though these largely consist of examples of the local fauna, stuffed and mounted in glass cases, which may not be to everyone's taste.