Funchal is a city of hills, and the yellow open-top sightseeing bus is a relaxed way to get your bearings and reach the outskirts without hiring a car. The 48-hour 3 in 1 ticket covers three circuits. The Funchal route passes the Town Hall square, the cathedral and the Madeira Wine Museum, and the longer network takes in the farmers’ market, the cable car station and several viewpoints. The Câmara de Lobos route runs west to the colourful fishing village, where boats are pulled up below the cliffs and locals play cards on the harbour. The Cabo Girão route climbs to the skywalk lookout, around 580 metres above the sea. You hop off wherever you like and catch a later bus, and the recorded commentary explains the island’s history, its wine trade and its landscape as you ride. It is run by the Madeira Bus Tours brand of the Portuguese operator Carristur, and the ticket also brings discounts at some museums and attractions.
How it works: the pass is valid for forty-eight hours from activation. Buses start from Avenida do Mar on the seafront and run from about 09:30 until 17:00, with the Funchal and Câmara de Lobos loop running roughly every forty-five minutes and taking just under an hour and a half to complete. The Cabo Girão departures run from mid-morning to late afternoon. Show the smartphone ticket when you board. Free cancellation and rescheduling are available until the end of the day before your visit. A cheaper 24-hour single-route ticket is also sold.
What to expect: the upper deck is open, so bring sunscreen and a jacket, since the breeze off the sea can be cool. Traffic in central Funchal can slow the loop at busy times. The Cabo Girão viewpoint charges its own entry fee, which is not part of the bus ticket.
Making the most of it: ride a full loop first to see the layout of the city, then use the second day for stops. Hop off at Câmara de Lobos for lunch by the harbour, use the cable car stop to head up to Monte, and save the Cabo Girão route for a clear afternoon.
What to expect
The experience
Three open-top bus routes on one 48-hour ticket, with recorded commentary and unlimited hop-on and hop-off at the stops.
Best time
A clear day for the Cabo Girão route, and an early start to beat traffic on the city loop.
How long
About ninety minutes for a full city loop, with two days to use all three routes.
Tips
Activate the ticket in the morning so the forty-eight hours cover two full days, and carry a jacket for the top deck.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors without a car who want to see Funchal and its western neighbours easily.
- Families
- An easy way to move children around a very hilly city, with plenty of stops for breaks.
- Couples
- Use it as transport to Câmara de Lobos for a harbourside lunch and to Cabo Girão for the views.
- Pair with
- The Monte cable car, which has its own stop on the route.
- Time needed
- One to two days.
Good questions
What does the 3 in 1 bus ticket include?+
It covers three routes for forty-eight hours: Funchal, Câmara de Lobos and Cabo Girão. An audio guide in ten languages is included.
Where does the Funchal hop-on hop-off bus start?+
The buses start from Avenida do Mar on the seafront in central Funchal. You can board at any stop on the route.
How often do the buses run?+
The Funchal and Câmara de Lobos loop runs roughly every forty-five minutes during the day. The Cabo Girão departures are less frequent, so check times when you board.
Is the Cabo Girão skywalk fee included?+
No, the viewpoint charges its own entry fee. Children up to twelve go free.
Can I cancel the bus ticket?+
Yes, free cancellation and rescheduling are available until the end of the day before your visit. After that the ticket is fixed.
