Imaculado Coração de Maria, Funchal
Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 8am - midnight
The Santa Luzia Garden occupies an area of 13,600 m2. Built on the grounds of the old Hinton or Torreão sugar mill, the garden, which features contemporary landscape architecture, has preserved its old factory chimney and some machinery that recalls the influence of the sugar industry of Madeira.
Avenida Arriaga (Sul) e Rua Ivens (Norte), Funchal
291 231 501
Located directly in the centre of Funchal city opposite the Municipal Theatre on a ground which once belonged to the Franciscan Convent, this is now a leisure area with shade trees, a small pond featuring ducks and swans, a café and an amphitheatre where entertainment and cultural events take place. Also known as Donna Amélia Garden, in memory of the Queen, the Municipal Garden boasts 8300 square meters of beautiful flowers, plants and trees indigenous to Madeira as well as many other exotic species from all over the world.
Caminho do Meio, Bom Sucesso, Funchal
291 211 200
Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 9am - 6pm
Children under 6 years - free entrance,
Juniors - € 2
Adults - € 6
Free entry on the following days: March 21 - World Forest Day; April 30 - Botanical Garden Birthday; May 18 - World Museum Day; July 1 - Day of Madeira; September 27 - World Tourism Day
Closed: December 25th
The Botanical Garden is in a beautiful location, well-kept and pleasant, with ornamental trees and shrubs, an orchid area, lawns, viewpoints and an amphitheatre for recreational activities.
There is also a small natural history museum and herbarium.
Rua do Lombo da Boa Vista, 25, Funchal
291 220 468
Opening hours: Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm
Feb 1st - May 31st - €4.50; Jun 1st - Jan 31st - €2.50
The Quinta da Boa Vista Gardens feature areas dedicated to various habitats from all over the world. One if its main highlights is the orchid collection. One of the main aspirations at Quinta da Boa Vista is to take advantage of Madeira’s unparalleled climate to recreate the original habitats of many endangered plant species.
There are sections devoted to South American Bromeliads, Australian Martinetes and African Aloes. However, the main centre of attraction of the Quinta is the orchid exhibition, which has been gathered and winning awards for 20 years. From December to May, the orchid houses present truly spectacular floral displays: Cymbidiums, Paphipedilums (slipper orchids) and Lycastes predominate, whereas the rest of the year, there is a superb collection of hybrids and rare species that attract the curiosity of visitors.
Largo da Fonte, Monte, Funchal
291 231 502
Opening Hours: Everyday except the 25th of December.
Garden Visiting Hours: 9.30 - 18.00 hours.
Museum Visiting Hours: 10.00 - 16.30 hours
Price Adults - € 12,50; Children younger than 15 years old: Free Entrance as long as they are accompanied by adults.
Take the Cable Car from Funchal up to Monte, visit the Monte Palace Garden and Monte village, including the “Church of Our Lady of Monte”.
Located on a steep slope, The Monte Palace Tropical Garden occupies an area of 70.000 square meters. The walk down through the gardens takes the visitor past waterfalls and through many different areas, including two oriental gardens, koi fish ponds and different planted areas.
The garden has a café with a terrace overlooking the bay of Funchal. Golf buggies can be found at the central lake, to take the visitor back to the entrance. This garden is one of the best gardens in Madeira.
Caminho da Quinta do Palheiro 32, Funchal
291 793 044
Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 9am - 5.30pm
Closed: December, 25th, January 1st
Price: € 11 , Children: Free, 15 -17 years: € 5
Apart from the panoramic views, the Palheiro gardens, with spacious lawns and lakes, have some of the most rare and valuable exotic plants in the world and some trees over 200 years old.
Some of the Camellia trees date back to over 200 years and are one of the gardens main highlights for its grandeur and uniqueness, at it’s best between November and April. A baroque chapel and a magnificent manor house from the 18th century make a fitting backdrop to the gardens.
Calçada do Pico 1, Funchal
291 740 670
Opening hours: Tues - Sun: 10am - 12.30 pm - 2pm - 5.30pm
Closed: Monday and Public Holidays
Price: Free Entrance
The gardens have a wealth of flower beds, cobbled stone paths, stone fountains, and summer houses. Surrounded by large century-old trees which flank the cobbled paths, the total area of the Quinta is around 1 hectare. There is a vantage point overlooking the bay of Funchal and other small spaces, together with an Orchidarium.
Rua Dr Pita, 10, Funchal
291 764 598
Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 8.30am-7pm
Closed: December, 25th, January 1st
Price: Free Entrance (to gardens)
Situated on the Rua Dr Pita, opposite Reids Hotel, The Quinta Magnolia is one of the major public gardens in Madeira. The gardens have countless species of trees and plants from around the world, and there is a space equipped with a children’s park and tennis courts. There is also a jogging circuit along the river valley. A café next to the pool invites you to rest and just enjoy the view while sipping a refreshing drink. The entrance to the garden is free, but there is a charge for using the squash and tennis courts.
Estrada da Ponta da Oliveira 11, 9125-001 Caniço
291 930 400
Price: Free Entrance
The Quinta Splendida Botanical Garden located in Caniço,has more than 1000 species of plants and flowers.
Located in the parish of Caniço, the garden covers an area of 30 000 m², and features more than 1000 species of plants and flowers, of which about 650 are identified by placards. Some of the plants that grow in this garden are native from Madeira.
Rua da Lev. de Stª Luzia, 31ª, Funchal
291 221 091
Open: Tues and Wed 10: 00 - 16: 00
For the other days call and book one day in advance
Closed: Sat, Sun, Holidays, Mon, Thur, Fri.
Just 5 minutes from Funchal centre the 30,000 m2 gardens have been carefully restored, and now these gardens are one of the botanical highlights of Madeira. Featuring a large collection of exotic plants, some unique to Madeira, the gardens are filled with curiosities, including a stone window salvaged from the house where Columbus once lived on the island.
Av. do Infante 1, 9050 – 547 Funchal
291 214 660
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9.30am - 7pm
Closed: Sat, Sun, Public Holidays
Price: €1
Located on Avenida do Infante the ‘Quinta Vigia’ became the Official Residence of the President of the Regional Government in May 1984. It has panoramic views over the harbour, with massive trees and palm trees, as well as many specimens of indigenous flora and introduced plants, and exotic birds.
Avenida do Infante, Funchal
291 231 502
Opening hours: Summer: 7am - 9pm;
Winter: 8am - 7pm
Price: Free Entrance
An ideal place for a stroll away from the hustle of the city, Santa Catarina Park, with an area of around 36,000 m2, is located between Avenida do Infante and Avenida Sá Carneiro. With fantastic views over Funchal, from the bay to Ponta do Garajau, this park has a lake, with an island for nesting birds, and a huge lawn surrounded by flowerbeds full of trees, shrubs and plant species from all over the world. There is a children’s play area, and a snack bar. The park also acts as a fabulous venue for many major concerts.
If you have fallen in love with any of the beautiful plants you see here, head to the
Farmers Market in Funchal where you will be able to buy cut flowers, bulbs, seeds and plants.
Ask for flowers to be packed in a box for travel, and that plants are free of soil and packed in wet paper.
Bulbs are great value - look for Agapanthus, Zantedeschia aethiopica, Clivias, Amaryllis, Hedychiums, Cannas and Eucomis. Big clumps of Strelitzia reginae and Heliconias, freshly dug up and leaves cut off, which leaf out again as soon as replanted.
You will also find dry bulbs for different hybrids of Zantedeschias, Crocosmias, Gladiolus, Orchids, etc. Cuttings of Passionflower and Brugmansias can also be purchased.
Upstairs you can find other plants like the Dracaena draco, Furcrea selloa, Agave sisalana, and Aloes. Another stall sells different exotic trees and shrubs like Brachychiton, Senna, Erythrina, Caesalpinia and Araucaria., and small cuttings of different cycads like Encephalartos, Macrozamia, Dioon, Cycas, Zamia, etc.