Shopping · Madeira · Portugal
Shopping in Madeira
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Madeira's shopping is about local crafts and food: hand embroidery, wicker, wine and cakes, with modern shopping centres in Funchal for everyday needs. Best souvenirs: Madeira wine, Madeira embroidery and Bolo de mel.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Madeira wine
Where to shop
Central Funchal
Streets around the cathedral and Rua Dr. Fernão de Ornelas have embroidery shops, wine stores and local boutiques.
Funchal Old Town
Craft and gift shops along Rua de Santa Maria and near the market.
Camacha
The village in the hills east of Funchal is the traditional centre of Madeiran wicker-work.
Markets
Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal's main market for flowers, tropical fruit, vegetables, fish and some crafts.
What to buy
Madeira wine
Bottles from wine lodges, from young three-year-olds to aged vintages, packed for travel.
Madeira embroidery
Hand-embroidered linens with a quality seal from the regional institute; check the seal to identify genuine pieces.
Bolo de mel
Honey cake that keeps for months, sold in small sizes for gifts.
Wicker goods
Baskets and small items made in Camacha.
Tropical flowers
Bird-of-paradise flowers and orchids boxed for flights at florists and the market.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Funchal Old Town
Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal's 1940 Art Deco market hall has azulejo tile panels at its entrance, a courtyard of flower sellers in traditional dress, stalls of tropical fruit such as custard apple and passion-fruit varieties, and a fish hall where black scabbardfish and tuna are laid out each morning.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Street · Funchal Old Town
Rua de Santa Maria and the Old Town
Funchal's oldest street runs through the Zona Velha, where the 'Arte de Portas Abertas' project turned hundreds of front doors into painted artworks.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Photo spot
- After dark
- Food
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bolo do caco, Milho frito, Poncha and Madeira wine. Snack bars, roadside stalls and restaurants across the island, often brought to the table as a starter. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Funchal Old Town | $$$ | Painted doors on Rua de Santa Maria, the market and the cable car station |
| Funchal Lido | $$$ | Clifftop resort hotels, sea pools and the Estrada Monumental promenade |
| Câmara de Lobos | $$ | Colourful fishing harbour, poncha bars and Churchill's viewpoint |
| Machico | $$ | Historic first settlement with a sandy bay near the airport |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Tipping is modest: rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service in restaurants is appreciated but not expected. Small change is fine in cafés and taxis.
- Greet people with 'Bom dia' or 'Boa tarde' when entering shops and cafés.
- Supermarkets sell Madeira wine and bolo de mel at lower prices than souvenir shops.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in November; the busiest months are August and December.
- April: Madeira Flower Festival — flower carpets and parade in Funchal (usually April or May)
- May: Flower Festival (in some years)
- June: Atlantic Festival — fireworks over Funchal Bay on Saturday nights (usually June)
- July: Funchal Jazz Festival (usually July)
- August: Nossa Senhora do Monte pilgrimage and festival (15 August)
- August: Madeira Wine Festival (usually late August to early September)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Madeira?
Madeira wine, Madeira embroidery, Bolo de mel and Wicker goods.
+Where is the best shopping in Madeira?
Central Funchal: Streets around the cathedral and Rua Dr. Fernão de Ornelas have embroidery shops, wine stores and local boutiques.
+What are the best markets in Madeira?
Mercado dos Lavradores.