On the first day, it will be best to first climb the highest landmark of Funchal – Monte Palace Tropical Garden. This extraordinary tropical garden is probably one of the most mesmerizing sights in the city. It is spread on an area of 70, 000 square meters and is one of the biggest gardens in Portugal. It houses home to lots of exotic plants from all over the world, swans, peacocks, Koi fishes and many more.
Despite being famous for housing one of the biggest collections of exotic plants, it is also admired for its Oriental Gardens. Located on the hills of the garden, these Japanese inspired gardens promise to take you to another world with their beautiful temples. Along with that there are lots of ponds full of Koi fish, orchid gardens, and meditation spots which are truly mesmerizing!
Within the garden you will also find some garden art, which dates back to the 15th century and is in the Portuguese Manueline style. Then, you can explore the museums of the Monte Palace, which include a collection of Zimbabwean sculptures. There is also a museum “Mother Nature’s Secrets”, which holds a rich collection of minerals coming from Brazil, South Africa, Peru, Argentina and North America. Finally, you can visit the Tile Museum, which holds a huge collection of Portuguese tiles dating back to the 15th century.
Eventually, you will reach the famous Monte Palace, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and a beautiful lake with waterfalls. It was once a hotel, which was visited by the richest people in Europe who enjoyed romantic boat rides on the lake.