Get in

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Funchal Airport (FNC) is in nearby Santa Cruz. Once famous for its hair-raisingly short runway ending at a cliff over the Atlantic Ocean, the airport has been expanded to handle all sizes of aircraft. There are several daily flights from most major cities in Portugal. Flight time from Lisbon is 1 1/2 hours. Also, there are good connections from London (mostly Gatwick), with TAP Air Portugal and British Airways; its flying time is estimated at 3 1/2 hours.

See

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The central point in Funchal. Commissioned by Portuguese explorer Gil Eanes, the cathedral was built between 1493 and 1517. The ceiling is made from local wood.

Eat

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Funchal has an abundance of good, if not necessarily cheap, eating places. Most places serve traditional Madeiran and Portuguese food, which is well-prepared and well-tasting, but not terribly exciting. One of the most typical dishes and served almost everywhere, is "espada com banana", scabbard fish with banana. It is usually served with fresh salad and potatoes. A bit more expensive, bacalhau (dried, salted codfish) is served in many restaurants. One of the more common, and best, varieties is "bacalhau com natas", codfish in cream sauce.

Golden Gate Grand Café, Avenida Arriaga 21, is very centrally located, straight across the street from Palácio de São Lourenço. Its coffee, pastries, food and service is excellent and the café, opened in 1814, has a nice atmosphere with a good mix of local customers and tourists.