Palheiro Gardens — Attraction in Funchal

Huge garden. You don't know what will be at the next corner. Very complex. 2024 mid jan blossoming plants which I noticed: Michelia/Magnolia doltsopa, Telopea speciossima, Protea cynaroides, Banksia coccinea and integrifolia, Crotalaria semperflorens, Sparmannia africana, Strelitia nicolai and reginae, Aenium areoreum. I saw a brave Madeira wood pigeon which ate the Davidia involucrata's winter fruit. Other fantastic and jaw-dropping plants: Huge Araucaria angustifolia,bidvilii,exelsa, Cedrus brevifolia and atlantica var.glauca, Washingtonia robustra, Furcraea parmentieri, Pinus patula ,Cinnamomum camphora and leafless Liliodendron tulipifera. Also attractive with dried spikey fruitpeeled tree was Banksia serrata and nearly blossoming was Saurauia napaulensis. Phormium flax and a variation which was "Yellow wave" were also spectacular. Enjoy all. Come to visit. Highly...

Very easy to get to from Funchal by the no 37 bus which stops outside the entrance. The entrance is €10 per adult. There are some lovely viewpoints throughout the gardens and plenty of interesting plants and trees to enjoy. I think that the signage could be improved especially as the paths are mendering and there are private areas embedded in the grounds. We visited the tea house which is positioned on the far side of the gardens on the borders of the golf club. The coffee and cake was OK.There was some seating inside the tea house but the outdoor seating was filthy and clearly had not been cleaned for months. The toilets which were situated in another part of the garden...

These gardens are beautiful. We’d been to the gardens at Monte and the beautiful flowers here far exceed the display there (Monte does have a great orchid collection). The stars of the show here are the Camellias. The garden also has a great selection of tropical tress, Proteas including some real giants, cyclamen, bottlebrushes. Another highlight is the availability of the great tea room in the gardens which we knew well from our time on the Palheiro golf course next door. The terrace at the hotel also serves a great glass of Madeira with their own Casa Velha cake. Pay $11 and Enter either from the Palheiro Gardens address, the Casa Velha hotel or...