Mercado dos Lavradores (farmers' market)

What is worth the visit here is the building and the display, not the shopping. Azulejo tile panels with regional scenes run across the facade, the main entrance and the fish market, the work of João Rodrigues. The interior breaks into small squares and stairways used as sales pitches, and the upper level looks straight down into the atrium — that is the photograph everyone takes. Women sell flowers in traditional dress. The fish hall is the working part of the market: fresh fish goes to whoever arrives early. Fruit and vegetables are priced for tourists, and shops outside the market sell the same tropical fruit for less.

• Prices — fruit and vegetables inside are priced for tourists. The shops just outside sell the same tropical fruit for less.
• Fish — the fish hall sells the fresh catch to early arrivals. Come at opening if that is what you are here for.
• Toilets — the market has toilets, including a wheelchair-accessible one. The nearest public toilets outside charge a fee.
• Payment — cards and contactless payments are accepted.
• Dogs — dogs are allowed inside.

The market stands in central Funchal, with car parks immediately beside it. The nearest is about 30 metres from the door, and there is a free car park at roughly 50 metres. The closest bus stop, Centro Comercial Anadia, sits about 90 metres away.

Better: early in the day, especially for the fish market, where the fresh catch goes to whoever gets there first.

Avoid: Sunday, when the market does not open at all.

One date is worth planning around. On the night of 23 December, the Noite do Mercado, people gather in the market and the streets around it to sing Christmas songs and dance, and the nearby bars stay open through the night serving traditional drinks and carne de vinha d'alhos sandwiches.