Sheer cliffs, mountain peaks, lush gardens… Want to discover the best of Madeira?
Here are our tips on how to get around Madeira with or without a car, depending on your needs: rental cars, organized tours, cabs, buses, and bicycles….
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Getting around Fuerteventura – short answers
Driving times in Madeira
The first thing is to understand the size of the island and the driving times required between the various towns.
Best option, depending on what you want to do
If you want to explore as much of the island as possible
We recommend renting a car. Prices are reasonable and you can avoid the crowded hours. Driving is not as difficult as some people write on the Internet.
>> See car offers and prices // or see all our tips
If you’re afraid of mountain roads, or just want to enjoy the hotel pool:
Book organized tours, there are many departing from Funchal – see options
Or take one of the classic routes covered by cabs.
If you’re looking to travel as cheaply as possible and enjoy exploring cities, buses may be all you need. But the roads often have many stops, making for a long journey.
How to get to your hotel in Madeira from the airport
The first solution is to go to your hotel.
Car rental
If you choose to rent a car, we recommend you do so directly at the airport, as this is where you have the most choice, and saves you the cost of a cab.
Private or shared transfers
You can also book a transfer with a specialized company.
See details
Hotel shuttle or cab
If you don’t plan to rent a car, ask your hotel if they have an airport transfer shuttle.
Alternatively, there’s a cab rank just outside the airport.
Aerobus between the airport and Funchal
There is a shuttle service between the airport and Funchal. It runs daily between the airport and the center of Funchal.
The transfer takes 30 to 50 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
Ticket is 6 euros.
See stops and timetables.
Public transport
Buses are also available. However, they don’t drop you off right in front of your hotel.
There are daily buses from the airport to Funchal, Porto da Cruz, Machico…
See map
WHERE TO STAY IN Madeira
Our independent picks for the accommodation of your dreams:
Madeira by car – rental and driving tips
Our preferred option is to rent a car. This gives you the most freedom to discover Madeira’s most beautiful landscapes. Prices are reasonable for an island.
Our top 3 tips for choosing your car are:
- Not too big
- A good engine (because the roads are very steep)
- Automatic if possible
The platform we personally use is Discovercars.
As soon as we decide on a destination and dates, we look at their offers and the types of cars available. They often have the best offers for our needs.
It is one of the highest rated comparison sites in the market.
>> See their current offers in Madeira.
And read all our tips for renting a car in Madeira.
Is it dangerous to drive in Madeira?
Frankly, we didn’t find driving as difficult as some people say. Yes, these are mountain roads. They are winding and sometimes a little narrow.
We didn’t feel in any danger. There were almost always protective walls on the empty side.
And, if you go to your destinations to watch the sunrise, you’ll be almost alone on the road.
Otherwise, just take your time.
The only rough patch we had was a very, very steep road in the hills above Funchal.
Don’t forget that the millions of people who haven’t had any trouble driving don’t take the time to write a review on the Internet.
Madeira without a car: on organized tours
If you don’t feel like renting a car, as you’ll be spending a lot of time relaxing by the pool or on the beach, or if you’re afraid of mountain roads, organized tours are an excellent option.
They let you visit the most famous places without worrying about organization, and what’s more, the guide will share lots of information to help you discover Madeira’s treasures.
Our favourite excursions include:
- Day trip to explore eastern Madeira (including Pico do Arieiro)
– See details and availability - Day trip to explore western Madeira (including the natural pools of Porto Moniz)
– See details and availability - Combine the impressive Nun’s Valley with the charming town of Câmara de Lobos
– See details and availability - Hiking on the volcanic peninsula of Ponta de Sao Louranço.
– See details and availability - Take a walk along the Levada 25 Fontes
– See details and availability
Read our guide to the best excursions (coming soon).
Madeira by cab
For more flexible schedules and programs, you can also use cabs, but prices will be higher.
Cabs are easily recognized by their yellow color.
There’s a predefined government price per kilometer, depending on the time of day.
They also offer pre-defined routes at certain prices, to tourist destinations such as Pico do Arieiro, Santana, Porto Moniz…
Madeira by bus / public transport
Madeira’s bus network is developed more for locals than for tourists.
You can find buses connecting all Madeira’s towns, especially from Funchal, but there are often many stops along the way.
However, it will not be possible to reach more remote areas. And when there is a bus, the frequency is often very low.
This is the cheapest way to get around Madeira. Prices range from 2 to 10 euros.
There are 4 bus networks:
- Horarios do Funchal – for buses in and around Funchal
- SAM – Bus to the east of the island (Machico, Santa Cruz …)
- Rodoeste – Bus service to the south and west of Madeira (Porto Moniz, Sao Vicente…)
- EACL between Caniço and Funchal.
Getting around Funchal
In the old center of Funchal, which is fairly flat, we recommend you get around on foot.
But if you want to change neighborhoods, you have a choice:
- hop-on-hop-off bus to the most beautiful places and to Camara de Lobos – see details and book
- cabs
- tuk-tuk
- gondolas up to the gardens.
The old center isn’t very big, but it’s long.
If you’re staying in the Lido area, it’s at least a 30-minute walk to the center.
Beware: outside the city center, Funchal is a very steep town!
If you choose accommodation in the hills, take into account the difficulties of getting around!
Madeira by bike
With its magnificent views, Madeira is also a great destination for cycling, but not a typical one.
Enjoy some of the most beautiful views in the world from your bike.
However, the island is very vertical. It’s small, but very steep!
It’s also worth noting that Madeira has many, many tunnels, which are not very pleasant to cycle through. So plan your itineraries carefully.
You can also find Mountain Biking routes, but they are not for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
Is there Uber in Madeira?
The last time we checked our app, Uber was not present in Madeira.
But cabs are easy to find in the main towns.
