Misty mountain peaks, tropical gardens, small fishing villages clinging to the cliffs… Is it really possible to explore Madeira without a car? This question deserves an honest answer: the island is mountainous, distances are short but the roads are winding, and much of the island remains difficult to reach by public transportation.
That said, with the right foundation and a few organized excursions, you can enjoy a fulfilling trip without ever having to get behind the wheel. Here are all our tips for visiting Madeira without a car.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Madeira Without a Car: Summary
- Yes, that’s possible, as long as you accept that certain iconic sites are reserved for organized tours
- The best place to stay without a car is Funchal’s Old Town: compact, lively, and home to many tour departure points
- The bus network consists of four companies, depending on the region: Horários do Funchal, SAM, Rodoeste, and EACL
- For Pico do Arieiro, the levadas, or the natural pools of Porto Moniz, organized tours are practically a must— see all options
- There is no Uber in Madeira; there are only taxis, with fares set per kilometer.
- Keep in mind, though, that driving in Madeira isn’t as difficult as some people make it out to be. If you change your mind along the way, here are all our tips for renting a car.
Is it really possible to explore Madeira without a car?
Yes, but only if you adjust your expectations. If your itinerary focuses on Funchal, a few gardens, a boat trip, and one or two organized excursions, you won’t really need to drive.
We’ve tried both approaches ourselves, and we agree that a car is still the easiest way to visit the various miradouros along the route. Without it, several of the island’s most notable sites—such as Pico do Arieiro and the western levadas—are accessible only through an organized tour or a taxi with a predetermined route. However, this isn’t a major drawback: the guides enhance the tour, and you don’t have to worry about any of the logistics.
Where to Stay to Get By Without a Car in Madeira
Your choice of accommodations will largely determine how independent you can be on the island. In some neighborhoods, you can get around on foot or by bus; in others, which are more rural, you’ll quickly find yourself isolated without a car. Here are our recommendations for a great vacation without a car.
1. Funchal’s Old Town: The Ideal Base
- Cobbled streets, restaurants, and museums within walking distance
- Most organized tours on the island depart from here
- Hop-on-hop-off buses and cable cars to reach the gardens high above
- Boat tours for dolphin watching, departing directly from the harbor
In our opinion, Funchal’s Old Town remains the best option for traveling without a car in Madeira. Its historic center is compact: you can walk to the cathedral, the museums, the markets, and the many tour agencies. We also appreciated the two cable cars that make it easy to climb up to the Monte Gardens, as well as the hop-on-hop-off bus for exploring the city’s surroundings in a single day. Dolphin and whale-watching boats depart directly from the harbor, eliminating the need for any prior travel.
Our Top Picks: Hotels in Funchal’s Old Town
- Our top pick: fully furnished apartments with a rooftop pool:
Three House Hotel – See prices, photos and availability - A 4-star hotel featuring a rooftop with a pool and hot tub:
Castanheiro Boutique Hotel – See prices, photos and availability - See our full selection of the best hotels in Funchal’s Old Town
2. Funchal Lido: for a more beach-oriented vacation
- Coastal promenade and saltwater pools by the sea
- Reliable buses to downtown and the rest of the island
- Restaurants, bars, and shops in the immediate vicinity
The Lido neighborhood is ideal for travelers looking for direct access to the sea while staying close to Funchal. Its promenade connects the saltwater pools to the neighborhood’s restaurants, and regular buses take you to downtown in about 20 minutes. However, it takes about 30 minutes to walk from the Lido to the Old Town, which is still reasonable for an active vacation.
We recommend..:
- Enotel Hotel in the Lido neighborhood, a 5-star all-inclusive hotel – check photos and availability
- Baia Azul Hotel – modern, oceanfront – see prices, photos and availability
- Pestana Vila Lido Hotel – for those who love resorts, right on the beach with rocky formations – see prices, photos and availability
WHERE TO STAY IN Madeira
Our independent picks for the accommodation of your dreams:
Places to avoid if you don’t have a car
- Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar: these cliffside villages on the west coast are full of charm, but very poorly served by the bus. Save them for a day trip rather than a full vacation.
- Porto da Cruz, Porto Moniz, and São Vicente: These northern villages offer direct access to hiking trails, but their bus service is limited, and buses run infrequently outside the main routes.
- Ribeira Brava: Its central location is convenient if you’re driving, but if you don’t have a car, you’ll have to deal with longer bus transfers to the far ends of the island.
Getting to your accommodation from the airport without a car
Madeira Airport (FNC) is located in Santa Cruz, about 20 km from Funchal. There are several options available to you without having to rent a car.
Aerobus Option
A shuttle runs daily between the airport and downtown Funchal. The trip takes between 30 and 50 minutes, depending on traffic, and a ticket costs 6 euros. See the stops and schedules.
Private or Shared Transfer Option
For added convenience, you can book a transfer in advance. See details
Hotel shuttle or taxi option
Some hotels offer a shuttle service from the airport; be sure to check when making your reservation. Otherwise, there’s a taxi stand right outside the arrivals area.
Public Bus Option
Buses run daily between the airport and Funchal, Machico, or Porto da Cruz, but they do not stop directly in front of the hotel. View the network map
Getting around: bus, bike, walking, excursions
Once you’ve chosen your accommodations, there are several ways to explore Madeira on a daily basis. Each one serves a different purpose: the bus for travel between cities, organized tours for remote natural sites, and walking for central neighborhoods.
Organized excursions
For Madeira’s most impressive natural sites, an organized tour is often the only realistic option if you don’t have a car, and it has the advantage of including a guide who enriches the experience. We highly recommend them for Pico do Arieiro, the western levadas, and the natural pools of Porto Moniz, which are otherwise difficult to reach from Funchal.
Most agencies provide pickup directly at the hotel. It’s a good idea to book in advance on GetYourGuide during peak season, when spots are limited.
Among our favorite excursions:
- One-day tour of the eastern part of the island (including Pico do Arieiro): see itinerary and availability
- One-day tour of the western part of the island (including the natural pools): see itinerary and availability
- Vallée des Nonnes and Câmara de Lobos: See schedule and availability
- Dolphin Watching on an Eco-Friendly Catamaran: See Schedule and Availability
- See our article on the best hikes in Madeira.
Bus network
Madeira’s bus network consists of four separate companies: Horários do Funchal for the capital, SAM for the east (Machico, Santa Cruz), Rodoeste for the south and west (Porto Moniz, São Vicente), and EACL between Caniço and Funchal.
We’ve noticed that this transit system is designed primarily for residents (which is to be expected) rather than for tourists: the buses make frequent stops and provide limited service to major natural attractions. Prices are still very affordable, ranging from 2 to 10 euros depending on the route.
Getting around by bike
Madeira offers remarkable views from a bicycle, but it isn’t a typical destination for this mode of transportation. The island is small in area, but very hilly: the roads climb and descend relentlessly, which requires good physical fitness or an electric bike.
You should also be aware that Madeira has a large number of tunnels, which aren’t very pleasant to ride through on a bike. We therefore recommend that you reserve your bike for dedicated mountain biking trails, rather than for daily commutes between cities.
Getting around on foot
Funchal’s historic center is fairly flat and easy to explore on foot: the cathedral, markets, and museums are all just a few minutes apart. On the other hand, as soon as you leave the historic center, Funchal becomes a very hilly city.
We therefore recommend that you carefully check the exact location of your accommodations before booking, as accommodations located on higher ground may make it more difficult to get around on foot each day.
Cabs and VTC: when and how to use them
In Madeira, taxis are easily recognizable by their yellow color. The fare is set by the government on a per-kilometer basis depending on the time of the ride, which ensures a certain level of fare transparency.
Uber and Bolt are expanding.
They also offer pre-planned routes to tourist attractions such as Pico do Arieiro, Santana, and Porto Moniz at a rate agreed upon in advance—a convenient option for one-time trips without having to book a full-day tour.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING YOUR CAR AT Madeira
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Take a car with a good engine for hilly roads, but not too big for manoeuvring.
- There’s plenty of demand and few cars, so book early.
Getting to Pico do Arieiro Without a Car
Pico do Arieiro, a peak over 1,800 meters high, is one of the island’s most popular destinations, particularly for its sunrise. No buses run to this peak, and the road leading to it is winding all the way.
If you don’t have a car, you have two options: a taxi, which offers this trip along a set route, or an organized tour that usually combines Pico do Arieiro with other sites in the eastern part of the island. We definitely prefer this second option: the guide shares valuable information about the site’s volcanic geology, and you don’t have to worry about getting up early to arrive before sunrise.
- One-day tour of eastern Madeira, including Pico do Arieiro: see itinerary and availability
- Guided hike from Pico do Arieiro to Achada do Teixeira: see itinerary and availability
Getting to the levadas without a car
The levadas—the irrigation canals that crisscross the island—offer some of the most beautiful walks in Madeira. The 25 Fontes Levada, in particular, is one of our favorites. The starting point, Rabaçal, is located on a mountain road far from any bus stops, however, which makes the organized tour particularly convenient for this type of outing. The small-group format also allows you to enjoy the guide’s explanations about the history of these canals, which were carved out of the rock as early as the 16th century.
- Small-group hike in Rabaçal and 25 Fontes: see itinerary and availability
- If you’re going by taxi and not on a guided tour, don’t forget to reserve your time slot and pay the admission fee in advance on SIMplifica if you’re hiking on your own rather than on an organized tour.
- Learn more in our guide to the best hikes in Madeira.
Getting to the natural pools in Porto Moniz without a car
Located on the northwestern tip of the island, Porto Moniz is home to Madeira’s most famous natural pools, formed by volcanic rocks cooled by the sea. From Funchal, you can take the Rodoeste bus, but it makes many stops, which significantly increases the travel time. Instead, we recommend the guided tour of the western part of the island, which includes a stop for swimming at the natural pools as well as other sites in the region, such as the Vallée des Nonnes.
- Organized tour to the terraces and Porto Moniz from Funchal: see itinerary and availability
- Complete Tour of Western Madeira: See itinerary and availability
- Avoid the pools between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when most tourists arrive on organized tours.
- Learn more in our article on Madeira’s natural pools.
Other sites accessible on foot, by bike or by bus
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
This tropical garden, nestled in the hills above Funchal, can be visited without a car thanks to the cable car that connects the city center directly to the Monte neighborhood. Plan to spend 3 to 4 hours there, exploring the cactus collections, waterfalls, and ponds adorned with ceramics.
How to get there without a car: cable car from Funchal, or a guided tuk-tuk tour that includes the cable car— see itinerary and availability
Learn more about Madeira’s most beautiful gardens.
Porto Santo Island
The neighboring island of Porto Santo, with its 9-kilometer-long fine-sand beach, is easily accessible without a car, as a ferry makes the crossing from Funchal in 2 hours and 30 minutes. Once you’re there, a guided tour of the island lets you explore its dunes and basalt columns without having to rent a car.
How to get there without a car: Book your ferry
Learn more about Porto Santo’s attractions.
Plan a car-free itinerary
The main pitfall to avoid is trying to cover the entire island as if you were driving yourself. Without a car, every trip takes longer, and organized excursions often take up the entire day.
We recommend taking a “slow travel” approach: one major excursion per day, a half-day in Funchal or its gardens on the other days, and a boat trip to change things up.
OUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES IN Madeira
Catamaran tour to see dolphins and Madeira’s giant cliffs. – View the schedule and availability—and make a reservation!
Canyoning among the rocks! – View options and availability
Gastronomic tour to discover local specialties – View options and availability
Frequently asked questions
Madeira: Car-Free Beaches
Madeira isn’t a beach destination; your options are: the promenade and saltwater pools at the Lido in Funchal, or Machido and La Calheta—though there are far fewer organized tours available there.
See the most beautiful beaches in Madeira.
Madeira Without a Car with Kids
If you’re traveling with children, Funchal’s Old Town remains the most convenient base: museums, cable cars, and the waterfront are all within walking distance, and organized tours usually include hotel pickup. Families also like to take tuk-tuks to get to different neighborhoods without having to walk too far.
Is there Uber in Madeira?
Yes, Uber has arrived in Madeira. They are doing well in 2026.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN Madeira
Best of
Things to do in Madeira
Most beautiful viewpoints
Madeira’s most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful gardens
Natural pools
Most beautiful hikes
Most beautiful roads
Secret places
Practical advice
Getting around Madeira
Rent a car in Madeira
Driving in Madeira
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 6 days – 7 days – 10 days
