Getting to Funchal

The island of Madeira belongs to the country of Portugal, and sits about 350 miles off the coast of Morocco. The island is said to foster a blend of European and subtropical influences and is an increasingly popular destination for tourists.

Accessible primarily by air, connections to Lisbon and London are two of the most popular options. It is also possible to find service by sea from the mainland to Funchal, though this service does not include a car ferry service.

By car

There is no practical way of getting your car to the island of Madeira. While some boats do offer transportation to the island, these are typically passenger-only vessels; there is no car ferry service.

Driving on the island itself can be quite rewarding. Visitors are warned, however, to exercise caution as many of the roads are narrow, and hairpin turns are not uncommon when navigating the hillsides outside of the city.

By rail

There was a cog railway in service on Madeira between the years of 1893 and 1943. This line once carried passengers from Monte and Funcahl to Terreoro de Luta. Today, this line is serviced by a cable car, in place of the rail service.

By bus

As may be expected, the island of Madeira offers plenty of options to travel by bus to nearby destinations. Passengers can easily disembark for Monte and any other prominent destination on the island. There is a main line that runs from the city to the airport; the trip from the airport to the city's centre takes 15 minutes.

By air

Madeira Funchal Airport, located only a few miles from Funchal city centre, offers transport to most of the major cities in Portugal, with flights to Lisbon taking 1 hour 30 minutes. There is also reliable service to London Gatwick via TAP Air Portugal and British Airways. Flights to London take 3 hours 30 minutes. Services are also available to the Canary Islands and some greater Continental European destinations.

Funchal Airport was once infamous for its short runway, which terminates abruptly at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. However, the airport has been expanded and now offers modern facilities with more space and plenty of passenger amenities.

All gates and facilities are housed in a single terminal. Passengers will be pleasantly surprised by the scope of cafs and restaurants on hand. Shopping options include local handicrafts as well as newspaper and snack vendors. Alcoholic beverages are on hand at any of the on-site bars. There are also a couple of travel agents with offices in the terminal, an information counter for tourists, ATMs, currency exchange facilities and a post office.

Business passengers may wish to take advantage of the conference facilities, with A/V hook ups and space to accommodate small groups of no more than 10 people. Advance booking is required.

By ferry

Several passenger ships pass through Funchal harbour and as some of them are affiliated with travel agents operating out of Madeira, it's possible to book passage on some of the cruise liners. These ships hail from several European resort destinations and even from as far afield as Miami. However, there is no ferry service available between Madeira and the European continent and it is therefore impractical to transport vehicles to the island.

Taxis

Taxis are easily found all over the island of Madeira and can easily be hired for transport to most parts of the island. Prices for set routes are pre-determined by the regional government and are posted on the back of the driver's or passenger's seat. Typically, luggage over 30kgs is subject to an extra surcharge.