Getting Around Madeira
Transportation options for exploring the island
Transportation Options
🚗 Car Rental
Best for: Maximum flexibility and reaching remote areas
Cost: typically €25-50/day depending on vehicle and season (our estimate; no official tariff)
Our recommendation: Essential for exploring beyond Funchal
🚌 Public Buses
Best for: Budget travel to main towns
Cost: €1.45–€2.65 per single journey (official 2026 fares, see below)
Limitations: Infrequent to remote areas, no levada trailheads
🚕 Taxis & Uber
Best for: Airport transfers, short trips in Funchal
Cost: typically €15-30 for common journeys (our estimate; taxis are metered)
Note: Uber available but limited outside Funchal
🚌 Organized Tours
Best for: Hassle-free sightseeing with guides
Cost: typically €30-60 per person per day (varies by operator)
Bonus: Learn about island from local experts
Public Bus System
Operator: The island's buses now run as one network, SIGA, operated by Horários do Funchal, CAM and SIGA Rodoeste. One rechargeable GIRO card works across all of them.
Routes: Good coverage of Funchal and connections to major towns
Schedules: Less frequent on weekends and in rural areas
Tickets: Buying on board costs noticeably more than loading journeys onto a GIRO card in advance. "Municipal" means travel within one municipality; "intermunicipal" covers the rest of the island.
Children aged 6–12 pay reduced fares. Fares set by Portaria n.º 128/2026 of 23 March. Checked against the official 2026 tariff sheet on 31 October 2026 — check before you travel.
Official sources — check these fares yourself
- Official 2026 tariff sheet (the exact table above):
horariosdofunchal.pt/images/pdf/tarifas-2026.pdf - Operator — Horários do Funchal: horariosdofunchal.pt
- Island-wide network — SIGA: siga.madeira.gov.pt
Cable Cars & Scenic Transport
- Funchal Cable Car: Funchal up to Monte — the classic ride, with stunning views over the bay. Glass-floor cabins cost extra. madeiracablecar.com
- Botanical Garden Cable Car: Connects Monte to the Botanical Garden; combined tickets with the Monte cable car and garden entry are usually available
- Fajã dos Padres Cable Car: Descends a sheer cliff to a secluded beach, restaurant and vineyard. fajadospadres.com
- Achadas da Cruz Cable Car: One of the steepest in Europe, dropping roughly 450 m to a tiny fajã on the north coast. Much cheaper than the others, and weather-dependent
We've deliberately stopped listing cable car fares here — they changed more than once during 2026 and we would rather send you to the operator than quote you a stale price. Please check before you go.
Our Recommendations
- Rent a car for 3+ days: Most cost-effective and flexible
- For Funchal only: Walk or use buses (traffic/parking challenging)
- Airport transfer: About 10 minutes by taxi or Uber (taxis are metered; ask us for a current quote)
- Levada walks: Car is essential—buses don't reach most trailheads
- Day tours: Good option if you don't want to drive mountain roads
- Mix and match: Rent car for 3-4 days to explore, use tours/taxis for other days