Best Time to Visit

Madeira is known for its warm Mediterranean climate, which means that temperatures are high all year round and never drop below 14 degrees. If you are a sun-worshipper, visit during July and August, when the temperature is around 25 degrees. If you are planning to do a lot of hiking and other physical activities, visit the island during April and May. Later, it could be too hot to enjoy hiking, and after the summer it can get quite rainy. In the spring you can see beautiful gardens at their best.

Passport & Visa

Citizens of European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a visa to enter Portugal, only a valid ID. Many other countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand, benefit from visa-free entry for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Visitors from visa-exempt countries must hold a valid passport and, starting in late 2025, will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation online before travelling. For those requiring a visa, such as travellers from some Middle-East, African or Asian nations, a Schengen visa must be obtained prior to arrival. All travellers should ensure their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their intended stay.

• Web:

  https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy_en

Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC)

Madeira has one airport — Aeroporto da Madeira, informally known as Funchal Airport. It's located 20 kilometres from the city centre. Shuttle You can take the shuttle, the aerobus, which departs from the Arrivals area to Formosa Beach and the city centre (the trip will take 30 minutes). It will stop by a lot of hotels, and can be used every day of the week. Usually the aerobus departs every 45 minutes, be sure to check the schedule for the exact routes and times. Tickets can be bought when entering the bus. Taxi You can also take a taxi, they are located in the Arrivals section on the ground floor. On weekdays, the prices of trips from the airport increase by 20% if it's between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Travelling with baggage comes at an extra fee.

• Web:

  www.aeroportomadeira.pt

• Address:

  Santa Cruz, Madeira

• Phone:

  +351 291 520 700

Public Transport

The Horários do Funchal bus service is a collection of busses which will take you all over Funchal. There is also the Linha Eco, environmentally- and wheelchair-friendly mini busses. They haven't got specific stops, but you can hail them down and board anywhere in the capital. You can recognise them by their yellow colour. They operate from Monday to Friday, from 8 am until 8 pm, and Saturdays from 8 am until 2 pm. Tickets can be purchased on board.

• Web:

  www.horariosdofunchal.pt

Taxi

Taxis in Funchal are yellow and easy to notice. Some of the reputable companies are Taxi-Madeira Miguel Pereira (+351 918 399 115), Madeira Travel Taxi (+351 917 462 001) and Daniel Madeira Taxis (+351 919 791 289). Bolt and Uber rideshare apps operate in Funchal, too.

• Web:

  visitmadeira.com/media/2nbacumn/taxis-ram.pdf

Electricity

220 V/50Hz with a Type F electrical plug with two round pins, same as in many countries in Continental Europe.