Getting Around
There are lots of ways to get around Madeira: there are buses, you can hire a car, bicycle (if you're fit) or e-bike, hail a taxi, pre-book a tour or transfer - or just walk! Which is best will depend on how many are traveling and where you're going. On the destination pages you'll find some recommendations for specifc journeys, here we'll explain the transport options in general.
Buses
Historically, bus transport in Madeira, particularly outside Funchal, has suffered from ageing vehicles and network fragmentation owing to the number of different operators. This is all supposed to change with a new unified network operating under the designation SIGA. However, to understand the current system, it is necessary to know how it worked in the past (note that the EACL and SAM websites are in the process of disappearing).
Horarios do Funchal (HF) operated the yellow buses that provide local services around Funchal, including the more frequent Linha Verde services that run from the centre out along the Estrada Monumental. They also operated white-and-yellow interurban buses on routes principally to the north and east of the island.
EACL ran mostly between Funchal and the area round Caniço.
SAM ran the Aerobus connecting the airport to Funchal and the main hotel district as well as routes principally in the south and east.
Rodoeste served the north and west of the island.
Under the new arrangements, buses will all be operated under the auspices of SIGA, the island's new public transport administration. HF urban buses continue much as before, but their interurban routes now serve only Curral das Freiras. EACL and SAM merged to form a new company, Companhia de Autocarros da Madeira (CAM) which has additionally taken on HF's other interurban routes. CAM and Rodoeste operate new buses bearing the SIGA brand while HF buses have the SIGA logo added to their current livery. Electronic (smartcard) ticketing will be introduced across all routes with, eventually, a common fare structure. Bus routes themselves probably won't change much.
The one thing these changes won't do in the short term is make it easier to plan your journey. There is some transport information available in Google Maps, but it isn't available for all operators and it isn't always accurate when it's available. Some operators have developed apps, but they don't necessarily work well, or even at all. The most reliable source of information is the paper timetable you'll find posted at bus stops, though be aware that these will often list only the times the buses start their journey and won't tell you when they are likely to arrive at that specific stop. The information is all supposed (eventually) to be available from the SIGA website - which is presently work in progress - and via a mobile app that has yet to appear. If you're planning to travel over the rather complicated Rodoeste network, their old website is probably still your best source of information until the SIGA site catches up.
CAM buses use the town of Machico as a hub and routes to the east and north of the island may involve a change of bus there - and you may need to get a supplementary ticket issued when you change buses. Routes from Funchal often start from the bus station on Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian and travel east along the Avenida do Mar. Some routes (particularly former EACL services to Caniço) start from the bus station by the cable car terminal.
Rodoeste buses start on Rua do Visconde de Anadia, immediately to the north of the Anadia Shopping Centre - from where they typically head west along Avenida do Mar - and have Ribeira Brava as their hub. Rodoeste operate an express service along the Via Rápida to Ribeira Brava as well as (much) slower routes via Câmara de Lobos and its hinterland. If you're travelling from the centre of Funchal to Ribeira Brava or beyond, you can often save an hour by taking the express service and changing in Ribeira Brava. Note that it's not unusual for two buses with the same number to depart for the same destination at the same time - the one with Via Rápida also on the destination board is the express service.
Most HF routes start at various stops around the EEM building. For HF urban buses in Funchal there is presently a flat tariff, which you can pay on board, or
you can buy a multi-journey Giro ticket at one of the ticket offices
around town with a saving if you prepay for 10 or more trips. Outside Funchal, fares operated on a zoned basis.
For airport travel, the Aerobus has its own cash-only fare structure (€6 one-way as of July 2024 when return fares were abolished) and departs from a dedicated stop outside airport arrivals; in the opposite direction, the stops served are marked with a green sign. There's a second airport bus stop (around 50m to the right of the Aerobus if you're facing away from the terminal) that serves local buses that travel west into Funchal and east to Machico and beyond. Whereas the Aerobus has substantial space for luggage, the local buses generally did not, but the new vehicle fleet may change that.
Taxis and Ride Sharing
You'll find officially-licensed yellow taxis at ranks in many locations which operate metered fares. On a slow day, taxis may come up to groups of tourists at bus stops to popular destinations and offer fixed-priced rides. You can pre-book a taxi either by telephone or through the Taxi in Madeira app which will often be cheaper than a metered journey. Bolt operate in Madeira and at present have integrated their app with the licensed taxi operators so you can choose the service you want from available vehicles.
Car Hire
Since Covid, there has been a massive expansion in car hire on the island with dozens and dozens of new operators. Congestion has become a problem at a number of popular visitor destinations, so please consider whether a car is your best option. Not all companies can be reached through the comparison websites: some smaller hire companies may simply operate by phone, through a shop or via an online form that gets e-mailed to the office. Use websites to compare prices, but you may need to ring up if you want instant confirmation. Also be aware that it is now common for the insurance "excess" to be of the order of €1000 or even more and for the "waiver" that reduces this excess to have many exclusions, so you might want to investigate your own car hire excess insurance to avoid nasty surprises.
Driving on Madeira can be a challenge - the topography doesn't allow for much space for acceleration lanes on modern roads and the old roads can be extremely steep, winding and have deep gullies - or even sheer drops - at the sides. Navigation software varies widely in its understanding of the suitability of roads for vehicles.
Shuttles, Tours and Transfers
It can be more convenient to visit certain destinations by pre-booked tour or transfer. You can get to most popular locations with a shared bus tour (and guide), by private guided tour or by shared or private transfer (you're dropped off and left to your own devices). Many agents on the island will book these services for you.
Historically, the popular places to which public transport have not been available have been the Pico do Areeiro and Rabaçal (for popular walks such as 25 Fontes). HF buses are now offering a shuttle service to Pico do Areeiro and there are an increasing number of private operators providing online-bookable, shared transport to Pico do Areeiro, Rabaçal and Queimadas (for Levada do Caldeirão Verde) which can be economical if you're travelling alone or in a group of two or three. These include Pico Transfers, get to hikes and DO IT MADEIRA - please note we neither endorse nor have any connection with these companies. Internet platforms such as Meetup have active local groups which may offer the opportunity of arranging collective transport.
Bicycles
You can hire road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes and associated equipment from many locations. Madeira is not ideal terrain for casual cycling, though there are some dedicated cycle tracks, but it offers all sorts of opportunities for cycle sport.