Funchal Airport is 18 km east of the city center. Transport costs are reasonable across all options, making Madeira one of the more affordable island destinations for airport transfers.
Price comparison to Funchal center
| Transport | Price | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobus | Check SAM/SIGA | 24 min to Avenida do Mar | Budget travelers, light bags |
| Taxi | Metered, from EUR 4.00 | 20–30 min | Convenience, 2–3 bags |
| Pre-booked transfer | Fixed, quoted at booking | 20–30 min | Families, fixed price, meet & greet |
| Rental car | Varies by season | Self-drive | Island exploration |
Fixed-price private transfer
FNC Funchal City Center
From€64for 2 passengers
Taxis are metered on the official Madeira tariff. Madeira Airport's own website gives the base price as EUR 4.00 for a weekday trip starting at the airport, with a 20% surcharge between 21:00 and 06:00 and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, plus EUR 1.50 for baggage or an animal. We could not verify a current per-kilometre rate or a fixed airport price, so we are not going to print an estimate — check the tariff posted at the rank, or agree the fare with the driver, before you set off.
Costs to all major Madeira destinations
The figures below are pre-booked transfer prices, which are fixed when you book. Taxi fares on the same routes run on the official meter tariff described above — agree the fare with the driver first.
| Destination | Distance | Transfer (EUR) | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machico | 5 km | 15–25 | 10–15 min |
| Santa Cruz | 7 km | 15–25 | 10–15 min |
| Canico | 10 km | 20–30 | 15–20 min |
| Funchal center | 18 km | 25–40 | 20–30 min |
| Funchal Lido area | 20 km | 28–42 | 25–35 min |
| Camara de Lobos | 25 km | 35–50 | 30–40 min |
| Ribeira Brava | 35 km | 45–65 | 35–45 min |
| Calheta | 45 km | 55–80 | 45–60 min |
| Santana | 35 km | 50–75 | 40–55 min |
| Porto Moniz | 60 km | 75–110 | 60–80 min |
The Aerobus — the budget option
The Aerobus is SAM's express airport service, and it is not the same thing as line 113 — that is one of SAM's ordinary bus routes, serving Machico, Santa Cruz and Caniçal on its own separate fare. Guides that call it the "Aerobus 113" are merging two different services.
On the regional government's SIGA timetable the Aerobus runs from the airport into Funchal and out to Praia Formosa, reaching Avenida do Mar (stop 06, the city centre) in about 24 minutes and the Estrada Monumental hotel strip in roughly 35–47 minutes. End to end it takes 50 minutes. Departures from the airport run from about 08:30 until 22:00 — roughly every 30 minutes in the morning, hourly in the afternoon — every day except 25 December. The bus is modern, has free Wi-Fi, and stops near most of Funchal's hotels.
Payment is cash only — no cards. SAM's Aerobus fares changed on 1 April 2026; we could not confirm the current figure from SAM or SIGA directly, so check with them before you travel rather than trusting an older number.
The Aerobus does not serve northern or western Madeira destinations. If you are heading to Santana, Porto Moniz, or Calheta, you need a taxi or transfer.
No toll roads, no hidden costs
Madeira has no toll roads. The motorway (Via Rapida) connecting the airport to Funchal and beyond is free. This means the price your taxi meter or transfer service quotes is the full cost — no surprises for highway tolls.