Four ways from the arrivals hall to Funchal — how each one works, where to find it and what it costs.
Last checked on 16 September 2026
Madeira Airport lies 13.2 km east-north-east of Funchal, and there are four ways to cover that distance: the Aerobus shuttle, a regular island bus, a taxi from the rank in arrivals, or a private transfer booked before you fly. Which one suits you depends on your luggage, the time you land and where in Funchal you are staying — the city climbs steeply from the harbour, and the last stretch is often the steepest.
Everything below was checked against the airport operator and SIGA, the regional government’s public transport system, which took over from the previous concession in July 2024. Fares and timetables are set by the region and can change, so the official page for each option is linked underneath it.
The Aerobus is the airport shuttle, run as line 500 of the SIGA network. It departs from the arrivals area and runs west along the coast into Funchal, ending at Praia Formosa, and the airport operator notes that it stops near several hotels on the way.
Besides the Aerobus, the airport operator says that with the exception of 25 December, several buses are available every day, bound for various locations on the island. Routes and timetables for the whole network are published by SIGA, and it is worth checking there if you are heading somewhere other than Funchal.
There is a taxi rank in the arrivals area, so a taxi is the quickest option if you have not booked anything — and the only one that runs through the night. Unusually, the airport publishes the starting price and the supplements that apply.
Book before you fly and a driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign, follows your flight if it is late and takes you straight to your address. The price is fixed per vehicle and paid when you book, so there is nothing to sort out on arrival — the simplest option with children, a lot of luggage, a late landing or a hotel high up the hillside.
from €25.00 per vehicle, taxes included
See vehicles and pricesIf a transfer is part of your package holiday, check your travel documents for the meeting point before you queue for a taxi.
Photo credits Richard Bartz (CC BY-SA 3.0) · PESP/ Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · TeWeBs (CC BY-SA 4.0) · VillageHero from Ulm, Germany (CC BY-SA 2.0)
