Madeira Airport to Funchal: Aerobus, bus, taxi or transfer
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.
Aerobus
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.
- Where to find it
- From the arrivals area. The airport is stop 01 and the line ends at stop 26, Praia Formosa, west of the city; stop 06 is Avenida do Mar in the centre.
- Fare
- An adult ticket is €6.70 and a child ticket is €3.30.
- How to pay
- Cash only — the official route sheet states payment in cash.
- Timetable
- From the airport, departures run from 08:30 to 22:00 every day of the week. In the other direction the first bus leaves Praia Formosa at 07:00. No Aerobus services run on 25 December.
- Best for
- A hotel on the Estrada Monumental or near the Lido, reached without changing.
- Good to know
- The published journey times are about 24 minutes from the airport to Avenida do Mar in the centre and about 50 minutes to Praia Formosa. Wi-Fi is free on board. The operator notes that it may change services without prior notice.
Island buses
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.
- Where to find it
- The airport operator points passengers to the SIGA route and timetable search for the island network.
- Timetable
- Buses run every day with the exception of 25 December.
- Best for
- Travelling cheaply to a town other than Funchal — check first whether a line serves it.
- Good to know
- Fares and timetables differ by line, so look up your line on SIGA before you travel; the Aerobus fare above applies only to the Aerobus. Funchal’s own city network does not serve the airport.
Taxi
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.
- Where to find it
- At the taxi rank in the arrivals area, on the ground floor (0).
- Fare
- The airport states that, regardless of destination, trips from the airport begin at €4.00 on weekdays, with a 20% increase between 21:00 and 06:00 and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
- How to pay
- The airport does not publish which payment methods taxis accept. Ask the driver before you set off whether you can pay by card.
- Best for
- Late landings, after the Aerobus has finished for the day.
- Good to know
- An additional €1.50 fee applies when you travel with baggage or animals. Give the driver the full address rather than the district: Funchal rises steeply, and the street matters more than the area.
Private transfer with HolidayCab
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.
- Meet & greet with a name sign
- Flight tracking — the driver waits if you are delayed
- Fixed price, no hidden fees
- Private vehicle — no shared rides, no detours
from €25.00 per vehicle, taxes included
See vehicles and pricesTravelling on a package holiday?
If a transfer is part of your package holiday, check your travel documents for the meeting point before you queue for a taxi.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a bus from Madeira Airport to Funchal?
- Yes. The Aerobus, line 500 of the SIGA network, leaves from the arrivals area and runs into Funchal, ending at Praia Formosa. Other island buses also serve the airport every day except 25 December.
- How much does the Aerobus from Madeira Airport cost?
- When we checked on 16 September 2026, an adult ticket was €6.70 and a child ticket €3.30, paid in cash on board. Fares are set by the region, so check siga.madeira.gov.pt before you travel.
- How late does the Aerobus run?
- The last departure from the airport is at 22:00, every day of the week, and there are no Aerobus services on 25 December. If you land after that, the taxi rank in arrivals or a pre-booked transfer are the ways into the city.
- How much is a taxi from Madeira Airport?
- The airport states that trips from the airport begin at €4.00 on weekdays, whatever your destination, with a 20% increase between 21:00 and 06:00 and all day at weekends and on holidays. Travelling with baggage or animals adds €1.50.
- What is the easiest option with children or a lot of luggage?
- A pre-booked private transfer or a taxi. With a transfer, the vehicle is chosen in advance for your group and luggage, and the driver waits for you in the arrivals hall and takes you to the door.
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)