The short run into the capital
Madeira’s airport sits at Santa Cruz, east of Funchal, and the drive into the city is about 20 to 25 minutes on the VR1 — with the honest caveat that this particular figure is our own estimate rather than a third-party measured route time, unlike the longer runs west. It is short enough that the question is rarely how long, and almost always which of the three ways you take.
Bus, taxi or private car — the honest comparison
This route is dominated by comparison searching: bus, timetable, taxi price, airport coach, public transport. So here is the straight answer. There is public bus service and an airport coach, and they are cheaper than a car. We do not publish their fares or timetables here, because we have not verified them and we are not going to invent numbers you would plan an arrival around — check the official operator before you fly.
A private transfer earns its money in specific situations rather than all of them: a late arrival, a group with luggage, children who need seats, or an address in the steep streets above the city where a driver who does not work here will struggle at midnight. If none of those apply, take the bus with our blessing.
What a private car costs
Published private rates for this route run about €23 to €30 across the smaller vehicle tiers. You buy the vehicle, not the seat, which is what makes it competitive for families: the tiers run sedan for 1 to 3 passengers, van for 4 to 6 and minibus for 7 to 8, with larger minibuses available for bigger groups. Golf bags, surfboards and a week of luggage for six routinely push a group up a tier, which is much better sorted before you land than in the car park.
Child seats, fitted before you land
Baby and child seats are provided free on request by the transfer companies working this route. Because they are fitted before your flight arrives, ages and weights need to reach us with the booking rather than on the day.
Delays, weather and the return leg
Inbound flights are tracked, so send your flight number with the booking and the company will be watching it rather than waiting at a fixed time. Booking both legs together is usually the better price, and return pickups are timed off your departure rather than guessed. Free cancellation up to about 24 hours ahead is the local norm.
Licensed local companies
The transfers we arrange are run by licensed local companies — two established transfer and chauffeur businesses cover the island — and Portuguese tourist-activity companies hold an RNAAT registration that Madeira has been actively enforcing. We do not own vehicles or employ drivers. We take your flight details to a licensed company, confirm the booking directly and stay reachable if anything changes.
Once you are here
Funchal is where most of the island’s boats leave from: see the catamaran charter, the whale- and dolphin-watching charter and the sunset cruise, with a private chef for the evening you would rather not drive. Everything on the island sits on the Madeira destination page, and transfers elsewhere on the airport transfers page.
Request availability with your flight number, party size and the ages of any children — we come back with a real quote from a licensed driver, and nothing is booked until you confirm.