Can you get a ferry from mainland Portugal to Madeira?

No, there is not a “ferry” in the real meaning of the word. Going from Lisbon to Madeira, is not like crossing a big river in a ferry. We have ferries to cross the Tagus (Tejo) river from Lisbon but that is just a 15 to 20 min crossing. From Lisbon to Madeira, it takes around 2:30 hours by plane (flying time).



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The fastest ferry from Madeira Islands to Portugal is from Funchal to Porto Santo, with a crossing time of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Porto Santo Line offer this route with 8 sailings weekly combined.

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The container vessel sets sail from Lisbon each week, precisely on Saturdays, with an anticipated arrival in Caniçal, Madeira by Monday morning. The ferry trip from Lisbon to Madeira comes at a cost of €180 per person, which covers meals and a single piece of luggage weighing up to 20 kg per traveler.

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The best way to reach the island of Madeira is via a 90 minute flight from Lisbon. Madeira Airport is reasonably well-connected to multiple cities in and around Portugal and even a few, select parts of Europe. The airport is located in the capital city of Funchal.

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There are about 1 daily sailings and up to 5 weekly sailings to Madeira Islands. Ferry schedules can vary by season. Use our deal finder for the most up to date sailing times and compare tickets.

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The quickest and most convenient way to reach Madeira from Lisbon is on a 90-minute TAP flight. The daily flights (9-13, depending on the season) stop at the Madeira airport then go on to Porto Santo.

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Whilst cruising to Madeira is very popular, there aren't many reliable ferries that can take you to this stunning island, and certainly not for a day trip. The ferry (when it's running) from Portimao to Funchal takes twelve hours to reach its destination, so it's sadly unfeasible for the purposes of this blog.

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It's slightly closer to Morocco (and the african continent) than to mainland Portugal (Europe). However, the landscape is more european than african, not to mention the inhabitants, who are almost 100% portuguese. When did the Portuguese from mainland Portugal move to inhabit Madeira Island?

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Utility costs in Madeira are generally lower than those in mainland Portugal. Electricity prices are up to 21.8% lower than in the Algarve, and internet costs are 11.2% less expensive. The island also has a lower VAT rate than the mainland, making certain goods and services more affordable.

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The fastest ferry crossing to Madeira Islands is via the Porto Santo to Funchal ferry, in approximately 2h 30m.

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Visiting Madeira For those who want a fully autonomous and comfortable experience, renting a car or a motorcycle in Madeira is the best option. Find available car hire companies here. However, there are other means of transport available such as buses, taxis, tuk-tuks, bicycles and scooters.

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The archipelago of Madeira is located 520 km (280 nmi) from the African coast and 1,000 km (540 nmi) from the European continent (approximately a one-and-a-half-hour flight from the Portuguese capital of Lisbon).

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Make the most of your time in Madeira and cover the entire island in just two days on this small-group excursion. Set out for two full-day tours to see top landmarks including Girao Cape, the Porto Moniz natural pools, the fishing village of Camara de Lobos, and the Arieiro and Ruivo summits.

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If you don't already know, Funchal is the capital city of a magical Portuguese island archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic known as Madeira.

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Madeira, the Portuguese island, is famed for its excellent walking temperatures – year-round!

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Although Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago, it is actually closer to Africa than Europe. Sitting 434 miles west of Morocco and 528 miles southwest of Portugal and mainland Europe.

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Madeira is a pretty small island, and so luckily you don't need very long to see all of the incredible things that this destination has to offer. If you're looking to experience the must-dos then a short four-day break would be fine. However, a week is the perfect amount of time to really make the most of the island.

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Madeira is a pretty small island, and so luckily you don't need very long to see all of the incredible things that this destination has to offer. If you're looking to experience the must-dos then a short four-day break would be fine. However, a week is the perfect amount of time to really make the most of the island.

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I highly recommend going if you love nature, if you enjoy great food, a warm culture and breathtaking views at every turn. I stayed in the main Funchal, away from the tourist area. I didn't go to Madeira to be surrounded by other tourists taking photos of this or that.

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Madeira to welcome first-ever direct flight from New York City to Funchal on Nov. 29. NEW YORK - On Nov. 29, 2021, Inovtravel in partnership with SATA Azores Airlines will launch the first-ever nonstop flight from a U.S. gateway to Funchal, Madeira's capital city.

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Madeira is totally doable without a car, so if like me you don't drive, you're going to be pleased with how decent the bus system is for seeing plenty of the island. For the bits that are harder to achieve by bus, there are plenty of minibus private tours, but more on that later…

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