What is the best mode of transportation in Madeira?
For those who want a fully autonomous and comfortable experience, renting a car or a motorcycle in Madeira is the best option.
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By Bus -- The cheapest, albeit slowest, way to get around Madeira is by bus. If you want to tour on your own, you can make excursions on local buses that go all over the island at a fraction of the cost the tour companies charge, but you will miss the commentary of an organized tour, of course.
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…
Public transport on Madeira Island isn't perfect. There are multiple public transport companies and for each one of them, we need different tickets. Four (of five, if you count also Servico Interurbano) different companies for such a small island as Madeira, are, in my opinion, a few too many.
Renting a car on Madeira Island is a convenient and affordable way to discover all the hidden gems this island has to offer. First and foremost, most travelers want to know about the best place to hire a car in Madeira. When I rent a car in Madeira, I recommend and I always use Discover Cars, and you can see why below.
Walking around Funchal is always a pleasant experience, as the green of the mountains and the blue of the ocean accompany you while you discover this city by the sea. With an area of approximately 75 km², Funchal is divided into 10 parishes, which extend virtually from the sea to the mountain.
Violent crime involving tourists is extremely rare in Madeira and so you have little to worry about with regard to personal safety. But as with any travel destination, it's important to take basic travel safety precautions such as keeping your valuables close by and/or hidden, especially at night.
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.
The average standard of living tends to be a bit lower than in mainland Portugal, and the local autonomous government gives generous subsidies coming from the tourist industry revenues and from the Portuguese national budget. Go where the locals go and everything will be cheap.
Well-marked walking routes and trails are located all over the island. From short, easy trails on flat terrain to advanced walks that can take half a day or more, there's a path for just about anyone who wants to experience the natural beauty of Madeira on foot.
Overall, the roads are really good. The only challenging part about driving in Madeira is when you go to some of the hikes. The incline on some of the smaller roads can be pretty crazy and something you may not be used to. It's a volcanic island so steep inclines are to be expected!
Bolt Taxi (TVDE), the cheaper and more secure way of travelling in Madeira. All you need to do is download the app (works both on Android and iPhone) and you're off. Bolt provides a safe, no-nonsense approach to travelling, where you can estimate the price of your journey by using the fare calculator.
Our prices do not include a tip. In Madeira Island tips are not compulsory. As is standard across the globe if you feel your driver has been friendly and courteous, then a small tip is the norm.
Most places in Madeira do take cards, but you'll need some cash for buses, and I've heard that some of the cable cars only take cash too (the cable car from the promenade in Funchal does take cards). The small shops and cafes I visited all took cards but it's best to have some money just in case.
Do I need to book Funchal cable car? You can not buy the cable car tickets in advance. Arriving to Funchal by a cruise ship you have always a queue, but they are quick and get 10/15 minutes. Also, in coming back from Monte,with toboggan you have to buy the tickets because is a diferent Company.
Madeira uses the Euro, though major credit cards will work and ATMs are widely available. If you're flying direct to Madeira, currency can be exchanged at airports, banks, and hotels.
Transmilenio is for everyone! You buy a card when you use it for the first time, for a small fee, then add credit every time you run low. You can check your credit on a small machine at the entrance.