Madeira Airport (FNC) is around 13–19 km from Funchal along mountain roads – there’s no train or metro on the island, so it’s bus, taxi, or a pre-booked private transfer. Here’s what each actually costs.
Madeira Airport sits about 13 km east of Funchal in a straight line, though the mountainous coastal road stretches that to roughly 19 km – a 20–25 minute drive by car or taxi. There’s no rail or metro on the island. The public Aerobus leaves from Arrivals for Funchal, stopping near many hotels on the way to its last stop at Praia Formosa (about 50 minutes in total); timetables are on the regional SIGA site (siga.madeira.gov.pt).
Transfer options at a glance
Madeira Airport to Funchal centre
| Option | Price (one-way) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobus (public bus) | a few euros | up to ~50 min to Praia Formosa | Budget travellers, light luggage |
| Private transfer (booked online) | from €30 | 20–30 min direct | Families, direct hotel drop-off |
| Metered taxi | ~€25–35 total (from €4, +20% 21:00–06:00 and weekends, +€1.50 for bags) | ~20 min | Landing late / no pre-booking |
Aerobus and taxi fare rules from Madeira Airport’s official transport page (the €25–35 taxi total is an estimate); private transfer prices from live GetYourGuide listings, checked 2026-09-24.
No train on the island makes a pre-booked transfer especially convenient here:
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Madeira Airport to Funchal — pick your group size
Totals use listed ‘from' prices per option (per person or per vehicle); items marked approx are typical market rates, not fixed fares. Final prices vary by date and operator. The public Aerobus is the cheapest solo option (a few euros).
About 13 km in a straight line, but the mountain coastal road makes the actual drive closer to 19 km – roughly 20–25 minutes.
No – Madeira has no railway. Your options are the public Aerobus, a metered taxi, or a pre-booked private transfer.
Taxis are metered from €4.00, with 20% more between 21:00 and 06:00 and on weekends and holidays, plus €1.50 for luggage or pets; a typical total to central Funchal hotels runs roughly €25–35.
Given there’s no train and the roads are winding, most visitors find a pre-booked private transfer (from around €34–35 per group) the easiest option straight off a long flight, especially with luggage.
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Page last fact-checked 24 September 2026.
