What is the best way to get around Madeira? Do you need to rent a car? How can you get from Madeira Airport to your accommodation? And can you explore Madeira without driving?

These are some of the first questions you may have when planning your trip to the island.

And for good reason. Madeira may look small on a map, but its mountainous landscape completely changes the way you travel around the island. Expect tunnels, coastal roads, steep hills and small villages scattered across very different elevations.

The good news is that you have several options.

🚗 Rental car: our favourite option for exploring Madeira with complete freedom.

🚕 Taxi: convenient for airport transfers and occasional journeys.

🚘 Private transfer and ride-hailing services: a comfortable alternative if you prefer not to drive.

🚌 Aerobus: particularly convenient for travelling between the airport and Funchal.

The best choice depends on where you are staying and, most importantly, how you want to experience Madeira.

Here are the advantages and limitations of each option.

✈️ How to get from Madeira Airport to your accommodation

Your journey begins at Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC), located in Santa Cruz on the eastern side of the island.

Once you have collected your luggage, you will have your first decision to make: how are you going to get from Madeira Airport to your accommodation?

The main options are:

• taxi;
• private transfer;
• ride-hailing services;
• Aerobus;
• rental car.

If you are staying in Funchal, there are several convenient alternatives.

However, if you are staying in Calheta, Ponta do Sol, Jardim do Mar, Paul do Mar or another part of Madeira, it is worth thinking not only about your airport transfer but also about how you are going to get around during the rest of your holiday.

This is where renting a car starts to make a lot of sense.

 🚕 Taking a taxi from Madeira Airport

A taxi is one of the easiest ways to travel directly from Madeira Airport to your accommodation.

Taxis are available outside the arrivals terminal, making this a straightforward option after collecting your luggage.

A taxi can be particularly convenient if you arrive tired after your flight, do not want to drive immediately or simply need a one-way transfer to your accommodation.

Is it worth using taxis to explore Madeira?

For occasional journeys, absolutely.

For exploring the entire island over several days, probably not.

If you want to visit different viewpoints, villages, hiking trails and natural areas every day, relying exclusively on taxis can become less practical and potentially more expensive than having your own vehicle.

Our tip: for longer journeys, ask for an approximate fare before starting your trip.

🚘 Private transfers and ride-hailing services in Madeira

If you prefer to have everything organised before landing, you can arrange a private transfer from Madeira Airport.

A driver can meet you when you arrive and take you directly to your accommodation.

This is particularly convenient if:

• you prefer not to drive;
• you are arriving after a long journey;
• you have a lot of luggage;
• you are arriving late;
• you simply want your transport organised in advance.

Ride-hailing services are also available for certain journeys around Madeira.

For some travellers, combining private transfers, taxis or ride-hailing services and organised tours can be an excellent alternative to renting a car.

Private transfers to Les Terrasses Suites

If you are staying with us at Les Terrasses Suites, we can also help arrange a private transfer between Madeira Airport and our accommodation upon request.

This means you can travel directly to Calheta and start your holiday without having to worry about transport after your flight.

🚌 Madeira Aerobus: from the airport to Funchal

The Aerobus is one of the most affordable ways to travel from Madeira Airport to Funchal.

It connects the airport with several locations around the city and can be particularly convenient if your accommodation is close to one of its stops.

For travellers planning to spend most of their time in Funchal, it is certainly an option worth considering.

However, there is one important distinction:

The Aerobus is much more convenient for reaching Funchal than for exploring the rest of Madeira.

If you are staying in Calheta or another part of the island, you will need to consider the additional connections required to reach your final destination.

For this reason, we recommend thinking about your entire stay rather than simply how you will leave the airport.

🚗 Renting a car in Madeira: is it worth it?

This brings us to probably the most common question.

Do you need to rent a car in Madeira?

No.

Would we recommend one if you want to explore the island? Definitely.

And there is one simple reason: freedom.

Madeira is an island that constantly gives you reasons to change your plans.

You might be driving towards a hiking trail and discover an incredible viewpoint along the way.

You might plan a day in the mountains, see the clouds rolling in and decide to head towards the coast instead.

You might discover a small village that was never part of your itinerary.

Or you might arrive somewhere beautiful just as the sun begins to set and decide to stay a little longer.

With your own car, you can.

You do not have to organise your holiday around bus timetables, tours or pre-arranged transfers.

And in Madeira, that freedom can make a significant difference to your experience.

🌿 Why do we recommend renting a car in Madeira?

Many of Madeira's most interesting places are spread across different parts of the island.

Viewpoints, levadas, hiking trails, villages, forests, beaches and mountain landscapes are not concentrated around one city.

Having a car means being able to decide each morning where you want to go.

And this is particularly useful because of something every traveller should know before visiting Madeira:

The weather can be completely different depending on where you are on the island.

You can wake up to clouds in the mountains while the coast is enjoying beautiful sunshine.

You can encounter rain in one part of Madeira and drive a relatively short distance to find completely different conditions.

That is why one of our favourite pieces of advice is simple:

Check the weather in the morning and then decide where you want to spend your day.

Do not plan every hour.

Madeira is much more enjoyable when you leave some room for spontaneity.

🏔️ Is driving in Madeira difficult?

This is one of the biggest concerns for travellers considering renting a car for the first time on the island.

The short answer is:

Madeira's main roads are generally comfortable to drive, but you should be prepared for steep hills.

The island has an extensive network of tunnels and expressways that make travelling between different municipalities considerably easier.

Things can become a little more adventurous once you leave the main roads.

In villages and residential areas, you may encounter:

• steep gradients;
• narrow streets;
• tight bends;
• entrances that require careful manoeuvring.

You do not need to be an expert driver.

You just need to take your time.

During your first day, some of Madeira's hills may surprise you. After a while, you will start getting used to the island's geography.

⚙️ Automatic or manual car in Madeira?

If you regularly drive a manual car and are comfortable with hill starts, either option should work perfectly well.

But if you have any doubts, renting an automatic car in Madeira can be an excellent decision.

It removes one of the situations that makes some visitors nervous: stopping and starting again on a particularly steep road.

An automatic may cost a little more, but the additional comfort can be worth it.

If you are not confident driving a manual car on steep hills, choose an automatic.

Your holiday is probably not the best time to practise.

🚙 What type of car should you rent in Madeira?

It is easy to assume: Madeira is mountainous, so I need a large car.

Not necessarily.

In fact, we generally recommend a compact car with enough power to handle Madeira's hills comfortably.

Why?

Because a smaller vehicle is much easier when you need to:

• park;
• drive through villages;
• navigate narrow streets;
• manoeuvre in tighter spaces.

You certainly do not need an SUV simply because you are visiting Madeira.

Feeling comfortable with the vehicle you choose is much more important than its size.

Before confirming your rental, always check the conditions regarding insurance, excess, deposit and fuel policy.

🅿️ Parking in Madeira

Parking conditions vary considerably depending on where you are.

In Funchal and other busy areas, you will find public car parks, many of which are paid.

In smaller villages and less urban areas, finding somewhere to park is generally easier.

There is one important exception:

Popular hiking trails.

Parking areas around the starting points of some of Madeira's best-known trails can become busy during peak hours.

If you are planning one of the island's popular hikes, starting early can save you time looking for parking and may also allow you to enjoy the area before it becomes busier.

🚌 Can you visit Madeira without a car?

Yes, you can visit Madeira without renting a car.

This is particularly true if you are staying in Funchal.

You can combine:

• public transport;
• taxis;
• ride-hailing services;
• private transfers;
• organised tours.

If your plan is to enjoy Funchal, take a few excursions and have a relaxing holiday, you may not need a rental car for your entire stay.

However, there is a difference between visiting Madeira and having the freedom to explore Madeira.

If you want to discover small villages, search for viewpoints, go hiking, change your plans according to the weather and explore different parts of the island independently, a car remains our favourite option.

🌊 Do you need a car if you stay in Calheta?

Our recommendation is yes.

Calheta is an excellent base for discovering Madeira, particularly the western and southwestern parts of the island.

Having a car allows you to make much better use of its location.

From Les Terrasses Suites, you can set off on a different adventure each day and return in the afternoon to relax by the pool, enjoy your private terrace or simply take in the Atlantic views.

The following morning, you can head somewhere completely different.

That is precisely one of the things we love about using Calheta as a base for exploring Madeira.

⭐ So, what is the best way to get around Madeira?

It depends on your trip.

If you are mainly staying in Funchal: the Aerobus, taxis and public transport may be enough.

If you prefer not to drive: private transfers combined with taxis, ride-hailing services and organised tours can work very well.

If you only need occasional transport: taxis or ride-hailing services are convenient.

If you want to explore the island independently: rent a car.

That would be our choice.

Not because having a car in Madeira is essential, but because it gives you something we consider fundamental when exploring the island: the freedom to change your plans.

❤️ Our advice as hosts in Madeira

At Les Terrasses Suites, we welcome travellers from all over the world, each with their own way of experiencing Madeira.

Some arrive with an enormous list of places they want to visit.

Others arrive with almost no plans at all.

Our recommendation is usually somewhere in between.

Rent a car, choose a few places you genuinely want to discover and leave some room for spontaneity.

You do not need to tick twenty places off a list to feel that you have experienced Madeira.

Stop when you find a view you love.

Change direction if the weather does not cooperate.

Take a road simply because you are curious to see where it leads.

Stay a little longer when you find somewhere special.

Madeira may look small on a map.

But once you start exploring, you will discover there is far more here than you imagined. 🌿

And now that you know how to get around Madeira, the most exciting question comes next:

Where should you start exploring?

That will be our next journey around the island.