Getting around Madeira without a car

Madeira can be explored without a rental car by combining the regional bus network SIGA, the Aerobus airport shuttle, taxis, the Funchal–Monte cable car and the Lobo Marinho ferry to Porto Santo. Funchal and the south coast are the easiest areas to cover by public transport; many mountain trailheads are not. This guide sets out what each option is, what official sources say about fares and timetables as of October 2026, and where you will need a taxi or a tour instead.

Which bus companies run in Madeira today?

Public buses on Madeira are grouped under SIGA, the regional public transport network run with the Regional Government (siga.madeira.gov.pt). The SIGA operators page lists three companies:

• Horários do Funchal – the city buses of Funchal.
• SIGA Rodoeste – services towards the west of the island.
• CAM (Companhia de Autocarros da Madeira) – services towards the east.

Older guidebooks and blogs often name SAM and EACL as Madeira bus companies. Neither name appears on the SIGA operators list today, so treat timetables or route maps carrying those names as outdated and use the SIGA website, which publishes timetables, ticket types and points of sale.

For regular users there is the GIRO pass, with its fares published on the SIGA tariffs page. Fares and passes change, so check that page rather than relying on figures quoted elsewhere.

How do you get from the airport to Funchal without a car?

The Aerobus is the dedicated airport service listed on the SIGA website. According to its published route map:

• It runs between Madeira Airport and Praia Formosa, on the western edge of Funchal, with 26 stops.
• Stops include Mercado, Avenida do Mar, São João, Lido and Fórum Madeira, and the map lists the nearest stop for dozens of Funchal hotels.
• The estimated time from the airport to the last stop at Praia Formosa is about 50 minutes.
• Fares in force from 1 April 2026: €6.70 adult and €3.30 child, one way.
• Payment is cash only, and there is free Wi-Fi on board.

What people often misjudge: the Aerobus is convenient for hotels along the Funchal seafront and the Lido area, but it is a stopping service, not an express. If you land late, check the last departure on the SIGA Aerobus timetable before relying on it.

The other option from the airport is a taxi from the rank outside arrivals. Visit Madeira, the official tourism site, lists the regional taxi association with its contact details and website (taximadeira.com). We do not quote taxi fares here because no current official fare table was available to us; ask for the price or check with the association before you set off.

Can you reach the hiking trails by bus?

Partly. Bus coverage of trailheads is limited, especially for high-altitude starting points such as Pico do Areeiro or Rabaçal, which are popular for PR 1 Vereda do Areeiro and PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes. Before planning a walk around a bus, check the relevant SIGA timetable for both the outbound and the return journey, and remember that a missed afternoon bus in the mountains can leave you with a long wait or an expensive taxi.

Some classified trails also require an online fee or booking; see trail booking and fees. Taxis and organised tours are the usual alternatives for remote trailheads. Visit Madeira lists several tour and transfer companies; this guide does not recommend specific operators.

How do you get up to Monte from Funchal?

The Funchal–Monte cable car (see our page) links the seafront in Funchal's old town with the parish of Monte. The ride takes about 15 minutes. The operator, Madeira Cable Car, lists 2026 prices of €16 one way and €22 return for standard cabins. Tickets can be bought online or at either station.

From Monte, many visitors come back down part of the way on the traditional wicker toboggans (Monte toboggan). The run ends in Livramento, a suburb above the city, not in central Funchal; the arrival point has access to taxis and buses for the rest of the descent.

How do you get to Porto Santo by sea?

The ferry between Funchal and Porto Santo is operated by Porto Santo Line with the ship Lobo Marinho. Key facts:

• Porto Santo lies 71 km from Madeira, according to the operator.
• The Lobo Marinho entered service in 2003 and can carry up to 1,150 passengers and 145 vehicles, according to Wikipedia.
• A 2021 Lusa news report described the crossing as taking about two and a half hours. We could not find the duration on the operator's own site, so treat it as approximate.
• News reports describe an annual maintenance stop in January, which can last several weeks.

Timetables change with the season and with events. As one example, the operator announced extra trips for 5 November 2026 (from Funchal at 08:00 and 16:00, from Porto Santo at 12:00 and 20:00). Always check the current timetable and fares on portosantoline.pt before planning. On the island itself, see our Porto Santo region guide.

Are taxis or tours a good alternative?

For places the bus network serves poorly — high viewpoints, early-morning trailheads, one-way hikes — a taxi or a guided tour is often the practical option. Visit Madeira's list of transport services includes the regional taxi association, transfer companies and tour operators. Agree on the price and the pick-up time for the return in advance, especially if you are being dropped at one end of a linear walk.

What should you plan around?

• Use official timetables. SIGA publishes current timetables; route numbers and stops in older sources may refer to companies that no longer appear on the operators list.
• Carry cash for the Aerobus. Card payment is not accepted on board, according to its route map.
• Plan the return first. In the mountains and on the north coast, the last bus back is the constraint, not the first bus out.
• Allow for weather. Ferry sailings and mountain roads can be affected by weather; the Lobo Marinho also has a winter maintenance period.

Funchal, the south-coast towns and Porto Santo work well without a car. For the mountains, budget for some taxi rides or a tour.