Arrival
The airport is at Santa Cruz in the east, around 20 minutes’ drive from Funchal. The expressway along the south coast, officially the VR1, is fully built out and runs through a long sequence of tunnels and bridges — Funchal to Câmara de Lobos takes 20 minutes, Funchal to Machico about half an hour.
If you stay on the south coast only, you do not need a car. The moment the north, the highlands or a levada joins the plan, that changes.
Why the choice of car matters
Away from the expressways Madeira is steep. Double-digit gradients are normal on the approaches to trailhead car parks, and they start from a standstill, not with a run-up. The smallest manual car with little torque is the wrong tool there.
Not because of power — because of pulling away on a slope, often with oncoming traffic on a single lane. If you are not practised with a clutch on a hill, book an automatic. On this island that is not a comfort choice.
Parking
In Funchal you park where the car parks are. On-street spaces in the old town are scarce and charged. If you book a hotel without its own space, add the parking cost, otherwise the final bill will not be the one you calculated.
At trailheads the opposite applies: small, and not always free — Queimadas at the start of PR 9 charges €2.00 an hour. Arrive at ten and you have arrived late.
FAQ
Which airlines offer the cheapest direct flights to Madeira from mainland Portugal?
TAP Air Portugal, easyJet and Ryanair all fly Lisbon–Funchal and Porto–Funchal non-stop. There’s no single cheapest airline on this route — TAP’s fares often undercut the budget carriers once bags and seats are added, so it’s worth comparing all three for the same date rather than defaulting to easyJet or Ryanair on price alone.
What is the best way to get to Madeira and where can I book the most affordable flights?
Flying is the only way — there is no ferry from mainland Portugal. The cheapest fares are usually found by comparing TAP, easyJet and Ryanair for the same midweek date outside school holiday periods, booking well ahead, and buying directly on the airline’s own site (for the low-cost carriers) to avoid third-party fees.
What is the cheapest car hire option on Madeira with full insurance included?
There’s no single cheapest brand — pricing swings by week and by how far ahead you book. The reliable way to find the cheapest genuinely-fully-insured rate is to compare the same car class (not the same brand) across both a Madeira-based operator (Rodavante, Auto Jardim) and an international chain (Europcar, Avis, Hertz) for your exact dates, then add a zero- or low-excess CDW/SCDW on top of whichever quote is cheapest before insurance — or buy independent excess cover separately, which is often cheaper than the rental desk’s own upsell.
Which car hire company on Madeira offers the best value for a week-long rental?
Madeira-based operators like Rodavante and Auto Jardim frequently undercut the international chains on weekly rates for the same car class, and know the island’s roads well. International chains (Europcar, Avis, Hertz, Sixt) offer more familiar booking platforms and easier cross-island swaps if you’re also visiting Porto Santo. Compare both for your specific week rather than defaulting to either — the cheaper option changes with the season.
