Madeira - Essential Information
- Nearby guides:
- Tenerife
- Lanzarote
- Gran Canaria
- Fuerteventura
- Agadir
- Marrakech
- Casablanca
- Lisbon
- Faro
- Jerez
- Other guides in Portugal:
- Faro
- Lisbon
- Porto
- The Azores
- More
Airport
Madeira’s airport, Santa Catarina, is 18 km (11+ miles) from Funchal.
An Aerobus – free for TAP passengers on presentation of flight tickets (but otherwise a few euros per person) – runs to the city at roughly one to two hour intervals.
If the flight arrival is late, it’s best to catch a taxi or rent a car, which you can do at the airport (with previous reservation, if possible).
Local Traffic
There is a good bus network around the island, but this is geared to the needs of local people, not tourists. If you intend making use of buses, then for a small cost you can get ‘Madeira by Bus’ at tourist offices. Be sure to arrive in good time at bus stations – the buses leave on time, and it may take you a while to find the right one!
Taxi
Taxis are relatively inexpensive, and trips are usually metered, although there are fixed charges (set annually) for certain trips such as from the airport. There are surcharges for extra luggage and for travel from 10pm and 7am or on Sundays and public holidays.
Post
Post offices usually open Monday - Friday 8.30 am - 8 pm and Saturday 9 am - 12.30 pm. Funchal’s most central post office is on Avenida Zarco. In Porto Santo you can find it on Avenida Vieira de Castro, Vila Baleira, opposite to the tourist office.
Pharmacy
Prescription and non-prescription drugs are available from pharmacies (farmâcia), but, if you need regular medication, it is better to take supplies with you. Pharmacies open Monday to Friday (9 am - 1 pm and 3 - 7 pm). There is a late duty rota posted in pharmacy windows.
Dentists
Dental services on Madeira are excellent. Dentists advertise in a number of free English and German magazines, usually available in hotels and in the tourist information office in Funchal.
Hospitals
The Island’s villages usually have a Health Centre, but the best service and equipment is in the Central Hospital of Funchal (Hospital Central do Funchal – Hospital da Cruz de Carvalho).
For medical Urgencies, please call
Telephone
Country code: +351, Area code: 291
Electricity
220 volts AC, two-pronged round-pin plugs.
