INFO

From the airport to Funchal

Buses
The recommended price is: Airport/ Funchal 3,25 €
Note: This value may change and is of the exclusive responsibility of SAM. In case of doubt, please contact (+351) 291 201 151.
Buses carry out the following daily journeys:
F - Only Holidays
D - Only Sundays
E - Express
T - Transfer at Santa Cruz
There is no bus service on 25th December.

Car rental
There are seven rent-a-car companies licensed by Madeira Airport, with customer service desks, located on Level 0, after the luggage claim area.

Taxi
There is one taxi stand at the Arrivals area of Madeira Airport, level 0.
Taxis taking you from Madeira Airport to any destination on the island always operate with a meter. As a reference, the fare on the taxi meter at the start of the journey should read 4.00 € during the week.
All taxi services charge an additional 20% on weekdays between 21.00 and 6.00 on the following day, and throughout the day on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
The transportation of luggage or animals is subject to an additional charge of 1.50 €.
Note: These charges may change and are of the exclusive responsibility of AITRAM - Táxi. In case of doubt, please contact (+351) 291 765 760.

Bus
The company responsible for bus transportation from the airport is SAM. After you leave the arrivals, follow the main road and keep on the right side. After approx. 100 meters you will find a bus stop. The ticket to Funchal is payable on board and only costs a few Euros.

Aero-bus
A scheduled, express bus service between the airport and Funchal city. Prices as of May 2011 5€ adult and 2,50€ for children. (Subject to change).

General Information

Language
Portuguese

Population
268 000 people live on these Islands according to data collected in 2011. Half of the population lives in the capital.

Currency
€ EURO

Time
Madeira follows Portuguese time with Summer time. Clocks advance one hour in the last Sunday of March, and go back one hour in the last Sunday of October, according to the regulations of the European Union.

Electricity
The electric current is 220 volts.

Water
There is plenty of water of an excellent drinking standard. Porto Santo uses treated seawater, but all of it can be consumed.

Post
The main post office, or "Correios de Portugal", is at the centre of Funchal, at the Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian and / or Avenida de Zarco . There are daily collections at 11:00 and 15:00 from the post boxes placed all over the island.

Chemists
Chemists are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00, on Saturdays from 9:00 to 13:00. In addition, at the door of every pharmacy you will find advisory notes about the pharmacies currently open.

Hospital Centres
There are 67 health centres situated around the Madeira Island, and one at Porto Santo. There are two hospitals in Funchal.

Police
The police presence is very discreet. If you need help, dial 112. There is a Lost Property section in Funchal, at Rua da Infância, 28, Tel.: 291 208200

Safety
Madeira is one of the safest holiday destinations in the world. If you take the minimum sensible precautions, you probably won’t experience any problems. Most of the hotels have safes or deposit boxes where you can keep your valuables.

Tips
In hotels and restaurants the bill normally includes service. If the “ tip“ is not included, the normal rate for good service is 10%. Madeira

Tourist Offices
The Regional Department of Tourism has eleven offices. The main one is located at Funchal City Centre, near the Cathedral.

Usefull Information

Before planning your trip, find out about how to get to the Madeira Islands, the papers you need, customs formalities and health precautions.

Getting there by air
You can fly to Madeira and Porto Santo and there are daily flights between Lisbon and Funchal taking an hour and 25 minutes. Flights between the islands take around 15 minutes. There are two airports, Madeira International Airport and Porto Santo Airport.

Getting there by sea
Funchal and Porto Santo are frequent calling places for cruise ships. Their ports are gateways to the islands and departure points for other destinations. The trip between the islands takes about 2h30 hours by ferry, which can also carry cars.

Overland travel
Getting around the islands is very easy, thanks to the modern road network built in recent years. Practically, all places of interest are easily accessible by road.

Papers
If you are visiting the islands from a European Union country belonging to the Schengen Agreement there are no restrictions on entry. Visitors from countries that are not party to the agreement need identification, which, under Portuguese law, means a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa.

Customs formalities
Goods leaving the island are not subject to any limitations. However, if the customs officers feel that the quantity is excessive, you may be asked to prove that the articles are for your personal use.

Vaccinations and health care
You do not need any vaccinations before travelling to the archipelago. Emergency treatment at state hospitals is free of charge for European Union citizens and there are good private health care services for visitors from other countries. There are 67 health centres in Madeira and one in Porto Santo. Funchal has two public hospitals.

Shopping
In addition to the traditional local craft products, Portuguese shoes, flowers and tropical fruits are favoured purchases on any visit. The famous Madeira wine deserves special attention.
Wickerwork, tapestry and the renowned Madeira embroidery should also find a place in the departing holidaymakers’ baggage. In the streets of Funchal, e.g., in the City Centre, visitors can find shops selling all kind of brands created by international famous fashion designers. Shops are open from 9:00 to 13:00hrs and from 15:00 to 19:00hrs, Monday to Friday. On Saturday from 9:00 to 13:00hrs.
Some shopping centres are open from 10:00 to 23:00hrs every day. Major Credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops.

Communication
The region is very well developed in terms of IT networks and telephone communications. The international access code is + 351, and the regional area code is 291.

Pharmacies
Pharmacies are open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each pharmacy has a sign on the door giving the names of the duty pharmacies open outside these hours.

Information technology
Information and communication technologies are highly developed in the region. The international dialing code for Madeira is +351 and the code for the Madeira Islands is 291.

Phones
There are public phones in the main streets of the larger towns. Some take only phone cards, which you can buy in cafés, tobacconist and post offices. To call abroad, dial 00 followed by the country code.

Time
In Madeira summer time is GMT. The clocks go forward one hour on the last Sunday in March and back an hour on the last Sunday in October, as in the rest of the European Union.

Water and electricity
The electric current in Madeira is 220V. Water is abundant in Madeira and is all drinkable and of excellent quality. In Porto Santo, the water is desalinated and is also quite safe to drink.

Banks and shops
The banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exchange bureaus are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Saturdays, when they open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. At other times, you can exchange money at hotels.

Safety
PoIf you need help from the police, dial 112. There is a Lost and Found Department at 28, Rua da Infância, Funchal, phone: (+351) 291 208200. The islands in this archipelago are among the safest places in the world for a holiday. Provided that you take the usual precautions dictated by common sense anywhere in the world you are not likely to have any problems here. Most hotels have safes or other places for keeping valuables.

Fire brigade
In case of fire call Bombeiros Municipais do Funchal on phone: (+351) 291 200 930 or Bombeiros Voluntários Madeirenses on phone: (+351) 291 229 115.