Flights to Funchal

Funchal is a peaceful, year-round destination

Madeira's biggest city, Funchal, is nestled on the southern coast of the island. This cosmopolitan place enjoys splendid restaurants, fine hotels, beautiful gardens and wide-reaching views.

When to visit Funchal

Madeira has a mild climate all year around with January's temperatures hovering around 15°C. Come in the summer, and expect 23°C during the daytime. Funchal celebrates Carnival in February when colourful parades take place. Assumption Day is in August which is marked by the Catholic population with a feast all afternoon and during the evening churchgoers gather at the Church of Monte. Visit Funchal at the end of August and join in the wine festival.

Things to know about Madeira

Portuguese is the language of the island and it is spoken with a strong, local accent. Wi-Fi is available free of charge in all major cities, and a few smaller towns as well. The cost of eating and drinking out in Madeira is generally lower than it is in London. Expect to pay around €7 for a budget meal in a cafe.

Transport from Funchal airport

From Funchal Airport take the Aerobus to the city centre for approximately €5 one way. There is a public bus as well costing a few Euros less. Taxis have meters in Funchal so there is no need to negotiate before getting in, but there is a surcharge for travelling at weekends, evenings and with luggage. Public transport around the island is economical. A 7-day bus pass is roughly €22 for example. Hiring a car is a popular way to see Madeira, but be aware that many of the roads are steep and petrol stations outside of Funchal are hard to find. There are many hotels in and around Funchal with a 3 Star hotel costing €26 a night on average, and a 4 Star accommodation priced at around EUR62.

Airport Funchal Madeira FNC

Funchal Airport, known also as Aeroporto de Santa Catarina, is an important airport in Portugal. It is on the island of Madeira, about 620 miles from the Portuguese mainland in the Atlantic Ocean.

• URL: Official website
• Parking: Yes; paid short and long-term parking
• Directions by car: Main road 101 to Santa Cruz and then follow the signs to the airport.

Location

Opened in 1964, the airport is in the east of the island near the community of Santa Cruz. Take the main road 101 to Santa Cruz and then follow the signs to the airport.