Moving aroung Madeira by bus: public transport, map

Although Madeira may seem like a small point on the map, you will soon realize that this 741 m2 of rocky volcanic land is bigger than it looks. Madeira island comprises impressive mountains crossed by countless man-made tunnels that make it easy to go from one city to another.

Pros and cons
Bus companies
Map
Funchal suburbs
Funchal to Machico and East
Airport to Funchal
West and North
Ponta do Sol to Funchal
Caniço

Therefore, there can be no doubt that travelling around the island by car is more convenient. However, Madeira also has a functional and reliable bus system. Once you understand how it works, you can easily access the different parts of the island by public transport. Thus, if you are travelling on a budget or simply wanting to contribute to a more sustainable way of transportation, this article is for you.

Moving around Madeira by bus: pros and cons

One of the main advantages of moving around Madeira by bus is that it makes it convenient when you are going to hike, as there is no need to return to the car (various trails begins and end in different places). A benefit is that you can admire the stunning scenery from the bus instead of having to focus on driving.

This is also the most environmentally friendly option as you will be reducing your carbon footprint. Buses are generally reliable, economical and our local drivers are experts navigating Madeira's challenging roads.

In terms of the disadvantages, you will have to stick with the existing bus routes designed mainly for residents and not tourists. This means that on the one hand, you will have the opportunity to live like a local and explore small towns and villages.

Funchal Bay, Madeira, moving around, bus routes, tickets, info, timetable

On the other hand, you will probably miss out on some places that were only reachable by car. Also, due to the numerous bus stops within a route, you may take up to three times to reach the same destination as you would by driving a car.

Nevertheless, moving around the island by bus is a daily reality for many people. With more travellers and digital nomads in Madeira, bus companies made an effort to diversify their services and offer updated information in foreign languages.

The government also plans to improve the services by opening the market to foreign competitors and technological enhancements.

How many bus companies are there in Madeira?

Four main bus companies are operating in Madeira:

Horários do Funchal
SAM
Roadoeste
EACL

Each one covers different parts of the island. Usually, tickets are bought directly aboard with the driver. Each company has different brand colours, which we will describe individually.

For instance, don't be confused by identical bus numbers, e.g. orange town bus 20 to Monte; green/cream country bus 20 to Santo da Serra.

Public transport in Madeira includes:

city
urban
interurban services

Getting around Funchal and its suburbs by bus with Horários do Funchal

Funchal and its suburbs by bus with Horários do Funchal, Madeira timetable, routes

Horários do Funchal operates two services – Urban within Funchal area and Interurban. You can identify Horários do Funchal as the yellow and silver buses.

The yellow ones move around the city centre. If you live in the Funchal area, a good option is the Linha Cidade 05 (Monday to Friday) and Linha Cidade Eco 05A (Monday to Sunday), a regular public transport service operating with electrical minibuses. These have no fixed bus stops, and you can catch them by simply raising your hand.

Find the perfect accommodation in Madeira

The silver ones also go to the suburbs, to places like:

Camacha
Câmera de Lobos
Nun's Valley
Poiso
Ribeiro Frio
and others

There are designated bus stops for these around the city, with Avenida do Mar being the main street for most of them. Tourist attractions such as the Botanical Garden and Monte Palace Tropical Garden can also be reached with Horários do Funchal.

Single tickets can be bought with cash inside the bus, whereas it is possible to acquire a rechargeable card - GIRO- on which you can load a fixed number of travel credits or 1,3,5 or 7-day tickets. With the GIRO 24 Card, you can use Urban or Interurban lines for 24 hours.

You can look at the timetables in this PDF version, search directly through your mobile or download the HF App.

Moving from Funchal to Machico and the east-coast by bus with SAM

SAM buses are identified with green and cream colours. They connect Funchal with the eastern side of the Island. Buses will regularly take you to:

Santa Cruz
Machico
Canareare Porto da Cruz
Santo da Serra

Some of them passing by the airport on the way.

With Porto da Cruz and Machico being two of the most famous places to surf on the Island, it is worth mentioning that SAM allows you to carry your surfboard with you for free. The quickest way to reach Machico by bus is by taking the Expresso line from Monday to Friday and takes around 45 minutes.

Going from Madeira's Airport to Funchal by bus

SAM is also the bus company that operates regular bus service to and from the airport. The Atickets line runs regular services every day and is the most economical way to get to and from Funchal: €5 single tickets and 8€ for a return ticket.

Tickets can be purchased on the bus with cash. The central bus station of SAM is located here and its complete bus network can be found here. They also have IOS and Android mobile Apps.

Moving around the West and North of Madeira Island by bus with Rodoeste

They are the white buses with red stripes. They will take you, among others to:

Ponta do Sol
Ribeira Brava
Câmara de Lobos
Cabo Girão
Arco de Calheta
Calheta
Jardim do Mar
Paúl do Mar
Achadas do Cruz
Arco de São Jorge
Seixal
Porto Moniz

Rodoeste connects Funchal with some of the most exciting places in Madeira such as the Ponta do Sol - Digital Nomad Village, the famous natural lava pools in Porto Moniz and the astonishing natural beaches in Seixal.

Find the perfect accommodation in Funchal

How to get from Ponta do Sol to Funchal by bus

You can get from Ponta do Sol to Funchal by bus with Rodoeste. The journey takes between 1 to 1.45 hours, depending on which line you take. Look for the buses Nr. 4, 146 or 107. Tickets can cost between 3€ to 5€.

You can find Timetable information here.

Moving within Caniço with EACL

EACL stands for Empresa de Automóveis do Caniço, Lda. As the name indicates, this operator offers routes in the area of Caniço with connections to Funchal. They are recognised by their white, burgundy and silver colours.

Caniço is where a big part of the hotels are located on the island. Also, being one of the closest areas to Funchal, the city has been attracting both local people and foreigners as a residential area. Single tickets can be purchased on the bus directly with the driver.

The company recently also launched two new products - the MOBICARD that allows you to buy 3, 5, a 7 days-card for unlimited use and also the option of acquiring a pre-purchased card with 10 or 20 rides.

5 things you should keep in mind when travelling around Madeira Island by bus

Please arrive early at the bus stop. It may take some time to find out what you want, and no driver will wait for you.
Some of the lines from Horárioso Funallow passengers to transport bicycles for free.
As some of the timetables are hard to decipher, it might be good to check the journey with a local by showing it on Google Maps.
If you plan to go surfing in Porto da Cruz, SAM allows you to take your surfboard free of additional charges.
If you are travelling with a big group or made some friends on the Island, SAM offers the service of renting a bus with a driver for tailored itineraries.

Moving around Madeira Island by bus - everything you should know