Madeira is a Portuguese island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It has got many names: "The Island of Eternal Spring", "The Hawaii of Europe" and "The Pearl of Atlantic", whatever you call it, this place always remains very special and unique. As a popular tourist destination, Madeira welcomes an average of 1.6 million tourists annually by plane and 533 thousand by cruise ships.
The majority of visitors to Madeira, totaling 470,000 tourists in 2022, come from mainland Portugal, comprising over 30% of all tourists to the island. The other top nationalities among visitors include the United Kingdom at 21%, Germany at 19%, France at 9%, Poland at 5%, with the remaining 15% coming from other countries.
READ MORE: Madeira Perfect 7-Day Itinerary
What's the best way to get to Madeira
The most convenient way to reach Madeira is undoubtedly by flying to Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport in Santa Cruz (FNC). Despite being an island, Madeira boasts an impressive network of connections with airports worldwide, including direct flights to far away destinations like New York City and Toronto with the Portuguese airline Sata Azores.
The best connections are between Portuguese mainland cities Lisbon and Porto, with over 10 daily flights from Lisbon, for around 50 to 100 Euros for a basic fare with Ryanair or EasyJet.
How to get to Madeira from Britain
For travelers from Britain, there are direct flights to Madeira (FNC) from several airports, with Manchester, London, Bristol, and Liverpool offering the best connections. Budget fares with airlines like Ryanair or EasyJet can often be found for less than 100 pounds, especially if you're flexible with your travel dates. A direct flight from London takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes.
How to get to Madeira from Germany
Travelers from Germany can access Madeira through direct flights from seven airports. Budget-friendly options include direct connections from Berlin with EasyJet or from Frankfurt with Condor Airlines. However, basic fare tickets from Germany typically cost upwards of 200 euros.
How to get to Madeira from France
France also offers convenient connections to Madeira, particularly from Paris with airlines like Ryanair or EasyJet. While other French airports also offer direct flights to Madeira, Paris tends to have the most affordable fares.
How to get to Madeira from Poland
Being over a 5-hour flight away from Madeira, Poland is the furthest country among the top 5 visitors to Madeira. The reason for this might be that flights from Poland are likely the most affordable and convenient compared to those from the other countries mentioned. The connection between Poland and Madeira is clearly dominated by the fares offered by Wizzair. Flying from Chopin Airport in Warsaw and Katowice Airport in southern Poland, Wizzair offers 4 direct flights a week to Madeira for below 100 euros for the basic fare.
How to get to Madeira from the United States
There are direct flights between Madeira and New York City or Boston available with the Portuguese airline Sata Azores. The direct flight from New York City is only 6 hours, making Madeira a great gateway to Europe for American tourists. Another airline that offers direct connections to Madeira from the US is TAP Portugal, but their fares seem to be much more expensive. When traveling from the US, you should consider a layover in Lisbon and adding another destination to your itinerary.
How to get to Funchal from Madeira Airport
Upon arrival at Madeira Airport, travelers can reach Funchal using the SAM Aerobus service, which operates every 30 minutes and takes passengers to Formosa Beach. Tickets can be purchased directly from the driver, and no reservation is required.
You can find more informations about the Aerobus HERE. Alternatively, taxis or the Bolt app provide convenient transportation options from the airport, with the Bolt app allowing passengers to see the price before booking their ride.
Other Articles about Madeira you'd might like
Madeira is such an amazing place to visit, and we still can't believe we've been able to call it home for the past two years. During our stay, we explored all the best spots on the island and tried all the most exciting activities, many of them more than once! This helped us create these comprehensive guides that will help you plan your own trip to Madeira.
