Madeira by plane: tips how to book a cheap flight

Madeira is a beautiful island in the Atlantic Ocean. It is located near the coast of Morocco. The easiest way to get to Madeira is by plane. Do you want to go to Madeira by plane? Then you may have some questions. Are there any direct flights? How long does the flight take? In this article we share all the information you need 😊

Tip: In addition to booking a flight, don’t forget to book a rental car. A rental car is very convenient in Madeira. The distances are too long to walk and public transport is not ideal. In addition, there are many height differences on Madeira. Read our tips for renting a car in Madeira 🚗
Also view our tips for the nicest hotels in Madeira. The sooner you book, the greater the chance that the nice locations are still available 😊

(Cheap) flights to Madeira

• How long is the flight to Madeira?
• Fly directly to Madeira from the Netherlands
• Fly cheaply to Madeira
• From Madeira airport to Funchal
• Fly to Madeira + hotel

How long is the flight to Madeira?

The island of Madeira belongs to Portugal, but it is located near the coast of Morocco. How long the flight will be depends on where you travel from. From most countries in Europe, a flight to Madeira will be around 3-5 hours. In some (most) cases, you might need to change planes in Lisbon. A subsequent 2-hour flight will bring you directly to Funchal, Madeira’s charming capital. 😊

Fly directly to Madeira from European countries

You can directly fly to Madeira from 23 countries, with most direct flights originating from European nations. For travelers from the United States, direct flights to Madeira are available exclusively from New York. To find direct flights to Madeira, using Skyscanner is a great option.
Of course, you can also look up the specific airlines that offer a direct flight, but this differs per country. From the Netherlands, a direct flight is only possible with Transavia.

✈️ Book a flight to Madeira with Skyscanner. Tip: the sooner you book, the cheaper the tickets are. Also take holidays and high season into account. During this period, tickets are often more expensive.

Cheap flights to Madeira

If you are looking for cheap flights to Madeira, opting to travel outside the peak season can lead to significant savings.
Do you want to plan a trip to Madeira when it’s warmer? But you don’t want to spend too much money on a plane ticket? Consider booking your trip in June, September, or October. These months are notably less expensive than the peak summer period, yet you’ll still find Madeira pleasantly warm 😊
✈️ View flights to Madeira

Tip! November and January are the most budget-friendly months to visit Madeira. Thanks to its gentle climate, the temperature on the island remains pleasantly mild during these months 😃 Although you might encounter a little bit more rain 🌧️

Another tip is to book your flights to Madeira early. Don’t wait until the last minute, as the tickets will then become more expensive. In general, it is cheapest to book your tickets about 4 to 5 months in advance.
✈️ View flights to Madeira

Finally, a flight that goes via Lisbon might be cheaper than a direct flight from your country. You can then choose to also stay in Lisbon for a few nights 😊 The flights to Madeira from Lisbon are often very cheap.

From Madeira airport to Funchal

Madeira Airport is officially known as “Aeroporto da Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo”, in honor of the world-renowned football star Cristiano Ronaldo, who was born on the island of Madeira ⚽. The airport is located about 13 kilometers northeast of Funchal, the capital of the island. It is the main and only airport on the island. From this airport you can also fly to the neighboring island of Porto Santo.

If renting a car isn’t part of your plans, taking a bus to Funchal is a great alternative. You have the option between the ‘normal’ bus service and the ‘Aerobus’. If you choose the normal bus, there are several bus lines that run between Funchal and the airport, namely lines 20, 23, 53, 60, 78, 111, 113, 156 and 208.
To find detailed information on these bus lines, including their routes and schedules, you can visit this specific website dedicated to public transport in Madeira.

You can also opt for the ‘Aerobus’, an airport shuttle to Funchal. This bus runs non-stop between the airport and the center of Funchal. This bus is slightly more expensive, but also slightly faster and more comfortable than a normal scheduled bus. The Aerobus runs from 2:30 am until around 8 pm. During weekends, buses also run later in the evening. This website contains more information and the departure times of the Aerobus. Below you can see the Aerobus stops.

In addition to the bus options, you can always choose to take a taxi. This is particularly advisable if your plane lands late in Madeira, or if your accommodation is not close to the bus route.

Fly to Madeira + hotel

Do you want to go to Madeira? Nice! 🤩 In addition to a flight, you also need suitable accommodation and possibly a rental car in Madeira. You have the option to book a fully catered package holiday via Lastminute.com. With these package holidays you book a flight with hotel. Breakfast is always included at the hotel. Optionally, you can then choose to book dinner and/or add a rental car to your package trip, for example. This way you can book everything directly in one place. That will save you a lot of research! 🔎 This way you can be sure that everything is well arranged and you don’t have to worry about anything during your trip.

If you’re not interested in a package holiday but are still on the lookout for accommodation: down below are two of our favorite hotels in the capital Funchal 😊