Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo Airport serves the eponymous volcanic island, celebrated for its mountainous landscapes, levadas (ancient irrigation channels now hiking trails) and mild year-round climate.
Located approximately 18 km from Funchal, the island's capital.
How to get to Madeira Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to FNC
Parking near Madeira Airport
The parking, developed on multiple stories, is located next to the terminal.
Rates align with the standards of a resort island destination.
How to get to Funchal from FNC
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Airport transfers you can book in advance
Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.
Madeira: Airport Transfer to Anywhere in Funchal or Funchal to Airport
Funchal Airport: Private Transfer To/From Funchal
Funchal Airport Transfers
Madeira Airport to Calheta or Calheta to Airport Transfer
Car rental at Madeira Airport
Major car rental companies have counters in the arrivals area, widely used for exploring the levadas and mountain villages.
EU citizens need only their national driving license, plus passport and credit card.
Hotels near Madeira Airport
Zona Hoteleira and Lido
The Aerobus SAM 113 stops along this coastal strip in 25-35 minutes from the airport (5 euros); a taxi or a private transfer covers the 18-20 km in 20-25 minutes (25-40 euros). There is no rail link anywhere on the island.
Best for: Those who want ocean-front pools, a spa and resort life within easy reach, with the harbour and the historic centre still only a few minutes away on foot or by bus.
- Almost all of Funchal's large resorts face this stretch of coast, from the harbour and the Santa Catarina Park to the Estrada Monumental, often with seawater pools that compensate for the island's cliff and pebble beaches
- The Pestana Casino Park and the Pestana CR7 are a few minutes on foot from the historic centre and the marina, handy for those who also want city life
- The resorts farther west, such as the Pestana Royal in Praia Formosa, remain about ten minutes by car from the centre
- Several reviews report dated rooms and furnishings in some of the Pestana group's historic hotels, despite the good location
Recommended hotels
- Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel 290 rooms a few minutes on foot from the Casino and Santa Catarina Park: two outdoor pools, one with direct sea access, plus two heated indoor pools, a dive centre, Turkish bath and Scottish sauna. View availability
- Pestana Casino Park Hotel & Casino A 1976 building designed by architect Viana de Lima (often attributed to Oscar Niemeyer, who collaborated on the initial design), next to the marina and the Casino da Madeira, 5 minutes on foot from the centre of Funchal; 379 rooms, heated indoor pool and Turkish bath. View availability
- Pestana CR7 Funchal A 49-room boutique hotel born from the collaboration between Cristiano Ronaldo and the Pestana group, 300 metres from the marina and facing Funchal's harbour; rooftop infinity pool and free entry to the Museu CR7 next to the hotel. View availability
- Pestana Royal All Inclusive Ocean & Spa Resort All-inclusive resort 2 minutes on foot from Praia Formosa beach and about 10 minutes by car from the centre of Funchal; two outdoor pools, indoor pool with spa, mini-golf and a tennis court. View availability
- Meliá Madeira Mare In the heart of the Zona Hoteleira in Lido, with direct access to the seafront promenade and the pebble beach of Praia do Gorgulho; 10 minutes from the centre of Funchal and about 20 from the airport. View availability
Palheiro Estate
About 6 km and 10-15 minutes by car or taxi from the centre of Funchal; from the airport you can only get there by car or taxi, as there are no direct bus links to the estate.
Best for: Those who play golf and prefer a secluded stay amid greenery, within a historic estate, rather than the coast's beach life.
- 18-hole golf course designed by Cabell Robinson, award-winning botanical gardens and a panoramic view of Funchal and the Atlantic from almost 500 metres of altitude
- Enclosed, quiet estate, far from the traffic of the coast
- No beach and no venue within walking distance: every trip requires a car or a taxi
- Accommodation in an independent apartment within the estate, not in a hotel with its own reception or dining
Caniçal
About 12 km and 15-20 minutes by car from the airport, in the opposite direction from Funchal; from the centre of Funchal it's instead 29 km and about 26 minutes by taxi (35-45 euros), or 1 hour 20 with bus line 113 (2-3 euros).
Best for: Those seeking an isolated all-inclusive resort, with a private marina and quick access to the wild nature of the Ponta de São Lourenço, accepting staying far from Funchal.
- Private marina one minute on foot from the resort and quick access to the Ponta de São Lourenço nature reserve and the Museu da Baleia
- Panoramic position on the Atlantic, on the wildest eastern tip of the island
- The centre of Funchal and its nightlife are still half an hour away by taxi
- Fishing-village area, without the shops and restaurants of Funchal's centre nearby
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal, named after the famous footballer native to the island, handles year-round tourist traffic thanks to the mild climate.
It is better to be at the airport with a 2.5–3 hour margin when traveling on international flights.
Map of Madeira Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Who is Madeira Airport dedicated to?
Cristiano Ronaldo, the famous footballer born in Funchal, the island's capital.
Q. Why is Madeira Airport considered difficult to land at?
Because of its short runway wedged between mountain and ocean, extended over the years on a platform suspended on pillars: together with frequent crosswinds, this requires specific training for the pilots who operate there.
Q. What are the levadas?
Ancient irrigation channels that cross the island, today transformed into one of Madeira's most distinctive networks of hiking trails.
Q. Is Madeira a tourist destination in winter too?
Yes, thanks to its mild year-round climate, the airport keeps active connections to Europe even during the winter months.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights
