Arrival by Plane
Madeira is accessible only by plane or cruise ship — there is no ferry connection to the Portuguese mainland (the distance is over 1,000 km). The Cristiano Ronaldo Airport (FNC) is located in the east of the island near Santa Cruz, 18 km from Funchal.
Direct Flights from the DACH Region
Condor, Eurowings, TUI fly, Ryanair and Discover Airlines fly year-round or seasonally directly from German airports to Funchal. Flight time: 4–4.5 hours. Prices: from 100€ return (early booking with Ryanair), regular 150–350€. From Vienna and Zurich, there are seasonal connections with Austrian/Edelweiss (4.5h). Via Lisbon (TAP, 1.5h flight time), you can reach Madeira year-round with numerous daily connections.
The Famous Landing Approach
Madeira's airport was once considered one of the most dangerous in the world — the short runway on stilts over the sea, surrounded by mountains and prone to wind shear. Since 2000, the runway has been extended to 2,781 m (half on concrete stilts over the sea!), but the approach remains spectacular: deep flying over the Atlantic, tight turn, mountain slopes within reach. Pilots need a special qualification. For passengers: window seat on the left during landing = the best view of Funchal!
From the Airport to Funchal
Aerobus: 5€, every 30 minutes, 30–40 minutes travel time, stops at several hotels in Funchal. Taxi: 25–30€ (fixed rate, surcharge at night and on Sundays). Rental Car: All major rental companies are represented at the airport — best to book in advance.
💡 Tipp
Book the rental car at the same time as the flight — there is a wide selection at the airport and the prices are competitive. On Madeira, a rental car is almost indispensable for hikers: The Levada starting points are often in remote valleys, which are difficult to reach by public buses.
