Arriving at Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC) and wondering how to get to Funchal? The Aerobus is the most popular, reliable, and cost-effective way for tourists to reach the city center and the main hotel zones.
Quick comparison: getting to/from Funchal Airport
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobus 500 | €6,70 | ~50 min | Budget travelers, light luggage |
| Shared shuttle (sponsored) | ~€20 | 25–40 min | Door-to-hotel without taxi cost |
| Private transfer (sponsored) | ~€35–60 | 15–25 min | Late-night arrivals, groups, lots of luggage |
| Taxi | €25–35 | 15–25 min | Spontaneous arrival, small groups |
| Car rental | €30+/day + fuel | Pickup time varies | Multi-day independent exploring |
Sponsored links earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Aerobus, taxi, and car rental are listed honestly for context — no payment received for those rows.
One-way Fare
€6,70
Duration
50 min to terminus
~24 min to Av. do Mar
Frequency
Hourly weekdays
~30 min weekends
Operator
SIGA
Route 500 / 500R
Save the Aerobus offline before you scroll
The Madeira Bus app has the full 500 + 500R timetable, every stop, and your return — works without airport Wi-Fi.
How to find the Aerobus at the Airport
After collecting your luggage and exiting the arrivals hall, simply turn right. The Aerobus stop is located directly outside the terminal on the ground floor. Look for the large blue signs marked "Aerobus".
Fare & Payment
A single adult ticket (Bilhete Adulto) costs €6,70. Children pay €3,30 (Bilhete Criança). (Tariff effective 01/04/2026 per the official SIGA Aerobus page.)
Payment is cash only ("Pagamento em numerário" per SIGA). The driver does not accept cards or contactless — bring euros. ATMs are available in the arrivals hall before you board.
Free WiFi on board — useful for messaging your hotel pick-up or pulling up directions on the way in.
Key Stops in Funchal
The Aerobus is the only direct bus connection between the airport and the western hotel zone, with the route designed around tourist needs — the official SIGA "Hotels A–Z" directory indexes 150+ named hotels against their nearest Aerobus stop. Here are the most important boarding points:
Stop numbers above match the official SIGA timetable for the Airport → Praia Formosa direction.
Find your hotel — Aerobus stop A-Z
All hotels on the SIGA Aerobus route, alphabetical. Type your hotel name to filter. (113 hotels)
A–B
- Anadia Atrium Stop 04 Mercado
- Atlântida Apartamentos Turísticos Stop 07 Plaza Madeira
- C. C. Anadia Stop 04 Mercado
- Hotel Albergaria Dias Stop 04 Mercado
- Hotel Allegro Stop 15 Lido
- Hotel Alto Lido Stop 17 Rua Passos Gouveia
- Hotel Apartamentos da Sé Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
- Hotel Apartamentos Reno Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
- Hotel Baía Azul Stop 18 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Barceló Stop 11 Avenida do Infante
- Hotel Belmond Reid's Palace Stop 13 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Belo Sol Stop 19 Fórum Madeira
- Hotel Buganvília Stop 15 Lido
- Pensão Astória Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
- Residêncial Americana Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
C
- Apartamentos Casa Branca Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- C. C. Centromar Stop 21 Centromar
- Hotel Castanheiro Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
- Hotel Catedral Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
- Hotel Cliff Bay Stop 13 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Colombo Stop 07 Plaza Madeira
- Residencial Chafariz Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
D–E
- Apartamentos da Carreira Stop 07 Plaza Madeira
- Esmeralda Hollidays Apartments Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
- Hotel do Carmo Stop 04 Mercado
- Hotel do Centro Stop 04 Mercado
- Hotel Dorisol Florassol Stop 15 Lido
- Hotel Duas Torres Stop 19 Fórum Madeira
- Hotel Eden Mar Stop 15 Lido
- Hotel Enotel Lido Stop 17 Rua Passos Gouveia
- Hotel Enotel Quinta do Sol Stop 12 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Escola Stop 25 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Estrelícia Stop 15 Lido
F–G
- 109 Funchal Hostel Stop 03 Campo da Barca
- C. C. Fórum Madeira Stop 09 Terminal SAM
- Funchal Design Hotel Stop 09 Terminal SAM
- Hotel Four Views Baía Stop 08 São João
- Hotel Four Views Monumental Stop 15 Lido
- Hotel Girassol Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Golden Residence Stop 07 Plaza Madeira
- Residencial Funchal Stop 04 Mercado
- Residencial Gordon Stop 22 Rua do Cabrestante
- Residencial Greco Stop 04 Mercado
I–J
- Hotel Imperatriz Stop 10 Avenida do Infante
- Hotel Jardins D' Ajuda Stop 19 Fórum Madeira
K–L
- Hotel Lusitania Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
M–N
- 29 Madeira Hostel Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
- C. C. Monumental Lido Stop 15 Lido
- Estalagem Monte Verde Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Madeira Stop 07 Plaza Madeira
- Hotel Melba Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Meliã Stop 16 Rua Passos Gouveia
- Hotel Mimosa Stop 15 Lido
- Hotel Monte Carlo Stop 08 São João
- Hotel Musa D' Ajuda Stop 19 Fórum Madeira
- Hotel Next Stop 11 Avenida do Infante
- Madeira Bright Star Stop 10 Avenida do Infante
- Residencial Mariazinha Stop 04 Mercado
- Residencial Mónaco Stop 04 Mercado
- Residencial Monumental Stop 15 Lido
O
- Hotel Orquídea Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
P–Q
- C. C. Plaza Madeira Stop 07 Plaza Madeira
- Hospedaria Pôr do Sol Stop 08 São João
- Hotel Pestana Bay Hotel Stop 24 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Pestana Carlton Stop 11 Avenida do Infante
- Hotel Pestana Casino Park Stop 10 Avenida do Infante
- Hotel Pestana Casino Studios Stop 10 Avenida do Infante
- Hotel Pestana CR7 Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
- Hotel Pestana Grand Stop 20 Rua da Ponta da Cruz
- Hotel Pestana Miramar Stop 12 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Pestana Ocean Bay Stop 26 Praia Formosa
- Hotel Pestana Palms Stop 15 Lido
- Hotel Pestana Promenade Stop 17 Rua Passos Gouveia
- Hotel Pestana Village Stop 13 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Porto Mare Stop 16 Rua Passos Gouveia
- Hotel Porto Santa Maria Stop 04 Mercado
- Hotel Quinta Casa Branca Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Quinta Mãe dos Homens Stop 02 Boa Nova
- Hotel Quinta Penha de França Stop 10 Avenida do Infante
- Hotel Quinta Perestrelo Stop 12 Estrada Monumental
- Quinta Mar e Sol Stop 12 Estrada Monumental
- Quintinha de São João Stop 08 São João
- Residencial Park Stop 03 Campo da Barca
- Residencial Queimada de Baixo Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
R–S
- Apartamentos Santa Maria Stop 04 Mercado
- Hostel Santa Maria Stop 04 Mercado
- Hostel São João Stop 09 Terminal SAM
- Hotel Raga Stop 15 Lido
- Hotel Regency Cliff Stop 19 Fórum Madeira
- Hotel Regency Club Stop 11 Avenida do Infante
- Hotel Regency Palace Stop 22 Rua do Cabrestante
- Hotel Royal Savoy Stop 11 Avenida do Infante
- Hotel Savoy Gardens Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Savoy Palace Stop 11 Avenida do Infante
- Hotel Sirius Stop 04 Mercado
T–V
- Apartamentos Taberna Stop 04 Mercado
- Apartamentos Turísticos Avenue Park Stop 10 Avenida do Infante
- Apartamentos Turísticos Paraíso Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- Apartamentos Turísticos São Paulo e Alegria Stop 09 Terminal SAM
- Hotel Terrace Mar Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel The Vine Stop 07 Plaza Madeira
- Hotel Vidamar Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Vila Baleira Stop 15 Lido
- Hotel Vila Formosa Stop 25 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Vila Rosa Stop 14 Estrada Monumental
- Hotel Vila Vicência Stop 15 Lido
- Residencial Universitária Stop 04 Mercado
- Torres Fórum Plus Stop 19 Fórum Madeira
- Turim Santa Maria Stop 03 Campo da Barca
- Vitorina Corte Guesthouse Stop 04 Mercado
W–Z
- Hotel Windsor Stop 04 Mercado
- Residencial Zarco Stop 06 Avenida do Mar
- Zona Velha Apartments Stop 04 Mercado
Can't find yours? Try the Madeira Bus app — it accepts fuzzy spellings and variations.
All 26 stops in order
Time shown is the estimated arrival in minutes after departing the airport (stop 01). Stop 05 is decommissioned and the bus skips it.
Timetable & Schedule
Verbatim from the official SIGA timetable PDF (route 500 / 500R, effective 01/04/2026):
Airport → Funchal (Praia Formosa)
| Weekdays | Saturdays | Sundays & Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00 | 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00 | 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00 |
Funchal (Praia Formosa) → Airport
| Weekdays | Saturdays | Sundays & Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 | 07:00, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 | 07:00, 08:00, 08:30, 09:30, 10:30, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 |
Frequency at a glance: roughly hourly all day. Slightly reduced gaps mid-day on Saturdays and Sundays.
⚠ No service on December 25th. Plan a taxi if you arrive Christmas Day — SIGA explicitly does not run Aerobus on Christmas.
Pro tip: download our app to see the full, up-to-date timetable offline — no airport Wi-Fi needed.
Prefer a door-to-door transfer?
The Aerobus is the cheapest option, but it doesn't drop you at your hotel door — you'll walk from the nearest stop. If you're arriving late, travelling with kids, or have heavy luggage, a private transfer is usually less hassle. We've picked the most commonly booked options on GetYourGuide:
Private airport transfer options
Sponsored — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
- Book
Door-to-door to any Funchal hotel. Meet-and-greet at arrivals, fixed price for the whole car (1–3 pax). Good when you want certainty after a late flight.
- Book
Cheapest hotel drop-off — shared mini-bus to your accommodation. Slower than the Aerobus on the way in, but no walking with luggage at the other end.
- Book
See every airport transfer + tour combo available for your travel dates, ranked by reviews. Useful if you want to combine your airport pickup with a Cabo Girão or Câmara de Lobos sightseeing stop.