Car Rental in Madeira

Why rent a car in Madeira?

Madeira is a great destination to discover by car. From capital Funchal to little villages, rocky beaches, and impressive mountains, having your own wheels is the best way to see it in its full diversity.

Top ways to enter Madeira

• Madeira Airport: Named after the living Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo (whose statue greets the arriving visitors), Madeira Airport is served by more than 40 airlines that connect the island to destinations in mainland Europe.
• Porto Santo Airport: The second and much smaller airport of Madeira, serving the island of the same name, has regular service to Madeira Island and Lisbon, as well as summer flights to and from Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.

City facts

• An island archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal. Its population is just over 250,000 (according to the 2021 census).
• The largest city and capital is Funchal.
• Madeira enjoys much warmer climate than continental Portugal. The summers are hot and very dry. Even in winter, the temperature rarely drops below 15 (60) °C (°F). Despite that, it’s not rare for snowfall to occur in the Madeira mountains at least once a year.. 

Top sights and activities

• Funchal. Madeira’s capital and by far the largest city has different attractions like the Madeira Botanical Garden, the historic Madeira Market where you can still buy produce from local farmers, and the beautiful. São Lourenço Palace
• Porto da Cruz. The small and cozy village on the Atlantic Coast that lives in the shadow of Penha da Águia (the Eagle Rock) boasts regional museums, a rum factory, mountains for hiking, and impressive surfing waves.
• Calheta. Calheta is most famous for its sugarcane museum and visiting here can be easily combined with seeing the two neighboring fishing villages, Paul do Mar and Jardim to Mar.
• Monte Palace. Monte Palace is a former palace located in the hills above Funchal and was built in the late 19th century by a wealthy businessman, and was later converted into a museum. Today, the museum is set within lush gardens, featuring a range of exotic plants and flowers, as well as several lakes and fountains. The palace itself is a stunning example of 19th-century architecture and is filled with an impressive collection of art, artifacts, and other objects of historical and cultural interest.
• Machico. The second city of Madeira, Machico is the location of Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport and thus the main gateway to the island, but it has so much more. Taking up the easternmost portion of the island, the community is known for its historical chapels and churches, lovely beaches, and several elevated viewpoints that offer stunning views of the island and the Atlantic Ocean below.
• Use this guide to find more of the best things to do in Madeira.

Traffic and parking

• You can only enter the roundabout after giving way to cars already on it.
• The car documentation and insurance always has to be inside a vehicle.
• Drivers can only use a mobile phone if it is a hands free or an earpiece.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.2 for novice drivers.
• Safety cameras are in use.
• When parking in a street, your car must be parked facing the direction of travel.

Toll roads

There are no toll roads in Madeira, but there are quite a few in mainland Portugal. See the official website for maps and prices.

Ideas for day trips

• Ponta de São Lourenço. This nature reserve is where unique plants like the Ice Plant and the Cardoon have found their home. Those who dare to climb the steep mountain paths and the volcanic rocks will be rewarded with impressive ocean views.
• Ribeiro Frio Natural Park. Another nature reserve, Ribeiro Frio can be best explored by walking its levadas or nature paths. The only human activity here is the trout farm that you can visit.
• Porto Santo. The ferry to Porto Santo Island takes about two hours from Madeira Island, but is well worth the trip. The cozy Vila Baleira is the only human settlement on the island, so there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the island’s wild beaches and private atmosphere.
• The São Vicente Caves. These caves were formed by the eruption of a volcanic vent, which caused the surrounding rock to melt and form lava tubes. Over time, the lava tubes cooled and solidified, creating the caves that we see today. They were first explored by a team of geologists in the early 20th century and are a popular Madeira day trip today (there is also a museum there).

Most popular cars

The most popular rental cars in Madeira are the VW Polo, the Ford Fiesta, and the Fiat 500. The most popular rental car types are economy, mini, and compact.

Further destinations

• The Azores. Even further out in the Atlantic Ocean than Madeira and lying nearly halfway between Europe and North America, the nine Azores islands offer even more dramatic mountains, volcanoes, and beaches. It is not possible to take a rental car on a trip between the islands, but there is a direct flight from Funchal to Ponta Delgada, the main city of the largest of the Azores Islands, Sao Miguel, and you can pick up another rental car there.
• Lisbon. Easily reached by a number of flights every day, Portugal’s capital is one of the most fun and colorful cities in Europe. Simultaneously lively and relaxed, it is known for its rich history and cultural life, as well as landmarks such as São Jorge Castle, the ruins of the medieval Carmo Church and Convent which retain memories of the earthquake of 1755, and the architecture in the nearby town of Sintra. Located in the center of Portugal, Lisbon can also be a hub from which to explore the rest of the mainland.
• Porto. Another great Portuguese city just a relatively short flight away from Funchal, Porto is notable for its unique architecture, cuisine, and atmosphere. The city is also characterized by a great learning spirit exemplified by places like the Museum of Sacred Art and Archaeology, the House of Music, and the Port Wine Museum. After exploring the city, why not travel even further and see the rest of Northern Portugal that boasts attractions like Peneda-Gerês National Park?

Car rental prices in Madeira

• Medium cars - from $18 per day
• SUVs - from $22 per day
• Large cars - from $37 per day
• Convertibles - from $31 per day
• Vans - from $42 per day
• Small cars - from $16 per day
• Station wagons - from $36 per day
• Premium cars - from $45 per day

Money-saving and other tips

These are some of the things you can try to do to get a good rental car deal in Madeira:

• Compare rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Madeira is the cheapest in January when renting a car is about 65% cheaper than the yearly average.