Madeira by bus: where you can go, and how to get back

Lines 340 and 380 · old 139 and 80

Porto Moniz

Two buses a day go to Porto Moniz, one each way round the island. The 340 leaves Funchal at 09:00 and crosses the mountains via Encumeada, São Vicente and Seixal, arriving at 12:30. The 380 leaves at 10:00 along the south and west coast, via Ponta do Sol and Calheta, arriving at 13:05 (12:45 at weekends).

Go

340 at 09:00, in Porto Moniz at 12:30

Back

341 at 17:00 on weekdays, 17:30 at weekends; or 381 at 16:00

Time there

Three and a half to five hours: the pools, lunch and a walk

This is a regular bus, not a tour. It does not wait at Cabo Girão or Seixal for photos, and if you get off on the way, the next 340 is tomorrow. Going out on the 340 and back on the 381 shows you both coasts, but that is about seven hours sitting on a bus.

Line 340 · old 139

Seixal and São Vicente

The 340 reaches São Vicente at 11:50 and Seixal at 12:10. Coming back, the 341 passes Seixal at 17:15 on weekdays and 17:45 at weekends. That gives you about five hours on the black sand beach, with nothing else to catch if you miss it.

Line 380 out, 390 or 381 back · old 80 and 142

Paúl do Mar and Jardim do Mar

The 380 reaches Jardim do Mar at 11:45 and Paúl do Mar at 11:50 on weekdays (11:40 at weekends). The way back depends on the day.

Weekdays

Back at 14:15 from Paúl do Mar, in Funchal at 16:55: about two and a half hours there

Weekends

Back on the 381 at 17:00, in Funchal at 18:40: about five hours there

The sunset at Paúl do Mar, which I think is the best on the island, does not work by bus. Stay the night nearby or take a taxi back.

Lines 380 and 320 to 323 · old 80 and 4

Ponta do Sol

The 380 stops at Ponta do Sol at 11:05 every day and passes again on the way back at 18:30 on weekdays or 17:45 at weekends. On weekdays the 320 to 323 add a few lunchtime buses from Funchal, and several early and late commuter buses pass too.

Lines 267 and 340 · old 7 and 139

Câmara de Lobos and Cabo Girão

Câmara de Lobos is on most buses heading west that do not take the expressway, about half an hour from Funchal. For the Cabo Girão skywalk, take the 267, the Ribeira Brava line that goes via Cabo Girão: from Funchal on weekdays at 11:00 and 15:30, on Saturdays at 10:05, 11:00 and 12:15, on Sundays at 10:05, 12:05 and 13:30. The 340 also passes at 09:50 every day, but does not wait.

Coming back via Cabo Girão, the 267 leaves Ribeira Brava on weekdays at 10:10, 11:00 and 12:35. After that, use any bus to Câmara de Lobos or Funchal from the main road.

Line 181 · old 81

Curral das Freiras and Eira do Serrado

From the Teleférico stop in the old town, about 18 buses a day on weekdays and 7 on Sundays, 55 minutes to the village. Only some go up to the Eira do Serrado viewpoint: on weekdays at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00, about half an hour from Funchal.

Last bus back

22:58 on weekdays, 20:58 on Saturdays, 20:48 on Sundays

Lines 020 and 021

Monte

About 25 minutes from Rua 31 de Janeiro in the centre, with buses all day: 37 on weekdays, 23 on Sundays. A good way up if the cable car queue is long, and a cheap way back down from Monte.

Lines 031 and 029

Botanical Garden

The 031 leaves from the Cais stop on the seafront, about 25 minutes to the garden gate. Coming back on a weekday, there is a gap between 14:55 and 17:45; the 029 fills it, from its own stop in the centre.

Line 555 · old 155

Garajau and Caniço de Baixo

The 555 runs from Funchal via Garajau to Ponta da Oliveira in Caniço de Baixo, close to Reis Magos: 26 buses on weekdays and 16 on Sundays, until after midnight. A few express trips use the expressway and skip Garajau.

Expresso and line 702 · old 113

Machico

On weekdays the Expresso takes 45 minutes, every half hour or hour from 07:00 to 19:30. At weekends, take the 702, which stops in Machico on its way to Caniçal.

Line 702 · old 113

Caniçal and Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8)

Not every 702 goes all the way to Baía d’Abra, where the PR8 starts. These do, from Funchal: on weekdays at 07:30, 08:30, 09:00, 11:00, 11:30, 12:15, 14:30, 16:30, 18:15; on Sundays at 07:30, 09:00, 10:30, 11:30, 15:00, 16:30. The ride takes about an hour and twenty minutes, mostly via the airport.

Last bus back

From Baía d’Abra at 19:35 on weekdays and Saturdays, 18:15 on Sundays

Lines 801, 850 and 875 · old 56, 103 and 138

Ribeiro Frio and Santana

The 801 climbs over the mountains via Poiso and Ribeiro Frio to Santana. For the Balcões walk (PR11), take the 09:00 on a weekday (Ribeiro Frio at 09:41) and come back at 13:15 or 18:12. At weekends there are fewer buses: up at 07:30, back at 18:30.

Last bus from Santana

17:25 on weekdays, 17:28 at weekends

Arieiro bus, no line number

Pico do Arieiro

A separate Horários do Funchal bus leaves the Teleférico stop at 06:00 and 13:30 and reaches the summit at 06:45 and 14:15, for €3 each way. The early one gets you there before sunrise all year. It comes back at 12:15 and in the evening (18:00 in winter, 19:00 in summer).