Madeira buses

SIGA, Transportes Públicos da RAM

Short answer

Madeira's public buses run as one island-wide network called SIGA (Transportes Públicos da RAM). One brand, one fare table, one set of route numbers. Pay on board: €2.05 cash inside Funchal (€1.45 with a Giro card), €2.65 flat intercity (€2.00 pre-purchased on Giro), €6.70 on the Aerobus shuttle from the airport. North-coast villages get 1–3 buses a day, always confirm the last return before you board.

Network: SIGA: one island-wide network
Funchal urban: €2.05 on board; €1.45 with a Giro card
Intercity: €2.65 flat on board; €2.00 pre-purchased on Giro
Airport Aerobus: €6.70 one way
Giro card: €0.50 issue fee
North coast: 1–3 buses a day: check the last return

Checked 13 September 2026 · Source: SIGA official tariff

All transport options →Airport transfers →Car hire →

Fares & the Giro card

One fare table across the SIGA network. Pay on board with cash; cards are accepted on the Aerobus and on most Funchal urban buses.

Source: SIGA official tariff · checked 13 September 2026

Funchal urban

€2.05 single on board, cash, exact change preferred. €1.45 a ride with a Giro card.

Giro card

Reloadable contactless card, €0.50 issue fee at any kiosk (Praça da Autonomia is the most central). Cheaper than cash from your 2nd urban ride.

Intercity: east

€2.65 flat on board (€2.00 pre-purchased on Giro). Covers Caniço, the airport, Machico, Santana and Camacha.

Intercity: west

€2.65 flat on board (€2.00 pre-purchased on Giro). Câmara de Lobos, Ribeira Brava, Calheta, Porto Moniz, São Vicente.

Caniço corridor

€2.65 flat on board (€2.00 pre-purchased on Giro). Garajau, Caniço de Baixo and Ponta da Oliveira into Funchal.

Aerobus (airport)

€6.70 one-way (cash or card on board). Routes 500 / 500R between FNC airport and Funchal hotels. No combined return ticket, buy two singles.

Routes visitors actually use

Short guides to the dozen lines that cover 95% of tourist trips, what they cost, how often they run, and when the last bus back leaves.

SIGA·Line 113

Funchal bus station (Av. do Mar) ↔ Caniçal / Baía d'Abra

Line 113 runs from Funchal along the east coast to Machico and Caniçal, and some of its buses stop at Madeira Airport. Run by CAM, roughly every 30–60 minutes on weekdays, about an hour to Machico.

SIGA·Line 500 / 500R (Aerobus)

Madeira Airport (FNC) arrivals ↔ Funchal — Lido hotel strip

The Aerobus (routes 500 / 500R) is the dedicated FNC ↔ Funchal hotel shuttle. €6.70 one-way, roughly hourly, 40–50 min, drops at most central hotels.

SIGA·Line 021 (formerly 21)

Funchal (Praça da Autonomia) ↔ Monte (Largo da Fonte)

SIGA line 021 (formerly HF 21) climbs from Funchal to Monte church and gardens. €2.05 cash, €1.45 with GIRO, every 30 min. The cheap alternative to the cable car.

SIGA·Line 022 (formerly 22)

Funchal (Praça da Autonomia) ↔ Babosas (Monte)

SIGA line 022 (formerly HF 22) climbs to the Babosas terrace — top of the Jardim Botânico cable car and the trailhead for Levada dos Tornos.

SIGA·Line 181

Funchal (Praça da Autonomia) ↔ Curral das Freiras

SIGA line 181 (formerly HF 81) is the only public-bus route into the Nuns' Valley. About 6 services a day from Funchal — confirm the last return before you board.

SIGA·Line 651 (formerly 77)

Funchal (Praça da Autonomia) ↔ Santo da Serra (via Camacha)

SIGA line 651 (formerly HF 77) runs to Camacha — wicker furniture village and gateway to the Levada dos Tornos walks — then on to Santo da Serra.

SIGA·Line 7

Funchal (Av. do Mar) ↔ Ribeira Brava (via Câmara de Lobos)

Line 7 runs Funchal ↔ Ribeira Brava via Câmara de Lobos. Run by Rodoeste, with up to 21 departures from Funchal on weekdays; some go via Cabo Girão, others take the fast road.

SIGA·Line 115

Funchal (Av. do Mar) ↔ Cabo Girão (Rancho)

This route connects Funchal to Paúl do Mar via the Regional Road (Estrada Regional) and Canhas.

SIGA·Line 555 (formerly 155)

Funchal (Av. do Mar) ↔ Ponta da Oliveira (via Caniço de Baixo)

SIGA line 555 (formerly EACL 155) is the east-coast bus to Garajau's Cristo Rei statue and the Caniço de Baixo cliff resort — shore diving, Reis Magos beach access.

SIGA·Line 103

Funchal bus station ↔ Arco de São Jorge (via Santana)

The Funchal ↔ Santana buses cross the island via Poiso and Ribeiro Frio, or via Porto da Cruz, to Santana; some continue to São Jorge and Arco de São Jorge. Run by CAM — the official timetable shows them as routes 801, 850 and 875.

SIGA·Line 139

Funchal bus station ↔ Porto Moniz

Line 139 connects Funchal to Porto Moniz via São Vicente, recently renumbered into the 340, 350, and 352 series depending on the specific route and speed.

SIGA·Line 142

Funchal bus station ↔ Ponta do Pargo (Calheta is a mid-route stop)

Line 142 runs the whole south-west coast from Funchal via Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol and Calheta to Ponta do Pargo. Run by Rodoeste, a few buses a day — the last bus back leaves Ponta do Pargo at 14:35.

Practical tips

Yellow = city, white = intercity. Inside Funchal city limits the buses are painted yellow. Rural and intercity coaches are white. Both carry SIGA branding.
Pay on board. No turnstiles, no pre-purchase. Tickets bought on board are cash only, no bank cards.
Use the Madeira Bus App. Third-party app (iOS / Android) that aggregates SIGA timetables into one searchable interface, the most reliable trip planner visitors have. Not real-time.
Old route numbers may be wrong. The SIGA reorganisation re-numbered several lines. Anything dated before 2024: especially routes labelled “SAM”: should be cross-checked against siga.madeira.gov.pt.
Confirm the last return. Outside Funchal, the last bus back is often 17:30–19:00. Missing it = €30–€80 taxi.
Sunday timetables drop sharply. Most rural routes run a single round trip on Sundays and public holidays.
Flag the bus down. Outside Funchal, drivers won't stop at unmarked roadside stops unless you put your arm out.
Buses don't reach the famous walks. Pico do Arieiro, Pico Ruivo, the 25 Fontes car park, Achadas da Cruz and Fanal need a car or tour.

Frequently asked questions

What is SIGA?

SIGA (Transportes Públicos da Região Autónoma da Madeira) is the island's single public-bus network. It replaced the old patchwork of regional operators in July 2024 with one shared brand, fare structure and route-numbering system covering Funchal and every corner of the island.

Is there one bus app for the whole of Madeira?

Not a fully real-time one. The official portal siga.madeira.gov.pt lists every route and PDF timetable in one place. Google Maps covers Funchal urban routes reliably and intercity routes partially. The third-party 'Madeira Bus' app (iOS / Android) is the most practical trip planner visitors have. You can also install Madeira Info as an app on your phone and keep it with you for updated walks, buses and sea conditions while you're on the island.

How much is a single bus fare in Madeira?

Inside Funchal: €2.05 cash on board, or €1.45 with a Giro contactless card. Intercity routes: a flat €2.65 on board (€2.00 pre-purchased on Giro) to anywhere on the island. The Aerobus shuttle from the airport is €6.70 one-way.

What is the Giro card and is it worth getting?

Giro is the reloadable contactless card used on Funchal urban buses. €0.50 issue fee at any kiosk (Praça da Autonomia, Avenida do Mar are the most central). It drops the per-ride urban fare from €2.05 to €1.45. Cheaper than cash from your second urban ride.

Can I get from Funchal airport to the city by bus?

Yes, public line 113 (€2.65, 50–70 min, lots of stops) or the dedicated Aerobus shuttle (routes 500 / 500R, €6.70, 40–50 min, drops at most hotels). With luggage, first-time visitors usually prefer the Aerobus.

Can I reach the famous walks (Pico do Arieiro, 25 Fontes, Fanal) by bus?

No. Public buses do not serve Pico do Arieiro, Pico Ruivo, the Levada das 25 Fontes car park, Achadas da Cruz or Fanal. For those you need a car, an organised tour, or a taxi.

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Fares, frequencies and last-bus times are refreshed nightly from siga.madeira.gov.pt and hand-verified each quarter. Always cross-check the official PDF for the line you plan to take, especially on Sundays and public holidays.