Our Guide to Funchal, Madeira on a Budget

Research and Budgeting

When planning your trip to Madeira, budgeting in advance can ensure you make the most of your experience. It's an excellent way to figure out the activities you’d like to do and learn how best to immerse yourself in the local culture.

But if the planning process isn’t your cup of tea don’t worry, I always enjoy planning our trips and have done a lot of the work for you. For our trip to Madeira, I have separated our spending into 6 main categories; here's a breakdown of our expenses for a 7-night (6-day stay), totaling approximately £557.

Flights  and Carbon Offsetting £159

Accommodation £86

Transport £10

Activities £150

Food £114

Airport transfers £38

  £557

As always, don’t forget to factor in additional expenses, such as transportation to and from airports at both departure and destination points. It cost us £31 return to Gatwick from our home. In Madeira, we found the airport transfer cost to be quite reasonable, only €8 (£6.93) for a return journey from the airport to Funchal.

We also chose to carbon offset out flights using Sustainable Travel International which cost us £9.48 each for our return flights from London

Remember to tailor this budget to your length of stay, travel style and preferences by making adjustments in various categories. We will highlight ways to reduce costs throughout our sections below or you can choose to skip certain activities to match your budget constraints.

Getting to Madeira

1. Flights

Our journey to Madeira began with booking return flights from London Gatwick to Funchal about 6 months ahead, securing them at £149 per person. We don’t have any commitments that mean we have to travel during the school holidays, so timing our visit for October allowed us to enjoy pleasant weather without the peak season prices.

For those comfortable with spontaneous plans, we noticed a price reduction offering flights at £132.70 per person just a week before our departure date. Opting for last-minute arrangements might save you some money, but it’s essential to weigh the flexibility against potential price fluctuations.

2. Boat

As Funchal has an easily accessible port, it offers an alternative entry to the island by boat. During our week-long stay, we noticed a constant flow of cruise ships arriving and departing, with a new vessel docking daily.

While travelling to Madeira via cruise ship offers a glimpse of the island, it typically allows only a day's exploration before moving on to the next destination. The attraction of a cruise is that you can experience multiple locations hassle-free.

For those content with a brief visit to Madeira before moving on to other destinations, opting for a cruise might be the perfect option. We investigated cruises departing from Southampton, UK, priced between £350 to £600 per person. Costs vary based on travel season, other destinations included, and the cruise provider. These prices cover accommodation, breakfast, and dinner, leaving room in your budget for lunch, activities, and transportation to the departure port at the start of your trip.

Getting Around in Madeira

Accommodation

Funchal Old Town

During our stay in Madeira, we opted for the charm of Funchal Old Town, with its narrow streets adorned with local bars and eateries serving authentic cuisine. Several of the accommodations are tucked away above one of these bars or restaurants.

Airbnb:

If you’re seeking an option in Funchal's Old Town on a budget, Airbnb presents several options. For a week's stay, prices start at £250 for a room in a shared house and range to £450 for a studio apartment with twin or double beds, offering flexibility to suit various preferences and group sizes.

Hotels and Hostels:

There are also alternative budget accommodations in hostels and hotels. The cheapest option we found was a private room in a hostel which typically averages around £300 for a week, with shared bathroom facilities and no meals included. Hostels often have communal spaces where travellers can mingle and kitchen facilities for those wanting to cook and save on dining expenses. 

Alternatively, hotels in the area offer twin or double rooms with en-suite facilities for £350-400, though meals are typically not included. 

By planning ahead and booking approximately 6 months in advance, we stumbled upon a fantastic deal—a twin room studio apartment for a week priced at just £172.72. Opting for a studio apartment gave us the option of preparing some of our meals, effectively reducing our food budget.

São Martinho

If you’re after a more modern vibe, the waterfront edge of São Martinho, located just west of Funchal centre, offers a more contemporary stay. Here, they have new hotel complexes with ocean-view pool terraces and an array of trendy restaurants with lots of options for UK and American food if the local dishes aren’t your favourite.

Hotels:

Whilst we couldn’t find any Airbnb options in this area, there are hotels aplenty, with prices typically ranging from £500-550 for a twin or double room. For a room with a  sea view expect to pay double the price, averaging around £1000-1200. Most hotels in this area include breakfast as standard, providing a stress free start to each day.

Things to Do in Madeira

For our top recommendations of things to do in Madeira, check out our Funchal Things to Do page!

Food and Drink in Madeira