Taxis and Uber in Madeira: How does it work?
If you’re visiting Madeira, I’m sure how to get around is one of your main concerns. Most guides recommend renting a car, although driving with the island’s challenging orography is not easy. Public transport is also famously limited, so what’s left? Taxis and Ubers. But does Uber work in Madeira? Is Uber expensive in Madeira?
A line of Madeira taxis in front of the Ritz.
First, Are there Ubers in Madeira?
A lot of websites (including ChatGPT) claim there’s no Uber in Madeira, only Bolt. While this used to be true, it’s outdated. These days both apps work on the island, although Bolt is usually quicker and more widespread. In fact, you can even use Bolt to call a taxi, which makes it very handy if you’re outside Funchal.
The latest numbers (September 2025) indicate that there are 300 cars authorised for Uber/Bolt and around 750 drivers on the whole island. Most of these cars circulate around Funchal (including in the Lido area, where most hotels are located), Câmara de Lobos and the airport, but I’ve also used it in unsuspecting places like Santo da Serra.
In my experience, Bolt/Uber is flakier on the Northside of the island, unless you’re near a very popular levada. It also doesn’t work well in smaller villages like Canhas, Ponta do Pargo, Boaventura, Estreito da Calheta, Estrela da Calheta and other places uphill with very little tourist attractions.
In Porto Santo, although there are supposedly about 20 Bolts, I’ve never been able to use the app. Instead, you have to rely only on taxis. If there’s a taxi driver in the city center, they’ll pick up the call (291 982 334).
Are Taxis in Madeira: reliable?
Yes. Taxis in Madeira are extremely reliable. Before Bolts and Ubers were issued licenses, tourists relied heavily on organised tours and taxi drivers (some of whom work for hire throughout your stay). There are taxis everywhere on the island, and it’s often a good way to get from the bus stop to the entry of the levada and vice-versa.
However, taxis tend to be more expensive than Ubers. In Funchal, the difference may not even be that great, especially around 17:00 to 18:00, when there’s more inner city traffic. But, if you want to go from Funchal to the airport, or from Funchal to Ribeira Brava, you can easily save 10 euros by taking an Uber instead of a taxi.
That said, all taxi drivers must have meter displaying how much you’re going to pay. Prices are not random, and they’ll be more expensive in the very early morning, late at night, on weekends and public holidays. Most taxi drivers take card, but not all, so if you don’t have cash you should check beforehand.
Another thing to take into consideration is that a lot of Uber and Bolt drivers tend to be immigrants who rely on Waze or Google Maps to navigate. Unfortunately, these maps are not always completely reliable in Madeira – I’ve gotten into questionable roads more than once because the driver was following GPS orders. By contrast, taxi drivers tend to be local. So, if you’re in a rural area, I’d say it’s a safer bet.
Taxi vs Uber in Madeira: which one should you use?
As said, Bolt tends to work better than Uber. Most drivers use Bolt, so you’re more likely to get a car faster, including outside of Funchal. Nevertheless, a lot of drivers are starting to use Uber too so, if you have a promo, you can call a Uber. Just beware that it may take a little longer until someone accepts your trip.
Bolt as yet another advantage over Uber, which is that you can use it to call a taxi (and you’ll know beforehand how much the taxi is going to charge). This is very convenient since there are taxis pretty much everywhere in Madeira and, if you’re in a pickle, they’ll get you out of it (obviously, for a fair price).
Outside of Funchal, you can still try your luck with the apps. You never know if someone just finished a trip. However, if you’re going to, say, Ponta do Sol and need to get to Lombada to hike a levada, it’s better to get on a taxi instead of sitting around waiting for an Uber to accept your trip! You can stop them pretty easily with their bright yellow cars.
Airport transfers: taxi, Bolt, or public Transport?
The aerobus (tickets costs 6.5€ for adults) stops at several hotels, so it’s probably a viable option for anyone staying around the city centre or Lido. That said, it’s possible to find Bolt and Ubers for 12€-16€, so if you’re with a group it pays off. In this case, taxis are always the most expensive option – although always available.
Attention: Families with kids!
If you’re travelling with children (up to 12 years old or 135 cm tall), you need a car seat. Some Bolt and Uber drivers carry car seats, but not all. On the app, you can’t select kid-friendly cars (unless you send a chat and ask, “tem uma cadeirinha de criança?” and the driver sees it in time). Therefore, it’s safer to pick a taxi – which are exempt.
Approximate taxi prices (Estimate)
There are no fixed taxi drivers. However, in my experience, this is what you should expect to pay to a taxi driver in Madeira:
Funchal ⇢ Câmara de Lobos: €10–15
Funchal ⇢ Cabo Girão: €20–25
Funchal ⇢ Monte: €10–15
Funchal ⇢ Pico do Arieiro: €35–45
Funchal ⇢ Santana: €50–70
Funchal ⇢ Porto Moniz: €80–100
Airport ⇢ Funchal: €30–35 (regulated fare)
Should you rely on taxis and Bolt during your entire trip?
If you’re staying mostly in Funchal, it’s totally doable. I myself survived several trips to the island relying on taxis (before Uber existed) and later on Bolts (which consisted mostly of taxis). But, unless you got some deep pockets, it’s better to check out organised tours and local buses to go out of Funchal. If you need ideas, here are some great day trips from Funchal.
Another option, if you’re okay with driving, is renting a car just for a couple of days. In fact, that’s what I suggest on my Madeira One Week Itinerary. You can pack a lot on those days (without feeling overwhelmed) and use local buses for everything else. If you cannot drive, I suggest some pretty cool guided tours and I promise you won’t have any FOMO.