Madeira Services: Every Useful Site in One Place

Emergency

Call 112 for ambulance, fire or police anywhere on the island. These are the services behind that number.

Emergency numbers

112 is free from any phone, including one with no credit and no SIM card.

Civil Protection (SRPC) (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Regional warnings for storms, floods, landslides and wildfire, plus what to do.
www.procivmadeira.pt
PSP police (opens in a new tab)Official
Policing in Funchal and the towns, with station addresses.
www.psp.pt
GNR police (opens in a new tab)Official
Policing for rural areas and the roads between towns.
www.gnr.pt
INEM medical emergency (opens in a new tab)Official
Runs the ambulances behind 112, plus first-aid guidance.
www.inem.pt
Maritime Authority (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Sea rescue, beach safety rules and bathing area supervision.
www.amn.pt

Getting around

Buses, the airport, ferries, cable cars and road conditions. Start with SIGA — the island-wide network.

Which bus ticket do I need?

Since July 2024 one network, SIGA, covers the whole island — that is where to plan a journey and check fares. Horários do Funchal still runs the city buses inside it, so you will see both names.

SIGA — Madeira buses (opens in a new tab)Official
The whole island bus network in one journey planner, with fares and the GIRO card.
siga.madeira.gov.pt
Horários do Funchal (opens in a new tab)Official
Funchal city buses inside the SIGA network: timetables, GIRO top-ups and service alerts.
www.horariosdofunchal.pt
Madeira Airport (FNC) (opens in a new tab)Official
Live arrivals and departures, parking, and how to reach the airport.
www.madeiraairport.pt
Porto Santo Line ferry (opens in a new tab)
The only passenger ferry to Porto Santo. Sailings vary by season and pause for dry dock.
www.portosantoline.pt
Funchal cable car (opens in a new tab)
Old town up to Monte: fares, opening hours and tickets.
madeiracablecar.com
Botanical Garden cable car (opens in a new tab)
Links Monte to the Botanical Garden, with combined tickets.
www.telefericojardimbotanico.com
Fajã dos Padres (opens in a new tab)
Cable car down the cliff to a sea-level farm and restaurant below Cabo Girão.
fajadospadres.com
Monte toboggan sledges (opens in a new tab)
The wicker sledge ride: prices and hours. Tickets on the day, on site only.
www.carreirosdomonte.com
Expressway traffic (opens in a new tab)
Current tunnel and lane closures on the main road network.
www.viaexpresso.com
Ports of Madeira (APRAM) (opens in a new tab)Official
Cruise ship calls and marina information — useful for knowing when Funchal will be busy.
apram.pt
IMT — driving licences (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Exchanging a foreign licence and registering a vehicle.
www.imt-ip.pt
Bolt (opens in a new tab)
Ride-hailing in Funchal. Uber does not operate on the island.
bolt.eu
Private airport transfer (opens in a new tab)Sponsored
Door-to-door car from the airport with room for luggage. Booking supports MadeiraCentral.
kiwitaxi.tpo.li

Weather, sea & trails

Forecasts, warnings, sea state and which levada walks are open today. Booking a classified trail is mandatory.

IPMA weather (opens in a new tab)Official
The national met office: forecasts, warnings, sea state, UV and fire risk.
www.ipma.pt
SIMplifica — trail booking (opens in a new tab)Official
Book and pay for classified PR trails. Required since 2026, including for residents.
simplifica.madeira.gov.pt
Trail status map (opens in a new tab)Official
Which walking routes are open, restricted or closed right now.
visitmadeira.com
Official PR trail list (opens in a new tab)Official
Every numbered route with maps, signage and safety advice.
ifcn.madeira.gov.pt
IFCN — forests & nature (opens in a new tab)Official
The authority for trails and protected areas; publishes closure notices.
ifcn.madeira.gov.pt
Madeira Ocean & Trails (opens in a new tab)Official
Tourism board hub for outdoor activity and safety on land and sea.
www.madeiraoceantrails.com
Tide tables (opens in a new tab)Official
Navy hydrographic institute: tides, wave buoys and sea bulletins.
www.hidrografico.pt
Windguru Funchal (opens in a new tab)
Wind and swell forecast. Not official, but what local surfers and skippers use.
www.windguru.cz
Botanical Garden (opens in a new tab)Official
Opening hours and tickets for the state-run garden above Funchal.
ifcn.madeira.gov.pt

Health & pharmacies

Non-emergency medical help, the regional hospital, and which pharmacy is open tonight.

SNS 24 health line (opens in a new tab)Official
Talk to a nurse on 808 24 24 24 for anything that is not urgent. In an emergency, call 112.
www.sns24.gov.pt
SESARAM health service (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Runs the main hospital and the island health centres; contacts and services.
www.sesaram.pt
Pharmacy on duty (opens in a new tab)Portuguese only
Which pharmacy is open out of hours. Unofficial and ad-heavy, but it works.
www.farmaciasdeservico.net
European Health Insurance Card (opens in a new tab)Official
How EU visitors get state healthcare here on the same terms as people insured in Portugal.
employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu

Government & councils

The regional government and every municipal council, for permits, parking, waste and local notices.

Regional Government (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Departments, official notices and regional legislation.
www.madeira.gov.pt
Funchal council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Parking, waste, permits and city notices for Funchal.
www.funchal.pt
Visit Funchal (opens in a new tab)Official
The council visitor site: attractions, museums and opening hours.
visit.funchal.pt
Machico council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Local services, beach information and events for Machico.
cm-machico.pt
Santa Cruz council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Covers the airport area and Caniço: services and local events.
www.cm-santacruz.pt
Câmara de Lobos council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Local services and notices for the fishing town west of Funchal.
www.cm-camaradelobos.pt
Santana council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
North coast services and the traditional triangular houses.
www.cm-santana.com
Porto Moniz council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
The natural lava pools, local services and notices.
www.portomoniz.pt
Ribeira Brava council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Local services and beach information for the south coast town.
cm-ribeirabrava.pt
Ponta do Sol council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Local services, and host of the digital nomad village.
www.cm-pontadosol.pt
Calheta council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
West coast services, the sandy beach and municipal information.
www.cm-calheta-madeira.com
São Vicente council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
North coast services, the volcanic caves and local notices.
cm-saovicente.pt
gov.pt citizen services (opens in a new tab)Official
National portal for certificates, ID and address changes. Replaced ePortugal.
www.gov.pt
Official gazette (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Where Portuguese and regional laws are published in full — the text behind any rule change.
diariodarepublica.pt

Things to do

Tourism board, the events calendar, museums, gardens, markets and the sea-bathing complexes.

Visit Madeira (opens in a new tab)Official
The official tourism board: attractions, hiking and practical visitor information.
visitmadeira.com
Events calendar (opens in a new tab)Official
The official regional calendar for festivals, concerts, sport and exhibitions.
eventsmadeira.com
Culture directorate (opens in a new tab)Official
Museums, heritage sites and the regional cultural programme.
cultura.madeira.gov.pt
Baltazar Dias Theatre (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Funchal's municipal theatre: programme, tickets and cinema.
teatrobaltazardias.funchal.pt
Blandy's Wine Lodge (opens in a new tab)
Historic Madeira wine lodge in central Funchal: tours and tastings.
blandyswinelodge.com
Monte Palace (opens in a new tab)
Tropical garden and museum above Funchal: hours and tickets.
www.montepalace.com
Museu CR7 (opens in a new tab)
Ronaldo's trophy museum on the Funchal waterfront.
museucr7.com
Whale Museum (opens in a new tab)Official
Whaling history and marine science in Caniçal; also a cetacean research centre.
museudabaleia.org
Funchal beaches & lidos (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
The municipal company running the city beaches and bathing complexes.
frentemarfunchal.pt
Mercado dos Lavradores (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
The council site for Funchal's main market: hours and stalls.
mercados.funchal.pt
GetYourGuide Madeira (opens in a new tab)Sponsored
Tours, levada walks and boat trips across the island. Booking supports MadeiraCentral.
www.getyourguide.com

Living here

Residency, tax, social security, utilities and local news. Most useful if you are staying longer than a holiday.

AIMA — residency (opens in a new tab)Official
Residency permits and immigration. Replaced SEF, which no longer exists.
aima.gov.pt
Tax portal (opens in a new tab)Official
Get a NIF, file your return and pay road tax.
www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt
Social security (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
NISS number, contributions, benefits and self-employed status.
www.seg-social.pt
ARM — water & waste (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Billing, supply interruptions and recycling centres.
arm.pt
EEM — electricity (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
The island's electricity utility: connections, billing and outage reports.
www.eem.pt
CTT post office (opens in a new tab)
Postcode lookup, parcel tracking and branch finder.
www.ctt.pt
Digital Nomads Madeira (opens in a new tab)Official
The official remote-work programme: Ponta do Sol village, coworking and community.
digitalnomads.startupmadeira.eu
Startup Madeira (opens in a new tab)Official
Regional incubator supporting founders and relocating companies.
startupmadeira.eu
Imigrante.pt (opens in a new tab)Official
Government support for newcomers: rights, paperwork and services.
www.imigrante.pt
RTP Madeira (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Public broadcaster regional news, video and live radio. No paywall.
madeira.rtp.pt
JM Madeira (opens in a new tab)Portuguese only
Regional daily. Usually the fastest source for road closures and strikes.
www.jm-madeira.pt
Diário de Notícias (opens in a new tab)Portuguese only
Madeira's main newspaper: local news and disruption reports.
www.dnoticias.pt

Porto Santo

The neighbouring island. Reach it by ferry or a short flight — treat it as a separate day.

Porto Santo council (opens in a new tab)OfficialPortuguese only
Island services, local events and municipal notices.
cm-portosanto.pt

Something missing or broken? The list is maintained by hand — tell us and it gets fixed.