Cheap flights to Funchal

Flights to Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, can last anywhere from 24h 20min – 37h 25min. One of the reasons why these flights and stopovers are so long when compared to other destinations in Europe is because of the lack of direct flights between Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, Funchal (FNC), Madeira, Portugal, and the four main international airports in South Africa, namely OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg (JNB), Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg (HLA), Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town (CPT), and King Shaka International Airport in Durban (DUR). Funchal flight deals usually include at least two stop-overs before you reach Madeira. Also, keep in mind that if you do decide to route yourself through South Africa’s main international gateway, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, you would need to add in at least 5h to your connecting flight from Cape Town, and 3h to your connecting flight from Durban.

Despite South Africa’s sizeable Portuguese population (with a lot of people who hail from Madeira), there are no direct non-stop flights to Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, from any South African city. The best Funchal flight deals will usually route you through at least two stops, like the flights from Johannesburg to Funchal via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and Lisbon Portela (LIS) on TAP Air Portugal and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, or the flight via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Lisbon Portela on TAP Air Portugal and Air France. Another option is the flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Istanbul (IST), connecting to Lisbon (all with Turkish Airlines), and then onto Funchal with TAP Air Portugal. For flights from smaller South African cities, such as Port Elizabeth, East London and George, an effective way to get to Funchal is to fly to Johannesburg and then connect to your international flight from there.

SAM Madeira Bus offers a bus service from the airport to central Funchal. It runs every day of the year except Christmas Day. Trips to the city take about half an hour, and most hotels can be reached within 40 to 50min. You can tell the driver where you wish to alight. A ticket to travel from the airport to the city centre costs around R90.

Funchal has been the capital of Madeira for over five centuries, and is steeped in history and tradition. There are myriad museums in Funchal, including the Sacred Art Museum of Funchal, which contains painting, art and gold designs from the 15th to the 19th centuries. In the middle of Madeira is the Laurisilva Forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Owing to the warm subtropical Mediterranean climate, Funchal and Madeira are Portugal’s most popular tourist destination. The Funchal Cable Car (gondola lift) runs between the lower part of the city and the botanical gardens. And of course, when in Madeira, you have to try the food, from Portuguese rolls and garlic prawns to calamari, trinchado and Portuguese steak. Garlic and butter are staple foods in Portuguese cuisine, and nowhere is this more prominent, from a gastronomic point of view, than in Funchal and Madeira.

South Africans winging their way to Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, must have a valid passport and a Schengen visa to visit.

FNC stands for Funchal Madeira Airport. Codes like this one are often called IATA codes, a set of identifiers established by IATA (International Air Transport Association) that is widely used by airlines and the aviation industry.

Booking a flight to Funchal Madeira (FNC) is your only option if you intend on flying to Funchal. It is only a 14,4 km journey from Madeira to Funchal’s city centre.

Yes, flights with stopovers are often cheaper than direct flights. Keep an eye out for flight deals to Funchal on Cheapflights that require 1 or 2 stops for potential cost savings.

Based on reviews from Cheapflights users, SWISS is rated the highest out of the airlines that fly to Funchal.

Funchal Madeira Airport is currently the cheapest airport to fly to in Funchal. One-way flights to Funchal Madeira Airport typically cost R1 091, while return flights cost around R1 792.

A return flight to Funchal will typically cost around R125, however they can be found for as little as R95.

For those looking to save time traveling to Funchal, Johannesburg offers the quickest one-way flight (17 hours 15 minutes).

Yes. Those touching down at Funchal Madeira Airport can take advantage of the car hire services offered upon their arrival.

Yes. Funchal Madeira Airport has hotels nearby for those requiring accommodations. Villas Madalena is the closest property to Funchal Madeira Airport (0,0 km away from Funchal Madeira Airport).