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Madeira is a popular expatriate and holiday location because it has such a beautiful climate, is rich in sights to see and things to do. Because it lies to the west of Africa it benefits from a similar climate to Morocco and is warmed by the Gulf Stream. It has long hot summers and mild, temperate winters which is perfect news for those who want to move to sunnier climes.
Madeira offers its visitors an endless selection of things to see and do. Both the lovers of daytime outings and those who prefer nightlife will be spoilt for choice: the city offers a wide variety of museums and monuments, parks and gardens, and international shows, unique moments of leisure and night-time entertainment. Coming to Madeira means trying its many culinary delights and visiting all the attractions and places that make it so special.
Airlines
Scheduled flights are provided either by TAP BA or other companies from most European capitals either direct or via Lisbon. These are supplemented by a wide range of direct charter flights covering many other major European cities. There are regular shuttle air services between Lisbon and Funchal and also between Funchal and Porto Santo.
Airports
Funchal airport lies 18 kms east of the capital centre and is approximately 25 minutes away by taxi. The Madeira Intercontinental Airports capacity is 3.5 million passengers per year, thanks to a new terminal building and an extended runway of 2.78 kilometres. All classes of passenger aircraft, right up to Boeing 747s, are able to land and take off from the airport. Porto Santo has a 3.000-metre runway that can take all aircraft and also has a modern terminal.
Banks/Business Hours
Banks are open from 08.30 to 15.00, Monday-Friday (Some open Saturday 09.00 to 13.00). Exchange offices are open every day from 09.00 to 13.00 and 14.00-19.00. On saturdays it is open from 09.00 to 19.00. Hotels operate outside these hours. Shops are open from 09.00 to 19.00, from Monday to Friday and Saturdays 09.00 to 13.00. However, some of them close for lunch from 13.00 to 15.00. Shopping Centres are open every day from 10.00 to 22.00.
Climate
Temperate and mild with no great extremes-although it is wise to take warm clothes when visiting the mountains. Average temperatures range from 19C in Winter and 23C in Summer, with sea temperatures being virtually the same due to the warm gulf Stream.
Credit Cards
All major credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops.
Currency
The currency unit is the Euro
Electricity
220 volts.
Entry requirements
Visitors from EU countries participating in the Schengen Area agreement may move freely. From the other EU countries only an ID is necessary. A full passport is required by all other international visitors. A Visa may also be required from certain countries in accordance with normal Portuguese entry regulations. No vaccinations are required.
Language
Portuguese, but English, German and French are widely spoken and understood.
Medical Facilities
There are 2 hospitals in Funchal, but only Hospital Cruz de Carvalho has an emergency service - Tel: 291 705600. There are health centres around the island, and some of them also have emergency service. The local water is safe to drink.
Schooling The British School of Madeira is a bilingual Portuguese and English school recognised by the Regional Education Authority of Madeira but there are other international and local options available to parents. Local education is free up to the age of 16 and private schools charge a wide range of fees depending on the age of the child, whether they board at school etc.
Postal Service
The main post office is in the centre of Funchal and itís open Monday to Friday from 08.30 to 20.00. Saturdays from 08.30 to 12.30. Daily collections are made at 11.00 and 15.00 at designated postal boxes in Funchal and around the island.
Public Holidays
Madeira celebrates the main Portuguese national public holidays:
January 1st
April 25th
May 1st
June 10th
August 15th
October 5th
November 1st
December 1st
December 8th
December 25th
In addition there are several local and religious holidays. The dates of these vary from year to year.
Telecommunications
Telephone, telex, fax, and cable are available in the mains post office in Funchal and in all the major hotels. Internet world-wide web access is also possible.
Time
Madeira has both winter (GTM + 0) and summer (GTM + 1) time periods. Clocks move forward one hour on the last Sunday of March and go back one hour on the last Sunday of October in line with normal European practice.
Tipping
A service charge is normally included in hotels and restaurant bills, but an extra 10% for good service is appreciated.
Transport
There are efficient public bus services in Funchal and to nearby destinations. Travel to further parts of the island is best organised by pre-arranged tours. Cars are easy to hire and relatively inexpensive. Taxis are widely available at the airport, all major hotels and in Funchal.
Although Madeira is nearer Africa than Portugal it still feels very European and has the majority of the same rules, laws, regulations and legislation as Europe; the official language is Portuguese although English is widely spoken and you drive on the right in Madeira. Because of the island’s geographic position it has the advantage of being pretty much crime free – after all, Madeira is small and everyone knows everyone so you couldn’t get away with very much without your neighbours finding out – the lack of crime is a significant reason why more people are considering living in Madeira Portugal.
Living in Madeira expatriates will find the pace of life quite slow and the quality of life achievable very high. Especially during the summer season the island is busy with tourism traffic but this doesn’t affect the laid back nature of the locals. This is worth bearing in mind because those who want things doing quickly may find they have to wait and wait!
In terms of finding work in Madeira, unless you speak Portuguese the majority of jobs available are in the tourism industry. This doesn’t restrict the type of work all that much however as Madeira offers an abundance of activities and services for tourists from theme parks, golfing, scuba diving, hot air ballooning, fishing, riding, tennis, walking, shopping and enjoying the night life. Therefore the range of work available is quite broad. |
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