Madeira - Port shuttle to city center?

[AtlantaCruiser72]

It's been several years since I was last in Madeira and when previously there we did a full day private island tour by jeep.  I can't remember if there is a port shuttle (free or small fee) from the large ship cruise port to a city center drop off / pick up location.  I know the walk is about 20-30 minutes, but we plan on doing a lot of other walking in town, at Monte, the Botanic gardens etc, so if a shuttle was avaible that would be helpful in maximizing time/energy for what really matters :)

 

Any helpful advice appreciated!

[In Toronto]

Sorry, no advice. Actually coming to you for advice.  Did you enjoy your tour of Madeira?  Highlights?  Areas particularly interesting?

Thanks.

Ellen
 

[John Bull]

Unless Covid has screwed things up ...................

I don't think ships offer shuttles.

The walk to Funchal city centre is 15 to 25 minutes, depending how far along the pier (Pontinha) your ship is berthed.

There are ho-ho buses and taxis about halfway along the pier.

Or if you start to walk off the pier, just by the little derelict fortress you can catch one of the little retro-buses (like those in Yellowstone or Glacier NP) whih will take you to either city centre or the bottom cable-car station for just a few euros.(2 euros pp about4 years back)

 

The retro-buses don't operate back to the pier in the afternoons - we hailed a tuk-tuk (also total of 4 euros)

 

JB 🙂