Coliving spaces, community, and perks designed for remote workers and creatives.
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Location
The best places to live and stay, coworking spaces, cafes and beaches in Madeira
Beach lovers and remote workers: this is your spot. Nestled in the south of the island, Ponta do Sol is decorated in scenic costal views, pebble beaches, and promenades lined with palm trees. Along with Outsite Madeira, you'll find 4 main beaches: Anjos, Lugar de Baixo, Madelena do Mar, and Ponta Do Sol here. This area is also home to the newly launched Digital Nomad Village.
Great for first-timers, Funchal is the capital city of Madeira with all the conveniences of a capital city plus some pretty epic ocean views. With a more metropolitan feel, it features a multitude of shops, coworks, restaurants and attractions. In comparison to the rest of the island, it's a bit more expensive though still affordable.
Conveniently situated close to the airport and Funchal, Santa Cruz is a small coastal town famous for its beaches (and water park). It's a great spot for water sports like diving and snorkeling.
A little smaller and quieter than Funchal, the town of Machico is nestled on the east coast, and is home to Praia de Machico. While most beaches in Madeira are rocky or pebbled, this beach is unique in that it has golden sand imported from Morocco. Here you'll find a wide variety of restaurants, shops, bars, and accommodation in this area. This is a great area for hiking lovers as there are many trails nearby.
Madeira is an exciting place to be for digital nomads, and as word gets out about its allure, its popularity among remote workers continues to soar. Its recent boom in popularity is in large part due to the island's Digital Nomad Villa, launched in 2021. It’s been named the “most impressive offering for the remote working community”, and it’s easy to see why. The village hosts up to 100 remote workers at a time, with each one staying anywhere between one and three months. They offer a free workspace, a private Slack channel, regularly scheduled networking events, and more.
Amanhecer Supermercado
This is a small market with an attached cafe in Ponta do Sol which should cover most of what you need, though they don't carry any fresh meat or seafood.
Loja Bioforma
Located in Funchal, fully stocked with organic food products, natural beauty products and supplements.
Car
While getting around Madeira by car is a totally viable option, it should be noted that the roads and driving conditions are particularly rugged and not for the faint of heart (or novice drivers). The roads can be narrow with sleep hills and drop-offs, and there are many long-distance tunnels spanning through mountains. Confident drivers should be fine, but if this isn't you, there are plenty of other ways to get around.
Cable Car
Connecting Funchal to Monte, the cable car lines are a great option for getting around this area, plus they come with some pretty great views of the mountains. A roundtrip will go for €15, though it's worth noting this is aimed more towards tourists.
Bus
The bus is a very popular way of getting around the island. Some bus routes include free audio tours available through this app, so you can learn while you ride. You can buy tickets in advance, or purchase on board from the driver. You'll find three different kinds of buses: Orange (running only throughout Funchal and its immediate surroundings A one-week unlimited ticket will cost you €15. Find bus routes and schedules here Horários do Funchal), Red (Operating in the western part of the island), and Green (operating in the eastern part).
Taxis
Taxis are also available here and typically available at good rates.
For US citizens, no visa is required for stays under 90 days. For Europeans, Portugal is part of the The Schengen Area, making it extra simple for citizens from Schengen Area counties to travel to Portugal. If you're considering a long term move to Portugal, check out our guide to Portugal's D7 Visa.
The best way to get to Madeira is by plane or ferry. Madeira is a quick 90-minute flight from Lisbon. There are two airports in Madeira: Santa Cruz and Vila Baleira Airport, both having frequent flights well connected to Portugal and the rest of Europe. The ferry picks up and drops off at the Funchal Port, however, this mode of transport is seasonal and dependent on weather and sea levels.