The bus answer
Plan a change in Funchal. Aerobus 500 serves the airport and Funchal; the published Caniço routes serve different parts of Caniço and do not list the airport terminal.
Choose the right part of Caniço
For the centre, route 503 (Boqueirão via Caniço) lists Caniço Shopping and Centro Saúde do Caniço. For the Caniço de Baixo coast, route 555 serves Ponta da Oliveira and route 556 serves Reis Magos. Ask your accommodation which stop fits its address; these are not interchangeable hotel stops.
The reviewed 556 sheet lists only a Sunday/holiday service. Do not treat it as an everyday coastal connection. Route 555 has separate weekday, Saturday and Sunday/holiday tables.
From arrivals to the connecting bus
At FNC, follow the signs for the bus stop and confirm Aerobus 500 towards Funchal. Its published airport stop is 01 — Aeroporto. Take it into Funchal, then use the onward route for your destination.
The 503 sheet names Teleférico–Término (4A) in Funchal. The 555 and 556 sheets name Funchal but do not identify a boarding bay. Confirm that departure stop with CAM before choosing where to leave the Aerobus; this is not a published same-stop connection.
This is a route combination, not a guaranteed connection. The sources checked do not establish a through bus from FNC to Caniço de Baixo. Stops called Estrada do Aeroporto are not evidence of service at the airport terminal.
Timetables and the way back
Use the dated timetable block on route 500 for the airport leg. Open the Caniço route pages below for their published SIGA sheets and day restrictions. Allow for the transfer and the walk between stops.
For the return, choose a Caniço bus towards Funchal, then Aerobus 500R towards Aeroporto. Check each direction separately and leave a margin for your flight; the outbound stop does not establish the return boarding point.
Bags and access
The route sheets and SIGA FAQ reviewed do not publish a luggage allowance, size limit or pushchair rule for this connection. Ask CAM about your bags before relying on it. The accessibility guide below explains the published assistance process.
Routes and published timetables
Before you rely on a timetable
Madeira’s bus times and stop information can be difficult to interpret and may change. Keeping this guide current is ongoing work, and errors are possible. Always check the latest SIGA timetable and confirm the departure and boarding place with local staff or the driver before relying on a journey — especially for the last bus or a tight connection.
Sources and scope
SIGA sources reviewed on 15 October 2026. Route numbers are matched to SIGA’s 2026 conversion table. Older PDF headings retain their old numbers; a snapshot is not a live service update.
