Cheap flights from Manchester to Madeira

What drives fares here is the island's season. Madeira is mild year-round, but demand spikes in the British school holidays and around Christmas, when the island's famous New Year fireworks pull people south. March is the cheapest month on this route — spring before Easter, when the levada trails are already walkable and the sun still strong enough for a terrace. If you can travel midweek and avoid half-term weeks, you usually pay less. Booking a couple of months ahead tends to beat last-minute fares, especially for summer departures.

The real difference between the options is what happens after take-off. Jet2 and Easyjet fly you there nonstop and sell you a seat, a bag and little else — you pay for everything extra. KLM Cityhopper, Air France, Iberia, Norwegian, Norwegian International, Scandinavian Airlines, Air Baltic and Luxair route you through their own hubs, so the journey takes longer but the fare usually includes checked baggage and a proper connection. If you're travelling with a suitcase, do the arithmetic: a low-cost ticket with bags added can cost as much as a full-service connection.

You land at Madeira Airport, east of Funchal on the island's coast — it sits right by the sea on a platform partly built out over the water. The runway approach is one of the more scenic in Europe, but it's also exposed to Atlantic winds, so brief go-arounds happen and it's worth padding a tight onward plan. Buses and shared shuttles run into Funchal; a taxi or pre-booked transfer is quicker if you're carrying dive gear or hiking kit. If you're staying outside the capital, check whether your hotel offers a pickup before you commit to anything.

Currency

EUR (€)

Power sockets

Type C, F · 230 V

Language

Portuguese

Emergency number

112

Driving side

right

Calling code

+351

Internet domain

.pt

EU / Schengen

EU member, Schengen area

Population of Madeira

112 k (2023)

Time zone

UTC+00 (Europe/Lisbon)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Baggage is where low-cost fares bite, so price your suitcase into the total before choosing.
• Check whether your flight is the nonstop or a connection through a hub, and how much extra time that adds.
• If you book two separate tickets, leave enough slack between them in case the first leg slips.
• Check passport validity for Portugal and any entry rules that apply to you.
• Compare March with the school-holiday months — the gap is often wide.
• If you're flying in winter, check the forecast for wind and rain on the north coast before you lock in hiking days.