Car Hire ,

The minute you book your low cost car hire with ArgusRentals.com you can be confident that you are getting the least expensive rates for car hire in Madeira. Argus Rentals searches and examines the prices of 550 well-known and independent Madeira car hire brokers so you're able to pick up the cheapest car rental Madeira offers whenever you visit.

We pride ourselves on offering value for money car rental deals without compromising on customer support levels. Car hire Madeira rates include absolutely no hidden fees or undisclosed charges. For your own protection, we provide 24/7 customer support via webchat, email along with our call centre.

Three excellent reasons to book with ArgusRentals.com:

• No Hidden Charges
• No Credit Card Fees
• Break Down Assistance


First time going to Madeira? We want you to get the most out of your car hire Madeira experience. That is why, we've enlisted the help of a local travel expert to help to get you on your way. Follow these valuable travel tips and enjoy the finest that Madeira is offering.

See: A self-drive tour of Madeira Island can be an exciting and enjoyable experience.  Magnificent views await you with each turn of the road, at the end of a tunnel or when driving around the majestic mountains. You will be rewarded with a different panorama and often a different climate when you reach the next valley or side of the island.

These past 30 years the Portuguese government has made large investments to provide Madeira with a first-class road infrastructure of modern highways,  impressive bridges and lots (and lots) of tunnels. This makes it easier to reach the various locations outside Funchal. 10 years ago it would cost you almost a full day to get from East to West. You can learn why by taking the secondary roads (ER) that will take you to the more rural towns and villages of the island.

Places outside the capital Funchal, that I recommend you to visit include:

West Coast: Câmara de Lobos, Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol, Madalena do Mar, Calheta, Jardim do Mar, Ponta do Pargo.

North Coast: Porto Moniz, Seixal, São Vicente, Ponta Delgada, São Jorge, Faial, Porto da Cruz.

East Coast: Santa Cruz, Machico, Ponta São Lourenço.

Land inwards: Santana, Camacha, Curral das Freiras, Paul da Serra, Fanal.

To get an impression of what you will see, I have a collected links to photos taken by former island visitors (and most of them are still returning) and compiled an online slide show with these images. Check it out at  www.levadeiro.com.

Shop: Actually, all the touristic villages and towns have an attractive boulevard with shops. Needless to say, that the capital Funchal, is still the best location for all your shopping needs.

A visit to the Mercado dos Lavradores (Workers' Market) is an absolute must. It is the oldest market in Funchal where you will find vendors selling flowers, fruit, vegetables, fish and other regional products. It has an unique atmosphere. Tip: go early in the morning, and visit the fish market. It is a lively spectacle to behold!

For the real shopping addicts there are also the shopping malls such as Madeira Shopping, Forum Madeira and Dolce Vita. These commercial centres are all open late, normally 10.00 - 22.00, but most open until midnight at the weekend, making shopping an easy activity day or night. Tip: the Madeira Shopping, which is located in the suburb of Santa Quiteria, offers free indoor parking.

In the centre of Funchal one can find a great mix of modern and old shops. My favorite one is the Bazar do Povo, the city’s oldest department store. With its wooden floors and stairs, the store has managed to maintain its ‘good, old fashioned charm’ since 1883.

Eat: Eating out will never be a problem here on Madeira. Restaurants are abundantly spread all over the city of Funchal and the rest of the island. What will be a problem is for you to make the right choice in order to satisfy your taste buds and also your wallet.

I will indicate my favourites, but this does not mean that they are the only best restaurants that Madeira has to offer. There are still many of them for me to visit.

Restaurant Cidade Velha which is located next the Museum of Contemporary Art and the old Fort Santiago, in the zone of the Old Town ("Zona Velha") of the City of Funchal is one favourite. They have a terrace with a nice view to the sea and Funchal's harbour.

Also located in the Old Town (Zona Velha) is the restaurant O Jango. Its speciality is fish and seafood purchased at the local market, but also various regional dishes. Tip: you need to go early get a table, it is a popular restaurant.

In the Lido area of Funchal there is the small restaurant called Bela Ilha. It looks like a very simple restaurant, but the food and quality of the service is excellent. It is a well known meeting point for taxi- and tour-drivers, guides and other people that work in the tourism industry.

One of my favourite places to enjoy an Espetada is the restaurant Adega da Quinta which is located at Quinta do Estreito (Câmara de Lobos). There you can enjoy an excellent dinner with stunning views over the Madeiran coast.

Drink: I will not bore you with information about Madeira Wine because you will probably already have read about it everywhere. But did you know there is another popular local drink here on Madeira? It is called Poncha da Madeira. It is a very sweet and tasty drink, made with honey and sugar cane spirit.

Almost all bars and restaurants serve this drink, but the real Poncha die-hard has his/her Poncha at the Taberna da Poncha, asmall local bar in Serra d'Agua. You will come across this bar when you drive from Ribeira Brava up to the north coast (ER 104).

Stay: The choice of accommodations here on Madeira is so extensive that there are almost too many options to mention. Each place has its pros and cons, and there is also the matter of taste and preference. I will limit myself to a few suggestions.

Porto Bay Hotels in Funchal. This hotel chain consists of the following hotels to choose from: The Cliff Bay, Hotel Porto Santa Maria, Hotel Porto Mare and Suite Hotel Eden Mar.

Outside the city of Funchal:

Madeira Wine Cottages holiday houses in the village of Estreito da Calheta, south-west coast of the Island.

Madeira Sunset Holiday Homes situated just outside of the small tranquil village of Fajã da Ovelha in the south west of the island.

Madeira Casa, a country house located in Boaventura, Northern Coast of Madeira.

Walk: Walking is the keyword for anyone who is planning to visit Madeira. Even though it is an island, one can choose from a large variety of paths, walks and trails. These walking routes will bring you to places with spectacular and dramatic landscapes.

The most popular walk is the Levada walk. Levadas are an open canal system that were developed from the early 16th century, to distribute water from the rainfall heavy and wet regions on the north of the island to the drier sun parched regions of the south. The path next to the Levada allows the locals to maintain these essential water courses. Nowadays it also takes travellers to the most beautiful places that only walkers can access.

At the help-desk in the Madeira Tourism Board you can get a complete list of the official (and safest) Levada Walk courses.

However, if this is your first visit to Madeira, I would suggest you take first a guided levada tour. A guided (walking) tour offers the advantage that you only need to enjoy the walk and everything else will be taken care of. The company Nature Meetings offers qualified walking guides and a good service for a reasonable price.

Get out: Again where shall I begin ...

 -       Dolphin and Whale Watching at sea. The marina of Funchal offers various boat- and catamaran-trips;

-       Visit Monte (Funchal) by Cable Car and return to Funchal in the giant wicker toboggan, that zig-zags you down trough the narrow streets;

-       Visit the various gardens and museums such as the Monte Palace Garden and Quinta das Cruzes;

-       Visit Cabo Girão, Europe's second tallest cliff;

-       Visit the Volcanism Centre located in São Vicente;

-       Paragliding, Canyoning, Bike Tour, Jeep Tour, Horse Riding, Scuba Diving, Fishing, Golf etc.

Listen: Live show and entertainment you can find it at the Casino da Madeira in Funchal. For the Fado lovers there is Arsenio's and Sabor a Fado, both in the Old Town (Zona Velha) of Funchal.

Tip: inform at the Madeira Tourism Board if there are any festivities / events that will take place during the period of your holiday here on Madeira.

Avoid: Stress while driving. Take your time and stay calm. However do not go too slow either on the highway or other main roads. If you think you are lost, try to stop on a safe parking space and try to find out where you are. Do not be afraid to ask someone for directions, but be prepared for the eventuality of a long explanation and that maybe others will also assist the conversation. After all you are on holidays so enjoy the Madeiran culture.