Portuguese.

255 000 people live on these Islands according to data collected in 2001. Half of the population lives in the capital. Population density is very high, reaching 337 inhabitants/sq km in Madeira, and 112 per sq km in Porto Santo.

€ Euro

Madeira follows Portuguese time (GMT +0) with Summer time. Clocks advance one hour in the last Sunday of March, and go back one hour in the last Sunday of October, according to the regulations of the European Union.

The local current is 220 Volts AC and the connection is made by a two-pin plug.
Travelers from the USA will require a voltage converter.
Travelers from the UK will require a plug adapter.

There is plenty of water of an excellent drinking standard. Porto Santo uses treated seawater, but all of it can be consumed.

The main post office, or "Correios de Portugal", is at the centre of Funchal, at the Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian and / or Avenida de Zarco (5 minutes walking from Casino Park Hotel). There are daily collections at 11:00 and 15:00 from the post boxes placed all over the island.

Chemists are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00, on Saturdays from 9:00 to 13:00. In addition, at the door of every pharmacy you will find advisory notes about the pharmacies currently open.

There are 67 health centres situated around the Madeira Island, and one at Porto Santo. In Funchal there are two hospitals.

The police presence is very discreet. If you need help, dial 112. There is a Lost Property section in Funchal, at Rua da Infância, 28, Tel.: +351 291 208200.

Madeira is one of the safest holiday destinations in the world. If you take the minimum sensible precautions, you probably won’t experience any problems. Most of the hotels have safes or deposit boxes where you can keep your valuables.

(+351) 112 for a general emergency.
(+351) 291-222022 for the police.
(+351) 291-741115 for the Red Cross.
(+351) 291-705600 for a hospital emergency.

In hotels and restaurants the bill normally includes service. If the “tip“ is not included, it should not exceed 10%.

• 1st January - New Years’ Day
• 25th April - Freedom Day
• 1st May – May Day
• 10th June - Day of Camões and Portugal
• 15th August - Our Lady Assumption
• 5th October - Republic Day
• 1st November - All Saints Day
• 1st December - Restoration of Independence Day
• 25 December - Christmas Day
• On the 1st of July the Autonomous Region of Madeira celebrates its holiday.
• Religious festivities, with variable dates, are also celebrated in the Islands.

The Regional Department of Tourism has eleven offices. The main one is located at Funchal City Centre, near the Cathedral.
For more information visit Madeira Islands Official Tourism Website.