Madeira Trip Guide
Madeira Apartments: Alojamento Local Rules, Tax and Where
Renting one of the many Madeira apartments for a week is the usual way families and groups stay on the island. Self-catering lets in Portugal run under a national system called Alojamento Local, or AL, and a few rules shape what you can book and what you pay. This page of our guide to Madeira walks through the AL registration number, the sleeping limits, the tourist tax and the check-in routine, then looks at which areas work without a car. If you are still comparing bases, our where to stay in Madeira page covers the full picture.
Quick answer The short version on Madeira apartments
Apartments in Madeira rent legally only with an AL registration number from the national Balcão Único Eletrónico, which booking platforms must display. In Funchal the tourist tax adds $2.30 (€2) per person per night, capped at $16.07 (€14) per stay, and your host must record every guest's passport or ID.
Key takeaways
- A legal listing shows an AL number ending in /AL. Verify it free on the RNAL search as shown in the AL number section.
- An apartment may sleep two people per bedroom plus two in the living room, with extra beds capped at 50% of fixed beds. Full rule in how many people an apartment can sleep.
- Budget for the tourist tax of $2.30 (€2) a night in Funchal, Calheta and Santa Cruz. Details in the tourist tax section.
- Several day tours collect from rentals, including the Porto Moniz, Seixal and Fanal jeep tour, so a car-free week in Funchal is workable.
Apartment or Hotel in Madeira Compared
This table compares an Alojamento Local apartment with a classified hotel or quinta on the six points that decide a booking. Figures come from the Funchal council AL information sheet, the national AL regime and the municipal tourist tax rules.
| Question | AL apartment or house | Hotel or Quinta |
|---|---|---|
| Legal title | AL number from the Balcão Único Eletrónico | Classified tourist enterprise on the national register |
| Where to verify | RNAL search | RNET search |
| Tourist tax in Funchal | $2.30 (€2) a night, 7-night cap | $2.30 (€2) a night, 7-night cap |
| Guest ID reporting | SIBA within 3 working days | SIBA within 3 working days |
| Capacity rule | 9 bedrooms and 27 guests maximum, bedrooms x 2 plus 2 in the living room | Set by the star classification |
| Tour pickup | Some listings name holiday rentals and apartments explicitly | Every listing names Funchal hotels |
Both types are legal and both ask for your passport at check-in. The practical difference is that apartment capacity follows a fixed arithmetic rule while hotel capacity follows its classification. Figures current in Q3 2026.
The AL Number: How to Tell a Legal Madeira Apartment
Every legal apartment for holiday rent in Portugal carries a registration number, and that number is your main protection as a guest. The rules below come from Portugal's Alojamento Local regime, set by Decreto-Lei 128/2014 and amended most recently by Lei 56/2023 and Decreto-Lei 76/2024, together with the Funchal council information sheet. Registration happens through the national Balcão Único Eletrónico, and one thing is worth stating plainly: we found no separate Madeira regional AL law and no regional register. Madeira properties go through the same national process as the mainland, so the same checks apply wherever on the island you book.
The Number Rule
The registration number issued through the Balcão Único Eletrónico is the only valid title to open an AL unit to the public and to advertise it. Showing the number is mandatory in advertising, and platforms that list accommodation are legally required to demand and display it. So a listing on a platform such as Airbnb should show a number in the format NNNNNN/AL.
Advertising an unregistered unit risks a fine, though the Funchal sheet does not publish the amount.
Checking the Number on the RNAL Search
The register is public and free to search. It takes about two minutes and it is the single most useful thing you can do before paying a deposit.
- Open the RNAL search, the free public search run by Turismo de Portugal.
- Search by the registration number shown on the listing, or by municipality if you want to browse.
- Compare the name, modality and address in the register with the listing you are looking at. If they do not match, ask the host why before you book.
What the Register Does Not Tell You
The register confirms that a unit exists, its type and its status. It does not tell you anything about the condition of the apartment, the accuracy of the photographs, the host's response times or the honesty of the capacity claims. For that you rely on reviews and on the legal limits set out in the next sections.
The register also does not replace the tourist tax rules, which are municipal and set out under the tourist tax section.
Sources: Turismo de Portugal, AL registration, RNAL public search, Funchal council AL sheet.
Four Kinds of Alojamento Local
The AL regime recognises four kinds of let, and the label matters because the rules differ between them. The table below compares all four, with what you actually rent and the limit each carries, using the definitions from the national regime and the Funchal information sheet.
The Four Modalities Compared
Most Madeira apartments to rent for a week fall under the apartamento or moradia headings, which share the same capacity rule. If you book a room rather than a whole flat, the limits are tighter.
| Modality | What you rent | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Moradia | A detached single-family building | Maximum 9 bedrooms and 27 guests, capacity = bedrooms x 2 plus 2 in the living room |
| Apartamento | An independent flat | Maximum 9 bedrooms and 27 guests, capacity = bedrooms x 2 plus 2 in the living room |
| Estabelecimento de hospedagem | Rooms in a dedicated establishment, may use the name hostel when dormitory guests outnumber room guests | Capacity set by its own licence, not by the apartment rule |
| Quartos | Rooms in the host's own home | Maximum three units |
Why the Label Matters to You
A whole-flat booking should appear in the register as an apartamento or a moradia. If the register entry shows a different modality from what the listing advertises, that is a reason to pause. A condominium may also charge the AL owner up to 30% extra of the annual condominium fee for heavier use of common areas, which is a cost the owner carries and not you, but it explains why some hosts in managed buildings are strict about house rules.
Sources: Turismo de Portugal, AL regime, Funchal council AL sheet.
How Many People a Madeira Apartment Can Sleep
Portugal fixes the sleeping capacity of AL apartments and houses by arithmetic, not by the host's mood. Except for quartos and hostels, an AL unit may have at most 9 bedrooms and 27 guests. Capacity equals the number of bedrooms times 2, plus two more guests in the living room for apartments and houses. Convertible or extra beds may not exceed 50% of the fixed beds. The worked table below applies that rule to one, two and three bedroom flats, and every total is our sum.
Worked Capacity Examples
Take a two-bedroom apartment as the common case. Two bedrooms means 4 fixed sleeping places, plus 2 in the living room, 6 in all. That is a realistic fit for a family of four or two couples, with the living room sofa bed as the spare.
The extra bed limit comes from the 50% rule applied to the fixed beds.
| Bedrooms | Beds by the rule | With living room | Extra beds limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| 3 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
When a Listing Exceeds the Rule
If a two-bedroom flat claims to sleep 10, it is above the legal capacity, and that is one of the red flags listed further down this page. Crowded listings are not only illegal, they usually mean thin staffing for cleaning, slow responses to problems and a living room functioning as a bedroom. Our pick is to book within the arithmetic: bedrooms x 2 plus 2.
Sources: Funchal council AL sheet, Turismo de Portugal, AL regime.
Tourist Tax on a Madeira Apartment
Three municipalities on Madeira are confirmed to charge a tourist tax that applies to Alojamento Local, so it reaches apartment guests directly. The rates are set by each council: Funchal under Regulamento 764/2024, Calheta under its own FAQ, and Santa Cruz, which covers Caniço and the airport area, under its Ecotaxa Turística. The table compares the three. For other municipalities, including Ponta do Sol, Santana and Porto Moniz, no municipal regulation was found on an official page, so treat those as not published and check the booking total.
Rates by Municipality
All three confirmed rates are the same $2.30 (€2) per person per night with the same 7-night cap, but the exemptions differ, and that difference matters for families. The Santa Cruz figure comes from the amendment text published in Diário da República.
| Municipality | Per night | Cap | Exempt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funchal | $2.30 (€2) | $16.07 (€14) per continuous stay | Not stated on the sheet we read, check the booking total |
| Calheta | $2.30 (€2) | 7 nights, which works out at $16.07 (€14), our sum | Children aged 12 and under, Madeira residents, 60%+ disability with proof |
| Santa Cruz (Caniço) | $2.30 (€2) | 7 nights, which works out at $16.07 (€14), our sum | Children under 13 |
A Worked Family Example in Funchal
Take 2 adults and 2 children aged 10 and 14 staying in a Funchal apartment for 7 nights. Seven nights at $2.30 (€2) per person reaches the $16.07 (€14) cap. The Funchal information sheet we read states the tax applies per person and does not set out a child exemption figure, while the child exemption we can quote is Calheta's and Santa Cruz's.
So the certain part of the bill is the 2 adults, $32.10 (€28) for the week, our sum. Whether the 10-year-old pays depends on Funchal's own exemption list, so check the booking total and ask the host rather than assuming. Funchal's AL units collect the tax under Regulamento 764/2024, and it can be collected at the start, during or end of the stay.
Sources: Funchal tourist tax and AL sheet, Calheta tourist tax FAQ, Santa Cruz Ecotaxa amendment text.
Check-In, Keys and Your Passport
Checking into a Madeira apartment differs from a hotel in one visible way: there is rarely a reception desk. The host handles identity checks and key handover directly, and a little preparation avoids a dark doorstep at midnight.
Why Every Guest Shows ID
AL hosts must register on the SIBA portal and submit accommodation bulletins for foreign citizens within 3 working days, under Lei 23/2007. That is why the host asks every guest, including children, for a passport or ID at check-in. It is a legal duty on the host, not suspicion of you.
Have the documents ready on arrival, and a photo of each passport on your phone speeds it up.
Keys, Arrival Times and Late Flights
Ask the host before booking how keys are handed over: a lockbox, a personal meet, or a building concierge each work differently. Agree an arrival time in writing, especially with a late flight. The Aerobus from the airport runs its last departure from the airport at 22:00, so a landing after that means a taxi or transfer, and our Madeira airport page covers the options in full.
An apartment uphill from the centre can also mean a short taxi ride with bags, see Madeira taxis.
Sources: Funchal council AL sheet, SIGA Aerobus timetable.
Where an Apartment Works on Madeira
Madeira is steep, and the difference between a flat five minutes from a bus stop and one up a hill can decide a car-free week. This is a short map of the practical bases, with the full comparison in our where to stay guide.
Funchal Centre and Zona Velha
The old town and the centre put you within walking distance of the Mercado dos Lavradores for self-catering shopping, restaurants and the main bus stops. The SIGA urban network runs on-board tickets cash only at $2.35 (€2.05) municipal and $3.04 (€2.65) intermunicipal, with cheaper prepaid trips on the GIRO card, which costs $0.57 (€0.50). See getting around Madeira for passes and day tickets.
The Lido Strip
The Lido area sits on the Aerobus line from the airport, which runs to Praia Formosa in 50 minutes with stops along the Estrada Monumental and at Lido itself. The on-board fare is $7.69 (€6.70). That makes an apartment here easy to reach without a car, with sea-access lidos and restaurants along the strip.
Caniço and the East
Caniço, in Santa Cruz municipality, works for apartment stays that want quieter surroundings, and it is named in the pickup areas of several tours. Being in Santa Cruz also means the Ecotaxa applies. The PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço transfer collects from accommodation in Funchal, Caniço, Santa Cruz and Machico, so the east coast is not isolated.
West and North With a Car
Apartments in Calheta, Porto Moniz or the north coast trade convenience for scenery, and buses beyond the main corridors are thin. Our pick is a hire car for those areas, covered in our Madeira car hire guide. As a rule, any Funchal apartment described as uphill will need a car or taxis for the daily climb with shopping.
Sources: SIGA tariff sheet, SIGA Aerobus timetable.
Red Flags on a Madeira Apartment Listing
Most rentals are honest, but the AL rules give you six concrete things to check before paying. Each one is quick to spot in a listing or a first message.
Six Signs to Walk Away
If any of these appear, ask questions or book elsewhere. The first three are legal requirements, the last three are booking-safety basics.
- No AL number shown anywhere on the listing. Platforms must display it, so its absence is itself a breach.
- A number that does not match on the RNAL search, with a different name, modality or address in the register.
- A capacity claim above the legal rule of bedrooms x 2 plus 2 in the living room, or more than 9 bedrooms and 27 guests.
- Tourist tax described as included with no separate line on the invoice, so you cannot see whether the $2.30 (€2) a night was calculated at all.
- Requests to pay outside the booking platform, by bank transfer or messaging app, which strips away your protection.
- No named arrival procedure and no mention of the ID check, which usually means an unprepared host and a dark doorstep.
Sources: Funchal council AL sheet, Turismo de Portugal, AL registration.
Tours That Collect From Holiday Rentals
Apartment guests sometimes assume day tours only pick up at hotels. Several Madeira listings name holiday rentals explicitly, so a car-free week in an apartment still works. Check the exact pickup wording for your address at booking, since some cover Funchal only and others extend to Caniço and the east.
from $79.00
Madeira Full-Day Jeep Tour: Natural Pools, Seixal & Fanal
A small-group jeep day combining the Seixal natural pools, Porto Moniz and Fanal forest, with live commentary and hotel pickup from Funchal.
Check Availability
from $42.00
Madeira West Tour with Guide: Fanal Forest & Skywalk Experience
A guided west-coast tour of Fanal forest and a skywalk viewpoint, with an optional swim at Porto Moniz and hotel pickup.
Check Availability
from $36.00
Caniçal Transfer for the PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço Hike
A shared transfer to the PR8 trailhead at Ponta de São Lourenço, Madeira's easternmost tip, with the trail permit and a digital map included.
Check Availability
from $109.00
Madeira Food and Wine Walking Tour in Funchal
A small-group Funchal food and wine walk with 11 food tastings and 6 drinks across local taverns and the market, limited to 10 guests.
Check Availability
from $107.00
Taste Funchal: Food, Wine and Cultural Tour
A 4 hour Funchal food, wine and culture walk from Rua do Sabão, with vegetarian and gluten-free tasting options.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.
Other Ways to Stay on Madeira
An apartment is one option among several. If a self-catering week turns out not to suit your trip, these pages compare the rest.
Best hotels in Madeira
Hotels suit shorter trips and travellers who want a pool, a bar and a daily clean. Our best hotels in Madeira guide compares the licensed types and the bases, and names no properties.
Cheap hotels in Madeira
If the week's budget is tight, a simple room with breakfast can beat a flat once the tourist tax and deposits are counted. See cheap hotels in Madeira for what a budget stay really costs.
Where to stay in Madeira
Base choice drives your whole itinerary, since the west, the east and Funchal itself each reward a different plan. Our where to stay guide matches areas to trip styles.
Madeira Apartments: Questions
Are holiday apartments legal in Madeira?
Yes, self-catering holiday lets are legal across Madeira under Portugal's national Alojamento Local regime, Decreto-Lei 128/2014 as amended. We found no separate Madeira regional AL law or register, so the national rules apply. A legal unit holds a registration number from the Balcão Único Eletrónico, which is its only valid title to advertise, as set out in the AL number section.
How do I check a Madeira apartment's AL number?
Look the number up free on the RNAL search run by Turismo de Portugal. Search by the number shown on the listing, or by municipality, then compare the name, modality and address with the listing. If the two do not match, ask the host before paying anything.
Is the tourist tax charged on apartments in Madeira?
Yes, in the municipalities that charge one, and the tax explicitly applies to Alojamento Local. Funchal charges $2.30 (€2) per person per night with a $16.07 (€14) cap per continuous stay, and Calheta and Santa Cruz use the same rate and cap, as compared in the tourist tax table. For other municipalities no confirmed rate was published, so check the booking total.
How many people can stay in a Madeira apartment?
The legal rule is two people per bedroom plus two in the living room, with a maximum of 9 bedrooms and 27 guests. Extra or convertible beds may not exceed 50% of the fixed beds. Our worked examples for one, two and three bedroom flats are in the capacity section.
Why does my Madeira host need my passport?
Because the law requires it. AL operators must submit accommodation bulletins for foreign citizens on the SIBA portal within 3 working days under Lei 23/2007. The host therefore asks every guest for a passport or ID at check-in, including children. It is a reporting duty, nothing about your booking is at risk.
Do tours pick up from apartments in Funchal?
Several do, and they say so on the listing. The Porto Moniz, Seixal and Fanal jeep tour picks up from all hotels and holiday rentals in the Funchal city area, the west tour to Fanal forest and the skywalk collects from hotels, houses or apartments in Funchal or Caniço, and the PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço transfer collects at accommodation in Funchal, Caniço, Santa Cruz and Machico.
Is Airbnb allowed in Madeira?
Yes. Platforms such as Airbnb operate normally on Madeira, and the law requires them to demand and display the AL registration number of every unit they list. So a listing there should show a number ending in /AL, which you can verify on the RNAL search described in the AL number section. The platform is just a booking channel, the legal framework is the national AL regime.
Madeira Apartments on Film
Three walkthroughs of rented flats and houses on the island, so you can see what the listings describe.
AirBnB Funchal Medeira
A walkthrough of a rented Funchal flat, the format most Alojamento Local listings describe.
Video: R HA Whole House Airbnb in Funchal?! Ocean-View Madeira Villa Tour
A whole-house rental with an ocean view, the moradia modality in practice.
Video: Track Us Down!Exploring the Digital Nomad Scene in MADEIRA l FOOD SPOTS in madeira l airbnb tour FUNCHAL
A Funchal apartment tour from a long-stay visitor, for the self-catering side of a week here.
Video: Joachim BadejohVideos load from YouTube only when you press play.
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