Essentials
- City
- Machico, Madeira, Portugal
- Population
- Approximately 21,800
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-500 Mbps via MEO/NOS Fiber
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD; local banks include Millennium BCP and Santander
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink and high quality
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type F/C sockets
- SIM Card
- MEO, NOS, and Vodafone; approx. €15-20 for 10GB-30GB
- Banking for Expats
- Multibanco system, Revolut, Wise, and Millennium BCP for residents
- Accommodation
- Local Airbnbs, GuestHouse Machico, and independent villas via Flatio
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards/contactless widely accepted except in small mountain bars
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and Madeira Rent (approx. €800-€1,200/mo)
- Budget Accommodation
- Modern & Recycled Guest House (approx. €35-€50/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Machico Bay (near Praia de Machico) for beach and dining access
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Água de Pena or City Center near the bus station for connectivity
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Digital Nomads Madeira (Pontu) - Access via free community pass
- Best Cafe for Work
- Baía de Machico (seafront, good Wi-Fi, approx. €1.50 for a Galao)
- Networking Events
- Digital Nomads Madeira Slack community meetups (mostly in Funchal/Ponta do Sol)
- Social Events for Expats
- Machico Community Meetup at O Barqueiro
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (approx. €15 to Funchal) or local Taxi Madeira
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Magoscar (approx. €25/day for a scooter)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Praia de Machico (rare golden sand beach imported from Sahara)
- Top Regional Airline
- Binter Canarias (inter-island to Porto Santo)
- Top International Airline
- TAP Air Portugal, Ryanair, EasyJet
- Highway Access
- VR1 highway connects Machico to Funchal in 20 minutes
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Machico Bus Terminal (SAM Buses)
- Public Transport Passes
- SAM intercity bus tickets (approx. €3.35 to Funchal)
- Regional Travel
- SAM Bus line 113 to Funchal or Caniço
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Centro de Saúde de Machico (Primary); Hospital Nélio Mendonça (Funchal - 20 mins)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Madeira (mobile sessions near the beach)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Ginásio Ludens Clube de Machico (approx. €35/month)
- Laundry Services
- Lavandaria Automática Self-Service near the Main Square (approx. €5/load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and Bring Eat
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Espetada (beef on laurel skewers) at Restaurante O Relógio
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Blue (seafront cafe with plant-based bowls)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pastelaria do Centro (Queijadas and Bolo de Mel)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Continente Modelo Machico
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.es (delivers to Madeira), Worten.pt
- Grocery Delivery
- Continente Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rua da Banda d'Além for pubs and Poncha bars
- Local Brewery
- Coral Beer (produced by Empresa de Cervejas da Madeira)
- Wine Bars
- Adega do Moniz (Authentic Madeira wine tasting)
- Street Food Stalls
- Food trucks near the beach serving Bolos do Caco (€3-€5)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Lily's Restaurant (Fusion/European with valley views)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Pico do Facho Viewpoint and the Miradouro de Francisco Alvares Nóbrega
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museu da Baleia (Whale Museum) in nearby Caniçal
- Historical Sites
- Forte de Nossa Senhora do Amparo (1706)
- Religious Sites
- Igreja Matriz de Machico (15th-century architecture)
- Annual Events
- Quinhentista (16th Century Medieval Market) in June
- Cultural Districts
- Banda d'Além (Old Town historical section)
- Theater Venues
- Fórum Machico (Cinema and performance space)
- Local Markets
- Mercado Municipal de Machico (Sundays for fresh fruit)
- Music Scene
- Live Fado at local taverns and summer beach festivals
- Street Art
- Fishermen murals near the harbor area
- Cooking Classes
- Veredas e Cenários (local gastronomy workshops)
- Art Galleries
- Solar do Ribeirinho (Cultural center and gallery)
- Historic Buildings
- Capela dos Milagres
- Local Heritage
- Folklore dancing (Bailinho da Madeira)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Ponta de São Lourenço (rugged volcanic peninsula hiking)
- National Parks Nearby
- Madeira Natural Park (UNESCO Laurissilva Forest)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Levada dos Maroços (The 'Mimosa' trail)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Desertas Islands (boat trips from Machico)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Chão das Feiteiras (designated BBQ and picnic forest area)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Miradouro da Ponta do Rosto
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- CTT Machico (Main Post Office)
- Tech Repair Services
- Worten Funchal (closest major tech support)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Ludens Clube de Machico
- Language Classes
- Learn Portuguese with Carla (Online/Funchal hybrid)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Municipal de Machico
- Community Centers
- Casa da Música de Machico
- Gaming Lounges
- Station PC (Funchal, 20 mins away)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino da Madeira (Funchal)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €88,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,600 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €64,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €120,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €90,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €152,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,400 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €112,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 5% (for companies registered in the Madeira International Business Centre/IBC)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 28% (Standard) but 0% for IBC Madeira entities under specific conditions
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents; NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) available
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 48% (plus solidarity surcharge)
- VAT
- 22% (Standard rate in Madeira, lower than mainland's 23%)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, EU-aligned anti-tax avoidance directives apply
- Property Tax
- IMI (0.3% to 0.45% annually)
- Property Transaction Tax
- IMT (sliding scale up to 7.5%) plus 0.8% Stamp Duty
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Visa (D8) and IBC 5% corporate tax if qualified