Volcanic cliffs, subtropical gardens and Atlantic water still warm enough to swim in come October. Ryanair flies Manchester to Funchal non-stop from £39 return.
✈️ The Deal
- From: Manchester, United Kingdom
- To: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
- Airline: Ryanair
- Stops: Non-stop
- Price: £39–£50 return
- When: September – October 2026
Example dates:
20/09/2026 – 08/10/2026
22/09/2026 – 08/10/2026
27/09/2026 – 08/10/2026
04/10/2026 – 08/10/2026
Check dates on Trip.com
💰 How Far Does Your Money Go?
A domestic Coral beer at a local bar costs £2.20, and a full lunch menu with a drink and dessert comes in under £9, cheaper than a meal deal back home. Poncha, Madeira's rum-based local drink, rarely tops £4 a glass, and a proper sit-down dinner for two lands around £45.
☀️ The Weather
Manchester drops fast this time of year, highs of 17°C in September sliding to 13°C by October, with the rain to match. Funchal barely notices the season change. Expect 23–24°C by day in September, still 20°C-plus lows into October, with sea temperatures holding around 22°C. Pack for summer, not autumn.
🏨 Where to Stay
Three ways to base yourself in Funchal.
Dorisol Mimosa Studio Hotel — 8.1/10 · From £75/night Simple studios with kitchenettes, a short walk from the seafront promenade.
The Editory Ocean Way Funchal — 8.6/10 · From £130/night Sea-view rooms and a rooftop pool, right in the Zona Velha with easy access to the old town's restaurants.
Reid's Palace — 9.2/10 · From £420/night Madeira's most iconic address, clifftop gardens and Atlantic views from almost every room.
🎯 What to Do
A small island that packs in mountains, cliffs and a proper old town.
Ride the Monte cable car and toboggan back down — Five minutes up by cable car, then a wicker sled ride steered by two men in straw hats back to town.
Walk a levada — Madeira's old irrigation channels double as hiking trails through laurel forest and waterfalls, no guide needed for most routes.
Explore the Zona Velha — Funchal's old town, painted doors, seafood tascas and live music most evenings.
Try poncha where it was invented — Head to Câmara de Lobos, a fishing village a short bus ride from Funchal, for the real thing.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
Funchal is a base, not the whole island.
Porto Santo — Madeira's golden sand beach, a 2.5-hour ferry from Funchal or a 15-minute flight.
Curral das Freiras — A village tucked into an old volcanic crater, 40 minutes by road from Funchal.
Ponta de São Lourenço — The island's dramatic, dry eastern tip, popular for coastal hiking.
Santana — Home to Madeira's traditional triangular thatched houses, about an hour's drive north.
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£39 return to a subtropical island with actual mountains doesn't last. Lock in your dates now.
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