Funchal is the capital and largest city of the Portuguese island of Madeira. Over the past five years it has built up one of Europe's most concentrated remote-work and coworking scenes — fast fiber internet, year-round 20°C temperatures, a daily community calendar, and prices well below mainland European capitals.
Madeira Friends operates The Hub, the community-owned coworking space in Funchal. It is part of a larger ecosystem that also includes coliving stays, events, programs, and a partner network built around international community life on the island.
Who uses coworking in Funchal
- Remote workers employed by companies in the EU, UK, US, and beyond — using Funchal as a long-stay or year-round base.
- Founders and freelancers building products, agencies, or consulting practices with a global client base.
- Visiting professionals on a 1–3 month workation, often combining the Hub with coliving and weekend trips around the island.
- Local Madeirans who want to work alongside an international peer group and build a professional network beyond Madeira's traditional industries.
- Small teams and retreats renting private offices or whole rooms for a sprint, an off-site, or a launch.
The Hub by Madeira Friends
The Hub is the daily anchor for the Madeira Friends community. Located in Funchal with fast fiber internet, meeting rooms, phone booths, and a dedicated event space.
- Day pass. Hot desk for the day. Ideal if you are visiting Madeira for a short stay.
- Monthly memberships. Hot desk or dedicated desk. Includes guest passes, community events, member rates on workshops, and 24/7 access on the higher tier.
- Private offices. Lockable offices for solo founders, pairs, or small teams. Available month to month.
- Virtual office. A Funchal business address with mail handling — useful for non-resident founders, fiscal representation, and incorporating a Portuguese company.
- Event hire. Workshops, demo nights, founder dinners, panel discussions.
For current pricing and tours, contact hello@madeirafriends.org or visit the coworking page.
What is included
- Fiber internet (200–1000 Mbps) and stable Wi-Fi
- Ergonomic seating and large monitors on dedicated desks
- Meeting rooms and phone booths
- Filtered water, coffee, tea
- Printing and standard office supplies
- Mail handling on relevant plans (virtual office, dedicated desk)
- Access to community events and the wider Madeira Friends network
Coworking vs. working from cafés
Funchal has plenty of café Wi-Fi, but a serious remote-work practice benefits from a real chair, real bandwidth, a phone booth for calls, and a peer group to bounce ideas with. Members typically report that switching from cafés to The Hub measurably increases deep-work hours per day. The community side — Tuesday lunches, founder circles, member-only workshops — is the harder thing to replicate from a café.
Visiting Madeira for the first time
If you are visiting for the first time, the most popular pattern is:
- Book a coliving stay (or a hotel/short-term rental) through madeiraremote.com.
- Buy a Hub day pass for your first week.
- Attend a Madeira Friends Tuesday lunch and one Sunday hike — the quickest way to feel part of the community.
- If you stay longer, convert to a monthly Hub membership and look for a long-term apartment in Funchal.
A Funchal business address (virtual office)
Founders and remote teams often need a professional business address in Portugal — for receiving mail, fiscal representation, incorporating a Lda. (limited company), or registering for Portugal tax (NIF). The Hub's virtual office product covers these needs without requiring you to be physically present every day.
Frequently asked questions
Where is The Hub in Funchal?
The Hub is in Funchal, Madeira. The exact address and tour times are shared after a quick intake — email hello@madeirafriends.org and we will set it up.
How much does coworking in Funchal cost?
Coworking in Funchal typically runs from €15–€25 per day pass, €120–€280 per month for a hot desk, and €250–€500 per month for dedicated desks. Private offices and team rates are quoted on request. Contact us for the current Hub pricing.
Do I need to be a member of Madeira Friends to use The Hub?
No. Day passes are open to anyone. A Madeira Friends membership unlocks community events, member rates, and partner benefits across the island.
Is there meeting-room space for calls and workshops?
Yes. The Hub has phone booths and meeting rooms bookable by Hub members. Larger event-hire requests for workshops, demo nights, or off-sites are handled case-by-case — get in touch with the team.
How is The Hub different from a coliving space?
Coliving is where you sleep and live; coworking is where you work. Many of our members combine the two — coliving via madeiraremote.com and coworking at The Hub.