Where to stay in Madeira
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We loved our family holiday in Madeira, it’s a stunning island. Whether you want to spend your time relaxing by the pool, taking a driving tour or hiking in the mountains. We’ve rounded up our top recommendations for where to stay in Madeira.
Where to stay in Madeira – for luxury
Reids Palace is the hotel for luxury in Madeira. With a prime cliff-top location in Funchal, it’s known for its exceptional service and high-end amenities. It was also Winston Churchill’s favourite.
Funchal
As the administrative capital, Funchal is the most popular place for visitors deciding where to stay in Madeira. There are many advantages to staying here too. It’s the largest town in Madeira so has a great selection of accommodation whatever your budget. It also has all the shops and restaurants you could want. Being on the South coast of Madeira it does tend to get more sunshine than some other parts of the island too. The accommodation in Funchal is divided in two main areas. The lido area, often referred to as the ‘hotel district’ and the old town.
Where to stay in Madeira – Funchal top choice
Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel may be a mouthful but it is a fantastic hotel! It’s where we stayed and we loved the ocean-front location that was also walkable to everywhere we wanted to go in Funchal. The amazing Sabores de Nostra Ilha foodcourt was around the corner and there are three pools to choose from!
Funchal Lido area
The hotel district (Lido area) is an area south west of town by the sea which is full of hotels and restaurants. It’s a great place for walks along the coast to Camara de Lobos or for swimming in the lido (a swimming complex hewn into the rocks).
Where to stay in Madeira – Funchal lido area
Melia Madeira Mare – Is a fantastic family-friendly hotel, with Ocean view rooms available.
Ocean View Apartment – If you like plenty of space with an Ocean view and the option of doing some self catering, this is a fantastic option.
Funchal Old Town
The old town of Funchal or ‘Zona Velha’ is a gorgeous area full of beautiful Portuguese architecture. It is also brimming with bars and restaurants and close to main of the city attractions. Read about our recommendations of things to do here. This makes is an excellent choice if you want to be close to the action.
Where to stay in Madeira – Funchal old town
Endemic – Concept apartment is a beautiful 2 bed apartment in a fantastic location in the old town. Perfect if you want the possibility to self cater. There is no pool but you are very close to safe spots to swim in the sea.
Three House Hotel is a great option for a central hotel. It has a lovely rooftop pool and a selection of room sizes including 2 bedroom apartments perfect for families.
Outside of Funchal
If you want somewhere a little quieter to stay or you just want to experience other parts of the island on more than a day trip, there are lots of other attractive smaller towns. We’ve rounded up our favourites here.
The South coast
Boasting the most sunshine on the island, it’s a good plan to stay on the south coast if you are wanting to catch some rays.
Camara de Lobos
If you want to be close to the Funchal attractions but somewhere a little quieter, this pretty fishing village is a good choice.
Casa da Cal – by Casas na Ilha is beautiful option for a guesthouse with pool, within easy reach of the village restaurants.
Pestana Churchill Bay is in a prime location, with amazing views of the bay from the pool area and many of the rooms.
Calheta
Further up the coast, Calheta is a great choice for anyone that loves the beach. Madeira isn’t known for its beaches. In many places the cliffs just drop dramatically into the ocean. Calheta boasts one of the few sandy beaches on the island.
Calheta Beach is in the perfect beachside location, and a brilliant choice if you are looking for an all-inclusive holiday.
Casa das Palmeiras is an apartment up the hill from the beach. It is much more budget friendly but has excellent sea views and a pool.
The North Coast
The north coast of Madeira is less visited than the south but has scenery that is just as spectacular. There are some lovely towns along this coast if you want to escape the tourist crowds more.
Porto Moniz
Perched on the Northwest point of Madeira, Porto Moniz is a pretty town where white buildings tumble down the mountainside towards the ocean. One of its most famous attractions are the natural swimming pools.
The Jolie – Porto Moniz Central Studios is just a short walk from the natural swim pools.
Aqua Natura Bay is a four star hotel with amazing ocean-front views and it’s own pool.
Sao Vicente
If you like tranquility and stunning views this small town on the North coast has it by the bucket-load. In my opinion some of the best views on the island are around here.
My top pick for accommodation here would be A Casa Estrelícia-Dourada Garcês. It gets fantastic reviews for its spectacular views. If you want a quiet location that has a pool with amazing views and is still close to the sea, it’s a prime choice.
Wherever you stay for your Madeira family holiday, I’m confident you will enjoy the amazing scenery. Find more information on things to do in Funchal as well as walks and driving tours of the island in our other Madeira posts, all grouped on our Portugal page.
