20 Funchal 5-star Hotels – Perfect for a Luxury Stay in Madeira

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Written by: | Last updated on February 29, 2024 | Est. Reading Time: 9 minutes

When it comes to luxury accommodation, Funchal is spoiled for choice: there are 20 different 5-star hotels in and around Funchal. Few places in Portugal offer this many luxury hotels in such a small area. 

If you’re thinking about treating your partner, friend, or just yourself, Funchal is an easy place to do it. 

Belmond Reid’s Palace

Belmond Reid's Palace birdseye view

Perfectly poised on the tree-topped cliffs to the south of Funchal, Belmond Reid’s Palace gives you panoramic views of the ocean. The 5-star hotel offers a sense of traditional grandeur with its elegant interiors, formal dining area with a 2 Michelin-star offering at Il Gallo D’Oro and timeless open-air terraces. It covers an impressive 10 acres of subtropical gardens, and has swimming pools and secluded oceanfront spots for you to sunbathe. Work your way to the east of the resort and you’ll find yourself in the hotel’s luxury garden spa.

Book at Booking.com

The Cliff Bay – PortoBay

The Cliff Bay bedroom

You’ll have private access to the sea when you stay in this 5-star hotel. The Cliff Bay – PortoBay, which is a 15-minute drive from the old town, sits on a natural peninsula giving you uninterrupted views of the Atlantic. Foodies will love the Michelin-starred restaurant which has a terraced eating area with a sea view. Sun worshippers can enjoy the hotel’s sunny deck and multiple swimming pools.

Book at Booking.com

Pestana Casino Park Hotel & Casino

Pestana Casino Park Hotel pool

One of Pestana Casino Park Hotel & Casino’s star attractions is its large infinity pool which looks out over the ocean. This premium hotel offers a lively atmosphere thanks to its on-site casino, nightclub and evening entertainment. There’ll also be plenty of opportunity to unwind too, whether in the hotel’s stunning spa area or ocean-view bars perfect for sunset gazing.

Book at Booking.com

Royal Savoy

royal savoy bedroom

Ticking all the boxes for 5-star luxury, the Royal Savoy hotel has everything you need and more to provide a memorable stay. Set within tropical gardens on Funchal’s sea cliffs, this coastal hotel offers panoramic views of the ocean from its suite’s private balconies. Spend your days lounging around the pool or head to the spa for a massage. There’ll be nightly entertainment and cocktails from the bar, but if you want to venture out, Funchal Marina is only a 14-minute walk from the hotel.

Book at Booking.com

Quinta da Casa Branca

Quinta da Casa Branca hall

Nestling within subtropical gardens, Quinta da Casa Branca feels intertwined with nature. This green retreat was once a 19th-century banana plantation and vineyard; now it’s a harmonious fusion of traditional and modern luxury where guests can stay in ultra-contemporary glass cube rooms or in the grand 19th-century manor house. The boutique hotel, which is only a 10-minute drive from Funchal Marina, has a heated outdoor pool and a luxury spa area.

Book at Booking.com

The Vine Hotel

The Vine Hotel bedroom

The Vine Hotel enjoys a prime position in the centre of Funchal overlooking its bay. Offering a slice of modern grandeur, this 5-star hotel is set to impress with its sophisticated suites complete with atmospheric lighting and decadent free-standing baths at the foot of the bed. Maybe its main draw though is its rooftop infinity pool which has views over the bay and mountains. There’s also a spa here too which is not to be missed.

Book at Booking.com

Melia Madeira Mare

Melia Madeira Mare bedroom

Melia Madeira Mare hotel puts you in between Funchal’s town centre and Praia Formosa beach. Positioned at the edge of the cliffs, the hotel gives you panoramic sea views from its rooms and swimming pool area. There’ll also be chance to relax in the hotel’s spa which has a sauna, hot tub, steam room and a variety of body treatments.

Book at Booking.com

Quinta da Bela Vista

Quinta da Bela Vista pool

Quinta da Bela Vista, voted as one of Europe’s Leading Boutique Hotels, is set in the peaceful outskirts of Funchal, just a 15-minute ride to the marina. The 5-star hotel was built in 1844 as a sugar cane farm and now provides guests with an elegant stay with a traditional atmosphere. Floral chintz, antique furniture and chandelier-adorned dining rooms lend an English manor house feel, while its subtropical gardens and shady pool area remind you that you’re in Madeira.

Book at Booking.com

Casa Velha do Palheiro

Casa Velha do Palheiro bedroom

You’ll be high in the hills above Funchal’s town when you stay at Casa Velha do Palheiro. This refined stay, which is about a 20-minute drive to the marina, was once an 18th-century hunting lodge. Now, it boasts an elegant decor and over 20 kilometres of gardens teeming with wildlife. Sporty types can enjoy discounts on the on-site golf course, or challenge friends to a game of tennis, badminton or croquet. Of course, you can always relax by the pool or in the spa too.

Book at Booking.com

Pestana Royal Premium All Inclusive Ocean & Spa Resort

Pestana Royal funchal

Experience true bliss at Pestana Royal Premium All Inclusive Ocean & Spa Resort, which has a sweeping pool area overlooking the Atlantic. You’ll be just a few steps from Praia da Formosa, a Blue Flag beach recognised for its excellent water quality. There are activities to keep all the family entertained here, with kids’ clubs and playgrounds for the little ones and a spa, billiards and tennis for adults.

Book at Booking.com

Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel

Pestana Carlton Madeira pool

Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel has a cliff-top spot close to Funchal’s marina and old town. With four restaurants, two bars, multiple swimming pools and a wide variety of activities, this extensive resort offers endless entertainment for both adults and kids. You can learn how to dive with the hotel’s on-site diving school or play tennis. If you’re in need of some you time, head to the spa for its selection of massage treatments.

Book at Booking.com

LTI Pestana Grand Ocean Resort Hotel

LTI Pestana Grand Ocean pool

LTI Pestana Grand Ocean Resort Hotel’s standout feature is its sweeping saltwater pool, which is in fact the largest in all of Madeira. The resort is positioned on the edge of the Ponta da Cruz cliff and has direct access to the Funchal’s seaside promenade. Besides lounging around the pool, you can de-stress in the spa and enjoy the restaurant’s many cuisines including Moroccan, Italian and Portuguese.

Book at Booking.com

Vidamar Resorts Madeira

Vidamar Resorts Madeira balcony

The three ocean-front infinity pools give Vidamar Resorts Madeira a standout appeal. This 5-star resort is based just a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Funchal. During your stay, you can enjoy views of the sea or garden from your very own balcony and relax in your air-conditioned room. Foodies will love the meal offering which comprises a range of cuisines from Italian to Japanese.

Book at Booking.com

Savoy Palace

Savoy Palace bedroom

Tipped as one of the hottest new hotels in the world, Savoy Palace brings contemporary-luxe to Madeira’s capital. Its modern decadence can be experienced throughout the resort from its ambient-lit artisan bar to its marble-finished luxury suites. And with a prime position on the cliffs above Funchal’s bay, you can experience an ocean backdrop from its rooftop pool and bar area. Visiting as a family? The little ones will love the fun activities provided by the on-site kids’ club.

Book at Booking.com

Quintinha de São João

Quintinha Sao Joao bedroom

With views of the bay and an abundant of tropical plants within its grounds, Quintinha de São João is a tranquil oasis on the outskirts of Funchal. You can base yourself in the hotel’s gardens for days by the pool, or destress in the spa. If you can pull yourself away from the resort, the hotel offers a free shuttle service which can take you to the marina.

Book at Booking.com

Enotel Lido Madeira

Enotel Lido Madeira birdseye

Enotel Lido Madeira is an ideal option for a family getaway thanks to its range of activities for both adults and kids. As well as its large outdoor pool, the hotel has a playground and kids’ club to keep the children entertained, and a spa with a wide selection of treatments for adults. If you want to head out, you’ll have the shops and restaurants of Funchal within walking distance.

Book at Booking.com

Quinta Mirabela – Design Hotel

Quinta Mirabela rooftop

You’ll have some of the best views of the bay when you stay at Quinta Mirabela – Design Hotel. The resort, which is a 15-minute drive to the marina, is set high in the hills with far-reaching views from its stunning rooftop deck and swimming pool area. Housed in both a 19th-century villa and a new modern wing, the hotel fuses historic charm with a contemporary aesthetic. With its hill-top location, this hotel is an ideal choice for those looking for mountain adventures or trips to the nearby botanical gardens.

Book at Booking.com

Pestana Madeira Beach Club

Pestana Madeira Beach Club

Enjoy the convenience of having both a self-catered room and restaurants on-site when you stay at Pestana Madeira Beach Club. The hotel, which is located just a 10-minute drive from Funchal Marina, combines a modern apartment decor with authentic touches like the traditional tavern-style restaurant. Your days can be spent sunbathing around the pool or shading in the bar with a beer or two.

Book at Booking.com

Les Suites at Cliff Bay PortoBay

Les Suites at Cliff Bay PortoBay view

If al fresco dinners, ocean-front massages and sea-view sunsets are your idea of bliss, then you’ll love Les Suites at Cliff Bay PortoBay. Offering 5-star luxury, the hotel has standout features such its seafront infinity pool and spacious suites with contemporary floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s a restaurant and bar here too, but if you fancy a night out, Funchal’s Marina is just a 10-minute cab ride away.

Book at Booking.com

Charming Hotels – Quinta das Vistas

Quinta das Vistas restaurant

Enjoy the charm of Quinta das Vistas, set high in the hills above Funchal’s curving bay. Nestling among idyllic gardens, the hotel offers a peaceful setting where guests can unwind on its sun-trap swimming pool terrace. Inside, it’s a sophisticated affair comprising tasteful interiors throughout and delightful ground-floor rooms such as a piano bar and a quiet reading area. For nights away from the hotel, head to the marina and old town which are both a 10-minute drive away.

Book at Booking.com

Written by

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of the bestselling book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple. He has visited just about every part of Portugal, including Madeira and all nine islands of the Azores, and lived in several parts of Portugal including Lisbon, the Algarve, and Northern Portugal.

You can contact James by emailing james@portugalist.com or via the site's contact form.

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  1. Thank you for writing this. We are visiting Madeira later this year and wanted something for the occassion. This has given us lots to think about.

    Reply

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