Choosing your destination is without a doubt one of the hardest parts of a holiday. Once you’ve successfully cleared that hurdle, (and the fact you are reading this blog suggests you’ve settled on the beautiful island of Madeira) you have to decide where to stay. There are hundreds of hotels littering the mountains and the coastline. Choosing the right hotel for you requires research, patience and time. We thought we would take some of the hard work out of the equation for you, and have compiled recommendations and reviews for the best hotels in Funchal. We hope you’ll find the perfect hotel for your needs and don’t forget to book your hire car with us once you’re done.
The Cliff Bay, Porto Bay
5* Resort a short distance from Funchal city centre
A 5* resort atop the cliffs of Porto Bay, the Cliff Bay is certainly prestigious hotel. With endless views across the ocean, excellent amenities and beautiful rooms, it’s a fine choice if you are looking for somewhere extra special to rest your head. Take your pick from three fantastic on-site restaurants, start your day off the right way with a complimentary buffet breakfast and enjoy free parking, free wifi and a well-equipped health club plus much more.
Technically this hotel is ranked #2 on Trip Advisor, but taking into account the total number of 1,107 reviews, we think this hotel deserves the first mention. After all, of those 1,107 reviews, 943 customers ranked the establishment as ‘Excellent’ and 120 people ranked it as ‘Very Good’. Some patrons have cited it an ‘impeccable experience’, ‘superb’ and when it comes to the nitty gritty details, ‘the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in’ should aptly describe what awaits you. Most people seem of the opinion that this is an excellent hotel, right through from check in to check out and everything in between.
Porto Bay is also home to one of Madeira’s most popular golf courses! Take a look at our golfing guide for more of the island’s best clubs and courses.
Hotel Albergaria Dias
3* in the hills above Funchal’s Old Town
For those looking for a more modest hotel without compromising on experience or facilities, the Hotel Albergaria Dias is a fantastic choice if the reviews are anything to go by. Nestled in hills overlooking the Old Town, this 3* establishment provides everything you could need with the added benefit of excellent views across Funchal and out to sea.
It might only be small, with just 33 rooms in total, but the service you will receive is second to none, being a family owned and run hotel. Of the 272 reviews this hotel has attracted on Trip Advisor, a whopping 241 of them classified the Albergaria as ‘Excellent’. The delights of the Old Town and beyond are just a few minutes’ walk away yet you can easily get out of Funchal to explore further afield too. This page on the Holiday Watchdog website is overflowing with excellent reviews for this hotel; for a mid-range option it seems you can’t go wrong here.
Orca Praia Hotel
3* with excellent facilities
The Orca Praia Hotel is a special choice. For clean and comfortable accommodation, you can’t beat it, especially when each and every room boasts a sea view with big balconies. That’s quite impressive given its three star status as well as its own beach and on site swimming pool. Rates are certainly reasonable and those who took the time to leave these reviews are only filled with praise citing it ‘a Madeiran treasure’, ‘absolutely fabulous’ and ‘a hidden gem’.
Its location isn’t right in the thick of things but it’s not far from the centre of Funchal, just 6km away in fact, and Orca Praia’s cliff-set location is a more than apt compromise. The food is also praised here with a great selection on offer and many people mention how nice it is to fall asleep to the sound of the waves. Just remember that if you want to avoid a short drive or bus journey into town, this location may not suit your needs.
If you are looking to get away from the hotel pool check out our top ten activities in Madeira!
Porto Mare Hotel
4* tropical medley hotel
This 4* hotel has attracted more than 800 reviews on Tripadvisor, 643 of which are ‘Excellent’ and 166 of which are ‘Very Good’. You can’t please everyone all the time but this seems to be a pretty high success rate for this beautiful hotel. It seems to be most popular with couples and families although not so much for single or business travellers.
Some of the biggest draws of this hotel are the great views and clean, well presented rooms and gorgeous gardens which encircle the building. Everything about the hotel is praised, from the helpful friendly staff to the excellent selection of food and even the evening entertainment. Quite simply, it is considered ‘absolute paradise’. Just a 15 minute walk from the centre of Funchal, the hotel is located to the west of the bay yet it is close to a great selection of other amenities including shops and restaurants.
We’ve only covered 5 hotels in our blog, rest assured there are plenty more, but depending on the price range you are after, we hope you will consider these top choices. With such sterling reviews written for each of these hotels, we are sure you won’t be disappointed.
Do you have an accommodation recommendation for Funchal? If so, share it in the comments section below.
