13 Best Hotels in Madeira, Portugal

One of the most highly regarded hotels on the island, this elegant resort sits on a spectacular promontory with a series of terraces spilling down the cliffs and all the way to the ocean. The plush guest quarters have an understated modern look, and most have large balconies overlooking the bay or the inviting gardens. The hotel has plenty of dining options, from two Michelin-star Il Gallo d'Oro to the more casual The Rose Garden and a number of snack bars. There's also a modern fitness center, a luxurious spa where you can unplug, and three pools to chill out in.

For a stay with an exclusive feel—but all the amenities of its much larger neighboring sister hotel, The Cliff Bay, plus its own infinity pool and lovely restaurant, Avista—this contemporary all-suites property overlooking the Bay of Funchal is in a class of its own. Large rooms in earthy creams and browns have balconies with sea views; some also overlook the pretty gardens. You can dine on the modern international cuisine at Avista restaurant’s gorgeous patio, or try lighter bites at the Infinity Pool Bar. There’s also a small gym and pilates room with weekly activities, or take a short walk inside an enclosed pathway over to The Cliff Bay hotel, where you're welcome to use any of their facilities, including the spa, indoor pool, or outdoor pools—or to just take a dip in the sea.

This boutique hotel artfully combines traditional style with designer flair, facing a delightful three-acre semitropical garden in a quiet part of town. It was once owned by the Leacock family—one of Madeira's largest producers of wine in the 19th and early 20th century---and retains some of the original touches, especially the excellent restaurant in the original manor house. The hotel's minimalist rooms open out onto terraces or have sliding shutters that reveal large balconies.

On a working vineyard in the northeast of the island (if you're here in the autumn you can help out with the harvest), this comfortable renovated lodging is a great choice if you're looking for somewhere less touristed. Guest rooms overlook the sea, the gardens and vineyards, or both; all are stylish and inviting, with soothing colors. The charming restaurant offers traditional Madeiran dishes, many using organic products. A sauna, Jacuzzi, pools, and treatment rooms add to the sense of peace and pampering at this special place.

One of Madeira's most romantic hotels, Quinta Jardins do Lago is set in an immaculately maintained botanical garden, which can be admired from the large balconies in all rooms. A library, a billiards room, and a breakfast room with an exceptional 16th-century ceramic wall panel on its veranda give this beautiful 18th-century quinta a timeless quality. During the Napoleonic wars, General Beresford, commander of the British forces on the island, chose the quinta as his residence, and his magnificent sideboard still adorns the dining room. Colombo, a giant tortoise, has lived here since 1949. Among the mango trees is a large heated swimming pool.

On a rocky point surrounded by 10 acres of gardens, Reid's—which first opened its doors in 1891—is synonymous with luxurious lodgings in Madeira. Rooms, many on the spacious side, are beyond comfortable, with wide balconies and sea views. Past guests have included Pablo Picasso, Rainer Maria Rilke, Gregory Peck (Moby Dick was filmed here), and an ailing Winston Churchill, who in 1950 occupied a suite on the ground floor. Wonderful dining options include Michelin-starred William, Italian-focused Villa Cipriani, and the more casual Pool Terrace, plus afternoon high tea—an event not to be missed. Pamper yourself with the two heated outdoor pools (one seawater and one freshwater) and the lovely spa, or if you want to stay more active, try their tennis courts or well-equipped gym. For the more adventurous, there's also an extensive sea pool area where you can swim right in the ocean.

This luxury hotel-within-a-hotel takes up the 16th and 17th floors of Savoy Palace, and includes personal assistants, exclusive use of the Jacarandá Club, and access to a private outdoor area with infinity pool, Jacuzzi, and lovely mountain views. Most suites, with floor-to-ceiling ocean vistas, include two bathrooms, oversized bathtubs, and balconies; corner suites also offer private pools. Your own Guest Experience Personal Assistant (GEPA) stays in touch over WhatsApp for restaurant bookings or other needs. The Reserve guests can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails in the Jacarandá Club, which becomes a Japanese Nikkei restaurant most evenings, or dine in any of Savoy Palace’s other restaurants. There’s also free access to the Laurea Spa, with an indoor pool, sauna, and gym.

The latest hotel from Madeiran design wunderkind Nini Andrade Silva, this large-scale complex has everything a hotel guest might wish for—seven restaurants, a gigantic outdoor pool, a well-stocked gym, and one of the largest spas in Portugal. Rooms are spacious (if generic), done up with light colors and brass details; ask for one with a balcony facing the sea. Savoy Palace houses a plethora of restaurants including modern Madeiran, sushi, and Mediterranean, and three bars, including a rooftop cocktail joint offering gorgeous views. You’ll want to save time for the large spa, which has a heated indoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, and steam room, plus a 24-hour gym.

Part of the Savoy Signature collection, this four-star, all-inclusive hotel is right on the seafront with its own palm-studded grounds between the beach and Calheta's marina. The rooms are not huge, but all have balconies and the best ones peer out over the Atlantic. There are two restaurants, including one buffet and one à la carte, and three bars, one of which is poolside. An on-site spa and gym add to the appeal.

Designed in the style of a Portuguese village, this expansive Hyatt hotel with buildings scattered up a hillside has a large choice of restaurants, four pools, and a lovely pebble beach. Light and bright guest rooms decorated in white and wood come in a range of configurations from double garden view to family ocean view, which sleeps four, and family deluxe garden view, which sleeps six; all have balconies and good-sized bathrooms with rain showers. The property also has four swimming pools, including a kids’ pool, an adults-only pool, and a natural sea pool. Guests won’t go hungry with seven à la carte restaurant options, including Japanese, grilled meats, French, and Mediterranean, plus a buffet restaurant and an ice cream parlor. You’ll also find a number of bars throughout the hotel, including poolside and beachside. If the stairs up and down the hillside aren’t enough exercise, the 9,700-square-foot spa includes a good-sized gym, along with a heated indoor pool, steam room, and sauna to soothe tired muscles.

A mix of standard rooms, spacious apartments, and villas spread around landscaped grounds dotted with tropical plants and dazzling flowers, this Mediterranean-style resort sits on a wonderfully quiet stretch of beach around 3 km (2 miles) from Vila Baleira. The all-inclusive property's restaurants range from poolside bars with light food to Mediterranean cuisine to a more upscale Italian eatery. Should the beach not be enough, the pool complex is superb: there are two large pools, one with salt water, as well as a separate children's pool and kids' club. A gym and tennis court cater to sporty types, while there are indulgent treatments and an indoor pool at the spa.

This large glass-fronted hotel overlooking a spectacular stretch of oceanfront has modern and tastefully appointed, if generic, guest rooms, most with balconies offering water views. Rates include breakfast and dinner; guests can choose from five restaurants, including Portuguese, Italian, and sushi. Other amenities include a stunning sea-level platform featuring a bar and two seawater swimming pools; a kids' pool and an indoor pool; a thalassotherapy (uses the benefits of seawater) spa; and a well-equipped fitness center with a variety of classes. The hotel is also more family-friendly than many others on the island, offering Aquatica Kids' World for children up to age 11 and 24-hour babysitting services (for a fee).

About 4 km (2½ miles) from Vila Baleira, the Vila Baleira Suites have their own pretty pool surrounded by sunny yellow lounge chairs, but most guests head just beyond that to one of the nicest stretches of beach on the island. The squat modern building itself is a bit of an eyesore, but the place makes up for any shortcomings with good amenities and a perfect location.