Are you going on holiday to the Portuguese island of Madeira? Find out which locations and cities are the best, cheapest and most practical for accommodation in Madeira.
Where to stay in Madeira
With a length of around 60km and a width of around 30km, Madeira is a place where different approaches to accommodation and choice of location can be taken.
It is not a problem to set off on trips from one place, just as it is possible to organise a road-trip around the island, staying in several places.
It also very much depends on whether you rent a car or not. If not, the only possible place to stay is the capital city of Funchal, where all bus services around the island leave from. Even so, you won't reach the mountains and some of the levadas, which cannot be reached by bus.
One-stop excursions
If you want to spend your entire stay in one accommodation, there are three main starting points from where places of interest will be easily accessible:
- Funchal - the capital and largest city, from where most roads lead and great coverage of excursions in eastern Madeira. Funchal is also the only possible place to live if you only travel by public transport buses.
- Santana or Machico, tourist towns in the north-east of the island, are ideal for trips to the mountains and the whole of eastern and northern Madeira, and Funchal itself is easy to reach.
- Calheta or Porto Moniz - the best places if you prefer the quieter western part of Madeira, with its many levadas and very varied landscapes
Road trip around the island
The second option is considerably more efficient for exploring the island and travelling by car, saving yourself a lot of mileage and petrol.
On the other hand, it is of course less comfortable, as you will be staying in a different hotel every few days. It is also difficult to practice when travelling by bus, which follows the motto "all roads lead to Funchal".
Check out our tips on where to stay during your trip around Madeira.
Funchal
The largest city to stay in for at least 2-3 nights after arrival or before departure, in addition to its many attractions, it also serves as an excellent starting point for trips to the mountains and urban levadas. Here you will find the widest range of hotels, resorts, apartments and budget hostels.
Alternatives to Funchal are the nearby quieter towns of Câmara de Lobos or Caniço (effectively suburbs of Funchal), where there is also a good range of accommodation.
Calheta
One of Madeira's beach resorts, Calheta is also an ideal base for car journeys to the levadas of Rabaçal. Calheta boasts superbly rated accommodation with spectacular sea views, mostly smaller hotels and apartments. Stay here for 2-3 nights.
Porto Moniz
A pretty little town at the most north-western point of the island, quiet and with few tourists, with popular natural lava pools. Porto Moniz has one spa hotel and many family apartments. Stay here for 1-2 nights.
São Vicente
The largest town on the northern coast is ideal to visit for 1-2 nights, do some trekking on the Encumeada and enjoy the beautiful lush green landscape.
Santana
One of Madeira's hiking hubs, a lovely town full of traditional Madeiran casas de colmo houses and a good starting point for hiking in the mountains and along the levadas (Pico Ruivo, Caldeirao Verde and more).
In Santana you will find mainly family apartments, guesthouses and small hotels. Stay here for 2-3 nights.
Machico
This east coast resort is ideal for relaxing by the sea and as a starting point for trekking on the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula. Stay in Machico for 1-2 nights at best.
The places listed above are just our tips on where to stay comfortably in towns with full facilities and several tourist attractions.
If you prefer more peaceful places, just choose from any other town in Madeira, you can find beautiful accommodation really everywhere. Some of the most peaceful villages on the main routes include Ponta do Pargo, Porto da Cruz, Ponta do Sol, São Jorge or Caniçal.
Hotel prices in Madeira
Although Madeira can't complain about a lack of tourists, thanks to the great range of accommodation, prices start at a reasonable amount.
During high season, you can find accommodation in nice villas even with breakfast for around 65 eur per night. Even prices in standard hotels rarely exceed 100 eur per night for 2.
Expect significant discounts in the winter between November and February, when you can get better hotel accommodation from 60 eur.
Check prices and availability of hotels in Madeira
When to book accommodation?
While the general rule of thumb for accommodation is that the earlier you book your hotel, the cheaper it will be, in Madeira prices don't rise as steeply as in other destinations as you get closer to your travel date.
The ideal time to book is around 3-4 months before your trip, but even a week before departure you can find reasonably priced accommodation in at least the larger cities, especially in low season.
In summer (June to September) we recommend booking earlier than 1 month before your trip, especially if you want to stay in smaller villages.