Where to stay in Madeira: the best areas, compared

Where you stay in Madeira shapes your trip more than you might expect. The island is small, but mountain roads are slow, and the weather really is different from one coast to the other.

The quick answer

First trip, no car: Funchal.
First trip with a car: Funchal, Caniço, or the sunny south-west.
Sun above all: Ponta do Sol and Calheta.
Families: Caniço, Calheta or the Lido area of Funchal.
Hikers: the north coast, or the hills above the south coast for quick access to the mountains.
Beach holiday: Porto Santo.

Funchal

The capital has most restaurants, the old town, the market, the cable car and all the bus routes. Without a car, it is the obvious base.

The Lido and hotel zone: west of the centre, with seawater pools, sea views and many hotels and apartments. Flat walk along the sea into town.
The centre and Zona Velha: the old town and the streets around the cathedral, lively in the evening, close to everything.
The hills: São Martinho, Santo António, São Gonçalo and Monte have great views and quieter streets, but steep climbs. A car or taxi is useful.

Caniço, Garajau and Santa Cruz

East of Funchal, between the city and the airport. Sunny and calm, with the Reis Magos seafront, good diving at Garajau and quick access to both Funchal and the east. Popular with families and with people who want quiet but not isolation.

Câmara de Lobos and Estreito

Just west of Funchal. A real fishing town with good restaurants and bars, Cabo Girão next door, and vineyards above in Estreito. Often better value than Funchal.

The south-west: Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol, Calheta

The sunniest part of the island. Ponta do Sol is a small, pretty village with a strong community of long-stay visitors. Calheta has a sheltered golden-sand beach and a marina. Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar are surf villages at the foot of the cliffs. It is about 45 to 60 minutes to the airport, and a car is close to essential.

Machico

Near the airport, with the island’s main natural sandy bay and a local, unpolished feel. Handy for early flights and for the walks at the eastern tip.

The north coast: São Vicente, Porto Moniz, Seixal, Santana

Green, dramatic and quiet, with waterfalls, black-sand beaches and the Porto Moniz natural pools. It is cooler and wetter than the south, and evenings are calm. Good for walkers and for people who want nature over nightlife. Plan for a car.

Porto Santo

The neighbouring island has a nine-kilometre golden beach and a slower pace. Stay two or three nights, or a whole beach holiday. See Porto Santo.

Hotel or holiday home?

Hotels make sense for short stays and for pools and service. For families, groups and stays of a week or more, a holiday home gives you space, a kitchen and often a terrace with a view, for a lower price per person.

Before you book

Look at the altitude: a “sea view” house at 400 metres can be in the clouds when the coast is sunny, and its access road may be very steep.
Ask about parking if you rent a car; streets in Funchal are narrow.
Check whether the tourist tax and cleaning fee are included. See tourist tax.