By the Sé or on the cliff. Barceló Funchal Oldtown, from about €225 with breakfast, if you want the Sé two minutes away and the market nine; Reid's Palace, from about €825 with breakfast, if you would rather have the grand hotel of 1891 and tea on its terrace.
The insider oneA new five-star behind six old façades by the Sé, opened in 2023, with a rooftop pool and old Funchal on foot.
€€From about €225 a night
Choose Barceló Funchal Oldtown if
The catch
A small, shallow rooftop pool, about 10 by 6 metres, where loungers run short on busy days
The iconFunchal's grand hotel of 1891 on the cliff above the bay, with afternoon tea on the terrace, pools above the sea and a starred dining room.
€€€€From about €825 a night
Choose Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel if
The catch
The entry Superior Rooms are 23 to 26 m² with a partial sea view; the full view of the bay starts with the Deluxe Sea View
| Best for | Barceló Funchal Oldtown | Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Best family hotels in Madeira | Not on the list | On the list |
| Best value hotels in Madeira | On the list | Not on the list |
| Best central hotels in Madeira | On the list | Not on the list |
| Best quiet hotels in Madeira | Not on the list | On the list |
| Best hotels with a view in Madeira | Not on the list | On the list |
| Best hotels for food and drink in Madeira | Not on the list | On the list |
Barceló Funchal OldtownReid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel
Barceló Funchal Oldtown
Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel
The verdict
By the Sé or on the cliff. Barceló Funchal Oldtown, from about €225 with breakfast, if you want the Sé two minutes away and the market nine; Reid's Palace, from about €825 with breakfast, if you would rather have the grand hotel of 1891 and tea on its terrace.
Hand-picked: only the best, one version of each, researched so you don’t have to.
The east, in comfortFrom €38.704.7(3,900)
The food and wineFrom €954.8(550)
The west, by jeepFrom €695(650)
Whales, on a big catamaranFrom €354.6(7,900)
Questions people ask
By the Sé or on the cliff. Barceló Funchal Oldtown, from about €225 with breakfast, if you want the Sé two minutes away and the market nine; Reid's Palace, from about €825 with breakfast, if you would rather have the grand hotel of 1891 and tea on its terrace.
Old Funchal on the doorstep and a pool on the roof, from about €225 a night with breakfast. Check availability for the Junior Suite. A polished five-star behind a row of old town façades, built for walking out of the door into old Funchal. The roof pool is a place to cool off, not the point of the stay.
It has a rooftop pool. A public beach is within walking distance.
Funchal's grand hotel, on its cliff since 1891, for anyone who wants the terrace, the gardens and the bay more than a beach. Check availability for the Deluxe Sea View Room. A classic grand hotel with a strong sense of Madeira, where the terrace, the gardens and the pools above the sea are the holiday, and the price is top of the island. Funchal is a walk or a free shuttle away.
It has an outdoor pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.