Funchal's grand hotels, from 1891 or 2019. Reid's Palace, from about €825 with breakfast, if you want afternoon tea on the terrace over the bay, William's MICHELIN star and heated pools on the cliff above a tidal pool; Savoy Palace, from about €495 with breakfast, if you would rather have rooms from 41 m², six restaurants, a heated adults-only infinity pool on the 17th floor and the 3,100 m² Laurea Spa.
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
The grand oneFunchal's big modern palace: an adults-only rooftop infinity pool, a 3,100 m² spa and sea-view balconies over Funchal Bay.
€€€€From about €495 a night
Choose Savoy Palace if
The catch
The spa circuit costs €50 a day per guest unless you book a treatment of 60 minutes or more, and it is for over-16s only
| Best for | Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel | Savoy Palace |
|---|---|---|
| Best family hotels in Madeira | On the list | Not on the list |
| Best design hotels in Madeira | Not on the list | On the list |
| Best spa hotels in Madeira | Not on the list | On the list |
| Best quiet hotels in Madeira | On the list | Not on the list |
| Best hotels with a view in Madeira | On the list | Not on the list |
| Best hotels for food and drink in Madeira | On the list | Not on the list |
Reid's Palace, A Belmond HotelSavoy Palace
Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel
Savoy Palace
The verdict
Funchal's grand hotels, from 1891 or 2019. Reid's Palace, from about €825 with breakfast, if you want afternoon tea on the terrace over the bay, William's MICHELIN star and heated pools on the cliff above a tidal pool; Savoy Palace, from about €495 with breakfast, if you would rather have rooms from 41 m², six restaurants, a heated adults-only infinity pool on the 17th floor and the 3,100 m² Laurea Spa.
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
Funchal's grand hotels, from 1891 or 2019. Reid's Palace, from about €825 with breakfast, if you want afternoon tea on the terrace over the bay, William's MICHELIN star and heated pools on the cliff above a tidal pool; Savoy Palace, from about €495 with breakfast, if you would rather have rooms from 41 m², six restaurants, a heated adults-only infinity pool on the 17th floor and the 3,100 m² Laurea Spa.
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.
A big, polished city resort with a rooftop pool for adults and a spa of real size, a walk from the old centre of Funchal. Check availability for the Superior Ocean Room. A large, polished city resort where a 3,100 m² spa, a rooftop infinity pool and six restaurants make it easy to stay in. Funchal's old centre is a walk or a short taxi ride away.
It has a rooftop pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.