Where to Stay in Madeira
Funchal, the south coast, the west or the north — how to choose the right base.
By Madeira.Vacations · 7 min read · Last checked 28 July 2026
Funchal — first visits and no car
Everything is walkable, the airport bus works, and boat trips leave from the marina. The trade-off is that the rest of the island is a drive away.
The south coast — space and sun
Garajau, Caniço and Calheta give you villas, pools and reliable weather while staying within half an hour of the capital.
West and north — for longer trips
Ponta do Sol is the sunniest village and the remote-work hub. Porto Moniz and Santana put you next to the wildest scenery and the best walking, at the cost of more driving to Funchal.
Splitting your stay
For a week or more, two bases beat one. It removes an hour of driving from most days and shows you two very different islands.
