Portugal

Riu Madeira

The Riu Madeira pairs its close-to-the-beach plot with facilities like a spa and a gourmet restaurant. Terraced into a hillside above Canico’s waterfront, this grand hotel looks out across the Atlantic. It's got three pools – two outside, one indoors – as well as a paddling pool for little ones. And across the road, you’ll find a pebble beach.

Sea views, easy beach access and a fresh new look make the Pestana Blue Alvor Beach a top pick. This place boasts an infinity pool to enjoy the views and à la carte restaurants. There are three restaurants, a street food truck and drinks are shaken up at two bars, along with two pools and a separate swimming spot for kids with a small splash and playground.

The Cliff Bay

The 2 Michelin star restaurant is the jewel in the crown of this hillside hotel. And it also has two heated ocean-view pools. This cliff-side hotel serves up some of the best harbour views in Funchal.
What’s more, it’s home to one of Madeira’s Michelin-starred restaurants. There’s a rose garden restaurant too. The hotel is spread across tiered gardens.

Alto Lido Hotel

This place serves up a top location, a contemporary design and modern facilities. The Hotel Alto Lido's a five-minute walk from the seafront – but you don't have to move a muscle to enjoy the views. Plus, the hotel's a couple of minutes' stroll away from a good selection of restaurants.

Alvor Baia

Don’t let the minimalist design fool you – the Alvor Baia is family-friendly down to its bones, thanks to the supersized pool area and spacious rooms. Things come family-sized at the Alvor Baia. The big hotel is paired with a long pool that dominates the grounds. Room-wise, you can opt for spacious, modern apartments.

Hotel Do Carmo

The Hotel Do Carmo has a rooftop pool and each room features a wall-sized photograph of a sixties icon. This hotel boasts a central spot in Funchal’s city centre, meaning the famous local farmer’s market – Mercado de Lavradores – is within a five-minute stroll. Continue walking a further five and you’ll reach the glittering waterfront, where yachts bob in the marina.

Castanheiro Boutique Hotel

The Castanheiro Boutique Hotel is housed in an 18^th-century building in the heart of historic Funchal.Five listed buildings were joined together to create the Castanheiro Boutique Hotel. With warm orange facades, exposed brick walls and wooden shutters, it blends perfectly into its town centre location.