Belmond Reid's Palace
5★
Located in Madeira, Portugal, the Belmond Reid's Palace is a 5★ hotel offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Nestled in lush surroundings, this iconic property is close to…
Destination
5★ hotels and Palaces in Madeira
Our curated selection of 1 property in Madeira — Portugal.
How many 5★ hotels and Palaces do you offer in Madeira?
MyConciergeHotel currently lists 1 property in Madeira (Portugal): 5★ hotels and Palaces curated for location, service and Atout France distinction. Direct booking, net GDS rates, secure payment, loyalty rewards from the first night. Updated 1 June 2026.
Editorial guide
Concierge guide — Madeira
Madeira, island of relief and patience
Madeira reveals itself less as a beach retreat than as a vertical, inhabited Atlantic landscape shaped by volcanoes, mild light and time.
From settlement to wine trade
From early Portuguese settlement to the Atlantic wine trade, Madeira’s history is one of irrigation, cultivation and maritime reach.
When to go
Madeira is less about chasing a season than choosing a light, a pace, and a subtropical mood.
Funchal
Funchal unfolds between harbour and hillside, where market life, old stone and Monte’s heights shape the island capital.
Laurisilva and levadas
Madeira reveals itself through its laurel forest and levadas, where ancient ecology and water engineering still shape the island’s rhythm.
Cliffs, viewpoints and coastal villages
Beyond Funchal, Madeira reveals itself through cliff roads, sea-facing villages, and a clear dialogue between the humid north and the drier south.
Madeiran cuisine
Madeiran cooking is direct, agricultural, and deeply insular, shaped by laurel wood, cane honey, volcanic stone, and enduring household traditions.
Madeira wine
Madeira wine is shaped by heat, oxidation and time, yielding a singular Atlantic style of remarkable longevity.
Landmark hotels
Madeira’s landmark hotels frame the island through gardens, cliffs and Atlantic light, from Reid’s Palace to newer addresses in Funchal and Calheta.
Lifestyle and shopping
In Madeira, shopping makes most sense when it follows a slow walk, a terrace pause, and a thoughtful taste of the island.
Festivals and calendar
Madeira’s festive calendar reshapes the island’s tempo, from floral spring rituals to wine celebrations and the collective theatre of New Year’s Eve.
Getting there and practicalities
Funchal airport is the main gateway, and Madeira rewards travellers who plan by area rather than by mileage.
Comparison tables
| Season | Months | Weather | Crowds | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiver doux | Décembre à février | Températures modérées, lumière changeante, mer parfois plus vive | Soutenue autour de la Saint-Sylvestre | Idéal pour marcher à basse altitude et profiter de Funchal sans chaleur marquée |
| Printemps fleuri | Mars à mai | Temps stable, jardins très présents, air souple | Élevée autour de la Festa da Flor | Période très équilibrée pour combiner levadas, ville et hôtellerie de bord de mer |
| Été tempéré | Juin à août | Chaleur contenue, ensoleillement généreux, soirées agréables | Haute | Convient aux séjours balnéaires et aux villages de côte. Réserver tôt les hôtels phares. |
| Début d'automne | Septembre à octobre | Mer encore accueillante, lumière nette, chaleur douce | Soutenue | Très bon moment pour le vin, les panoramas et les randonnées matinales |
| Inter-saison lumineuse | Novembre | Climat encore clément, reliefs parfois plus humides | Modérée | Bon compromis pour un séjour contemplatif, avec davantage de disponibilité hôtelière |
General trends based on the island’s subtropical climate. Conditions vary with altitude and winds.
| Name | Status | Atmosphere | Highlights | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel | Grand hôtel historique | Classique insulaire, jardins et falaise | Adresse fondée au XIXe siècle, tea face à l'océan, forte mémoire littéraire et politique | Très élevé |
| Savoy Palace | Hôtel 5 étoiles contemporain | Grand format urbain avec vue mer | Ouverture récente, panorama sur Funchal, prestations de resort | Élevé à très élevé |
| Saccharum Hotel Resort & Spa | Resort design | Contemporaine, plus minérale, tournée vers Calheta | Architecture intérieure signée Nini Andrade Silva, bon point de départ pour l'ouest | Élevé |
| The Vine Hotel | Boutique-hôtel urbain | Design, centrale, plus citadine | Adresse pratique pour vivre Funchal à pied, lecture plus contemporaine de l'île | Moyen à élevé |
| Pestana CR7 Funchal | Hôtel lifestyle | Décontractée, liée au front de mer | Face au port, proximité du musée CR7, ancrage dans la culture populaire locale | Moyen à élevé |
Selection based on the properties listed in the brief. Budget levels are indicative only.
| Origin | Distance | Driving time | Rail time | Private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aéroport Cristiano Ronaldo de Funchal vers centre de Funchal | Environ 20 km | Environ 20 à 30 minutes | Sans objet | Simple à organiser pour une arrivée tardive ou avec bagages |
| Aéroport Cristiano Ronaldo de Funchal vers Monte | Environ 20 à 25 km | Environ 30 à 40 minutes | Sans objet | Recommandé si l'on prévoit ensuite le téléphérique ou une visite de jardins |
| Funchal vers Calheta | Environ 35 à 45 km | Environ 40 à 50 minutes | Sans objet | Utile pour rejoindre un resort de la côte sud-ouest |
| Funchal vers départs de levadas majeures | Variable selon l'itinéraire | Souvent 30 à 60 minutes | Sans objet | Pratique pour les randonnées en aller simple |
| Lisbonne vers Funchal | Environ 1 000 km | Sans objet | Sans objet | Vol direct d'environ 1 h 30 puis accueil à l'aéroport |
| Paris ou Londres vers Funchal | Vols européens directs | Sans objet | Sans objet | Vol direct d'environ 4 heures puis transfert hôtel |
Times are indicative only and vary with traffic, weather and arrival slot.
| Item | Standard range | Premium range | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hébergement à Funchal | Boutique-hôtel ou bon 4 étoiles | Grand hôtel historique ou 5 étoiles avec vue mer | Comparer l'ambiance avant le classement. À Madère, le cadre compte autant que la catégorie. |
| Transferts aéroport | Taxi ou navette | Accueil privatif avec chauffeur | Pertinent en cas d'arrivée nocturne ou si l'on enchaîne plusieurs étapes insulaires. |
| Restauration | Tables locales, cuisine madérienne franche | Restaurants d'hôtel et vues panoramiques | Alterner les deux. L'île se comprend aussi par ses adresses simples. |
| Randonnées et levadas | Marche autonome sur itinéraires connus | Guide privé et logistique sur mesure | Le guide apporte surtout une lecture du terrain, de l'eau et de la forêt. |
| Œnotourisme | Dégustation introductive en ville | Parcours approfondi autour des styles et du vieillissement | Privilégier une dégustation commentée pour distinguer sercial, verdelho, bual et malmsey. |
| Séjour balnéaire ou resort | Escapade de quelques nuits | Séjour long avec spa et voiture privée | L'ouest se prête mieux au rythme resort, Funchal à un séjour plus mobile. |
Qualitative estimates without exact prices. They are meant as travel positioning cues for Madeira.
| Event | Period | Best for | Booking advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnaval | Février | Voyageurs attirés par l'énergie urbaine et les défilés | Anticipation utile pour les hôtels du centre de Funchal |
| Festa da Flor | Fin avril à début mai | Amateurs de jardins, de décors floraux et de séjours printaniers | Période demandée. Mieux vaut s'y prendre en avance. |
| Festival du vin de Madère | Août à septembre | Curieux d'œnologie et d'histoire commerciale | Réserver tôt les hôtels si l'on vise Funchal et les dégustations |
| Vendanges et temps du vin | Fin d'été à début d'automne | Voyageurs sensibles aux paysages agricoles et aux traditions | Bonne période pour combiner cave, ville et côte |
| Feux de la Saint-Sylvestre | 31 décembre | Séjours festifs avec vue sur la baie de Funchal | Très forte demande. Les chambres avec panorama partent tôt. |
Exact dates vary from year to year. Check the local calendar before travelling.
| Restaurant | Stars | Chef | Cuisine type | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table gastronomique de grand hôtel à Funchal | Non communiqué | Selon établissement | Cuisine portugaise contemporaine et produits atlantiques | Élevé |
| Restaurant de bord de mer à Calheta | Non communiqué | Selon établissement | Poissons, influences insulaires, cadre resort | Moyen à élevé |
| Adresse traditionnelle au centre de Funchal | Non communiqué | Maison familiale ou brigade locale | Espetada, bolo do caco, milho frito | Modéré |
| Bar à vin ou cave de dégustation | Non communiqué | Sans objet | Accords simples autour du vin de Madère | Modéré |
| Terrasse d'hôtel pour tea ou collation | Non communiqué | Selon établissement | Pâtisserie, tea, service d'après-midi | Moyen |
The brief does not provide a detailed Michelin list. This table therefore offers dining style pointers without assigning starred status.
Glossary
- Bolo do caco
- Madeira’s emblematic flatbread, traditionally cooked on a hot stone. Served with butter and garlic, it belongs equally to simple meals and more polished lunches. Its interest goes beyond a culinary anecdote. It tells of the island’s relationship with mineral cooking and old gestures.
- Bual
- A noble grape variety producing medium-sweet wines, fuller in style and often marked by dried fruit, spice and light caramel notes. It is an excellent entry point for understanding the depth of Madeira wine. Its register pairs well with restrained desserts and mature cheeses.
- Canteiro
- A Madeira wine ageing method in lofts or upper floors, where natural warmth acts slowly. The wine gains complexity without forced heating. Worth noting: canteiro belongs to long duration, almost architectural in spirit, and differs greatly from faster ageing methods.
- Estufagem
- A controlled heating process for Madeira wine, usually over several months, designed to reproduce the thermal effect that shaped its historic style. The technique contributes to the wine’s singular oxidative profile. It is one of the rare cases where heat is not an accident, but an intention.
- Laurisilva
- A subtropical laurel forest, surviving from an ancient woodland that once covered parts of Europe. In Madeira, it shapes the island’s landscape imagination. It reveals a place older than its hotels. It also explains humidity, mosses, mist and part of the hydraulic logic behind the levadas.
- Levada
- An irrigation channel cut from the sixteenth century onwards to carry water from the wetter north to the drier south. The term also refers to the paths running alongside it. For travellers, a levada is more than a walk. It is a reading of relief, agriculture and island patience.
- Malmsey
- The usual Madeira name for malvasia, the noble grape behind the sweetest styles. Yet it should not be reduced to sweetness alone. When well aged, it retains an acidic backbone that prevents heaviness. It is often the style travellers remember most clearly after a first visit.
- Poncha
- Madeira’s national drink, combining local sugarcane spirit, honey and lemon. Depending on where it is served, it can feel rustic or very balanced. We advise tasting it in a simple setting rather than in haste. It belongs as much to island sociability as to gastronomy.
- Sercial
- One of the four noble grape varieties of Madeira wine. It generally produces the driest styles. For a first tasting, it helps show that Madeira is not limited to sweet expressions. Its tension suits aperitif service and a more austere reading of the terroir.
- Verdelho
- A noble grape variety linked to medium-dry styles, often very approachable for discovering the appellation. It offers balance between freshness, texture and oxidative notes. We often recommend it to travellers hesitating between the austerity of sercial and the generosity of sweeter styles.
Sources & references
This editorial article is based on the following authoritative sources, listed here for transparency and reader verification.
MICHELIN Guide
Staying in Madeira — frequently asked questions
How many 5★ hotels and Palaces do you offer in Madeira?
MyConciergeHotel currently lists 1 property in Madeira (Portugal): 5★ hotels and Palaces curated for location, service and Atout France distinction. Direct booking, net GDS rates, secure payment, loyalty rewards from the first night. Updated 1 June 2026.
Which are the best neighbourhoods to stay in Madeira?
5★ and Palace addresses in Madeira cluster in historic districts and around the main POIs. Our concierge desk guides you by programme: for cultural outings, pick the centre; for quiet, the residential outskirts; for views, the waterfronts or feet-in-the-water properties. Every hotel page states the exact district and walking/driving distances to major POIs.
What is the best time to visit Madeira?
Madeira is open year-round, but some seasons concentrate events (festivals, ceremonies, sport calendar) and hotel rates peak. Our concierge desk can suggest optimal windows — generally the shoulder seasons (May-June, September) — where the experience is full without over-crowding. Hotel pages mention local high/low season.
How do I get to Madeira from an airport or a major rail station?
Distances and access are detailed on every hotel page (nearest airport, rail station, driving distance). Our concierge desk arranges transfers on request: premium taxi, chauffeured car, helicopter for Alps / Riviera / archipelago destinations. The price is communicated before confirmation, no intermediary markup added.
Which museums, restaurants or experiences are must-see in Madeira?
Every hotel page includes a "What to do around" section with named POIs (museums, starred dining, markets, viewpoints) and their exact distance. Our concierge desk can also suggest signature experiences (private museum visit outside opening hours, table at a starred chef) tailored to your stay.
Do hotels in Madeira accept pets?
The pets-friendly policy varies by hotel — most Palaces accept dogs (often with a surcharge, sometimes with a dedicated service: bowls, baskets, dog-sitting). Every hotel page details under "Policies": accepted size, fees, restrictions. Our concierge desk can negotiate terms with the hotel before booking.
Is there free parking or valet service at your Madeira hotels?
5★ and Palace hotels generally offer valet service (sometimes included in the rate, sometimes charged 30-80 €/night). Free parking is rare downtown but common in rural or alpine destinations. The exact policy (free / paid / valet / vehicle height) is in the "Policies" section of each page.
Are your Madeira hotels wheelchair-accessible?
Most 5★ and Palace hotels in Madeira have wheelchair-accessible rooms (lift, adapted bathroom, access to common spaces). Our concierge desk verifies your specific need (walk-in shower, bed height, pool/spa access) with the hotel before confirmation. Please share your constraints at request time.
What is the cancellation policy for Madeira hotels?
Each Amadeus rate states its cancellation policy (often: flexible up to 24-48h before arrival, non-refundable for early-bird rates). Our concierge desk can offer rates with free cancellation up to the eve even when the hotel's public offer is non-refundable, depending on agency negotiations.
Is breakfast included in Madeira hotel rates?
Inclusion varies: most Palaces offer a room-only rate and a room + breakfast rate. Our MyConciergeHotel loyalty programme offers breakfast for two from the first night on hotels in the Little Hotelier catalogue. The hotel's exact policy is on its page.
How do I book a Palace or 5★ hotel in Madeira via MyConciergeHotel?
Click the hotel page you want, pick your dates in the Amadeus booking engine, pay online (secure PCI-DSS card, 3D-Secure). Instant email confirmation. For hotels outside the GDS, your concierge sends you an offer within 24 business hours. No agency markup on net rates.
When is the best time to visit Madeira?
Madeira is a year-round destination, with spring and autumn often offering the most balanced conditions.
How do you get to Madeira from France or the UK?
Most travellers arrive by air via Funchal, with direct flights from Paris, London and Lisbon.
Is there a train in Madeira?
No, Madeira has no railway network; travel is by road, cable car and organised transfers.
Where should you stay in Madeira for a high-end trip?
Reid’s Palace remains the island’s grand classic, while Savoy Palace and Saccharum suit more contemporary stays.
What budget should you plan for Madeira?
Budgets vary widely, with premium spending focused on flights, resort hotels, car hire and dining.
Is Madeira a safe destination?
Yes, Madeira is generally safe, with most caution needed on mountain roads and hiking paths.
What languages are spoken in Madeira?
Portuguese is the official language, and English is widely understood in most tourist settings.
What food is Madeira known for?
Expect laurel-skewered beef, garlic flatbread, fried maize, honey cake and the island’s famous poncha.
What are Madeira’s main annual events?
Carnival, the Flower Festival, the Madeira Wine Festival and New Year’s Eve are the island’s key highlights.
Is Madeira suitable for families with children?
Yes, Madeira works well for families if hikes and road time are chosen with care.
Is Madeira suitable for travellers with reduced mobility?
Accessibility is best in Funchal, while steep terrain and levada paths can be limiting elsewhere.
What is Madeira’s climate like?
Madeira has a mild subtropical climate, though conditions vary between coast, north side and mountains.
Can you pay by card in Madeira?
Yes, cards are widely accepted, though some cash is useful in smaller rural settings.
Should you tip in Madeira?
Tipping is appreciated rather than mandatory, and moderation is generally the right approach.
Is internet connectivity good in Madeira?
Connectivity is generally good in town, but weaker in mountain areas and along remote levadas.
What entry requirements apply for Madeira?
Madeira follows Portuguese entry rules, so requirements depend on your nationality and travel documents.