In a nutshell
- Beachfront hotels on Madeira are rare — but we’ve tracked down 4 beautiful options and laid them all out for you here. Our top pick: Saccharum Spa & Resort.
- If none of the hotels are quite right, you can also book an apartment near the beach — there are B&Bs and apartments in many towns on Madeira just a short walk from the water.
- A great alternative for a Madeira vacation is staying at a hotel with a natural pool. Our top pick: Aqua Natura Bay Hotel.
- For a proper sandy beach vacation, you’re better off on the neighboring island of Porto Santo. Our top pick: Hotel Porto Santo.
Saccharum - Resort and Spa
- Right on the beach in Calheta
- Outdoor pool
- Restaurant
- Family rooms
- Rooms with ocean view
The Saccharum is a luxury hotel on Madeira right on the sandy beach of Calheta — honestly, it’s hard to top this spot when it comes to Madeira beach hotels.
The resort has several bars, a restaurant, and a seriously impressive rooftop terrace with an infinity pool.
The rooms are modern, spacious, and incredibly stylish — designed by a local artist, so they have that signature Madeira aesthetic. Many rooms come with a balcony and ocean views.
Book Saccharum – Resort and Spa
Enotel Sunset Bay
- Right on the beach in Ponta do Sol
- Indoor pool
- Restaurant
- Rooms with ocean view
- Free parking
The Enotel Sunset Bay sits in the small village of Ponta do Sol — one of the most beautiful places to stay on Madeira, in our opinion. Right in front of the hotel you’ll find a rocky beach with a sheltered cove that’s perfect for a swim.
Everything else you need is here too: a delicious breakfast buffet, cozy rooms with ocean views, an indoor pool, and a sauna.
Since Ponta do Sol is a bit off the beaten path, we’d strongly recommend renting a car if you’re staying here. You can park in the underground garage for free.
Calheta Beach
- Right on the beach in Calheta
- All-inclusive
- Outdoor pool
- Rooms with ocean view
- Family rooms
The Calheta Beach is an all-inclusive beach hotel that’s a great fit for a family vacation with kids. The large pool area keeps the little ones happy, and the family rooms have plenty of space for everyone.
Beyond the around-the-clock food and drinks at the various bars and restaurants, there’s also a fitness center and a sauna. You can choose between ocean and mountain views when picking your room.
The location right on the sandy beach is fantastic, and it makes a great home base for day trips around Madeira. The hotel has private parking available for a small additional fee.
Sentido Galomar - Adults Only
- By the sea in Caniço
- Adults only
- Outdoor pool
- Rooms with ocean view
- Restaurant
The Sentido Galomar is a charming, smaller beachfront hotel on Madeira. It’s adults only and the location is wonderfully peaceful — perfect if you’re really looking to switch off.
Part of the building sits on a cliff and the other part is right down by the water, connected by an elevator — we love this setup.
Down below you’ll find an outdoor pool with sun loungers and direct access to the sea. It’s not a proper beach, but the outdoor area is honestly far more comfortable than the typical rocky shoreline.
The rooms with ocean views are absolutely stunning, and the lovely spa area rounds out the whole experience beautifully.
Book Sentido Galomar – Adults Only
Beautiful Apartments Near the Beach on Madeira
Our favorite beach on Madeira is Praia do Seixal — a natural black sand beach. The village of Seixal doesn’t have any large hotels, but there are plenty of apartments within easy walking distance of the beach.
Our top pick for accommodation in Seixal: North Coast View House
In Machico you’ll find an imported sandy beach similar to Calheta’s. From Machico you can also easily reach the black sand beach of Prainha and many highlights on Madeira.
Our top pick for accommodation in Machico: Modern & Recycled Guest House
The beach with the most stunning panorama, in our opinion, is Praia do Garajau. There are no buildings right on the beach, but up in the village of Garajau you’ll find lots of great places to stay.
Our top pick for accommodation in Garajau: Villa Sophia
Check out our tips for the most beautiful beaches on Madeira:
Hotels by the Natural Pools on Madeira
Madeira has a number of natural pools. They’re excellent for swimming and cooling off, and they look pretty spectacular too.
The most well-known lava pools are in Porto Moniz, and there are some great hotels right there.
Aqua Natura Bay in Porto Moniz: A lovely boutique hotel on Madeira right by the sea and the natural pools. The rooms with ocean views and the terrace with a hot tub are seriously amazing — it really doesn’t get better than this.
Studios by Aqua Bay Hotel in Porto Moniz: The apartments are located right next to the hotel, come with a small kitchen, and are ideal for a family trip.
Read all our tips about the lava pools on Madeira:
Our Top Picks for Beach Hotels on Porto Santo
Porto Santo is Madeira’s neighboring island, and it’s home to a 9-kilometer-long sandy beach. In 2022, the magazine European Best Destinations even named it the most beautiful beach in Europe.
If you want a proper beach vacation, Porto Santo is the place to be. We’d recommend taking the ferry from Funchal and adding two or three beach days onto a Madeira road trip.
Book ferry tickets to Porto Santo from Funchal
Since Porto Santo gets fewer tourists, the selection of beachfront hotels is more limited — but they’re considerably more affordable than on Madeira.
These are our favorite beach hotels on Porto Santo:
Hotel Porto Santo: A classic beach hotel with great facilities and an outdoor pool. The rooms are spacious, the beds are incredibly comfortable, and it’s perfect for a few lazy days at the beach.
Hotel Torre Praia: A charming hotel in a peaceful setting right on the beach. Rooms are spacious and many have ocean views, plus there’s an outdoor pool and a fitness center.
