The Ultimate Gay Travel Guide
The Gay Passport is your complete Gay Travel Guide. Looking to Drink, Play or Sleep we have reviews to help. Award-winning & Updated 2024.
There are hotel options for every budget and type of traveller on Madeira, but the main question comes down to whether you want to stay in Funchal, the capital, or whether you want something more remote and nature-based.
Legally all hotels across Madeira are gay-friendly. The hotels listed below are located in popular parts of the island travelers and excel at providing value for money and quality experiences.
Funchal is ideal if you want to balance nature walks and beach days with bars, restaurants, and nightlife, as there isn’t much of it outside the city. If you want more of a resort vibe, there are some amazing hotels in Machico and Calheta. Caniçal is a popular base for hikers thanks to its coastal paths, and Jardim do Mar is all about surfing and watersports.
Caniço, a resort town a short drive from Funchal, is a popular place to stay and a good compromise between city and nature.
♥ Stylish and understated interior decor by Madeira-born designer Nini Andrade Silva
♥ Amazing spa with impressive range of treatments and facilities
♥ Gorgeous tiered outdoor sundecks with infinity pools
♥ Short walking distance to the beach, and short drive to many Madeira attractions
An impeccably stylish and modern resort with state-of-the-art wellness facilities and stunning custom interior design that makes the most of its location in Calheta, right between the mountains and the sea.
♥ Designed with the millennial traveler in mind
♥ Ideal for digital nomads and for groups
♥ Plenty of cool bars and hangout areas
♥ Hi-tech app that puts everything you need at your fingertips
With a focus on high-tech and bright, colorful design, Next is firmly aimed at young, fun-seeking travelers and digital nomads. Whether you’re looking for people to party with or poolside networking (or both!), Next is the place to be.
♥ Fantastic location directly above the Porto Moniz lava pools
♥ Gorgeous ocean views from every room and terrace
♥ Good wellness and fitness facilities
♥ Awesome diving experiences available
Aqua Natura is located in Porto Moniz, a charming town on the northwestern tip of the island known for its dramatic mountain landscapes and its lava pools. The hotel sits just above these lava pools, giving you one of Madeira’s most iconic views from the comfort of your room or your lounger. There is no pool, but who needs one when the crystal-clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean are a stone’s throw away? The rooms are basic and a little bit dated, but they are comfortable and they all have sea-facing balconies, which is always a plus. The hotel has a wellness area with a jacuzzi, gym, and treatment room – again, all feature amazing views. The Madeira Aquarium is just next door, and the hotel offers diving sessions where you can swim with eels, rays, and sharks!
♥ Lovely Lido location
♥ Bright and comfy rooms with ocean views
♥ Great swimming pool, spa, and gym
♥ Adults only – no kids running around the pool!
This adults-only resort hotel is located in Lido, close to some of Funchal’s best gardens, promenades, and seafront restaurants. It sits by a hillside facing the sea, allowing for amazing views from almost anywhere in the hotel. Rooms are bright and modern, and most have a balcony with either ocean or mountain views. The Sea View Suite with Large Balcony is an especially great option. The hotel has two stylish restaurants and four bars, including a panoramic rooftop terrace and a lounge with regular live music. There is also a large swimming pool, a rooftop jacuzzi, a serene spa and a bright gym with a good range of equipment.
♥ Award-winning design hotel with a locally-inspired wine theme
♥ Slick and atmospheric rooms with unique design
♥ Fantastic spa and restaurants, all beautifully themed
♥ Great location to explore Funcha
The Vine Hotel has won the title of “World’s Leading Design Hotel” five times, and it’s easy to see why. This chic 5-star combines sleek, urban design with state-of-the-art facilities, all within a five-minute walk of both Funchal’s swanky marinas and its charming cobbled old town. The rooms are modern and atmospheric, with lots of dark colors, panes of glass, and contemporary bath fittings – we recommend splurging on the Panoramic Design Suite, with its sprawling view over the city. Both restaurants follow the hotel’s vine theming – one a lovely vine-covered terrace and the other a refined rooftop eatery with an excellent selection of wines. Even the spa is wine-themed, and offers the unique opportunity to have a red wine bath or a Madeira wine massage.
♥ Great location in Funchal’s Lido area
♥ Comfy and relaxing rooms with balconies and sea views
♥ Amazing swimming pool overlooking the ocean
♥ Well-equipped gym
Located right in the middle of Lido -Funchal’s pretty seaside leisure development filled with pools, restaurants, and gardens – Meliá Madeira Mare offers 5-star comfort without any of the fuss. Rooms are bright and comfortable, with balconies overlooking either the hotel gardens or the sea (the majority are ocean view). Go for a Superior room or a Suite to take advantage of a bigger sun terrace. The hotel has a stunning main swimming pool with amazing views, as well as a beautiful spa and an extremely well-equipped gym. There are three restaurants and two bars, all of which boast lovely outdoor terraces.
♥ Part of the Leading Hotels of the World group
♥ Brand-new addition to the Funchal waterfront
♥ Jaw-dropping decor throughout the property
♥ Amazing facilities, drinking, and dining
Part of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World Group, Savoy Palace is one of Madeira’s best and newest luxury hotels.
The Gay Passport is your complete Gay Travel Guide. Looking to Drink, Play or Sleep we have reviews to help. Award-winning & Updated 2024.