Where to stay in Funchal: city centre or by the sea?

26 September De 2025

City centre or close to the Atlantic? Where you stay can shape your days in Funchal. Compare two locations and find out which one better suits the Madeira trip you are planning.

Choosing where to stay in Funchal is not only about choosing a hotel. Location influences the routes you can walk, what you find when you step outside, how easily you can return during the day and even how you divide your time between the city, the sea and the rest of Madeira.

Some travellers prefer to stay in central Funchal, close to historic streets, markets and everyday city life. Others would rather be near the Atlantic, with the Lido and seafront within easy reach. These two areas offer distinctly different ways to experience the same city.

WHERE TO STAY IN FUNCHAL?

Funchal city centre → For having the city on your doorstep

Historic streets, markets, shops, restaurants and several places of interest become part of your everyday routes.

Ajuda area → For staying close to the Atlantic

A location close to the Lido and seafront for travellers who enjoy having the ocean as part of their stay.

Where to stay in Funchal? Location can shape your trip

The right area depends on what you want to find when you step outside your hotel.

Funchal stretches between the Atlantic and the slopes of Madeira, and its different areas offer different ways to experience the city. Staying in the centre makes urban exploration easier and places several points of interest along your everyday routes. Choosing an area near the coast brings you closer to the sea and places such as the Lido.

Before choosing a hotel in Funchal, it is therefore worth thinking about the kind of days you have in mind. Would you rather leave in the morning and immediately start exploring the city, or wake up in an area where the Atlantic is a constant presence?

Staying in central Funchal: the city starts outside your hotel

A good choice for travellers who want to be part of the city from the beginning of the day.

Staying in central Funchal makes it easy to build the city into the natural rhythm of your trip. Instead of planning every journey between the hotel and the places you want to visit, you can simply step outside and start walking.

This is where The Editory Garden Carmo Funchal is located. Its central setting is combined with a garden, outdoor swimming pool, Restaurante Carmo and Bar Raízes, making it possible to alternate a few hours in the streets of Funchal with time at the hotel.

This location works particularly well for travellers who want to experience the urban side of Funchal, return to the hotel during the day when they feel like it and head out again without turning every journey into a plan.

The Editory Ocean Way Funchal

Staying by the sea: a different perspective on Funchal

In the Ajuda area, the Atlantic naturally becomes part of the setting.

West of the city centre, the Ajuda area offers a different relationship with Funchal. Here, proximity to the coast, the Lido and the seafront takes on greater importance, while central Funchal remains accessible for the parts of the day dedicated to exploring the city.

This is where The Editory Ocean Way Funchal is located. Its setting brings the Atlantic closer to the stay and provides an alternative for travellers who want to combine discovering Madeira with time spent near the ocean.

This area can be particularly appealing if you enjoy walks by the sea, want to discover different parts of Funchal and do not need to be in the historic centre as soon as you leave the hotel.

WHICH AREA OF FUNCHAL SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

I want to explore the city on foot → City centre

The Editory Garden Carmo Funchal places your stay in a central, urban setting.

I want to stay close to the Atlantic → Ajuda

The Editory Ocean Way Funchal brings you closer to the coast and the Lido area.

I want to explore the rest of Madeira → Either

Both locations can serve as a base for discovering different parts of the island.

What if you want to explore the rest of Madeira?

Choosing an area of Funchal does not mean spending your entire trip within the city.

For many travellers, Funchal also works as a base for discovering Madeira. Viewpoints, levada walks, villages, mountains and different parts of the coast can all become part of the itinerary, with a return to the city at the end of the day.

In that case, the choice between the city centre and Ajuda still comes down largely to what you want from the time you spend in Funchal itself. One location places urban life close at hand; the other gives the Atlantic a central role in the stay.

TWO WAYS TO STAY IN FUNCHAL

The city close by or the Atlantic on the horizon?

Discover The Editory Collection Hotels in Funchal and choose the location that suits your trip to Madeira.

DISCOVER HOTELS IN FUNCHAL