Where to Stay in Machico, Madeira: An Underrated City on the East Coast
So many people skip visiting Machico, a city on the island’s chiselled east coast. However, with one of the island’s only sandy beaches (with white sand imported from Morocco), it’s such an underrated place to stay.
I based myself in Machico for over 4 months, so perhaps I’m a little biased. However, the city has two beautiful hikes – Pico do Facho and Levada dos Maroços – as well as regular buses to the airport and Funchal. And I’m just itching to share all of my tips on where to stay in Machico!
If you decide to rent a car (which is easy via Discover Cars and Klook), you’re also only a five-minute drive from Madeira Airport and 10 minutes from Ponta de São Lourenço (the easternmost hike in Madeira – and a very popular one, so get there early!).
In my guide to the best things to do in Machico, I share all of my favourite activities from easy hikes and beaches to historic sites and coffee shops. However, in this post, I’m going to share my tips on where to stay in Machico, including the best hotels in Machico for all budgets.
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Quick Tips on Where to Stay
- Watch out for those slopes. It’s flat around the beach and the river through the centre of Machico. However, the city is in a steep valley, and the further from the river you stay, the steeper the slopes get.
- Check Google Street View to get a better idea of how hilly your accommodation placement is.
- Public transport is patchy. If you’re visiting Madeira without a car, you may want to stay near the bus station and the Continente and Pingo Doce supermarkets.
- Check for parking spaces at your accommodation if you’re renting a car. Street parking is limited near the town centre. For street parking, blue lines are paid parking, and you can’t park on yellow signs or areas signposted no parking.
Which Is The Best Area?
As a rule of thumb, the best place to stay in Machico is as close to the beach as possible. Even if you have a car, parking near the beach/town centre is limited during high season (April to August).
The centre of Machico is very easy to walk: you can get from the bus station to the sandy beach in under 10 minutes. There are supermarkets, coffee shops and restaurants scattered between the promenade and the town centre.
From the beachfront, you can also hike directly up Pico do Facho, a small mountain overlooking the city.
If you have a few hours to spare, I recommend taking the extended route to Praia da Ribeira de Natal, a lovely swimming spot on the edge of Caniçal too. The full details are in my guide to Pico do Facho and the best hiking routes.
Pico do Facho summit and Praia da Ribeira de Nata
Those who are renting a car and don’t mind braving the parking can stay on the outskirts of Machico. Hotels and holiday apartments are likely to be cheaper when they’re located further away from the beach.
Where to Stay in Machico
That brings us to the best hotels in Machico. There’s only a small handful of hotels in the city, so I do recommend booking at least 1 – 3 months in advance (or more if you’re visiting for an event like MIUT).
Sadly, there aren’t any hostels in Machico yet, but I’ll share the cheapest hotels in the city for those of you who are visiting on a budget too.
The Best Luxury Hotels in Machico
- Dom Pedro Madeira is the best-known luxury hotel in Machico. It’s right next to the promenade, so it’ll take you less than five minutes to reach the sandy beach.
- ParadisMare is one of the top-rated self-catering apartments in Machico. It sleeps 5-6 people, and it’s just a short walk from the ocean.
Dom Pedro Madeira (£££)
ParadisMare (£££)
The Best Hotels in Machico for Mid-Budget Stays
- White Waters Hotel: This pretty, white-coloured building features rooms with private balconies for just over €90 per night. It’s located in the town centre, so reaching restaurants, coffee shops and the ocean couldn’t be simpler.
- Machim D Arfet House by Homie: This one’s also priced at just over €90 per night. It’s right next to the promenade and next-door to all my favourite restaurants and coffee shops, so I can’t fault its location at all, really.
White Waters Hotel (£££)
Machim D Arfet House by Homie (£££)
The Best Budget Accommodation in Machico
- Amparo: At around €60 per night, this town centre hotel quickly gets booked up. It’s in an older, traditional building, so you don’t get a fancy private balcony, but you do get a great location in the town centre.
- Residencial Familia: This hotel is located just uphill from the Dom Pedro, but it’s less than a five-minute walk from the promenade. Again, the building is older and a little dated, but the reviews are overwhelmingly good considering the price at €70 per night.
Amparo (£££)
Residencial Familia (£££)
Are There Any Hostels in Machico?
There aren’t any hostels in Machico yet. The nearest hostels are in Funchal or Porto da Cruz.
There is one main hostel chain in Madeira, Jaca Hostel. It has two locations: Jaca Hostel Funchal and Jaca Hostel Porto da Cruz. The Porto da Cruz location is closer to Machico, and also on the east coast, but you’ll find that you need to rent a car to get around.
I hope my guide to where to stay in Machico helped you out. Feel free to leave a comment below with your own tips and recommendations for people visiting Machico.
