Best Madeira Hotels with Playgrounds for Families
10 family-friendly hotels with playground in Madeira . Handpicked for families who want the best.
Madeira's coast is mostly cliffs, so a hotel playground often replaces the beach as the place where young children spend their afternoons. In Funchal, Pestana Promenade Ocean Resort Hotel on the Estrada Monumental has a large fenced, shaded playground next to a heated splash pool, and Royal Savoy Ocean Resort has a fenced playground on its upper terrace. Reid's Palace keeps a kids' garden with a treehouse behind its terraces. Above the city, Quinta Jardins do Lago and Casa Velha do Palheiro offer garden play areas in large estates. This page compares them for families with toddlers and young children.
Madeira is a Portuguese island in the Atlantic, with Funchal on its south coast. The family resorts line the Lido and the Estrada Monumental west of the old town, while historic quintas with botanical gardens sit on the hills above the city. The island is known for its levada walks, gardens and mild climate year-round, and its coast is mostly cliffs and pebbles rather than sand.
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🏰Why Madeira works when you need a playground at the hotel
Madeira suits families who need a good hotel playground because its resorts trade sandy beaches for gardens, pools and terraces. The best play areas here are fenced and shaded, close to a children's pool, and set either along the Funchal seafront or in the botanical gardens of old quintas on the hills above the city.
On the Funchal seafront, Pestana Promenade Ocean Resort Hotel is the most complete choice for toddlers. This sea-level 4-star on the Estrada Monumental has a playground described as the largest hotel playground in Madeira, about 200 square metres, fenced and shaded, with two outdoor pools 30 metres away, including a heated kids' splash pool with low-edge access. Royal Savoy Ocean Resort, a cliffside 5-star, has a fenced playground on its upper terrace with swings, a climbing tower, a sandpit and a small slide, set away from the pool deck and shaded by the building from early afternoon.
Reid's Palace, the cliffside hotel opened in 1891, has a kids' garden tucked behind its terraced grounds, with a climbing wall, treehouse access, a sand area and supervised play sessions in summer. It also has three pools, one of them indoor, which helps on cooler days. Nearby on the seafront, Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel has three pools, direct ocean swimming access and a kids' club, Pestana Grand Ocean Resort Hotel combines a very large saltwater pool with a club during school holidays, and Hotel Porto Mare on the Lido has three pools, tropical gardens and a kids' club open year-round.
Above Funchal, two historic quintas offer a different kind of play. Quinta Jardins do Lago, an 18th-century estate five minutes uphill from the centre, sits in a large tropical garden with lawns, climbing logs, a wooden treehouse and Colombo, the resident giant tortoise, plus a heated outdoor pool. The play area is informal rather than fenced. Casa Velha do Palheiro, a country house 600 metres above Funchal in São Gonçalo, has a garden playground with only four stations, a swing, a climbing log, a mini-trampoline and a sandpit, but within 14 hectares of botanical gardens where children have plenty of room.
My recommendation depends on your children's ages. For toddlers, I would choose Pestana Promenade Ocean Resort Hotel, because its fenced, shaded playground sits right next to a heated splash pool with low edges. For children who like climbing and exploring, I would choose Reid's Palace for its treehouse garden, or Quinta Jardins do Lago if a giant tortoise and a large garden appeal more than equipment. Families on a tighter budget can look at Pestana Ocean Bay All Inclusive Resort above Praia Formosa, though it lists a small games room rather than a playground.
Parent's take
If I were booking a Madeira holiday with a toddler, I would choose Pestana Promenade Ocean Resort Hotel, because its fenced, shaded playground sits about 30 metres from a heated splash pool with low edges, so a young child can move between the two easily. Our advice for families with older children who love exploring is different: I would book Quinta Jardins do Lago, where a large tropical garden, a treehouse and a resident giant tortoise make the afternoons.
Our Top 10 Picks
Hotels in Madeira with playground, sorted by guest rating.
Quinta Jardins do Lago
Sao Pedro
Wonderful
500 reviews
Historic 18th century quinta in 10 acres of tropical garden, 5 minutes uphill from Funchal centre. The play area is informal: lawn space, climbing logs, a wooden treehouse, and Colombo the resident giant tortoise (180 years old, kids love him). No fences, parents need to be present.
From
€640/night
Why families love Quinta Jardins do Lago
We brought a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old here for a 4-night stay. The tortoise alone was worth the price for the older one. Garden is huge with banana groves, koi ponds and shaded benches everywhere. The play setup is more like a private estate than a hotel, so don't expect commercial slides; expect kids inventing their own games. Pool is small but heated. Restaurant is formal-leaning, kids menu exists but not advertised; ask in advance.
Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira
Sao Martinho
Wonderful
500 reviews
Iconic 1891 cliffside hotel with a tucked-away kids garden behind the main terraced grounds: climbing wall, treehouse access, sand area and supervised play sessions in summer. Three pools (one heated infinity, one indoor, one ocean-side saltwater) and direct lift access to the sea-rock bathing area below.
From
€1064/night
Why families love Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira
Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, is the clifftop Funchal landmark opened in 1891 and set in 10 acres of gardens, and I recommend it to families. Behind the terraced grounds, a kids' garden has a climbing wall, a treehouse and a sand area, and the Belmond Bears Kids Club runs daily activities for ages 4 to 12. There are three pools, including a heated infinity pool and an indoor seawater pool, and a lift leads down to the sea-rock bathing area.
Casa Velha do Palheiro Relais & Chateaux
São Gonçalo, Palheiro Estate (Funchal hills)
Wonderful
580 reviews
A 19th-century hunting lodge converted into a 37-room country house, sharing the 162-hectare Palheiro estate with the championship golf course. The first tee is a 5-minute walk from reception and the rate includes complimentary green fees Monday to Thursday.
From
€345/night
Why families love Casa Velha do Palheiro Relais & Chateaux
This is the rare hotel where one parent can play 18 holes while the other has the kids in the heated pool 200m away. Junior golf clinics run weekday mornings in summer and the kitchen happily packs picnic lunches for course-side stops. The estate gardens are signposted with a kids' nature trail. Two-bedroom Garden Suites work for families of four.
Royal Savoy - Ocean Resort - Savoy Signature
Funchal Centre
Wonderful
500 reviews
Cliffside 5-star resort in Se with a fenced playground on the upper terrace, set away from the saltwater pool deck for noise control. Equipment includes swings, climbing tower, sandpit and a small slide for toddlers. Building shadow gives the play area afternoon shade from 2pm onwards.
From
€454/night
Why families love Royal Savoy - Ocean Resort - Savoy Signature
We took a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old. Older one liked the climbing tower, younger one preferred the indoor pool when the outdoor playground got too sunny mid-morning. The Salt restaurant accommodates kids with smaller portions of the adult menu (no separate kids buffet, which my eldest preferred). Worth the 5-star price if you value polished service; if you mostly need playground time, Pestana Promenade gets you closer to the pool for less.
Hotel Porto Mare - PortoBay
Lido, Estrada Monumental
Excellent
2,105 reviews
A 4-star resort hotel on the Lido strip with three pools, a kids' club open year-round and tropical gardens that share footpaths with sister hotels Eden Mar and The Residence. Golf shuttles to Palheiro depart at 7am and 8am daily for the morning tees.
From
€215/night
Why families love Hotel Porto Mare - PortoBay
Porto Mare is the practical Madeira pick for golfing parents who want a no-fuss family base. The kids' club takes ages 4-12 from 9.30am, which lines up perfectly with the 8am golf shuttle. Three pool zones means quieter spots for the under-3s while older kids splash with friends. The half-board buffet does proper Madeiran specialities, not bland resort food.
Pestana Promenade Ocean Resort Hotel
Sao Martinho
Excellent
500 reviews
Sea-level family resort on the Estrada Monumental with the largest hotel playground in Madeira (200 sq metres, fenced, shaded). Two outdoor pools sit 30 metres from the play area, including a heated kids splash pool with low-edge access for toddlers. Half-board buffet runs at the seafront restaurant.
From
€249/night
Why families love Pestana Promenade Ocean Resort Hotel
We tested it with a 4-year-old in May. Playground was fenced, sun shaded after 9am, slides in three sizes including a tiny one for toddlers. Pool deck is one level below, so you can watch the kids from a sun-lounger. Buffet was solid with kid-friendly options at every meal. Downsides: no dedicated kids club between Oct-March, and the lawn area is small if you have multiple kids running.
Excellent
100 reviews
Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel is a five-star resort on the Funchal sea front, with three pools, direct ocean swimming access, spa, gym and a kids' club. Dogs up to 20 kg are welcome for a supplement, with garden walking on site.
From
€180/night
Why families love Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel
Pestana Carlton Madeira is a 5-star resort on the Funchal seafront, and I recommend it to families who want a resort week without leaving the dog at home. Dogs up to 20 kg are welcome, and the gardens give them space to walk. Children have a kids' club and three pools, and the hotel has direct access for swimming in the ocean. Parents can use the spa and the gym.
Excellent
100 reviews
Dreams Madeira Resort Spa & Marina is a five-star resort in Caniçal at the east tip of the island, with marina access, two pools, a spa and a kids' club. Dogs up to 30 kg welcome — the highest weight limit of any hotel here.
From
€180/night
Why families love Dreams Madeira Resort Spa & Marina
Dreams Madeira sits at the wild east end of the island, twenty minutes from Funchal but feeling much further away. The 30 kg limit is unusual on Madeira and means actual labradors and golden retrievers can stay. The kids' club and the dog-acceptance combine well: the staff know who in the family wants what. The Ponta de São Lourenço hike starts five minutes from the gate, which is the headline walk on the island.
Pestana Ocean Bay All Inclusive Resort
Praia Formosa
Very Good
848 reviews
The Pestana Ocean Bay is Madeira's cheapest true all-inclusive 4-star, sitting directly above Praia Formosa (the only pebble beach walkable from Funchal) with three outdoor pools, a jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath and a small games room. It was the first purpose-built AI resort on the island.
From
€224/night
Why families love Pestana Ocean Bay All Inclusive Resort
Pestana Ocean Bay All Inclusive Resort sits directly above Praia Formosa, the pebble beach within walking distance of Funchal, and a walkway takes you down in about a minute. I recommend it to families who want an all-inclusive stay with simple entertainment: three heated outdoor pools, a small games room with a pool table and table tennis, and a jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath for parents. It was the first purpose-built all-inclusive resort on the island.
Pestana Grand Ocean Resort Hotel
Ponta da Cruz
Very Good
975 reviews
The Pestana Grand sits on a rocky promontory at Ponta da Cruz with the largest hotel saltwater pool in Madeira (1,800 sqm) and one of only two supervised kids clubs on the island (school holidays only). Stays are half-board as standard, with an all-inclusive upgrade covering lunch and unlimited drinks.
From
€569/night
Why families love Pestana Grand Ocean Resort Hotel
Pestana Grand Ocean Resort sits on the Ponta da Cruz promontory with 180-degree ocean views, and I recommend it to families who want serious pool time. The 1,800 sqm saltwater pool has a dedicated children's section with a wade-in edge, and there is also a heated indoor pool and a separate outdoor kids' pool. The supervised kids club for ages 4 to 12 runs only during school holidays, so I would check the dates before booking.
💡Tips for picking a Madeira hotel with a real playground
- 1Check whether the playground is fenced. Pestana Promenade and Royal Savoy both describe fenced play areas, while the garden play area at Quinta Jardins do Lago is informal and open.
- 2Look for shade. Madeira's sun is strong even outside summer, and Pestana Promenade's playground is fully shaded, while Royal Savoy's terrace is in the shade from early afternoon.
- 3For toddlers, a play area next to a shallow pool saves a lot of walking. At Pestana Promenade, the heated kids' splash pool sits about 30 metres from the playground.
- 4The quintas above Funchal are quieter and greener but need a short drive or taxi to the seafront. Casa Velha do Palheiro is 600 metres above the city in São Gonçalo.
- 5Madeira's coastline is rocky, so plan sea swimming carefully with young children. Several hotels, such as Pestana Carlton, offer direct ocean access from platforms rather than a sandy beach.
- 6If your children like animals, ask about Colombo, the giant tortoise that lives in the garden at Quinta Jardins do Lago, a short walk uphill from the centre of Funchal.
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