Quinta da Penha de França is a four-star hotel at Rua Imperatriz Dona Amélia 85, on the western side of central Funchal, registered as RNET 7249. It is split between a garden building and a seafront building with direct sea access, and the hotel puts the city centre about 10 minutes away on foot. It suits travellers who want to explore Funchal on foot and use the city as a base for day trips.
Where exactly is it?
The hotel sits in the Penha de França area of Sé parish, between the Lido hotel strip and the marina. In a straight line it is about 1.5 km from the Mercado dos Lavradores and about 1.6 km from the lower station of the Funchal cable car in the old town (Zona Velha). The Funchal region guide covers what else is within walking distance.
How do you get around without a car?
Most of the centre — the market, the old town, the cathedral area and the seafront promenade — is reachable on foot, which is the main practical advantage of this location. For Monte, the cable car from the Zona Velha connects to the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and the Monte toboggan. For trailheads in the mountains and on the north coast, plan on a tour, a taxi or a hire car; our guide to getting around Madeira without a car explains the bus network.
What is the property like?
According to the hotel's website, it has 108 rooms with garden or sea views, spread over two buildings: Hotel Quinta Penha de França, set among lawns, tropical gardens and a lake, and Hotel Penha de França Mar, by the sea. A pedestrian bridge and a lift link the two. Facilities listed by the hotel include a 25-metre seawater pool, a children's pool, a pool bar, a 24-hour reception, a lift and a diving centre. There are two restaurants: Rivus by the sea (pool restaurant at lunch, seafood in the evening) and The Brother's in the gardens.
What is nearby for swimming?
Besides the hotel's own sea access, the lava-rock bathing area at Doca do Cavacas is about 2.9 km away and Praia Formosa about 3.1 km, both straight-line distances to the west.
Practical notes
The hotel lists free outdoor parking and says pets are allowed. Check-in and check-out times are not published on the hotel's website, so confirm them when booking. Distances in this profile are straight-line figures calculated from map coordinates; walking routes in Funchal are longer and often steep.
