Santa Maria Hostel is a hostel at Rua de Santa Maria 145, in Funchal's old town (Zona Velha), registered as local accommodation 45713/AL. It offers eight-bed dormitories and private en-suite twin and triple rooms, and runs a restaurant in a former primary school building. It suits budget travellers and walkers without a car who want the cable car and the market within a short walk.
Where exactly is it?
The hostel is on Rua de Santa Maria, in the heart of the old town. In a straight line it is about 130 m from the lower station of the Funchal cable car and about 240 m from the Mercado dos Lavradores. The Funchal region guide covers the rest of the city.
How do you get around without a car?
This is one of the most practical locations in Funchal for car-free travel. The cable car climbs from the Zona Velha to Monte, where the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and the Monte toboggan are. The Madeira Botanical Garden is about 1.7 km away in a straight line; under the SIGA numbering in force since 9 March 2026, Horários do Funchal runs line 031 (Jardim Botânico) and line 131 (Teleférico Jardim Botânico). For island-wide buses, including the airport Aerobus (line 500), see our guide to getting around Madeira without a car.
What are the rooms like?
According to the hostel's website, there are two kinds of accommodation:
- Dormitories for eight people; each bunk has a built-in wardrobe, an individual reading light and a power socket.
- Private rooms: twin and triple, with en-suite bathrooms.
Bedding is included, towels can be rented, laundry is available on request, rooms open with electronic key cards and hot water is available 24 hours a day.
What about food?
The on-site restaurant occupies a former primary school with century-old architecture, according to the hostel. The Mercado dos Lavradores for fruit and fish is a few minutes' walk away; for what to order, see what to eat in Madeira.
Practical notes
Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 11:00, as shown on the property's listing. The hostel website does not mention parking, a lift or a guest kitchen, so check before booking if you need them. Distances here are straight-line values calculated from map coordinates.
