Savoy Palace
madeira, portugal · ★★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
Savoy Palace is the contemporary luxury answer to Reid's — a $200 million wave-shaped tower that opened in 2019 on the Funchal seafront, with 352 rooms, eleven restaurants and bars, and a 17th-floor rooftop infinity pool that delivers the single best panoramic view in the city. Designed by Nini Andrade Silva (Portugal's most famous interior designer) with a flowing organic aesthetic referencing the Atlantic swells, the Savoy is the modern-luxury Funchal hotel that pairs naturally with Reid's heritage glamour — couples often split a Madeira trip between the two for the full picture. The Laurea Spa is the largest in Madeira at 2,800 sqm with thalassotherapy circuits and a couples' suite with private hammam. Service is precise and contemporary, the rooftop sunsets are extraordinary, and the location at the western end of the Frente Mar promenade puts couples ten minutes' walk from Funchal old town. For honeymoon couples wanting sleek modern design, large bathrooms, and the Madeira flagship dining and spa experience, the Savoy is the strongest contemporary option on the island.
- ✓Prioritise spa & wellness
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Want a direct beachfront
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
90/100
Book Your Stay
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At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
The Ocean Premium Suites on floors 11-15 are the honeymoon sweet spot — corner suites with floor-to-ceiling glass on two sides, a separate sitting room, and a private balcony with direct Atlantic view. For maximum splurge the Royal Savoy Penthouse occupies the 17th floor with a private rooftop terrace, plunge pool, and butler service at around $1,800-2,000 per night. The standard Premium Ocean View room (one category up from entry) is the value-honeymoon choice — large bathroom, balcony, full sea view from around $480 in shoulder season.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $1,160/nt) | $8,120 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $12,180 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $300 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $1,624 |
| Total estimated | $24,924 |
Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival & Rooftop Sunset
Fly into FNC and transfer 25 minutes west into Funchal. Settle in, then take the elevator to the 17th-floor Galáxia Skyfood for sunset cocktails and the Funchal panorama — the rooftop infinity pool faces directly west over the Atlantic. Dinner at Galáxia (rotating fine-dining menu with the same view) or the casual Casa Velha on the lobby level. The Frente Mar promenade is two minutes from the door for a walking after-dinner.
Funchal Walking Day
Walk ten minutes east into Funchal old town. Coffee at Café Ritz on Avenida Arriaga, then the Mercado dos Lavradores (the lavish art-deco market — exotic fruits, fresh fish, the morning's espetada beef). Lunch at Restaurante O Boteco for the classic bolo do caco and limpet rice. Afternoon: Blandy's Wine Lodge for Madeira tasting, the Sé Cathedral, the Rua de Santa Maria street-art alley. Return to Savoy for the sunset rooftop swim.
Pico do Arieiro & Laurel Forest
Pre-dawn drive 90 minutes inland to Pico do Arieiro (1,818m) for the cloud-sea sunrise — Madeira's most photographed view. Walk the first stretch of the PR1 ridge trail toward Pico Ruivo. Breakfast on the way back at Quinta do Furão in Santana with the famous thatched palheiro houses. Afternoon: thalassotherapy circuit at the Laurea Spa — the seawater pool, salt steam, and aroma showers are the spa's signature.
Levada das 25 Fontes
Drive 90 minutes west to Rabaçal for the Levada das 25 Fontes — the classic three-hour walk through the UNESCO laurel forest to a green amphitheatre with twenty-five springs and a small lagoon. Bring layers (high-altitude cool air) and proper hiking shoes. Lunch at Pastelaria Encumeada on the way back. Evening: dinner at the contemporary Italian restaurant Pinot Bistro at the Savoy.
Câmara de Lobos & Cabo Girão
15-minute drive west to Câmara de Lobos, the fishing village Churchill painted in 1950. Lunch at Vila do Peixe overlooking the harbour for fresh scabbard fish (espada) with grilled banana. Continue to Cabo Girão for the 580m glass-floor skywalk — one of the tallest sea cliffs in Europe. Return to Funchal mid-afternoon for the rooftop pool and a couples' spa treatment at Laurea.
Boat Day & Wine Country
Morning catamaran from Funchal Marina for whale and dolphin watching — Madeira's deep offshore waters have resident bottlenose and pilot whale populations. Lunch back at the Marina at Armazém do Sal. Afternoon: drive to Quinta do Furão wine estate in the north for Madeira wine tasting in the vineyard with sea view. Return via the levada road to Santana, sunset back at the Savoy rooftop.
Spa Morning & Departure
Final morning at the Laurea Spa with a 90-minute treatment for two, then breakfast on the room balcony. FNC is 25 minutes east — direct flights to London, Lisbon, Frankfurt, Paris. The hotel arranges transfers and most couples find seven nights leaves the south-west of the island unexplored.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
Savoy is a large hotel by Madeira standards (352 rooms) — quieter than a Caribbean resort but more populated than Reid's or Quinta da Casa Branca; couples wanting a small-hotel feel should consider Quinta da Casa Branca or Castanheiro.
The hotel is on the seafront promenade but has no direct sand beach — sea access is via a small lido platform, and most pool time happens on the rooftop or the heated indoor pool.
FNC airport crosswind risk is significant — buffer a day at the end of trip for important onward connections.
Rooftop dinners and the Saturday rooftop DJ events can run loud until midnight; couples wanting absolute quiet should request a lower-floor room or a north-facing room.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon inquiry — Savoy Palace Funchal Dear Savoy Palace team, We are planning our honeymoon [DATE]-[DATE] and are interested in an Ocean Premium Suite in the Senses adults-only section (or Royal Penthouse). Please advise on availability, honeymoon packages, Laurea Spa treatments, and Galáxia Skyfood reservations. Thank you, [Your names]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Good for honeymooners?
Savoy Palace is among the strongest contemporary-luxury honeymoon hotels in Portugal — the rooftop pool, the Laurea Spa, the design-forward suites, and the walking-distance Funchal location combine the modern hotel experience with the easy Madeira pace. Couples wanting sleek 5-star modern luxury rather than 1891 heritage will prefer the Savoy over Reid's.
Best time to visit?
April through October is the warmest, sunniest window — May for the flower festival and the most colour. June through September are warmest (24°C average) and best for the rooftop pool. Winter (December-March) is mild (16-18°C) and quiet, with significantly lower rates but cooler pool conditions.
Book in advance?
Ocean Premium Suites and the Royal Penthouse book 3-4 months ahead for the April-October peak. Galáxia Skyfood and the rooftop pool cabanas should be reserved on arrival. Honeymoon packages include a sparkling welcome, a couples' Laurea Spa treatment, and rooftop sunset cocktails.
Adults-only?
Savoy welcomes families but has an adults-only section (Senses, on the 14th floor and above) with its own rooftop pool, lounge, and concierge — this is the honeymoon-defining configuration of the hotel and should be specifically requested. Couples should book a Senses suite for the adults-only rooftop access.
Best room type?
An Ocean Premium Suite on floors 11-15 in the Senses adults-only section is the canonical honeymoon room — corner two-sided glass, sitting room, balcony, and access to the adults-only rooftop pool. The Royal Penthouse on floor 17 is the maximum-splurge option with private terrace and plunge pool.
How to get there?
Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International (FNC) is 25 minutes east of the Savoy. Direct flights from London, Lisbon, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Manchester. The hotel arranges transfers. Buffer a day for FNC crosswind risk before important onward connections.
Same Vibe, Different Destination
