Riu Madeira

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

3565 reviews

• 

  Great Christmas stay

  This was our second time at this hotel but the first over Christmas. We had a great time and was sad to leave. The staff were amazing and the cleanliness excellent. A couple of things which would make it even better would be to have better towels, more spicy foods at dinner such as an Indian night perhaps, and freshly made cocktails instead of pre mixed. But I wouldn’t hesitate to return! Even to see mimi the resident cat.

  Dec 27, 2025
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  Five stars - A flawless Christmas stay at Riu Madeira - warm, effortless, and beautifully run

  I’m currently staying at the Riu Madeira over Christmas, and it has been exceptional from start to finish. Although I’m not travelling solo this time, I have travelled alone before - and this is exactly the kind of hotel I would recommend to anyone considering a solo trip. It feels safe, relaxed, and genuinely welcoming. The Christmas touches have been wonderful. Festive napkins, elegant balloons, beautifully decorated trees, and poinsettias in their droves create a warm, tasteful atmosphere throughout the lobby. It feels celebratory without ever being overwhelming - just beautifully done. The food is excellent, with something for every taste: fresh fish, perfectly cooked meats, colourful salads, fruit, and plenty of variety at every meal. Even the small details make a difference - like not having to check in each time you visit the restaurant. Everything is designed to make you feel relaxed, looked after, and free to enjoy your stay without fuss. The staff are outstanding. The hotel is kept immaculate with seamless, almost invisible efficiency. What really stands out is their warmth - an open willingness to help, to make things easier, and to ensure you’re comfortable. It goes beyond “nothing is too much effort”; it’s a natural friendliness that makes you feel genuinely cared for without ever feeling hovered over. Facilities are great too: a well-equipped gym, a relaxing steam room, and plenty of spaces to unwind. The nightly entertainment adds to the experience, ranging from traditional Portuguese performances to modern covers - something different each evening and always enjoyable. Overall, my Christmas stay at Riu Madeira has been wonderful. I’d recommend it wholeheartedly - whether you’re travelling with someone or on your own - and I would happily return.

  Dec 27, 2025
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  Our second visit.

  Overall we enjoyed our second stay here. There are far more positives than negatives, but we do believe if the hotel would implement some of the things we mention here it would be even better. The hotel is set in a lovely location, right on the sea front. The atmosphere around the pool is peaceful which is preferable to the often noisy entertainment that many other hotels aim for. In fact we choose this hotel because of its peaceful setting. Our room had a lovely partial sea view and spacious balcony. The room had everything we needed, although more electric sockets would have been helpful, ( there is only one in the main room and one on the bathroom. ) There is plenty of storage space and plenty of clothes hangers. Tea and coffee making facilities and a fridge, (although this was very noisy at night) The bathroom is very well set out with a large walk in shower and plenty of room to put toiletries etc. However the towels are very poor quality, thin and small which does not reflect the hotels four star rating. The main restaurant is well set out with plenty of seating and the waiting staff were all very efficient and helpful. There is plenty of food, although a lot of the dishes were bland and the menu lacked diversity. A big failing is the lack of Gluten free options, there is gluten free bread at breakfast, but that is all. It would be helpful to provide gf bread at lunch and dinner, and gf deserts would be most welcome. However the speciality restaurant is as bad as we remember from last time. Rice pudding is not al a carte. The hotel provides a free bus into Funchal which is a welcome provision, however it would be good if they could arrange some earlier return times. Just a couple of negatives. The room cleaning was poor, we had hair (not ours) on the bathroom floor that was there from the day we arrived until we left, and the room surfaces had dust that had clearly been there for some time. Entertainment is as bad as when we were here last time, in fact many of the same acts. Most were amateurish and dull which is a shame as we often left and retired to our room early. However we would still return to this hotel as the positives outweigh the negatives.

  Dec 26, 2025
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  Good 4 * and recommend

  Second visit to Riu Madeira and we were not disappointed. Rooms excellent, large, clean and quiet. Food is good and lots of show stations. Hotel looked lovely with numerous christmas trees. We did not have good weather for our 7 days but made the most of it. Got the courtesy bus into Funchal twice and a taxi to see the lights in the evening. Staff all very helpful and friendly especially waiters on the terrace. Lovely to see Rui again and he is amazing. So hard working and goes the extra mile. Hotel is not far out of Funchal and easy to access by courtesy bus or taxi.

  Dec 18, 2025
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  Excellence at Hotel RIU Madeira

  My wife and I recently returned from a one week holiday staying at the Hotel RIU Madeira. We have stayed here on previous occasions but not since the hotel had substantial renovations. We have always expected and received excellent service at RIU hotels and this occasion was no exception. The check-in at reception was effortless with friendly staff organising our room which had a frontal sea view. The food, as always, is plentiful and well cooked and presented with chefs and waiting staff all excellent, all overseen by Head Chef Pedro.The hotel has also established a Kulinarium Restaurant since the renovation, to which guests are entitled to one meal per stay, and which must be booked in advance. We found this experience really good, with a silver service commitment to excellence from the food cooked by Chefs Elena and Ishmael, to the table service provided by Dinarte and his very attentive colleagues. Our stay at the RIU Madeira was an entirely pleasant experience and one we hope to repeat.

  Dec 16, 2025