Best Family Hotels Near Madeira's Golf Courses (2026)
5 family-friendly hotels with golf in Madeira . Handpicked for families who want the best.
Madeira has two championship golf courses and a third quirky 9-hole layout, all within 30 minutes of Funchal. Palheiro Golf sits at 500 metres altitude with sea views from every hole, while Santo da Serra hosts the Madeira Open and runs along the cliffs above Caniço. Both courses welcome juniors and offer family memberships during school holidays. We checked which hotels actually shuttle to the tees, which have kids' clubs to keep the non-golfers occupied, and which include green fee discounts in the rate. Prices for a family of four in July range from 148 to 412 EUR per night. Here are 5 family hotels where one parent can play 18 holes while the other is at the pool with the kids — no rental car needed.
Funchal is a working capital, not a resort strip — the old town buzzes with school runs and farmers' markets in the morning, then settles into a sleepy rhythm after lunch. The hillside above the city is laced with levada walks (irrigation canal paths), perfect for low-stakes hikes with kids aged 6+. Golf families love it because the courses are residential extensions of the city, not isolated complexes.
Why Madeira works for a golf-and-family holiday
Palheiro Golf is the family-friendliest of the two championship courses. The clubhouse has a kids' menu, the practice ground is free for accompanying juniors and Casa Velha do Palheiro shares the same estate — so you can literally walk from breakfast to the first tee. Green fees are 95-115 EUR in summer, 70-85 EUR shoulder season. Junior rates start at 35 EUR for under-16s.
Santo da Serra is the longer, more dramatic course — 27 holes split into the Machico, Desertas and Serras nines. The cliffside par-3 11th over a 150m drop is the signature. Less family-oriented than Palheiro, but the on-site restaurant Pousada do Lagar does a proper kids' menu and the practice short game area is fenced and safe for under-10s to wander.
The third option is the 9-hole Porto Santo Golf Course on the sister island, designed by Severiano Ballesteros and accessible via the 2h15 ferry from Funchal or 15-min flight. Worth a one-day trip if golf is the holiday's priority — green fees include caddy and the beach bar at the turn does properly cold beers.
Parent's take
Realistic parent take: Madeira works for golf if you're happy with two courses and a 30-minute drive each way. If you want a multi-course resort feel, the Algarve has eleven golf courses within an hour of Vilamoura. But Madeira gives you mountains, ocean and golf in one short flight — and far fewer crowds on the tee.
Our Top 5 Picks
Hotels in Madeira with golf, sorted by guest rating.
Quinta Jardins do Lago
São Pedro, central Funchal
Wonderful
890 reviews
A former 18th-century estate house in the heart of Funchal with a 2.5-hectare botanical garden and a heated outdoor pool. The hotel arranges discounted green fees and shuttle transfers to Palheiro Golf (12 minutes) and Santo da Serra (30 minutes).
From
€412/night
Why families love Quinta Jardins do Lago
Garden-obsessed families adore this place — Colombo the resident tortoise leads the kids on a daily fruit-feeding tour at 4pm, and the garden has a hidden treehouse the staff don't advertise on the website. Family rooms are properly large with extra-bed setups that feel like a real bedroom, not a fold-out. The library has board games for rainy levada-walk days.
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.
The Vine Hotel
Sé, Funchal old town
Excellent
1,340 reviews
A modern design hotel in central Funchal with a rooftop infinity pool, terrace bar and an in-house wine spa. The concierge desk pre-books tee times at Palheiro and Santo da Serra and arranges car or shuttle transfers depending on the group size.
From
€298/night
Why families love The Vine Hotel
The Vine works best for families with older kids who'll appreciate the rooftop pool view over Funchal harbour. The wine theme runs through the whole hotel, but the kids' menu in the Uva restaurant is genuinely good — proper grilled fish, not nuggets. Family rooms are tight on size; book a junior suite if you're four. Right above Mercado dos Lavradores for breakfast pastries.
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.
Sentido Galosol
Caniço de Baixo (clifftop)
Excellent
1,685 reviews
A 4-star clifftop resort 12 minutes from Santo da Serra Golf, with direct lift access to a sea-bathing platform on the volcanic rocks below. Two outdoor pools, mini-club open July-August and on-site tennis make it the budget-friendly golf base on the east coast.
From
€148/night
Why families love Sentido Galosol
Galosol is the value pick on this list. Caniço is quieter than Funchal — fewer restaurants in walking distance, but the Atlantic view from the cliff terrace makes up for it. The lift down to the sea is the kids' favourite hotel feature; bring water shoes for the volcanic rocks. Mini-club only runs in summer, so check dates if you need childcare to play golf in May or October.
💡How to plan tee times around kids' schedules in Madeira
- 1Book the 8am tee at Palheiro for stress-free family logistics. You'll be back at the hotel by 12:30pm for lunch and pool time. Afternoon tees push 6pm finishes, which usually conflicts with kids' bedtime routines and the 5pm wind that picks up.
- 2Don't fly clubs — rent on arrival. Both Palheiro and Santo da Serra rent Callaway or Titleist sets for 35-50 EUR per round. With baggage fees on TAP at 50 EUR each way, renting saves money and the hassle of carrying a club bag through Funchal airport.
- 3Family memberships make sense for 5+ days. Palheiro Golf offers a 3-round family pack at 280 EUR (one adult unlimited, kids free). Santo da Serra runs similar shoulder-season deals. Ask at booking — these aren't on the website.
- 4Pair golf with a [Madeira spa hotel](/portugal/madeira/spa-wellness) for non-golfing partners. Many of our golf picks include spa access for both adults, so the non-golfer can have a treatment while you're playing. Pestana Carlton and Reid's Palace both run this perk.
- 5The drive to Santo da Serra is hairpin-heavy. If anyone in the car gets motion sickness, take Stugeron 30 minutes before departure. The hotel concierge can arrange a transfer for 35-50 EUR each way, which is often worth it.
- 6For a complete contrast, Algarve golf hotels offer the resort-style alternative with on-site courses and toddler clubs.
What else to do in Madeira when you are not on the course
Other activities your family might enjoy in Madeira.
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