The best months for Madeira are May to September for walking the levadas, the sea and the Funchal terraces, with September and October giving the warmest water. The island is mild all year, between 61°F in a January cool spell and 77°F in August, and the north coast is always wetter than Funchal in the south. Winter is green and showery rather than cold.
See Madeira in a private itinerary: 14-Day Portugal Itinerary with Madeira: Porto to Funchal. Or talk to a planner, who replies within one business day.
| Season | Daytime highs | Rain | Sun | What it means for your trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter, December to February | 61 to 68°F | Wettest, 4 to 4.5 inches a month | 4 to 5 hours a day | Short heavy showers, mild afternoons, hotels at their quietest, New Year fireworks over Funchal bay |
| Spring, March to May | 64 to 72°F | Falling, 1.5 to 3 inches | 6 to 7 hours | The island in bloom, the Flower Festival in late April or May, ideal for levada walks |
| Summer, June to August | 73 to 77°F | Almost none | 8 hours or more | The driest months, warm sea, the busiest season in Funchal |
| Autumn, September to November | 70 to 77°F, cooling | Rising, 2 to 3.5 inches | 6 to 7 hours | Warmest sea of the year in September and October, fewer visitors, grape harvest on the terraces |
Sea temperature runs 63 to 75°F through the year, warmest in September and October. Whale and dolphin watching runs all year, with the most species between April and October.
How we build around the weather
Madeira’s microclimates change by the kilometer. A rainy morning in Santana on the north coast is often a sunny one in Funchal, so our driver-guide reads the day and moves the walk, the cable car to Monte or the Cabo Girão skywalk to the side of the island with the sun. We pair Madeira with Porto and Lisbon on the 14-day itinerary above, or with the Azores for an island trip.
Tell us your month and we will tell you honestly whether Madeira fits it. Talk to a planner, who replies within one business day.
