Winter
Dec → Feb16 to 18°
nights 11 to 13°
- 9 rainy days · 72 mm
- 8.6 h of sun
- sea 20°
When is the best time to visit Madeira?
In short: All year round thanks to a mild climate (16 to 25 °C in Funchal), with April to October as the most settled period for the levadas and swimming. May and June best combine the Flower Festival, hiking and long days, while July and August, the driest months (13 and 12 mm in Funchal), offer the warmest sea.
- Flower Festival: From late April to late May depending on the year, a floral parade and displays in the streets of Funchal, especially at weekends.
- Levadas and hiking: From April to October, trails are more often dry; the north side and the peaks stay wetter and windier than the south.
- Swimming: From July to October, the sea reaches 24 to 25 °C around the island and Funchal sees 22 to 25 °C in the afternoon.
- Wine Festival: From late August to mid-September, the grape harvest is celebrated in the streets of Funchal and in the island's vineyards.
- Mild winter and New Year: From December to February, 16 to 18 °C in Funchal, and the fireworks over the bay on 31 December.
Best avoided: No period really needs avoiding; the weakest runs from October to December, the wettest (81 to 85 mm and 11 to 13 rainy days a month in Funchal), with high-altitude trails sometimes closed after storms.
Sources: visitmadeira.com, visitmadeira.com, visitmadeira.com
- Jan16°fair
- Feb16°fair
- Mar17°fair
- Apr18°recommended
- May20°recommended
- Jun21°recommended
- Jul24°recommended
- Aug25°recommended
- Sep23°recommended
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov19°fair
- Dec18°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Madeira, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 12° | 8.3 h | 70 mm | 9 d | 20° | |
| February | 16° | 11° | 9.3 h | 66 mm | 8 d | 20° | |
| March | 17° | 12° | 10.3 h | 74 mm | 11 d | 19° | |
| April | 18° | 12° | 11.1 h | 74 mm | 11 d | 20° | ✓ |
| May | 20° | 14° | 12.2 h | 36 mm | 7 d | 21° | ✓ |
| June | 21° | 16° | 12.8 h | 72 mm | 8 d | 22° | ✓ |
| July | 24° | 18° | 12.9 h | 13 mm | 3 d | 24° | ✓ |
| August | 25° | 19° | 12.2 h | 12 mm | 3 d | 25° | ✓ |
| September | 23° | 18° | 11.1 h | 41 mm | 10 d | 24° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 17° | 9.6 h | 83 mm | 13 d | 24° | ✓ |
| November | 19° | 14° | 8.9 h | 85 mm | 12 d | 23° | |
| December | 18° | 13° | 8.2 h | 81 mm | 11 d | 21° |
The four seasons in Madeira, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Funchal) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May17 to 20°
nights 12 to 14°
- 10 rainy days · 61 mm
- 11.2 h of sun
- sea 20°
Summer
Jun → Aug21 to 25°
nights 16 to 19°
- 5 rainy days · 32 mm
- 12.6 h of sun
- sea 24°
Autumn
Sep → Nov19 to 23°
nights 14 to 18°
- 12 rainy days · 70 mm
- 9.9 h of sun
- sea 24°
Book early for April to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Madeira, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h17 of daylight, in December 10h01, a difference of 4h17.
10h13Jan
10h59Feb
11h53Mar
12h57Apr
13h49May
14h17Jun
14h06Jul
13h21Aug
12h19Sep
11h18Oct
10h26Nov
10h01Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Funchal" (32.67°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Madeira, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsFunchal CarnivalFebruaryFesta da FlorApril to MayMadeira Wine FestivalAugust to SeptemberNew Year's Eve fireworksDecemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: January, February, May, June, July, August
- Beach & swimming: July, August, September
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, November, December
- Diving & snorkelling: August
- Long days: June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Madeira, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- FebruaryFunchal Carnival big crowds
Floats and samba schools come down Funchal's seafront avenue, with a more satirical parade on Shrove Tuesday.
- April to MayFesta da Flor big crowds
A few weeks after Easter, flower carpets on the ground, a Wall of Hope built by the children and a floral parade through Funchal.
- August to SeptemberMadeira Wine Festival
Grape picking and treading the grapes by foot at Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, followed by tastings in the centre of Funchal.
- DecemberNew Year's Eve fireworks big crowds
Funchal bay lights up along the entire coastline as the new year arrives, and the hotels are fully booked well in advance.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Fair16°12° at night
- 70 mm · 9 d
- 8.3 h
- sea 20°
Low season, lower prices
February
Fair16°11° at night
- 66 mm · 8 d
- 9.3 h
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
March
Fair17°12° at night
- 74 mm · 11 d
- 10.3 h
- sea 19°
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended18°12° at night
- 74 mm · 11 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 20°
High season, book early
May
Recommended20°14° at night
- 36 mm · 7 d
- 12.2 h
- sea 21°
High season, book early
June
Recommended21°16° at night
- 72 mm · 8 d
- 12.8 h
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended24°18° at night
- 13 mm · 3 d
- 12.9 h
- sea 24°
High season, book early
August
Recommended25°19° at night
- 12 mm · 3 d
- 12.2 h
- sea 25°
High season, book early
September
Recommended23°18° at night
- 41 mm · 10 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°17° at night
- 83 mm · 13 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair19°14° at night
- 85 mm · 12 d
- 8.9 h
- sea 23°
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair18°13° at night
- 81 mm · 11 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 16 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (70 mm). Expect 8.3 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 16 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (66 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 17 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (74 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (74 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
May. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 36 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
June. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (72 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 12.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (13 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. 25 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Hardly any rain (12 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (41 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (83 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (85 mm). Expect 8.9 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (81 mm). Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Madeira?
All year round thanks to a mild climate (16 to 25 °C in Funchal), with April to October as the most settled period for the levadas and swimming. May and June best combine the Flower Festival, hiking and long days, while July and August, the driest months (13 and 12 mm in Funchal), offer the warmest sea.
Which month should you avoid in Madeira?
No period really needs avoiding; the weakest runs from October to December, the wettest (81 to 85 mm and 11 to 13 rainy days a month in Funchal), with high-altitude trails sometimes closed after storms.
What is the hottest month in Madeira?
August, with 25 °C on average in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Funchal).
What is the coldest month in Madeira?
January, with 16 °C at best during the day and 12 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Funchal).
What is the driest month in Madeira?
August: 12 mm over 3 days of rain, against 85 mm in November, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Madeira?
July, with 12.9 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Madeira?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in June, July, August, September, October, November (warmest 25 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Levada dos 25 Fontes / Rabaçal).
When is the best time to hike in Madeira?
January, February, May, June, July, August: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Funchal), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Madeira?
August: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Levada dos 25 Fontes / Rabaçal).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Madeira guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
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