Best time to go to Madeira for a perfect weather and where to go?

Annual weather in Madeira

For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Madeira for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:

Best time to travel to Madeira by cities

Best time to go to Funchal

Best time to go to Porto Santo

Best time to go to Achadas da Cruz

Best time to go to Arco de São Jorge

Best time to go to Cabo Girão

Best time to go to Calheta

Best time to go to Caniçal

Best time to go to Curral das Freiras

Best time to go to Encumeada

Best time to go to Fonte do Bispo

Best time to go to Gaula

Best time to go to Ilhas Selvagens

Best time to go to Jardim do Mar

Best time to go to Madalena do Mar

Best time to go to Ponta de São Lourenço

Best time to go to Ponta Delgada

Climate and Weather in Madeira

Located in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean and off the coast of Morocco, Madeira is a volcanic archipelago that is part of Portugal. With its subtropical climate, the weather is pleasant all year round. In fact, it never gets very cold in this Portuguese archipelago. Temperatures rarely drop below 15°C (59°F) and generally reach up to 25°C (77°F) at most. There are few differences between summer and winter, hence the term "eternal spring" weather.

However, the islands of Madeira are known for their particularly lush landscapes, which is quite unusual for a volcanic region compared, for example, to the Canary Islands.

Therefore, it is important to note that it regularly rains but in small quantities on the islands. In mountainous areas, however, rainfall can be quite heavy, especially in autumn and winter.

Furthermore, while the weather is often pleasant in Madeira, the sea temperature is not always ideal. It is below 20°C (68°F) in winter and rises to around 25°C (77°F) between August and October.

Madeira Climate: Some Specificities

Madeira is an archipelago that experiences several microclimates. For example, the climate is generally drier in Porto Santo compared to Madeira.

Furthermore, the archipelago is subjected to winds almost all year round, which influence Madeira's weather. Firstly, the northeast trade winds regularly bring humidity and clouds to the northern slopes of the islands. However, the south is more sheltered from the wind.

As a result, you will also find more rain in the center of the island, in the mountainous areas than on the coasts. If you travel to Santa Cruz or Ribeira Brava, for example, the weather will often be drier.

Moreover, from June to September, Madeira is subjected to a hot wind coming from the Sahara: "the Leste." It brings red dust and heat waves exceeding 30°C (86°F) .

On the other hand, "l'Embate" is a sea breeze that helps temper the climate in Funchal but brings some clouds to the heights.

In summary, in this area in the heart of the ocean, close to the Gulf Stream, the Sahara, and the Tropics, the sky is constantly changing. This leads to many variations in Madeira's weather. It is possible to experience rain, sunshine, wind, all in the same day.

Madeira Climate: Winter

During winter, do not expect icy temperatures as in other parts of Europe. The island of Madeira enjoys a mild yet sometimes rainy climate during this time of the year.

Generally, temperatures range from 20 to 22°C (72°F) during the day, but nights are quite cool with temperatures around 10-15°C.

However, sunshine is less abundant during this season. Clouds are often present in Madeira's sky, even outside of showers. For example, in December, there are only 5 hours of sunshine per day. Fortunately, the days are still pleasant, and one can fully enjoy their stay despite the overcast sky.

Finally, above 1500 m altitude, snowfall can occur, and temperatures drop drastically. Mountainous areas are also prone to fog during this season.

Madeira Climate: Spring and Summer

In Madeira, spring and summer correspond to a drier and sunnier season.

Spring is actually the most pleasant season to explore the archipelago. Temperatures are mild, and flowers bloom abundantly, making the landscapes particularly colorful.

Generally, temperatures range from 17 to 20°C (68°F) in spring and 20 to 26°C (79°F) in summer. Moreover, the level of sunshine is particularly high. However, in June, a cloud cover (the "capacete") is present on the island of Madeira in the morning. It gradually disappears as the day progresses.

Furthermore, showers are very rare from May onwards. There are only 1 or 2 days of rain between June and August.

Madeira Climate: Autumn

Autumn is a favorable season for a stay in Madeira. However, it is also a rainy period in the archipelago. The month of November, in particular, sees an average of 10 rainy days.

Nevertheless, these precipitations come in the form of passing showers, and the amount of rain is relatively low. This makes it entirely possible to travel during this period.

Additionally, in autumn, temperatures range between 20 and 24°C (76°F) , and the sea temperature remains pleasant until October.

Temperatures and rainfall in Madeira

On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Madeira and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Funchal, Ilha do Porto Santo, Achadas da Cruz, Arco de São Jorge and Cabo Girão, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.

Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Madeira

Find out when Madeira has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.

Tourist seasons in Madeira

The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, May, June, November and December. The number of visitors to Madeira is high in: April, July, August, September and October.

• Very low season in Madeira: January, February, March and November.
• Low season in Madeira: May, June and December.
• High season in Madeira: April, July, September and October.
• Peak season in Madeira: August.

Figure: Visitor index for Madeira month by month

Average price for flights to Madeira

Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to Madeira

Where to go in Madeira?

This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).

Legend:

About Madeira

What can I do in Madeira?

Beaches / swimming

Nature and countryside

Culture and heritage

Sports

Family travel

Crafts / shopping

Gastronomy

Nightlife