Trip planning

Madeira weather month by month – what to really expect in Funchal

Q: What is the weather like in Madeira in November?

In November Funchal averages around 23 °C during the day and about 17 °C at night. The sea is still around 21 °C. There are some rainy days, but mostly just short showers.

Q: What is the weather like in Madeira in December?

Mild: around 21 °C during the day and 15–16 °C at night in Funchal on average. December is one of the wetter months, but the sun often shines in between.

Q: What is the weather like in Madeira in January?

In January Funchal averages around 20 °C during the day and about 14 °C at night. In the mountains, however, it can get frosty.

Q: Can you swim in Madeira in winter?

Yes. Even in winter the sea doesn’t drop below about 18 °C. Many find it refreshing but perfectly doable – especially on sunny days.

Q: When is the best time to visit Madeira?

Spring and autumn for hiking, August to October for swimming, and New Year’s Eve, Carnival and the Flower Festival for festivals. November and January are quiet and still mild.

Q: Where is the best weather on Madeira?

The south coast around Funchal is the warmest and sunniest. The north coast and the mountains are cooler, windier and wetter.

“What’s the weather like in Madeira in November?” – that’s one of the questions our guests ask most often. The short answer: in Funchal it’s mild all year round. The long answer is more interesting, because on Madeira you can hike through several seasons in a single day. Here’s our overview, month by month.

The essentials:

In Funchal daytime highs range from about 20 to 27 °C all year round
The Atlantic never drops below around 18 °C – so, in theory, you can always swim
It rains most from October to January; July and August are the driest
The mountains and the north coast are noticeably cooler and wetter than Funchal

Funchal weather – month by month

The table shows long-term averages for Funchal on the south coast, where Casa das Flores is located. “Rain days” are days with at least one millimetre of rain – on most of them it only rains briefly.

Month	Day	Night	Rain days	Sea
Jan	20 °C	14 °C	6	approx. 18 °C
Feb	20 °C	14 °C	6	approx. 18 °C
Mar	21 °C	14 °C	6	approx. 18 °C
Apr	21 °C	15 °C	5	approx. 18 °C
May	22 °C	16 °C	3	approx. 19 °C
Jun	24 °C	18 °C	1	approx. 21 °C
Jul	25 °C	20 °C	<1	approx. 22 °C
Aug	27 °C	21 °C	<1	approx. 23 °C
Sep	27 °C	20 °C	3	approx. 24 °C
Oct	25 °C	19 °C	7	approx. 23 °C
Nov	23 °C	17 °C	7	approx. 21 °C
Dec	21 °C	16 °C	9	approx. 20 °C

Source: 1991–2020 climate normals for the Funchal station (IPMA, Portuguese weather service). Sea temperature: rounded guide values.

A short shower, then a rainbow

“Rain day” sounds worse than it is. Usually a shower rolls in from the sea, is over in a quarter of an hour – and then the sun comes back. The best part: from our terrace we almost always see a rainbow over the bay afterwards, quite often even a double one. We took all the photos here from the terrace of Casa das Flores.

Double rainbow over the harbour of Funchal after a shower, seen from Casa das Flores — A double rainbow over Funchal harbour

Sabine on the terrace of Casa das Flores under a double rainbow — After the shower: a rainbow over our terrace

Funchal isn’t all of Madeira

Averages only tell half the story. Madeira is a mountainous island: Pico do Arieiro rises to 1,818 metres, and it gets cooler with every metre you climb. While you sit on the terrace in Funchal in a T-shirt, the peaks can be windy, misty and in winter even frosty. The north coast gets much more rain than the south – which is why it’s so green.

Hiker on the stone staircase to Pico do Arieiro high above a sea of clouds in bright sunshine — On the way to Pico do Arieiro: sun above, a sea of clouds below

Small white house with a red roof on a green mountainside in the north of Madeira, wrapped in clouds — In the north the clouds often cling to the mountains – which is why it’s so green

Our tip: in the morning we check the weather map and choose the side of the island with the best hiking weather. If the north is in the clouds, we head for the coast in the south or east – and vice versa. Our favourite trails away from the famous routes are in Hiking on Madeira.

Winter: December to February

Around 20–21 °C during the day and 14–16 °C at night: winter on Madeira feels like a late spring in northern Europe. It rains more often than in summer, but usually in short showers with sunshine in between. And the island is beautiful at this time: Funchal glows with Christmas lights, the New Year’s Eve fireworks are among the biggest in the world, and Carnival follows in February. Read more about this season in Christmas on Madeira.

Golden clouds and sunbeams over the houses of Funchal in the evening, seen from the terrace of Casa das Flores — Evening sky over Funchal, from our terrace

And yes, it can even snow on Madeira – but only right up in the mountains. Near Pico do Arieiro we once built a little snowman in winter. Down in Funchal you notice nothing of it.

Sabine in a rain jacket crouching next to a small snowman on a levada path near Pico do Arieiro, Madeira — A snowman on Madeira – up near Pico do Arieiro

Spring: March to May

Nature explodes: everything is in bloom, there are fewer rainy days, and at 21–22 °C it’s ideal hiking weather. At the end of April the Flower Festival begins with its big parades – all dates are in Madeira festivals 2026 & 2027.

Yellow flowering broom in front of a sea of clouds between Madeira’s mountains — In spring yellow broom blooms all over the mountains

Summer: June to August

The driest and warmest time: hardly any rain, around 24–27 °C in Funchal, and the sea reaches 21–23 °C. Funchal rarely gets really hot, though, because the Atlantic brings a pleasant breeze. In June the Atlantic Festival puts on fireworks over the bay every Saturday.

Blue and white agapanthus flowering on Funchal’s seafront promenade with palm trees — In summer agapanthus bloom all over Funchal

Autumn: September to November

Our insider tip: in September the sea is at its warmest at around 24 °C, and Funchal is still summery. From October the first showers arrive, but the days stay mild. In autumn the island celebrates the Wine Festival and the Chestnut Festival – you’ll find the dates in our festival calendar too.

Rainbow over the houses of Funchal with a view of the Atlantic — In autumn sun and showers often alternate quickly

What to pack

Layers: a T-shirt for Funchal, a jumper and windbreaker for the mountains – whatever the season.
Rain jacket: especially from October to March and for hikes in the north.
Sturdy shoes: levadas and mountain paths are often damp and slippery.
Swimwear: the sea is swimmable all year – for the brave, even in January.
Sunscreen: the sun on Madeira is strong even in winter.

Sabine sitting on a summit on Madeira looking out over a sea of clouds, with green mountainsides and blue sky behind — A break above the clouds – spring and autumn are perfect for hiking

When is the best time to visit Madeira?

It depends on what you have in mind. For hiking, spring and autumn are ideal. For swimming, August to October is best. For festivals, go for New Year’s Eve, Carnival in February and the Flower Festival in May. And if you’re looking for peace and quiet with mild temperatures, November and January are perfect – that’s when the island is quietest.

Winter, spring or autumn – at Casa das Flores you can sit in the sun on the terrace almost all year round, looking out over Funchal and the Atlantic. Book directly with us and you’ll get a small welcome basket with Madeira wine and honey cake.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Madeira in November?

In November Funchal averages around 23 °C during the day and about 17 °C at night. The sea is still around 21 °C. There are some rainy days, but mostly just short showers.

What is the weather like in Madeira in December?

Mild: around 21 °C during the day and 15–16 °C at night in Funchal on average. December is one of the wetter months, but the sun often shines in between.

What is the weather like in Madeira in January?

In January Funchal averages around 20 °C during the day and about 14 °C at night. In the mountains, however, it can get frosty.

Can you swim in Madeira in winter?

Yes. Even in winter the sea doesn’t drop below about 18 °C. Many find it refreshing but perfectly doable – especially on sunny days.

When is the best time to visit Madeira?

Spring and autumn for hiking, August to October for swimming, and New Year’s Eve, Carnival and the Flower Festival for festivals. November and January are quiet and still mild.

Where is the best weather on Madeira?

The south coast around Funchal is the warmest and sunniest. The north coast and the mountains are cooler, windier and wetter.