Madeira is known as the ‘Island of Eternal Spring’, so you can’t go wrong visiting it at any time of year.

However, not every month is equally suitable for all types of holiday.

We consider May to October to be the best balance between pleasant temperatures, lower rainfall and good conditions for hiking. The warmest and driest weather is usually in July and August, whilst the winter months attract fewer tourists and offer lush green countryside.

On the coast, expect temperatures in winter to be mostly around 18 to 21 °C and in summer around 24 to 27 °C. In the mountains, however, it can be significantly colder, windier or foggy at any time of year.

When to visit Madeira, depending on the type of holiday

What you want to do in Madeira	Best time to visit
First visit and combination of trips	May, June, September, October
Hiking and levadas	April–November
The warmest and driest weather	July to September
Swimming in the sea	July to October
Nature in bloom	April and May
Fewest tourists	January to March and November
A winter getaway to warmer climes	December to March

If you have a flexible travel date, we’d recommend May, June or September. You’ll avoid the biggest summer crowds, the weather is usually stable by then, and it’s not as hot in the mountains as it is in the height of summer.

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Where to stay for the best weather

The weather isn’t the same across the whole of Madeira. The island is high and mountainous, and several distinct microclimates exist within a relatively small area.

The south and south-west coasts tend to be generally warmer and drier. If your priority is to maximise your chances of sunshine, choose accommodation in Funchal, Caniço, Ribeira Brava or Calheta.

Funchal is the best choice if you don’t have a hire car. It offers the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and bus services, and usually enjoys more pleasant weather than the north of the island.

• 👉 View the best hotels in Funchal

Calheta is ideal for a quieter holiday and is often sunny even when clouds linger over the mountains or the north coast. However, it’s very practical to hire a car if you’re staying in these areas.

• 👉 The best seaside hotels in Calheta

The north coast around São Vicente, Seixal, Santana and Porto da Cruz is greener, more dramatic and generally wetter. We’d choose accommodation in the north for the natural surroundings and atmosphere, rather than for the certainty of sunny weather.

From November to April, when choosing accommodation inMadeira, we recommend looking for a hotel with a heated or indoor swimming pool. Temperatures may be pleasant, but not every day will be suitable for swimming outdoors.

Choose a hotel in Madeira by location

Microclimate and weather in the mountains

Whilst the sun may be shining in Funchal, at Pico do Arieiro there may be fog, strong winds and temperatures more than 10 °C lower at the same time.

As a general rule:

• the south and south-west are warmer and drier
• the north and mountainous areas are wetter
• the Paul da Serra plateau tends to be windy and is often shrouded in cloud
• the São Lourenço Peninsula in the east is drier but very windy
• the weather in the mountains can change within a matter of tens of minutes

Furthermore, rain often does not affect the whole island. When it rains in the north, it may be dry in the south, and vice versa.

Read our tips on hiking trails in Madeira’s most famous mountains:

• 👉 Pico Ruivo
• 👉 Pico do Arieiro

That’s exactly why it’s worth hiring a car in Madeira and adjusting your plans according to the current weather.

Compare car hire prices using this comparison tool, for example:

How to check the weather forecast

A single forecast for the whole of Madeira isn’t particularly reliable. Check the weather separately for Funchal, the north coast and the mountains.

A rain icon in the forecast does not necessarily mean it will be a rainy day.

It often indicates a brief shower or rain in only part of the island. However, from October to March, there may also be longer periods of rain and heavy thunderstorms.

It’s best to set off early in the morning for the most famous mountain hikes. The weather tends to be more stable, and you’ll also avoid the biggest crowds.

Please note, however, that there is a charge for all official hiking trails and you must book an entry permit – read more in the article ‘Madeira introduces charges for hiking trails’.

Temperatures and rainfall throughout the year

It is important to note that, thanks to the high mountains and the ocean, prolonged periods of rain are rare here. Although it can rain heavily, the rain moves around the island throughout the day, so it is unlikely that you will be caught in the rain for the whole day.

The average probability of rainfall on any given day during the winter months is around 35 to 65 per cent, whilst in summer it is below 10 per cent.

However, sunshine levels, relative to the length of the day, are roughly similar across all months, with probabilities ranging only between 50 and 65 per cent.

Weather in January

January’s weather in Madeira is ideal for easy coastal walks, road trips through the beautiful Madeiran villages and excursions to the lower-lying parts of the mountains. In the southern parts of Madeira, an average of around 74 mm of rainfall is recorded. It rains slightly more in the north.

Typical January temperatures range between 16 and 20 °C, with the lowest realistic night-time temperature around 13 °C. In the highest parts of the mountains (above 1,300 metres), there may still be snow on the ground.

Weather in February

February in Madeira is very similar to January in terms of weather. Temperatures are usually around 19 °C; rainfall totals are slightly higher on paper, but you won’t notice the difference in the actual weather. Snow may still linger in the highest parts of the mountains.

Book a hotel with an off-season discount

Weather in March

March on the island of Madeira is a classic spring month in every sense of the word. It’s not that the countryside isn’t green in winter, but in March the colours are even more vibrant, lots of plants start to flower and temperatures rise slightly to an average of around 21 °C, with mornings and nights around 14 °C.

On average, there is less rainfall than in the winter months.

The weather in April

April in Madeira is another beautiful spring month, when most of the flowers are already in full bloom, the countryside is a lush green even on the slightly drier south coast, and temperatures hover at a very pleasant 21 °C with minimal fluctuations.

Rainfall is gradually decreasing, with an average of around 44 mm of rainfall; on the north coast, however, it is traditionally around twice that amount.

Weather in May

May is one of the most beautiful months of spring.

Nature is in full bloom, lush spring greenery covers the whole island, and heat-loving plants, which lie dormant during the winter, are beginning to flower.

Rain in the south of the island is rather sporadic, and even on the northern side there are only brief showers. Typical temperatures in May in Madeira hover around 22 °C.

Weather in June

The first of the summer months finds Madeira still lush and green, with plenty of moisture in the air, though rain is now very rare, particularly in the south.

In the centre of the island and on the north coast, there are occasional showers, but these never last longer than 2 hours. Temperatures rise above 23 °C.

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Weather in July

July in Madeira is the ideal month for both hiking and a beach holiday.

Rainfall is rare along the entire southern and eastern coasts; showers occur only occasionally in the mountains and on the northern coast. There is almost a 100 per cent chance of sunny weather for at least part of the day, and typical temperatures hover around a summery 25 °C.

Weather in August

August is the hottest and driest month in Madeira, with the most sunshine. In the southern and eastern parts of the island, rain is truly rare at this time of year, whilst in the north and in the mountains it rains only in short showers.

Temperatures climb to 27 °C and occasionally, particularly in the east or south, can even exceed 30 °C. Despite the drier weather, Madeira is still beautifully green, although the colours are not as vibrant as in spring or winter.

Book your hotel in advance

Weather in September

September is the second warmest month after August and one of the best times for hiking. Temperatures commonly rise above 26 °C; there is still very little rain, but a gentle breeze blows more frequently, making hikes and treks more pleasant.

September is also a good time for swimming in the sea; it is during this month that the usually cold Atlantic waters are at their warmest, reaching temperatures of up to 23 °C.

Weather in October

Whilst autumn is in full swing in mainland Europe, October in Madeira is a brilliant month for all sorts of activities.

The average air temperature hovers around a summery 25 °C, and even at night it does not usually drop below 13 °C.

Although rainfall is increasing, short showers interspersed with sunny spells are typical. Even the sea is still relatively warm, at least by Atlantic standards.

Weather in November

November is also a good time to visit Madeira. Rainfall is roughly on a par with October, which means it is by no means extreme enough to affect your stay on Madeira.

Temperatures typically range between 19 and 22 °C, and following the autumn rainfall, Madeira takes on rich green hues once again.

Weather in December

Although December is the wettest month of the year, with average rainfall of 118 mm, you shouldn’t expect any prolonged rain this month that would ruin your holiday.

Particularly on the south coast, there are whole days without rain, with sun-drenched green hillsides. Average daytime temperatures commonly rise above 20 °C, whilst at night they rarely fall below 15 °C.

Sea temperature in Madeira

The Atlantic Ocean is not generally among the warmest seas, but at least in summer it is possible to swim in several places around Madeira. 

The sea is at its warmest between July and October, when temperatures in the sheltered bays near the resorts rise to as high as 24 °C.

Even in winter, however, the ocean off the coast of Madeira is not exactly freezing – it is at its coldest in February and March, when temperatures reach around 18 °C.

The best places for swimming in Madeira are the resorts of Machico and Calheta, with their large sandy beaches.

• 👉 The best seaside hotels in Calheta
• 👉 The best seaside hotels in Machico