Madeira in August: weather, events and what to pack

August is peak summer and peak season. It is the warmest month, the sea is inviting, and the island is busy with festivals, from the great pilgrimage to Monte to the start of the grape harvest.

The weather in August

Days are around 27 °C and nights around 21 °C, with almost no rain. The sea is about 23 °C. Heat waves with the leste wind are possible, and wildfire risk can close forest areas and trails.

Mid-month you get about 13 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 07:31 and sunset around 20:54. For today’s conditions, see our weather page and the live webcams.

Festivals and events

On 14 and 15 August thousands of pilgrims climb to Monte for the Festa da Senhora do Monte, the island’s biggest religious festival; 15 August is a holiday. See Festa do Monte. Funchal celebrates its city day on 21 August. Early August usually brings the island’s famous car rally, and the Wine Festival begins at the end of the month; in 2027 it runs from 22 August to 12 September. The full list of dated events for August is below, taken from our calendar.

What to do in August

• Beach days and sea trips
• The Monte pilgrimage on the night of 14 August
• Village festivals almost every weekend
• Porto Santo’s long beach

What to pack

• Summer clothes and swimwear
• Strong sun protection
• A refillable water bottle
• A light layer for evenings in the hills

See the full packing list.

Crowds and prices

The busiest and most expensive month. Book everything early.

Good to know

Walk early, swim in the afternoon, and respect wildfire closures. Read the best time to visit Madeira to compare the months.