Madeira in December: weather, events and what to pack

December is the most festive month on the island. Funchal’s Christmas lights go on on 1 December, the old traditions of the Festa fill the second half of the month, and the year ends with one of the most famous fireworks shows in the world.

The weather in December

Days are around 21 °C and nights around 16 °C. December is the wettest month on average, with about nine rainy days, but sunny days are common too. The sea is about 20 °C. The mountains are cold, and wind can affect flights.

Mid-month you get about 10 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 08:02 and sunset around 18:03. For today’s conditions, see our weather page and the live webcams.

Festivals and events

The lights go on in Funchal on 1 December. The dawn masses, the Missas do Parto, run from 16 to 24 December, and on 23 December the Noite do Mercado turns the market area into a giant street party. The year ends with the New Year’s Eve fireworks over Funchal bay. 26 December is a public holiday in Madeira. See Christmas in Madeira and New Year’s Eve. The full list of dated events for December is below, taken from our calendar.

What to do in December

• Evening walks through the lit-up centre
• A dawn mass and the party afterwards
• Market night on 23 December
• The fireworks on 31 December

What to pack

• Layers and a warm jumper
• A good rain jacket
• Comfortable shoes for festive walks
• Smart-casual clothes for New Year’s Eve

See the full packing list.

Crowds and prices

The second half of December is the busiest and most expensive time of the year. Book months ahead.

Good to know

Reserve New Year’s Eve dinner early, and plan to walk rather than drive on festival nights. Read the best time to visit Madeira to compare the months.