Madeira in winter: is it warm enough?
What winter in Madeira is really like from November to March: temperatures, rain, sea, daylight, what’s on and how to plan walks and beach days.
Madeira is one of the warmest places in Europe in winter. In Funchal the average high stays around 20 °C from December to February, and on many days it is warm enough to eat outside at lunchtime. It is not a guaranteed beach holiday, but it is a very good escape from a northern winter.
What to expect
- Days: 19 to 21 °C on the south coast, sometimes warmer when the sun is out.
- Nights: 14 to 15 °C. Homes and some apartments have little heating, so pack a warm layer.
- Rain: December is the wettest month, with about nine rainy days on average. Rain tends to come in spells of a day or two, with sunny days in between.
- Sea: 18 to 20 °C. Swimmable for many northern Europeans, refreshing for everyone else. The heated seawater pools at some lidos and hotels help.
- Daylight: around ten and a half hours in late December, more than in northern Europe.
- Mountains: cold. Pico do Arieiro can be close to freezing at dawn, with occasional frost and, rarely, a dusting of snow.
Is winter good for walking?
Yes, with flexibility. Many levadas at low and middle altitude are lovely in winter. High mountain walks are possible on clear days but are more often in cloud, and trails close after storms. Plan the big walks for the first dry, clear day of your stay.
Wind and flights
Winter is when airport wind is most likely to delay or divert flights. Leave a buffer before connections. See Madeira airport wind.
What’s on in winter
- Christmas lights and markets from late November to early January. See Christmas in Madeira.
- New Year’s Eve fireworks over Funchal bay. See New Year’s Eve.
- Carnival in February, with parades in Funchal. See Carnival.
- Almond and magnolia blossom and the first spring flowers from February.