Best Time to Visit Madeira

In short

May to September is the best time to visit Madeira: Funchal averages highs of 22.0-26.8°C with very little rain, and the mountain trails are most often clear.
Madeira can be visited all year for mild weather: Funchal’s January high averages 20.0°C.
The rainy season in Funchal runs from October to January, with October at 91.2 mm and December at 94.8 mm.
Funchal’s figures describe the sunny south coast; the mountains and the north coast of Madeira are cooler, wetter and often in cloud.

The short answer: May to September

May averages a 22.0°C high in Funchal and 27.2 mm of rain (IPMA, Funchal Observatório, 1991-2020 normals).
June averages 23.7°C and 7.8 mm.
July and August are almost dry, at 1.7 mm and 1.3 mm, with highs of 25.4°C and 26.8°C.
September averages 26.6°C and 23.1 mm — warm, with the sea at its warmest.
Very hot days are rare: Funchal averages only 2.5 days a year above 30°C.

Illustration of hikers on a ridge path above the clouds on MadeiraAI-generated · GLabs nano_banana_pro · Generated

For hiking, May, June and September are the best balance: dry, not hot, and less busy than August.

Funchal month by month, with the numbers

These are the 1991-2020 climate normals for Funchal / Observatório, published by IPMA, the Portuguese meteorological institute. They describe the south coast only.

Funchal climate normals 1991-2020 — IPMA station 522, Funchal / Observatório
Month	Mean high	Mean low	Rain	Days ≥25°C
January	20.0°C	14.3°C	67.1 mm	0.0
February	19.9°C	13.9°C	72.4 mm	0.3
March	20.6°C	14.3°C	62.3 mm	1.1
April	21.0°C	14.9°C	45.2 mm	0.9
May	22.0°C	16.2°C	27.2 mm	1.1
June	23.7°C	18.2°C	7.8 mm	5.9
July	25.4°C	19.7°C	1.7 mm	18.6
August	26.8°C	20.7°C	1.3 mm	28.0
September	26.6°C	20.4°C	23.1 mm	26.6
October	25.2°C	19.2°C	91.2 mm	18.1
November	22.8°C	17.0°C	80.3 mm	3.0
December	21.0°C	15.5°C	94.8 mm	0.4

The range between the coldest and warmest months is under seven degrees, which is why Madeira is called an island of eternal spring. Rain, not temperature, is what changes through the year.

Illustration of flowering gardens in FunchalAI-generated · GLabs nano_banana_pro · Generated

The rainy season in Madeira

Funchal’s wettest months are December (94.8 mm), October (91.2 mm) and November (80.3 mm).
January to March stay wet, at 62-72 mm a month.
Summer is almost dry: July and August together average 3.0 mm.
Funchal receives 574.3 mm a year in total — less than Lisbon.
The mountains and the north coast receive far more rain than Funchal; there are no IPMA normals for them in this guide, so plan for wetter weather there in every month.

Illustration of rain clouds rolling over Madeira's green mountainsAI-generated · GLabs nano_banana_pro · Generated

The mountains follow different rules

Funchal’s mild figures are the reason Madeira is sold as a year-round island. They do not describe the places most people come to walk.

The central peaks are often above the cloud at sunrise and inside it by midday — in every season.
It is colder at altitude: a warm layer is needed on the peaks even in August.
Winter storms bring the most trail closures, from rockfalls and landslides.
Summer brings a risk of wildfires, which can also close trails.
Whatever the month, check trail status and the mountain forecast the evening before.

Illustration of walkers in jackets at a cloudy mountain viewpoint on MadeiraAI-generated · GLabs nano_banana_pro · Generated

Best time for each kind of Madeira trip

Hiking the peaks and levadas: May, June and September — dry and not hot.
Swimming in the sea and the Porto Moniz pools: August and September, when the sea is warmest.
Winter sun: December to March in Funchal, at 20-21°C highs — in the wettest part of the year, 62-95 mm a month.
Lowest crowds with good weather: May and early June.
Avoiding rain: July and August, at 1.7 mm and 1.3 mm in Funchal.

Illustration of natural lava rock pools on Madeira's coastAI-generated · GLabs nano_banana_pro · Generated

Illustration of a glass viewing platform on a sea cliff on MadeiraAI-generated · GLabs nano_banana_pro · Generated

Illustration of a mild winter afternoon on Funchal's seafrontAI-generated · GLabs nano_banana_pro · Generated

Common questions

What is the best month for Madeira?

June or September for most trips: warm, dry, and good for both hiking and swimming. Funchal averages 23.7°C and 26.6°C highs in those months (IPMA 1991-2020).

What is the rainy season in Madeira?

October to January in Funchal, with December wettest at 94.8 mm. The mountains and the north coast are wetter than Funchal all year.

How many days are needed in Madeira?

Five days covers Funchal, the peaks, the north-west coast and a levada walk. A week suits hikers and leaves room for cloudy mountain days.

Is Madeira warm in winter?

Funchal is mild — a 20.0°C January high on average — but winter is its wet season, at 62-95 mm a month, and the mountains are much colder.