The answer is absolutely yes, Madeira in winter is the perfect holiday destination, why?
1. Subtropical climate
Madeira and Porto Santo are known for a warm, it is warm all year round, as you can see below.
Autumn arrives gently in September, and the weather is still warm and sunny in October and NovemberTemperatures average between 23 ºC and 17 ºC, which is actually better than the English summer. It’s a bit hard to actually talk about winter in Madeira, as in Madeira it’s always summer. During the day in Funchal, it’s around 20 ºC and at night it’s usually above 14 ºC. Thus, this temperature range is particularly appealing to northern European tourists, who seek Madeira as a winter sun destination.
The average temperatures in Madeira Island (Photo: holiday-weather)
2. Affordable flights
There is more flow of people in the summer, so companies raise prices, but if you are travelling in winter, for instance, a return flight from the UK from December to March will only cost you 65£ to 74£, while from June to September these fares can double.
3. The lack of crowds
As we all know 25 springs Levada walk is very famous on Madeira Island and normally other walks and attractions are very busy such as the cable car and Cabo girão, but at this time of the year, you can feel free to visit any place without a crowd even the beaches, and other reasons?
4. New Year Fireworks
Madeira is a very popular destination for New Year’s Eve. The award-winning fireworks of Funchal are worldwide known and became a Guinness World Record in 2007.
Where can I watch fireworks in Funchal?
- Funchal Bay
- Neves Viewpoints
- Santa Catarina Park
- Nazaré viewpoint
- Pico da Cruz viewpoint
- Boats
5. Christmas
The main reason to claim that December is a good time to visit Madeira.
What is there to do in Madeira at Christmas?
- Explore the Christmas lights and decorations all around Funchal city
- Find the most beautiful nativity scene on the island
- Visit the typical Ethnographic village and the Christmas market
- Partake in the traditional Childbirth Masses
- Try Poncha, Carne vinho D’alhos and traditional sweets of Christmas
- Attend the concert of many folklore groups, choirs, and philharmonic bands
- Visit the exhibition display entitled "Christmas Tables with Madeira Embroidery" at the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias
- If you have children don’t miss the Children's Christmas Village
Check all the Christmas details here.
Is Madeira hot in December?
Yes, it will definitely be warm enough to stroll around in a t-shirt during the daytime, but evenings may require something extra. In December the weather is pretty good, ranging from sunny 23C to showers 18C, and there are five hours of sunshine from the ten hours of daylight each day. In 31 days there is a probability of raining 16 days in this month.
6. Nature and views
For the ones who like trekking, hiking, or trail running, the fall is great as the trails and sights are more beautiful thanks to the rain which makes nature even greener and the less crowded places. Madeira is known as the island of flowers, so also during Spring and winter, it’s highly recommendable to visit the island as most plants will then flower. Check here our 5 best Levada walks you must try.
Which experiences are best for nature & parks in Madeira?
7. Outdoor activities
Most of the activities that people seek at Madeira are trekking or surfing, whale and dolphin watching, and tours to visit the west side of Madeira to try the famous Porto Moniz swimming pools.
But some people ask:
What’s the best time to see dolphins and whales in Madeira?
There is research that affirms there are more species from April to October and from May to June and from September to November, even though all year round we have species near the coast. In fact, between November and February, the number of cetacean species around the Madeira Archipelago is smaller, but we can find some very special species. The Short-finned Pilot Whale, Common Bottlenose Dolphin, and Short-beaked Common Dolphins are the most sighted species during the winter.
Can you sunbathe in Madeira in December?
(Photo: Sri Sutra Travel Agency)
Yes, in December and January, Funchal enjoys five times as many sunshine hours as London, but due to Madeira’s island weather, clouds often come and go and the sun is never guaranteed. The temperatures hover just under 20C: mild enough to swim in the sea or a heated outdoor pool, though there's always the possibility of rain, when it’s shining, it’s quite hot due to the low latitude. In late November, it was still T-shirt weather during the day in Funchal (low 20s C). Even in January and February, the highs are still around 19C, making it one of the warmest places in Europe in winter, so warm that the natural swimming pools of Porto Moniz are open all year from 09:00 till 17:00 p.m.
Take a look at the best activities to do in Madeira.
8. Food and local products
The food in Madeira is very good value for money and delicious and some of them are especially popular in winter, such as:
- The Wheat Soup is one of the specialities of the island, characterized by its gummy texture
- Also very popular with the locals is the açorda, a bread-soup made of large pieces of bread, garlic, poached egg, winter savoury, and olive oil, with hot water poured over everything
- Milho, manly made with flour and cabbage accompanied by fish
- Canja (Chicken Soup) and Sandes Carne vinho D’alho
- Various traditional sweets especially at Christmas, for instance, Bolo de Mel and Broas
- And then there are Madeira’s drinks as well such as wine and Poncha, a sweet and potent drink made of aguardente de cana (alcohol derived from sugarcane), honey, sugar, orange/lemon juice that locals use to say that warm up our body
Is Madeira expensive to eat out?
No. Madeira isn't expensive at all, Madeira can be as expensive or as inexpensive as you wish it to be.
You will find something for every budget. You can have lunch for 5 or 6€ or to dine a 3-course meal for 60 or 70€.
In most restaurants, prices range between 10 and 20 EUR per dish/ per person, excluding drinks. Seafood main courses in a good restaurant are usually between 10 to 20 euros, meat is between 6 to 15, pizzas are 8 to 15 euros, a beer is 2 or 3 euros, a glass of wine 4 euros, coffee is around 0,70€. The Carne Vinho D’alhos (Spongy warm garlic bread) is also a staple pretty much everywhere for 3 euros.
Some cheap restaurants, where locals eat in Funchal:
- Ateneu Café
- O Castelo dos Hamburgers
- O Nosso Bar
- Buffet Arriaga
Check here the dishes you absolutely have to try during your holiday in Madeira.
Here's a useful map of some restaurants, beaches, viewpoints, walks, and accommodation
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