January in Madeira
Winter sun
Coldest month, coldest sea
Temperatures still in mid-teens
If you’re looking for winter sun, you won’t have much trouble finding it in Madeira in January. Daytime temperatures can be 20°C in the south below what’s called the ‘banana line’, the best place for cultivating the fruit. Yet look at the mountaintops from Funchal, and you may well see snow glittering in the sunlight. Madeirans take their first sea swims of the year, but you might want to wait a few months.
February in Madeira
Warming up at the end of the month
Good month for walking
Carnival celebrations
The island’s famous Carnival celebrations begin on the Friday before Lent and run to Shrove Tuesday, so if you plan to travel to Madeira in February on these dates you’ll want to book early. It’s still cold if you’re hiking in the mountains, and there might be rain. January and February are the coldest months on the island; the average high is 15°C.
February is a great time of year for our Madeira walking holiday
March in Madeira
Spring flowers
Great for walking
Sea kayaking
The ‘island of everlasting spring’ does actually have a spring season, too, and it’s a pretty time to visit. From March onwards, and especially towards the end of the season, you’re looking at shorts and t-shirt weather, though there is the risk of heavy rain now and again. Madeira in March is one of the times when you can take part in our kayaking holidays, and there’s also great walking.
April in Madeira
Spring flowers
Dolphin and whale watching
Warm at low altitude
The flowers of spring are blooming and the whale and dolphin watching season is beginning (running to October) in Madeira in April. It might be one of the best months to visit to enjoy all the island’s highlights at once, from the seas to the trees, flowers and walking trails. The island experiences daily highs of around 16°C, while the rain that comes in the early part of the year eases off.
May in Madeira
Madeira Flower Festival
Lovely walking conditions
Sea still cold
The foliage you’ll pass while walking is especially vivid in Madeira in May. You’ll also see plenty of colour in Funchal during the Flower Festival, an immensely popular event when the streets are full of parades and floats dressed with blooms. Head to the botanical gardens above Funchal to see them in full splendour. The sea temperature remains fresh at around 18°C.
June in Madeira
Whale and dolphin watching
Higher temperatures
Warmer sea
Early mornings often see the island blanketed with cloud, which gradually dissipates over the day. Daytime temperatures in Madeira in June are typically around 24°C, but the leste – a dry, hot wind blowing west from the Sahara – can raise them as high as 33°C. In general, though, winds work in your favour, keeping the island cool. The best time for whale watching starts now.
