Can I swim in Madeira in December?

Madeira is a popular destination for Christmas. It is a big even with festivities, decorations, delicious food… Temperatures are sea level are very pleasant, around 19/20°C during the day. Water temperature is lower (around 17°C), so it is not the best time for swimming but it is still possible to enjoy a swim.



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A warmer winter Madeiran winters are usually very pleasant: in December and January, Funchal enjoys five times as much sunshine hours than London. Daytime 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.

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The water temperature remains very pleasant all year round, ranging between 19°C/66°F (winter) and 24°C/75°F (summer). The best month to swim in the sea is in September, when the average sea temperature is 24°C (75°F).

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So you can swim all year round in Madeira if you are not cold. If you want to sunbathe and swim, the months of May to September are obviously the best. The island of Porto Santo and its 7 km long beach should interest you, even if the influence of tourists is impressive in high season!

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But Madeira is unique: any month of the year is ideal for visiting. There are only two moments that you should pay attention to: in the Summer months (July and August) and at the end of December, due to the magnificent New Year's Eve and the consequent firework display, there are more people on the island.

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Considered one of the best beaches in Europe and enjoying the unique characteristics of the north coast, Seixal Beach is a paradise for all kinds of swimmers: from beginners to the most experienced ones. Calheta Beach is one of the island of Madeira's few yellow sandy beaches.

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The southwest is the place to be for more guaranteed sun; Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol and Calheta boast the best climates on the island followed by Funchal, Camera de lobos and Machico.

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The north side of the island takes all the punishment. The trade winds travel down the Atlantic and hit the north coast brining with them rain and cool air. The high mountains act as a barrier to the more densely populated, “sunnier” side of the island, the south side.

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From 1st December 2023 to 7th January 2024 Madeira is an amazing destination all year, but if you are looking for a special place to celebrate Christmas, visit Madeira. The traditions of this island, the climate, the local gastronomy and the main events of this festivity, will surely surprise you.

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In December Madeira has an average rainfall of around 81mm (three inches) which is spread out amongst 16 rainy days.

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The windiest month is December, followed by February and March.

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Tenerife, located 500 kms further south, is a warmer winter destination.

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We went in April and whilst I agree that Madeira is a stunning island particularly in the interior we found it much cooler than the Canaries at the same time of year. It depends what you want in a holiday but you only need to look at how green the island is to realise that there must be significant rainfall.

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The hottest place in Europe in December is probably the Canary Islands. For a warm winter holiday in Europe, the Canary Islands in Spain offer a haven of sunshine and warmth. Tenerife and Lanzarote are particularly popular choices, with average high temperatures ranging from 21°C to 22°C (70°F to 72°F) in December.

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Madeira in general isn't an expensive place to live. Housing, transport, and food are quite affordable for expats staying in Madeira longer term.

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ELECTRICITY AND WATER The electric current in the archipelago is 220 volts. There is plenty of water in Madeira and it is all drinkable and of excellent quality.

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It is safe to swim with wild dolphin in Madeira? Yes, it is safe to swim with the dolphins. we will do a briefing to demonstrate the behavior you will need to have when swimming with dolphins. You can only swim with two species of dolphin (common dolphins and the Atlantic spotted dolphins).

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