How long is enough in Madeira?

Madeira is a pretty small island, and so luckily you don't need very long to see all of the incredible things that this destination has to offer. If you're looking to experience the must-dos then a short four-day break would be fine. However, a week is the perfect amount of time to really make the most of the island.



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Are three days enough to see Madeira? To be honest: not even close. We recommend spending at least a week, but if you have just a couple of days, you can still cover some of the best highlights of Madeira.

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One week is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of what the main island of Madeira has to offer, allowing you to see some of the highlights that make this destination so beautiful.

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For those of you just vacationing here and truly just spending seven or so days exploring Madeira, you could certainly move around the island with a couple of nights in each corner. You could go from Funchal to Ponta do Sol to São Vicente to Porto Moniz… Or you could find yourself a home base for the week!

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We definitely could have stayed longer, however, as there were some areas that we'd have loved to spend more time in and other areas and hikes that we would love to have seen and done. 10 days to 2 weeks is the perfect amount of time to get to know Madeira.

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The average standard of living tends to be a bit lower than in mainland Portugal, and the local autonomous government gives generous subsidies coming from the tourist industry revenues and from the Portuguese national budget. Go where the locals go and everything will be cheap.

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Average monthly temperatures For the highest temperatures the best time to visit Madeira is between August and September although the sub tropical climate offers sunshine throughout the year and winter months are equally popular with visitors.

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Madeira is a super easy island to get around – with or without a car! There are buses that can take you almost everywhere and anywhere on the island. There are also lots of awesome tours to all the Levada hikes that pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation (especially if you're staying in Funchal).

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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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Overall, the roads are really good. The only challenging part about driving in Madeira is when you go to some of the hikes. The incline on some of the smaller roads can be pretty crazy and something you may not be used to. It's a volcanic island so steep inclines are to be expected!

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In fact, Madeira was just voted Europe's “Leading Island Destination” in the World Travel Awards again (the sixth time in the last seven years). Less than four hours from London and with almost guaranteed sunshine, Madeira is an ideal winter break, or for that matter, anytime destination.

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Different locations on the island tend to experience varied climates. However, the island's southern part where Funchal is located is privileged with some of the best weather on the island making it one of Madeira's best all-year-round destinations.

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The rainy season is between November and February, during which time rolling clouds and frequent rainstorms are typical. Most days during this time will have at least one rainstorm passing through. The months between May and August are the driest of the year.

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If you don't already know, Funchal is the capital city of a magical Portuguese island archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic known as Madeira.

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Famous for it's year-round warmth and sunshine – choosing the best time to visit Madeira all depends on the type of holiday you're looking for… Let's start at the beginning of the year – January through to March is the coolest time of the year, but it's also the quietest and the cheapest.

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Average weather in Madeira
  • May. 19°C. Avg. Rain: 6mm.
  • Jun. 21°C. Avg. Rain: 0mm.
  • Jul. 23°C. Avg. Rain: 1mm.
  • Aug. 24°C. Avg. Rain: 1mm.
  • Sep. 23°C. Avg. Rain: 5mm.
  • Oct. 22°C. Avg. Rain: 31mm.
  • Nov. 20°C. Avg. Rain: 25mm.
  • Dec. 19°C. Avg. Rain: 18mm.


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Funchal is the most expensive place to buy property on the islands – given its higher demand and abundance of services.

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Funchal – Madeira Island's capital A family of four estimated monthly costs are 1,943.8€ without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 542.5€ without rent. Funchal is 13.1% less expensive than Lisbon. Rent in Funchal is, on average, 32.4% lower than in Lisbon.

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Madeira is a tiny island, approximately 35 miles at the longest point and maximum width of 14 miles, and the entire island can be driven in less than 4 hours without stopping.

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