When should I walk in Madeira?

You can hike all year round, but here are a few things to be aware of to make your decision: In Summer, temperature can raise quite high in the afternoon – you should start hiking early morning. Most hikes have narrow pathways and can have hikers in both directions (many levada walks are return hikes, not loops).



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Madeira has excellent walking temperatures all year round. Even in October and November, you can enjoy over 10 hours of sunshine and pleasant temperatures in the low 20s.

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An ideal destination for hiking lovers. Mountains, ocean, green forests, waterfalls and viewpoints: the archipelago's natural wealth makes hiking in Madeira unforgettable and invigorating.

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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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Getting Around Madeira: Walking Some are more challenging than others (especially up in the mountains). If exploring the Funchal area, you can easily see the main sights of Funchal and surrounding areas on foot. Remember the cable car can take you up to Monte – so no excuses for not seeing that during your visit!

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Ponta do Sol One of the greatest aspects of life in Madeira are its coastal villages. And Ponta do Sol is arguably the most beautiful.

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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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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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Usually the south side of the island always presents itself with warmer temperature. When going to the north side, the temperature decreases, and in the center of the island, where the regions are higher, temperatures tend to be lower and there is some precipitation... some people call it the 4 seasons island.

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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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Funchal is generally considered safe for female travelers. The city is known for its friendly locals and low crime rate. Women should still take the usual precautions when traveling, such as avoiding walking alone at night and keeping valuables out of sight.

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Inside Funchal : Health & Safety - Tripadvisor. According to the Madeira Tourist Board's website the island has very little crime. It states that very likely the worst things that will happen to most visitors are generally sunburns and hangovers.

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Walking around Funchal is always a pleasant experience, as the green of the mountains and the blue of the ocean accompany you while you discover this city by the sea. With an area of approximately 75 km², Funchal is divided into 10 parishes, which extend virtually from the sea to the mountain.

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The southern coast has the warmer temperatures; the southwest coast in particular, benefitting from being protected by the mountains, has the greatest amount of sun hours. The northern coast is much greener and less developed, and being more open to the prevailing climate, tends to be a little cooler.

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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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Madeira's west coast is considered the sunniest part of the island. It's an area widely sought after by those who love the sea and nature, but also Madeira's century-old traditions.

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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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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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During October there are 11 hours of daylight each day, of which you can usually expect six hours to be bright sunshine. Keep on top of your sun cream as UV levels will be high. Sunset's nice and late at the start of October, just before 8pm.

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Madeira is generally windy, with north-easterly trade winds bringing big swells and humidity. Caniçal and Caniço are often the recipients of such weather, while the west coast also receives wind and swells, providing good surf and windsurfing conditions and Jardim do Mar is a popular place for the latter.

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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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Visiting Madeira However, there are other means of transport available such as buses, taxis, tuk-tuks, bicycles and scooters. It is also worth mentioning the importance of the cable cars, which connect to some of the archipelago's most iconic points of interest.

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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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