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.
People Also Ask
We experienced differences in temperature from 26 degrees in Funchal and 28 degrees in Ponta do Sol (the warmest place on the island), to as low as 16 degrees in Achada da Cruz and finally a nice 20 degrees in Porto Moniz.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Amazing and stable weather denotes April through November as the best time to visit Madeira. April to mid-June is known for price cuts and moderate crowds. This period can offer you unforgettable hiking among lush green vegetation, and you can join famous Madeira Flower Festival.
Madeira is 967.7 kilometers (601.3 miles) away and has the same time zone with Lisboa, Portugal. Madeira's climate is classified as Mediterranean, warm summer (Köppen climate classification: Csb) while Lisboa has a Mediterranean, hot summer climate (Csa). Madeira generally has warmer weather than Lisboa.
For those searching for somewhere to stay in Funchal with easy access to the city's attractions, the Old Town – also known as Zona Velha – is your best option. This historic district is made up of ancient streets and traditional Madeiran buildings, many of which date back to the 15th century.
With both rent and restaurant prices being around 25% cheaper than in Lisbon, Funchal allows you to live your island dream without paying the more expensive prices of mainland Portugal.
I write about travel, food, culture and fashion. This article is more than 3 years old. The Portuguese island of Madeira has traditionally attracted an older clientele than the Spanish Canary Islands partly due to its comfortable subtropical climate year round, thanks to its proximity to Northern Africa.
Madeira is boasting some of the most accessible biodiversity. It is known for its lush forests, gardens, and parks, which give the island a tropical feel. As a result of the mild temperatures here all year long, a range of exotic plants and herbs can be found in the gardens.
In Madeira, there are fewer sandy beaches, but more beaches with pebbles or stones. To access the water, we strongly recommend water shoes. If you are interested in exploring a variety of sandy beaches, the winner is Tenerife ??.
True, Malta perhaps has the edge in terms of historical drama and Madeira has an altogether grander, rawer feel to its scenery, but neither of these edge-of-Europe getaways are going to leave you feeling short-changed.