Madeira
A volcanic island in the Atlantic with mountain ridges, sea cliffs and ravines, known for its levada walking trails.
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Madeira is a Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean and the largest and most populous island of the Madeira archipelago. It covers about 741 square kilometers, with a coastline of about 150 km, and runs about 57 km from east to west. The island is a volcano that rises about six kilometers from the floor of the Atlantic. Its most recent eruptions, in the west-central part, happened about 6,500 years ago. Cabo Girão is one of its major sea cliffs.
The interior is mountainous and hard to reach, so most villages sit near the coast at the mouths of the ravines. Pico Ruivo, the highest point at 1,862 m, lies on a ridge along the center of the island, while the east stays low, mostly below 200 m. Walkers come for the ridges and levada paths, and the island suits a trip of several days with a base in Funchal, the capital. Heavy rain usually falls in autumn and winter and runs down the ravines to the sea, so check forecasts and plan walks for drier days.
Madeira in five
- Book trail slots on SIMplificaSince January 2026 the official PR trails need an online booking with a 30-minute entry slot and a per-person fee, higher for PR1. Check the portal for current amounts and exemptions.SIMplifica
- Rent a car for the trailheadsTrailheads are spread across the island and buses to them are few. A car, or transfers, make early starts possible.Car and transfer options
- Allow for wind at the airportStrong winds at Madeira's airport can divert or delay flights. Keep a buffer day before a connecting flight home.Lisbon
- Check mountain weather the night beforeThe peaks can be clear when Funchal is cloudy, or the reverse. Trails close after storms and rockfalls; check before you drive up.
Things to do in Madeira
See all attractions in Madeira
Need to know
- Airport
- Madeira (FNC), about 25 min by road to Funchal
- Getting there
- Flights from Lisbon, about 1.5 hours
- Getting around
- Rental car; buses serve the towns
- Best base
- Funchal, or Santana and Porto Moniz for the north
- Time needed
- 5–7 days for hiking
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh18°Low17°Mild, wetJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh18°Low16°Mild, wetFebruaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low16°ShowersMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AprilPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh18°Low16°Flower seasonAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Flower season
- MayPartly cloudy4 rainy daysHigh20°Low18°Mild, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JunePartly cloudy3 rainy daysHigh21°Low19°Clear peaksJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear peaks
- JulyPartly cloudy1 rainy dayHigh23°Low21°Dry, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh24°Low22°Warmest, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy4 rainy daysHigh23°Low22°Warm, calmSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh23°Low21°MildOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low19°Rain returnsNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain returns
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh19°Low18°New Year fireworksDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
New Year fireworks
Average daily high and low in Funchal, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Madeira
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
15
- Feels like
- 16°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 65%
Madeira
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°13°65%Monday: Rain. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 65%.
- Tue16°12°53%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Wed16°11°19%Wednesday: Fog. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 19%.
- Thu16°12°38%Thursday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Fri16°14°63%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Sat15°15°78%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 15°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Sun16°14°78%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 78%.
Updated 08:46 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Porto Santoabout 15 minutes by planeThe archipelago's second inhabited island, known for its long sand beach.
- Cabo Girãoabout 30 minutes by carOne of the island's major sea cliffs, with a viewpoint over the coast.
- Pico do Arieiroabout 1 hour by carA central peak at 1,818 m, with views along the mountain ridge toward Pico Ruivo.
Before you go to Madeira
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Rules for Madeira, checked
- Madeira's official PR trails: online booking on SIMplifica with a 30-minute entry slot and a fee, €4.50 per person or €10.50 for PR1, since January 2026Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Madeira
Where to stay, levada walks and the cable car to Monte
Read the guideAzores travel guideThe other Atlantic island group, by air from the mainland
Read the guideLisbon travel guideHills, trams and day trips to Sintra
Read the guideCanary Islands guideThe nearest other Atlantic island group
Read the guideTransport planningCars, transfers and getting around
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for trails, flights and weather
Read the guideAll of PortugalThe country at a glance
Read the guideMadeira FAQ
Do you have to pay to hike in Madeira?
On the official PR trails, yes, since January 2026: an online booking on SIMplifica with an entry slot and a per-person fee. Check the portal for current fees and who is exempt.
When is the best time to visit Madeira?
Madeira is mild all year. April to June and September have the best mix of clear mountain days, flowers and fewer crowds.
Do you need a car in Madeira?
For hiking, yes, or book transfers. Funchal is walkable and buses link the towns, but trailheads are hard to reach by bus.
How many days do you need in Madeira?
Five to seven days for a hiking trip, with a spare day for cloud or a closed trail. Three days suit Funchal, a levada walk and the north coast by car.
Is the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike hard?
It is a long, exposed ridge walk with many steps and tunnels, so allow most of a day. Bring a torch, layers and check trail status before you go.