Madeira in November. 🍂 The ocean is still 22°C

My very first trip to Madeira was in November, in 2023, and it turned out to be full of sunshine. The data backs that up: November 2023 was exceptionally dry on the coast. That was when I first saw Monte Palace, went up to Ponta de São Lourenço by jeep (I was surprised how steep and hot it was there) and visited the rum distillery in Porto da Cruz. I also saw dolphins from the deck of a catamaran.

Below I’ve put together what to expect in November: the weather on the coast and in the mountains, the sea temperature, events, things to do, flights and accommodation prices. I checked the figures against IPMA data, regional statistics (DREM) and the official events calendar.

Is Madeira worth visiting in November?

November is a good choice if you want to escape the grey autumn back home and still swim in the ocean. In November’s favour:

• around 23°C by day in Funchal and a sea temperature of around 21–22°C, warmer than in winter and spring,
• warm evenings: around 17°C at night in Funchal on average,
• accommodation cheaper than in summer.

The downsides:

• it rains on 7 days on average, and downpours can be violent: on 26 November 2010, 158.6 mm fell in Funchal in 24 hours, the most in the whole 1991–2020 period,
• there are no lifeguards on the beaches any more,
• the days are short, with sunset at around 18:00,
• IFCN closes trails after heavy rain, and the Christmas lights don’t start until December.

Madeira weather in November

According to IPMA’s 1991–2020 climate normals, the average temperature in Funchal in November is 19.9°C: around 23°C by day and around 17°C at night. It rains on 7 days on average, around 80 mm in total (IPMA normals for Funchal). November is the transition from summer to winter: October has 18 days above 25°C on average, November only 3.

The last three Novembers have been warmer than normal. In 2023 it barely rained on the coast: the Lugar de Baixo station recorded 4 mm for the whole month. On 11 November 2024 it was 31°C in Funchal, and in 2025 Porto Moniz had 9 days above 25°C.

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1: A rainbow over Funchal in November, 2: Sun and clouds over the ocean in Funchal in November, 3: Cliffs on Madeira’s north coast, 4: A sea of clouds near Pico do Arieiro, 5: Sunset over the ocean in Funchal. Photos: Ewelina Podrez-Siama, 2023

You’ll find the current forecast and a month-by-month comparison on my Madeira weather page. I cover spring in Madeira in March and winter in Madeira in February.

What’s on in Madeira in November?

The regional government’s official events calendar has no major events in November 2026 (DRT calendar 2026–2028). The Christmas lights in Funchal won’t be switched on until 1 December. Still, a few things happen in November:

• 1 November, All Saints’ Day: a public holiday across Portugal. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so the Mercado dos Lavradores market is closed (it closes on Sundays and public holidays, Mercados do Funchal), and the Monte toboggans aren’t running, as they don’t operate on Sundays.
• Festa da Castanha in Curral das Freiras: a chestnut festival in a valley ringed by mountains, usually around the turn of October and November. 2025 was the 41st edition. There’s no date for 2026 yet. From Funchal you can get there on bus 181 (formerly 81, SIGA).
• St Martin’s Day, 11 November: traditionally chestnuts and new wine. The São Martinho parish in Funchal celebrates on 10 and 11 November.
• Essência do Vinho Madeira: a wine fair, held from 27 to 29 November 2025 at the Savoy Palace hotel. The wine institute IVBAM has announced the 2026 edition for November, without exact dates (IVBAM plan).

Things to do in Madeira in November

Monte Palace and the gardens

I first visited Monte Palace in November 2023 and I’ve gone back on every trip since. Bear in mind that from October to March the garden closes at 18:00, with last entry at 17:15 (Monte Palace). I cover tickets, the map and a route round the garden in my guide to Monte Palace Tropical Garden, and the other big garden in my guide to the Botanical Garden.

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1: Flamingos in the Monte Palace garden, 2: The Oriental Garden at Monte Palace with an ocean view, 3: Bird of paradise flowers in the Monte Palace garden, 4: The view from Monte over Funchal in November. Photos: Ewelina Podrez-Siama, 2023

Boat trips and dolphins

Among the boats leaving Funchal marina is a replica of the Santa Maria, the ship Columbus sailed to America: according to the operator’s website, trips run daily at 10:30 and 15:00 and a ticket costs €45 (Santa Maria de Colombo). From the sea you get a great view of Funchal and the Cabo Girão cliff. Bottlenose dolphins live around Madeira all year, and common dolphins appear more often from December to May. On 7 November 2023 I went out from Funchal on a catamaran and saw dolphins, but nobody can guarantee a sighting.

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1: The Santa Maria replica in Funchal harbour, 2: Looking out for dolphins from the deck of a catamaran, 3: Dolphins on a boat trip from Funchal, 4: Sailing ships on the ocean off Funchal. Photos: Ewelina Podrez-Siama, 2023

Funchal: the Zona Velha and the market

In the Old Town, look out for the painted doors of the Arte de Portas Abertas project. The yellow São Tiago fortress is currently closed to visitors; only the restaurant is open (Direção Regional da Cultura). The Mercado dos Lavradores has flower and fruit stalls, but it’s closed on Sundays and public holidays. You’ll find more ideas in my guide to Funchal.

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1: A painted door in the Zona Velha, 2: Tuk-tuks on a street in Funchal, 3: The courtyard of the Mercado dos Lavradores, 4: The view from Santa Catarina Park over the marina and Funchal. Photos: Ewelina Podrez-Siama, 2023

Pico do Arieiro and the mountains

In mid-November the sun rises at around 7:35, so you don’t have to set off in the middle of the night for sunrise at Pico do Arieiro. It’s cold at the top: in the Novembers of 2023–2025 the temperature dropped to around 1°C, though not below zero. Snow does happen in November: on 25 November 2020 the road to the summit was closed. A widget in my guide to Pico do Arieiro shows the sunrise forecast.

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1: Mountains around Pico do Arieiro, 2: A jagged peak near Pico do Arieiro, 3: Valleys in the centre of the island below Pico do Arieiro, 4: The viewpoint at Pico do Arieiro in November. Photos: Ewelina Podrez-Siama, 2023

Levadas and trails

IFCN closes trails after heavy rain. In November 2025 it did so as early as a yellow warning, and the forest police stopped 10 people on closed routes in Rabaçal (CM Jornal/Lusa). Check the trail status in the evening and again in the morning, and start longer walks early, because it’s dark by 18:00. IFCN trails require a ticket (how to buy one). I compare routes in my round-up of the most beautiful levada walks in Madeira.

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1: Madeira’s north coast from a high cliff, 2: On a trail above the north coast cliffs, 3: A path along a levada through a rock cutting, 4: Forest in the mist above a levada. Photos: Ewelina Podrez-Siama, 2023

Swimming in the ocean

In November the sea off Funchal is around 21–22°C: in 2025 IPMA measured an average of 21.9°C, and in 2024, 22.3°C. That’s warmer than in February or March. There are no lifeguards on the beaches any more, though, because all bathing seasons end by 31 October at the latest (Portaria 206/2026). The pools in Porto Moniz are open all year, in winter 9:00–17:00, entry €3.

Flights to Madeira in November

Madeira has direct flights from the UK and many EU airports.

The airport has wind limits, so flights are sometimes diverted or cancelled in strong winds. For the Novembers of 2023–2025 I didn’t come across any reports of mass cancellations, but on 13 November 2025 the airport station recorded a gust of 147 km/h. My Madeira airport wind checker shows the wind forecast.

Prices and accommodation in Madeira in November

In November 2025 the average hotel room rate was €106.75 a night, about 28% less than in August (€148.97). Hotel occupancy was 73.2%, higher than in February (DREM, November 2025; DREM, August 2025). In November, Poland was Madeira’s fourth-largest source of visitors, after the UK, Germany and Portugal.

I’ve covered the best areas to stay in my guide to where to stay in Madeira.

What to pack for Madeira in November

• light clothes for the day and a jumper or thin jacket for the evening,
• a rain jacket, because November is one of the wetter months,
• a warm fleece, hat and gloves for sunrise at Pico do Arieiro,
• shoes with grippy soles for wet levadas, and a head torch,
• swimwear, because the sea is still around 21–22°C,
• sunscreen: in November 2023 it barely rained on the coast.

Madeira in November: FAQs

Data checked: 17 October 2026. I’ll add the 2026 dates for the Festa da Castanha and the wine fair once they’re announced.