Madeira · Month comparison
November vs September
September ranks #1 overall vs November at #9. Wine Festival, warmest sea temps, and prices dropping — September is the sweet spot.
November
#9 of 12 months
Strong option
Rainy season begins but still mild — best value month before Christmas bookings surge.
- ↑At 21°C average high with mild overnight temperatures, November in Madeira still significantly outperforms most of Europe. Northern European visitors arriving from grey, cold autumn are often struck by the genuine warmth and the continued subtropical garden bloom — the island's jacaranda trees, plumbago, and bougainvillea continue flowering in sheltered south coast locations throughout November.
- ↑November is the last month before Christmas bookings push prices up for the New Year fireworks rush. Hotels that cost €200 in November rise to €350–400 by mid-December and are sold out at any price for New Year's Eve itself. November represents the last genuinely affordable, uncrowded window before the island's signature end-of-year event.
September
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Wine Festival, warmest sea temps, and prices dropping — September is the sweet spot.
- ↑The Madeira Wine Festival (first two weeks of September, centred on Funchal) is the island's most culturally rich annual event. The harvest treading in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (visitors can participate), the wine parade through central Funchal, and the Blandy's and Henriques & Henriques lodge open days combine for a celebration that is genuinely rooted in the island's economy and culture rather than tourist artifice. Tastings of vintage Madeira — wine that can survive for a century in cask — are included in many festival events.
- ↑September sea temperatures peak at 24°C — the warmest of any month — while the summer crowds have diminished significantly after the first week of September. The beaches at Calheta and Machico, and the Porto Moniz rock pools, are at their most inviting with warm water and manageable visitor numbers.
| Factor | November | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 6 | 9 |
| Value score | 8 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 8 | 6 |
| Events score | 5 | 9 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 21.5°C | 26.5°C |
| Monthly rain | 96mm | 30mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5.5hrs | 7.8hrs |
November trade-offs
- ↓November is Madeira's second-rainiest month, and the pattern of Atlantic frontal systems means multi-day periods of sustained rain are the norm rather than the exception. Planning outdoor activities requires flexibility and alternatives for wet days — Funchal's excellent museum infrastructure (Cristiano Ronaldo Museum, MUDAS contemporary art, the Natural History Museum in the Old Town) provides good indoor content.
- ↓Sea temperature has dropped to 21°C by November, which remains swimmable but is below the comfortable casual-swimming threshold for most visitors. Beaches are typically empty of swimmers even on dry days.
September trade-offs
- ↓September sees the first meaningful autumn rainfall returning — 30mm, compared to August's 5mm. This mostly manifests as occasional afternoon showers rather than sustained rain, but the transition from absolute summer dryness is noticeable. North coast trails can become temporarily muddy after heavier showers.
- ↓Wine Festival weekends specifically cause accommodation spikes — the festival is well-known in the Portuguese and British travel market, and Funchal hotel prices during the festival fortnight can be 30–40% above the surrounding weeks.
Scores compare months within Madeira. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →