Month guide · Madeira · Portugal
Madeira in March
What March is really like in Madeira: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Luke H. Gordon, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
March is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 11.9 hours of daylight. Spring flowers and good walking weather, though the sea is at its coolest.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in Madeira: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with February (19°C (66°F)), March is about as warm; by April highs stay near 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 07:18
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 19:16
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F)
Spring (March–May). Flowers, green mountains and dry, sunny days in May; the Flower Festival makes Funchal busy around April or May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 3 for crowds (the peak is August at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in August). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in March
- Madeira Carnival (in years when Easter is late)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Park · Funchal
Santa Catarina Park
Visit at sunset with a drink from the park's café terrace.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
Market · Funchal Old Town
Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal's 1940 Art Deco market hall has azulejo tile panels at its entrance, a courtyard of flower sellers in traditional dress, stalls of tropical fruit such as custard apple and passion-fruit varieties, and a fish hall where black scabbardfish and tuna are laid out each morning.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Street · Funchal Old Town
Rua de Santa Maria and the Old Town
Walk it in the morning to see the doors, then come back at night for dinner and poncha.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Photo spot
- After dark
- Food
Religious site · Funchal
Funchal Cathedral
Completed in the early 16th century, the Sé is one of the few buildings in Funchal surviving from the island's early colonial era.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 14°C and 6 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Madeira?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Madeira in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Madeira?
It is a shoulder-season month. Spring flowers and good walking weather, though the sea is at its coolest.
+How warm is Madeira in March?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Madeira in March?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.