Season guide · Madeira · Portugal
Madeira in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Flowers, green mountains and dry, sunny days in May; the Flower Festival makes Funchal busy around April or May. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 12 rainy days across March–May. April–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 14°C (57°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 12
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F) to 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 20°C (68°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 6 | 11.9 h | 3/5 |
| April | 20°C (68°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 4 | 13 h | 4/5 |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 2 | 13.8 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 12 of the year's roughly 51 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Madeira Carnival (in years when Easter is late)
- April: Madeira Flower Festival — flower carpets and parade in Funchal (usually April or May)
- May: Flower Festival (in some years)
Make the most of the weather
Experience · Monte
Monte cable car and toboggan ride
The cable car climbs from the Funchal seafront to the hilltop parish of Monte, about 550 metres above the sea, in roughly 15 minutes.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
Garden · Monte
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Paths are steep; allow at least two hours and start at the top so you walk mostly downhill.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Garden · Funchal
Madeira Botanical Garden
On a hillside above Funchal, the botanical garden displays native Madeiran plants, succulents and tropical species, with patterned carpet beds and views over the bay.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Câmara de Lobos
Cabo Girão
Go early or late in the day to avoid tour coaches, and check the sky first; low cloud can hide the view completely.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Nature · Central mountains
Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike
The PR1 trail links Madeira's third-highest peak, Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 metres, with the highest, Pico Ruivo at 1,862 metres, along a dramatic ridge of stairs, tunnels and narrow ledges.
- Time needed
- 5–6 hours return
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Day trips in spring
- Porto Santo (About 2 hours 15 minutes by ferry) — Madeira's small, dry neighbour has a 9-km golden-sand beach that Madeira itself lacks, and the house in Vila Baleira where Christopher Columbus is said to have lived.
- Desertas Islands (About 1 hour 30 minutes each way by boat) — These uninhabited islands south-east of Madeira are a nature reserve protecting one of the last colonies of Mediterranean monk seals.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Madeira?
Yes: April–May are among the best months. Flowers, green mountains and dry, sunny days in May; the Flower Festival makes Funchal busy around April or May.
+What is the weather like in Madeira in spring?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 12 rainy days over the season.