December is mild, wet and split in two: a quiet, cheap first three weeks, then one of Madeira's busiest stretches of the year. Funchal's daily high averages 21.0°C, the overnight low 15.5°C, and 94.8mm of rain falls over 8.6 days – the wettest reading on IPMA's calendar. The sea sits at 19.9°C, too cool for most swimmers.
Funchal's Christmas programme runs 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, building to New Year's Eve fireworks over the bay on 31 December. Book the festive week early – it's the one period on the island that genuinely sells out.
What's the weather like in Madeira in December?
December is Madeira's wettest month by the numbers. Funchal's daily high averages 21.0°C, the overnight low 15.5°C, and rain reaches 94.8mm across 8.6 days – just ahead of November's totals as the wet season peaks. Sunshine holds at 5 hours a day, and daylight sits at 10 hours, among the year's shortest.
The south coast, including Funchal, stays the driest and brightest side of the island, while the north coast and the high peaks catch the bulk of December's rain and cloud. A clear morning in the city says little about conditions on a levada or at altitude.
Is December a good time to visit Madeira?
It depends which December you mean. Outside the festive fortnight, prices and crowds sit close to November's low levels – quiet trails, easy bookings, mild rather than cold. Then the Christmas and New Year fireworks week arrives, and Funchal turns into one of the island's busiest, most expensive stretches of the year.
April to June and September to October are Madeira's busiest months, along with the Christmas and New Year fireworks week, when Funchal sells out completely – and that last part is not an exaggeration. Flights and central hotels for late December book up months ahead.
For a calm, cheap winter trip, aim for early-to-mid December; for the festive atmosphere and the fireworks, book the peak week as early as you can and expect to pay for it.
What's the sea temperature in Madeira in December?
The sea averages 19.9°C in December, cooling steadily from autumn's peak but still short of genuinely cold. It's too cool for most swimmers without a wetsuit, so December stays a walking, sightseeing and festive-city trip rather than a beach one – the water's own comfortable stretch is still half a year away.
What should you pack for Madeira in December?
Pack layers and a proper waterproof rather than a winter coat – December is mild, not cold, but it's the wettest month of the year, and decent rain gear does more for comfort than any amount of warm clothing.
Add something smarter for evenings out around the Christmas lights and markets, and a warm layer for the peaks, which run far colder than Funchal. With 10 hours of daylight, plan sightseeing for the daytime and save the festive lights for after dark.
Things to do in December
Funchal's Christmas programme runs 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, with the city's famous lights strung across the streets and hillside from early in the month. Market Night falls on 23 December at the Mercado dos Lavradores, and the headline event is New Year's Eve fireworks over Funchal Bay on 31 December 2026, once billed as the world's largest display.
If the festive week is your reason to visit, book flights and a central hotel as early as possible – it's the one period on the island that reliably sells out. Outside it, December suits the same quiet levada walks and whale watching as November, with a wine cellar or a museum for the wetter afternoons.
Whichever December you're planning – quiet or festive – book the accommodation first; everything else fits around it.
For how December compares with the rest of the year, see when to visit Madeira.
Featured image: Dr. Thomas Liptak / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
