Madeira in November: Weather, Sea Temperature, Daylight and What Is On

November in Madeira is still mild but clearly wetter than summer. The official IPMA climate normal for Funchal (1991–2020) gives an average daily maximum of 22.8 °C, an average minimum of 17.0 °C and 80.3 mm of rain, spread over about 7 days with at least 1 mm. The sea stays around 21–22 °C and daylight lasts roughly 10 hours 50 minutes at the start of the month. The big Christmas programme does not begin until 1 December.

What is the weather like in Madeira in November?

The table uses the IPMA normal for the Funchal station (58 m above sea level), 1991–2020, and shows November next to the months on either side.

A few details from the same document:

• Funchal averages 3.0 days in November with a maximum of 25 °C or more, and none at 30 °C.
• The warmest November day in the series reached 29.5 °C (20 November 2006).
• November holds the wettest single day ever recorded at the station: 158.6 mm on 26 November 2010.

These are coastal figures for a station near sea level. The mountains and the north coast behave differently, so check the forecast for the place you are heading to, not the one you are sleeping in. The best time to visit Madeira guide explains the same gap across the year.

How warm is the sea in November?

Sea-temperature averages are not published in the IPMA normal, so the figure below comes from a non-official data site, seatemperature.info, which averages the last ten years of satellite and in-situ observations. It gives a November average of 21.5 °C for Porto Santo and up to 21.8 °C on the south and west coast of Madeira.

For comparison, Funchal's average November minimum air temperature is 17.0 °C. The water is therefore warmer than the night air, and the cooler part of a beach day is usually the wind and the evening, not the sea.

How many hours of daylight are there?

Madeira follows Western European Time (UTC+0) in winter. According to sunrise-sunset.org, Funchal's sun times in 2026 are:

Daylight shrinks by about 40 minutes over the month, and darkness arrives soon after 18:00. For hikes this matters more than the temperature: start early and plan to finish well before dusk.

Are the hiking trails open in November?

Most of the classified routes (percursos pedestres) were listed as open when the IFCN table was read on 1 November 2026 (the page itself shows an update date of 2 October 2026). The exceptions on that list: the eastern branch of PR 1 (via Pico das Torres) and the stretch of PR 1.3 between Boca das Torrinhas and Encumeada were closed; PR 4 Levada do Barreiro was partly passable; PR 7 Levada do Moinho, PR 20 Vereda do Jardim do Mar, PR 27 Glaciar de Planalto and PR 28 Levada da Rocha Vermelha were closed; and on Porto Santo, PR 3 Levada do Pico Castelo was closed. On PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes, walking is one-way: out along the levada, back by the "Bypass" path.

Statuses change after storms, so check the IFCN list on the morning you walk. Booking a slot on the SIMplifica portal has been compulsory for every walker since 1 January 2026; our pages on trail booking and fees and hiking safety cover the details.

Because November is wetter, the practical rule is to book late: look at the forecast, then book for the next morning. High routes near Pico do Areeiro can be cloudy and windy while Funchal is sunny.

What is on in Madeira in November?

The official Visit Madeira Tourist Entertainment Calendar for 2026 lists no festival in November. After the Madeira Nature Festival (6–11 October), the next entry is the Christmas and New Year programme, with the lighting of the Funchal amphitheatre from 1 December. The calendar notes that it is subject to change.

One smaller date is worth knowing:

• Festa da Castanha, Curral das Freiras. This chestnut festival, organised by the village's Casa do Povo, is traditionally held around 1 November. The 2025 edition was the 41st and fell on Saturday 1 November, the All Saints' Day holiday, with a chestnut float, a producers' awards ceremony and a regional-products show. The 2026 date and programme had not been published where we looked, so check before you go. The viewpoint at Eira do Serrado overlooks the valley.

When the lights go on, a separate guide to Funchal's Christmas programme will list the official dates. If you are choosing between months, see also the New Year's Eve fireworks guide.

What should I pack for Madeira in November?

• Layers and a light waterproof. About seven days with measurable rain and 2.3 days a month with 10 mm or more point to showers, not constant rain.
• A warm layer for altitude and evenings. Daytime highs of 22.8 °C are coastal averages.
• Footwear with grip for wet levada walls and laurel-forest paths, such as Fanal.
• A head torch. Sunset is around 18:00 and levada tunnels are dark at any hour.
• Swimwear. The sea is around 21–22 °C and the south-coast pools and beaches remain usable on dry days.

Is November a good month to visit Madeira?

It suits walkers and city visitors who accept that rain is likely on some days. You get warm afternoons, a warm sea and short but usable days. Plan trails for the morning, keep museums, markets and the Funchal old town as the wet-day option, and check IFCN before every walk.