Madeira in November
Mild on the coast, cold in the mountains and short on daylight. A good month for walking, food and the island’s own festivals, less so for the beach.
My quick take
Come in November to walk, eat and see the island at a quieter pace. Do not come for a beach week: Madeirans have stopped going to the sea by now.
- Coast
- About 23 °C by day and 17 °C at night in Funchal
- Mountains
- Around 9 °C at Pico do Arieiro, close to freezing at dawn
- Daylight
- Sunset from 18:18 to 18:02; start long walks in the morning
- Car hire
- About €108 for a week, against €304 in August
Madeira in November is mild on the coast and cold in the mountains. Funchal averages 22.8 °C by day and 17 °C at night (IPMA), it rains on about 7 days of the month, and the sun sets at around 6pm. It is a good month for levada walks, the mountains on a clear morning, food and the chestnut and new-wine festivals. It is not a beach month: the sea is still around 21 °C, but very few Madeirans swim after October.
I come back to Madeira several times a year, and November is when the island goes back to its own rhythm. Summer is over, Christmas has not started, and the towns belong to the people who live in them. You get the levadas, the viewpoints and the restaurants with fewer people around, and car hire costs a third of what it does in August.
Madeira weather in November
Two climates on one island. Plan the coast and the mountains separately.
| What | Funchal and the south coast | Pico do Arieiro, 1,818 m |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 22.8 °C by day, 17 °C at night (average) | 8.8 °C average in November 2025; lowest 1 °C |
| Rain | About 7 days, 80.3 mm in the month | More than the coast, often with fog and wind |
| Sunshine | About 151.7 hours in the month, around 5 a day | Cloud and fog come and go fast; check the summit webcam before you drive up |
| Sea | About 21 °C | |
| Warm days | About 3 days reach 25 °C | Bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves for sunrise |
November weather comes in spells. A wet day can be followed by three clear ones, and a grey morning in Funchal can hide sunshine in Ponta do Sol or a sea of clouds below Pico do Arieiro. The north coast and the mountains get more rain and wind than the south, and that is also where trails close after heavy rain.
Funchal: IPMA climate normals 1991–2020, Funchal station (58 m). Pico do Arieiro and sunshine: DREM: weather data, November 2025. Sea: long-term average from weather2travel.
Short days: when to start the long walks
Sunrise moves from 7:24 to 7:50 and sunset from 18:18 to 18:02 over the month.
Darkness is the November risk on the trails, not the cold. Levadas run along valley sides and through tunnels, so it gets dark there before the official sunset. The table gives the latest start time that still finishes an hour before sunset, using the official walking time for each route.
| Walk | Official time | Start by, early November | Start by, late November |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço | 2 h 30 | 14:45 | 14:30 |
| PR11 Balcões viewpoint | 1 h 30 | 15:45 | 15:30 |
| PR1 Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo | 3 h | 14:15 | 14:00 |
| PR6 25 Fontes | 3 h | 14:15 | 14:00 |
| PR9 Caldeirão Verde | 6 h 30 | 10:45 | 10:30 |
| PR17 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal | 6 h 30 | 10:45 | 10:30 |
The PR1 from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo is one-way only beyond Pedra Rija, so you also need time and transport to get down from the far end. Every route here needs a slot on SIMplifica, and none refunds you for rain, so book a day or two ahead once you can see the forecast. If you are choosing walks, start with the best hikes in Madeira.
Sun times calculated for Funchal. Walking times: Visit Madeira: list of walks.
What to do in Madeira in November
What works well this month, and how to adjust it.
- Walks
Levadas in the fog
Fog suits the laurel forest. I walked the PR11 to Balcões on a cold, foggy day and it was still spectacular, with birds landing close to you at the viewpoint. Easy levadas like this one are the right walks for a grey day.
- Sunrise
Pico do Arieiro by bus
The late sunrise makes November an easy month for it. The 06:00 bus from Funchal reaches the summit at 06:45, well before sunrise, for €3. In winter the last bus down leaves at 6pm, so it works for sunrise, not sunset.
- Forest
Fanal
The old til trees are at their most dramatic in fog. It is cold up there and the ground turns to mud after rain, so bring a proper jacket and drive slowly in the cloud.
- Sea
Whale and dolphin watching
It runs all year, with fewer species than in spring and summer. Rough seas cancel more trips in November, so book it early in your stay.
- Views
Porto Moniz pools
Go for the waves on the lava rocks rather than for a swim. On winter hours the main pools close at 5pm.
- Evenings
Poncha without ice
In the cooler months we drink our poncha without ice, to warm up. Taberna da Poncha in Serra de Água, my favourite bar, is the place for one after a day in the mountains.
November festivals
Small, local and about food and wine. These are the ones Madeirans go to.
- 31 October to 1 November 2026
Festa da Castanha, Curral das Freiras
The chestnut festival in Nuns Valley, held since 1983, with a parade, roast chestnuts, chestnut liqueur and cakes. Bus 181 runs from Funchal.
- 10 November, the eve of 11 November
São Martinho
The night the new wine is opened. Madeirans taste it with roast chestnuts, and the parish of São Martinho in Funchal holds its festival around the church.
- From 1 December
Christmas lights
If your trip runs into the first days of December, Funchal switches on its Christmas lights and the festive season begins. See Madeira in December.
Festa da Castanha: DNOTICIAS: Festa da Castanha 2025. The 2026 programme was not out when I checked on 26 October 2026.
What to pack for November
Pack for two climates. On the coast, summer clothes still work on sunny afternoons, with a light jumper for the evening. For the mountains, bring a warm jacket, a hat and gloves for sunrise at Pico do Arieiro, where November nights get close to freezing.
Add a rain jacket that you can carry all day, walking shoes with grip that can get wet, and a torch if your levada has tunnels. Swimwear is optional: bring it for a sunny day, but do not plan around it.
For the rest of the trip, see car hire in Madeira, where a small manual for a November week costs from €51, and where to stay. If you are still deciding between seasons, read the best time to visit Madeira.
Questions about Madeira in November
Is Madeira warm in November?
On the coast, yes. Funchal averages 22.8 °C by day and 17 °C at night in November (IPMA, 1991–2020). The mountains are another climate: in November 2025 Pico do Arieiro averaged 8.8 °C and dropped to 1 °C (DREM).
Can you swim in Madeira in November?
You can. Long-term averages put the sea at about 21 °C. But Madeirans mostly stop going to the sea after October, and in November you see few people swimming. Treat a swim as a bonus on a sunny day, not as the plan.
Does it rain a lot in Madeira in November?
More than in summer. Funchal averages 7.3 days of rain and 80.3 mm in November (IPMA), and the north and the mountains get more. Rain usually comes in spells rather than all week, and the south coast is often dry when the north is wet.
Is November a good time to hike in Madeira?
Yes, with two conditions. Start the long walks early, because the sun sets around 18.02pm at the end of the month, and check the official trail status on the morning of each walk, because rain and wind close trails more often than in summer.
What time is sunset in Madeira in November?
In Funchal, about 18:18 on 1 November and 18:02 on 30 November. Sunrise moves from 7:24 to 7:50.
What festivals are there in Madeira in November?
The Festa da Castanha, the chestnut festival in Curral das Freiras, on 31 October and 1 November, and São Martinho on the eve of 11 November, when Madeirans taste the new wine with roast chestnuts. On 1 December the Christmas lights go on in Funchal.
Coming in November?
Tell us your dates and what you love doing, and we plan your days around the weather, with a plan B for rain and the walks timed for the light. A personal plan from our family is €149 for up to 5 days (€199 for 6 to 8), ready in 48 hours.