Madeira in December: Weather, Christmas & New Year

Madeira in December at a Glance

December Weather in Madeira

Funchal's December averages, from the 1991 to 2020 climate normals, are a high of about 21°C (70°F) and a low of about 15.5°C (60°F). Rainfall averages about 95 mm over the month, spread over roughly 9 days, and there are around 150 hours of sunshine. In practice, that usually means mild, bright days broken up by showers, with the occasional wetter spell when an Atlantic front passes.

The weather changes a lot with altitude and with the side of the island. The south coast, where Funchal sits, is the warmest and driest. The north coast is greener and gets more rain. The high peaks, such as Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, are much colder than the coast, and mountain roads and trails can be closed after storms. Check the forecast and trail status before you head up.

Can you swim in Madeira in December?

Some people do. The sea off Funchal averages around 19 to 20°C (66 to 68°F) in December, which is cool but swimmable for many visitors. A hotel pool is the more comfortable option, so check whether yours is heated. In winter the swell can be big on the north coast, so swim only where it is safe and follow local advice. For sand, Porto Santo, the neighboring island, has a long sandy beach, although December is low season there.

Christmas in Funchal

The Christmas lights

Funchal switches on its Christmas illuminations on December 1, and they stay on until the first week of January. The lights cover the main avenues, squares, churches and gardens of the city, and the other parishes of the island are decorated too. In recent years they have been on every evening from 6 pm to 1 am, with longer hours around Christmas and New Year. The simplest plan is to walk from the seafront up Avenida Arriaga and through the old town after dark.

Christmas market and festive streets

Through December, the center of Funchal fills with stalls selling regional food and drink: bolo do caco, sandwiches of carne de vinha d'alhos, poncha and seasonal liqueurs. Look for nativity scenes in squares and public buildings, and for the Christmas Village at Largo do Município, which is aimed at children. Exact locations and programs change each year, so check the official Funchal and Visit Madeira event pages before you travel.

Market Night, December 23

On the night of December 23, the Mercado dos Lavradores, Funchal's farmers' market, stays open late for the Noite do Mercado. Locals come for last-minute Christmas shopping, fruit, flowers and wine, and the surrounding streets fill with stalls, carne de vinha d'alhos sandwiches, poncha and carol singing. It is one of the busiest and most local nights of the season.

Missas do Parto, the dawn masses

In the nine days before Christmas, starting around December 15 or 16, parishes across the island hold the Missas do Parto, early-morning masses that mark the last days of Mary's pregnancy. They usually take place before sunrise. Afterward, people gather in the churchyard for hot drinks, poncha, cakes and sandwiches, often with music played on regional instruments. Visitors are welcome, but remember that these are religious services first.

After Christmas: Three Kings

The season continues into January. On the eve of Three Kings Day, January 6, groups sing the traditional Kings' carols, and Funchal usually holds a free concert in the city center. The Three Kings are celebrated with bolo-rei, the Portuguese king cake.

Festive Food and Drink

New Year's Eve in Madeira

On December 31, Funchal ends the year with fireworks over the bay, launched so the whole amphitheater of the city can watch. The display was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's largest fireworks display for New Year's Eve 2006 to 2007, and it held that title until 2012. Hotels and restaurants along the coast hold New Year's dinners.

New Year's Eve is the busiest night of the Madeira winter, and hotels with a view of the bay fill early. Book flights and rooms well ahead if you plan to be in Funchal on December 31.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Madeira?

Good reasons to go in December:

• Mild weather when most of Europe and North America is cold.
• Christmas lights, markets and traditions that you can only see at this time of year.
• Outside Christmas and New Year, it is a quieter month than spring and summer.

Things to keep in mind:

• It is not beach weather in the summer sense, and rain is more likely than in summer.
• Mountain trails and roads can be closed after storms, and strong winds can occasionally delay flights into Madeira Airport.
• The week from Christmas to New Year is peak season, with higher demand for flights and hotels.

If your main goal is hiking the levadas, consider spring or early autumn. If you want festive atmosphere with mild weather, December is a strong choice.

What to Pack for Madeira in December

• Light layers for the coast: T-shirts, a sweater or light jacket for the evenings.
• A waterproof jacket or umbrella for showers.
• Warm clothes, hat and gloves if you plan to go up to Pico do Arieiro or walk in the mountains.
• Hiking shoes with good grip for levada walks, which can be muddy in winter.
• Swimwear for the hotel pool or a brave sea swim.
• Comfortable shoes for Funchal's steep, cobbled streets.

Plan Your December Trip

Funchal is the natural base for a December trip, with the lights, markets and fireworks within walking distance of most central hotels. A rental car lets you combine festive evenings in the city with daytime trips to the viewpoints, levadas and villages of the island when the weather is good.