Madeira weather · April
Weather in Madeira in April
A monthly average blurs the two Madeiras together: a drier south, a wetter and greener north. The numbers below are the island averaged out. On the day you actually walk, one coast is clear and the other is under cloud.
April is when Madeira starts showing off. The mountains dry out, the flowers arrive in force, and the weather settles into the pattern that lasts through early summer: clear mornings, some afternoon cloud, occasional short rain in the north.
Madeira temperatures, rain and sea in April, coast to summit
| Where | Day / night | Rain | Rainy days | Sun/day | Peak wind | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funchal / south coast | 20.1 / 14.4 °C | 81 mm | 12 | 11 h | 15 km/h | 20 °C |
| Porto Moniz / north coast | 19.4 / 14.8 °C | 95 mm | 14 | 11 h | 16 km/h | — |
| Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) | 8.9 / 2.4 °C | 79 mm | 14 | 11 h | 11 km/h | — |
10-year monthly averages (2016-01-01 to 2025-12-31), historical archive. See all months
Why Madeira's weather differs by coast and altitude
The three rows above are the point: in the same April week, Funchal and the summits behave like different countries. Madeira's mountains split every weather system in two, so "weather in Madeira" is really the weather of whichever coast and altitude you stand on. The pattern is explained in our microclimate guide; for a specific day, live per-trail conditions beat any monthly average.
Hiking in Madeira in April
One of the best all-round hiking months. High routes come back into steady condition, the laurisilva is fresh, and the coastal paths are not yet hot. Start summit hikes early: the cloud sea that sits below the peaks at dawn often rises through the morning.
Good starting points this month: summit hikes and forest & laurisilva trails. Regulated classics like PR1 need advance booking via SIMplifica.
What April is like in Madeira
Funchal's Flower Festival usually falls in late April or early May. For photographers, April mornings are prime time for the cloud inversion at Pico do Arieiro.
Common questions
How warm is Madeira in April?
On the south coast around Funchal, April days average about 20.1 °C and nights about 14.4 °C. The mountains are a different world: at Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) the average daytime high is around 8.9 °C. Pack for both if you plan to hike high.
Does it rain a lot in Madeira in April?
Funchal averages roughly 81 mm across about 12 rainy days in April, one of the wetter months on the south coast. The north coast and the mountains always catch more. Rain is usually local: when one coast is wet, the other is often dry, which is why a single island-wide forecast misleads.
Can you swim in the sea in Madeira in April?
The Atlantic around Funchal averages about 20 °C in April, which is brisk, for determined swimmers. The natural lava pools at Porto Moniz and Seixal are the classic post-hike swim spots.
Is April a good month for the levada walks?
Yes. Levada walks work all year because most sit in sheltered valleys and forest, and Madeira has no real off-season. What changes in April is which side of the island has the better day, so check live per-trail conditions on the morning rather than trusting a single island-wide forecast.
Nearby months: March · May
All months: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December