Madeira September 2026 Weather Report
“The kind of pleasant weather you build a trip around.”
Roughly 10 rainy days across the month, on average.
September holds onto summer with highs at 23.4°C (74°F), nights at 17.7°C (64°F), 38mm rain across 9.8 days, and 11 hours of daily sunshine. Atlantic waters retain summer warmth at 22°C for the first two weeks. Trade winds relax and mornings turn glassy along both coasts, ideal for Ponta de São Lourenço coastal-trail sunrises.
Columbus Festival at Porto Santo celebrates the explorer's local presence with medieval-costumed processions and Renaissance-fair activities. Madeira Wine Festival extends Festa do Vinho activities with tasting events at Blandy's Wine Lodge. Machico Nautical Week fills the eastern harbour with regatta racing. Fim de Verão end-of-summer beach parties peak at Prainha and Calheta. Whale watching quietly restarts winter-season with sperm whales making early appearances.
Data spanning 11 complete years from 2015 to 2025 places September highs from 21.2°C to 25.8°C, with 2019 exceptionally warm. Precipitation ranged 4mm to 128mm, showing genuine variability. Sunshine held 9-12 hours daily. The 2026 outlook trends toward average with typical rhythm of dry-first-half and slightly wetter-second-half, and pleasant late-summer conditions throughout the month.
Booking Madeira for September 2026 hits genuine shoulder-season value once European school holidays end. Post-15 September rates drop 30% versus August. Columbus Festival at Porto Santo requires ferry-plus-hotel bundles booked 6 weeks ahead. Reserve Blandy's Wine Lodge tasting sessions 3 weeks out, and combine city days with Prainha beach evenings for well-paced September 2026 Madeira experiences.
Funchal's Mercado dos Lavradores has fish and fruit vendors who quote tourist prices — go 30 minutes before closing when scabbardfish drops 60%. Bolo do caco with garlic butter lives at O Tapassol in Câmara de Lobos where the fishermen actually eat. Bus 103 to Curral das Freiras crosses inside an ancient volcanic caldera locals call "the nuns' valley." Poncha is made with aguardente de cana, not rum — the sugarcane distillate is uniquely Madeiran.
What to pack for Madeira in September
Late-summer transitional kit:
- Swim outfits plus warm cover-ups
- Linen shirts for evening dinners
- Comfortable walking sandals
- Sun hat plus SPF 30-50
- Light waterproof shell for occasional showers
What to pack for Madeira in September
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Where to stay in Madeira
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Compare hotels on Booking.com→Estimated September trip to Madeira
Shoulder-season pricing — a balance of price and conditions. Rule-based estimates from a couple based in London — actual prices vary.
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Things worth doing
Columbus Festival at Porto Santo, Blandy's Wine Lodge tasting, Machico Nautical Week regattas, Prainha beach swimming, Ponta de São Lourenço sunrise walk.
September vs. the rest of the year
How this month compares in Madeira. Tap any month to read more.
highlighted months are among the best time to visit.
Best time to visit Madeira
While September has its own character in Madeira, the data-backed best months to visit Madeira are May, June, July, August. These months combine the most favourable temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine across an 11-year climate record (2015–2025).
See the full best-time-to-visit guide for MadeiraOther places with a similar climate right now
Madeira in September — FAQ
Q01Is September a good month for Madeira?
Is September a good month for Madeira?
Yes — this is one of the best months of the year to visit. In September, Madeira averages a high of 23°C (74°F) and a low of 18°C (64°F), with 38mm of rainfall across roughly 10 rainy days. Madeira Flower Festival first weekend of May carpets Funchal's Avenida Arriaga; Levada walks reopen after winter maintenance in April and close randomly for landslides.
Q02How warm does Madeira get in September?
How warm does Madeira get in September?
The average high temperature in Madeira during September is 23°C (74°F), with an average low of 18°C (64°F). These figures are averaged from 11 complete years of daily records (2015–2025, Open-Meteo Archive).
Q03Does it rain a lot in Madeira in September?
Does it rain a lot in Madeira in September?
Madeira averages approximately 10 rainy days in September, with a total monthly rainfall of about 38mm. This is based on daily precipitation records where days with 1mm or more of rain are counted as rainy days.
Q04What clothes should I bring to Madeira in September?
What clothes should I bring to Madeira in September?
For Madeira in September, pack layered clothing for changing temperatures, sunscreen and sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes. These recommendations are based on 11 complete years of weather averages for this specific month. A headlamp for the Levada tunnels — many walking routes pass through unlit rock tunnels up to 800m long and phone flashlights die before you exit.
Q05Are there many tourists in Madeira in September?
Are there many tourists in Madeira in September?
Tourist crowds in Madeira during September are typically moderate — shoulder season, a sweet spot between crowds and weather. Consider this when planning accommodation — prices track crowd levels closely. Funchal's Mercado dos Lavradores has fish and fruit vendors who quote tourist prices — go 30 minutes before closing when scabbardfish drops 60%. Bolo do caco with garlic butter lives at O Tapassol in Câmara de Lobos where the fishermen actually eat. Bus 103 to Curral das Freiras crosses inside an ancient volcanic caldera locals call "the nuns' valley." Poncha is made with aguardente de cana, not rum — the sugarcane distillate is uniquely Madeiran.