Madeira in March

Spring starts, flowers everywhere, longer days, perfect hiking temperatures.

Weather

Funchal climbs to 19–21 °C; mountain trails increasingly clear of cloud.

Sea temperature

Still 18 °C, wetsuit advisable for serious swimming.

Month at a glance

March is one of the best months for active visitors. Days are noticeably longer, the rain bands of winter are tailing off, and the entire island is in flower. The PR1 ridge is usually open and the levada walks are at their fullest.

This is the start of the island's most colourful stretch. Orchids and wisteria are out in Funchal's gardens, the terraces above the city are bright with nasturtiums and bird-of-paradise flowers, and the wilder slopes carry masses of yellow broom. By late March the first agapanthus buds appear on the roadsides, a preview of the blue drifts that peak in June.

March also marks the real start of whale-watching season. Resident bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales are here year-round, but spring is when migratory baleen whales, Bryde's, sei and fin whales, pass through on their way north. Operators in Funchal marina run several trips a day from mid-March, and sightings success climbs through April and May.

One pricing quirk to know: when Easter falls in March, the island runs two mini-seasons in a single month. The weeks before Palm Sunday are low-season quiet, then Semana Santa itself sees Madeiran families returning home, hotels jumping to near-summer rates and rental cars selling out, before prices drop back again in early April.

Why go in March

  • Excellent hiking weather
  • Wildflowers across the island
  • Migratory whales passing offshore
  • Low-season prices outside Easter week

Trade-offs

  • Easter (when it falls in March) doubles accommodation prices
  • Sea still cool for swimming

What's on in March

What to prioritise

Frequently asked

Is March a good month to hike in Madeira?
Excellent, stable weather, mild temperatures, long daylight, low crowds. The high ridge routes (PR1, PR1.2) are usually open and the laurisilva is at its greenest.
Can you see whales in Madeira in March?
Yes, it's one of the best times to start. Resident dolphins and pilot whales are present year-round, and from March the migratory baleen whales (Bryde's, sei, fin) pass through. Trip frequency and sighting rates rise steadily into May.
What is in flower in Madeira in March?
Orchids, wisteria, bird-of-paradise, nasturtiums and yellow broom are all out, and the first agapanthus appear by the end of the month. It's the build-up to the Flower Festival, which in 2027 runs from 29 April to 30 May.

Other months

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