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A sub-tropical paradise set in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is waiting to be discovered by intrepid travellers. Madeira is an island full of adventure, abundant in delicious fruit and iconic levadas. The vibrant green landscape of Madeira is made of an endless carpet of trees surrounding the majestic peaks that dominate the island.
A trip to Madeira is always a good idea at any time of year. If you plan to visit in October, there are some things to consider before you book to ensure you can plan the trip that you imagined. As with any trip, there are no guarantees that it will be exactly what you wished for and it’s always worthwhile to have an open mindset and be flexible with your itinerary when travelling!
As Madeira is a year-round destination, you will have plenty of things to see and do throughout the seasons. We visited Madeira in October and thought it would be worthwhile to share our first-hand experience of visiting at this time of year.
This guide will share everything you need to know before visiting Madeira in October from what to expect with the weather, what to pack and the best activities to do at this time of year. If you’re looking for an easy to follow plan for your visit to the island, read our detailed 4-day itinerary of Madeira.
Portugal is one of our favourite places to visit especially the west coast, from its beautiful food, welcoming people and stunning landscapes. From the gently rolling hills of Alentejo to the romantic city of Porto, Portugal is a place you must visit.
THE WEATHER IS MILD IN OCTOBER IN MADEIRA
October in Madeira is a great way to extend your summer, with pleasant temperatures reaching a daily average of 24°C this makes Madeira an ideal place to enjoy warm weather in the autumn months.
When we visited in October, we were expecting a comfortable 20°C during our stay, yet we were welcomed with a balmy 30°C which we were reminded by the locals that this weather was very unusual for this time of year. This increase in temperature was unfortunately as a result of the wildfires in the north-west of the island.
Following the summer months, the chance of rainfall begins to increase in October but don’t worry there are still plenty of warm, sunny spells. As a result of its undulating landscape, the mountain peaks create unpredictable weather patterns that can change regularly and there is the saying that you can experience four seasons in one day.
YOU CAN SWIM IN THE OCEAN IN OCTOBER IN MADEIRA
The ocean is a comfortable temperature in October ranging from 22°C to 24°C which allows you to get in the sea and enjoy a dip or swim. There are plenty of opportunities to explore the underwater world of the Atlantic Ocean this time of year whether it’s snorkeling, diving, free diving or swimming with dolphins and turtles.
Make sure to swim in one of the many natural sea pools in Madeira that are sculpted by the ocean in volcanic rocks creating beautiful bathing pools. The most famous natural pools are at Porto Moniz and other pools include Cachalote, Seixal, Doca do Cavacas. We stayed in Sentido Galomar and loved swimming in Lido Galomar which had a salt water pool and easy access to snorkel in the Garajau Partial Nature Reserve.
There are beautiful beaches in Madeira, most of which are made of volcanic sand and pebbles. Make sure to visit the stunning black sand beach at Seixal and the golden sandy beach in Machico Bay which is one one of the few golden sand beaches in Madeira. Another noteworthy mention is the sheltered cove of Ponta do Sol beach, with beachfront bars and restaurants and close to the magical Cascata dos Anjos, a waterfall which cascades over the road.
FEWER CROWDS IN OCTOBER IN MADEIRA
Madeira is a year-round destination, with a lovely mild climate for most of the year. The peak season to visit is in the summer months from June until the end of September and during this time it can be difficult to escape the crowds.
The autumn months of September, October and November tend to be a lot quieter on Madeira, with the combination of pleasant, warm weather and fewer crowds, October is an ideal time to visit Madeira. The sea is warm enough for a comfortable swim in the ocean and you can easily extend your European summer in Madeira.
PACK A WATERPROOF WHEN VISITING MADEIRA IN OCTOBER
It's pretty mild at this time of year, but it's a good idea to bring along a jumper or light jacket for the evenings. The average daily maximum is 24°C and the average daily minimum is 20°C with stable temperatures, rainfall is more frequent this time of year in comparison to the summer months.
Rainfall is beginning to pick up, but temperatures remain stable and an essential item to pack is a waterproof for those intermittent showers. If you plan to hike in the mountains, it will be worthwhile to bring your waterproof as at higher altitudes the temperature will drop and there is a higher chance of rainfall.
In October you can experience light to moderate winds and they can pick up, especially at higher elevation in the mountains. However it’s unlikely to experience strong winds at this time of year.
WHALE WATCHING SEASON ENDS IN OCTOBER IN MADEIRA
Madeira is a great destination to spot marine life throughout the year including turtles, dolphins and many colourful fish. It is also a fantastic place to see whales at certain times of the year, especially from May to June and September to November. In most cases the best chances to see whales are until October for most whale species, however there are others that can be spotted year round.
Short-finned pilot whales and sperm whales can be seen throughout the year, whereas other species such as fin, sei, humpbacks, minke, false killer whales and Bryce’s whales depending on their migration patterns.
OCTOBER IS THE PERFECT MONTH TO HIKE IN MADEIRA
As a prime hiking destination, Madeira is known for beautiful trails that follow the impressive waterways called Levadas used to transport drinking water across the island. The temperatures gradually start to lower in October making it an ideal time of walking the islands extensive network of hiking paths.
We really enjoyed walking along the Verada do Larano, a beautiful coastal hike which takes you within the Ponta de São Lourenço conservation area and the Madeira Natural Park. We spotted butterflies, small birds, mosses, ferns and the beautiful ‘Madeira Rose’, which are succulents which signalled the route ahead, clinging to the vertical rock face that hugged the trail.
ARE THERE MOSQUITOES IN MADEIRA IN OCTOBER?
Before leaving for Madeira, we had completely forgotten to consider whether there would be mosquitoes. Jonny usually attracts them in hoards, whereas Hannah seems to be able to avoid the wrath of the dreaded mosquito bite. The tables turned for our trip to Madeira, where Hannah managed to get bitten only a few times and Jonny avoided them completely without any cream!
There is mosquito activity throughout the year in Madeira, so if you are more likely to be bitten it’s worth using repellant or covering up in the mornings and evenings. As Madeira has a sub-tropical climate, the humidity is an ideal environment for mosquitoes to survive and typically are found from August to October.
IS OCTOBER A GOOD TIME TO VISIT MADEIRA?
October could be one of the best times to visit Madeira, as a destination that is becoming increasingly popular, planning a visit in the off-peak season is a great idea. If you visit Madeira in October you will enjoy the island with less crowds, decent weather and a chance to spot some magnificent whales in the Atlantic.
We’d recommend spending at least 4 days in Madeira, this will give you a taste of the best experiences on the island where you can balance a few days of adventure and relaxation.
The best amount of time to visit Madeira would be 5 days to 2 weeks, to give you a chance to see the best bits of the island and also a chance to spend some time in the neighbouring island of Porto Santo.
We hope you found this guide useful for making your plans to visit the wonderful island of Madeira. Please let us know in the comments if you have any questions and we eagerly wait to return to this subtropical paradise!
