Funchal in December: weather, sea and travel tips
Is December a good time to visit?
December in Funchal suits a city break without expecting beach weather. Days average +15 °C. Rain may disrupt your plans if long walks every day are the main reason for the trip.
Weather in December
Early, mid and late December have similar average daytime temperatures. This gives little reason to choose one part of the month over another.
- Water
- +20 °C
- Daytime air
- +15 °C
- Night-time air
- +12 °C
Early, mid or late December?
| Travel dates | Day | Night | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 December | +15 °C | +12 °C | +20 °C |
| 11–20 December | +15 °C | +12 °C | +20 °C |
| 21–31 December | +15 °C | +11 °C | +20 °C |
Days with precipitation in December
Share of days with precipitation in the weather archive.
Water in December
Seasonal data gives an average water temperature of +20 °C for the month. It averages +20 °C in the first ten days and +20 °C towards the end. These are seasonal averages, so the water on your travel dates can be warmer or cooler. Before your trip, check the water temperature and weather in the forecast for Funchal.
Rainfall in December
In December, the average is 19 days with precipitation. In 2020–2025, the number ranged from 12 to 24 per month. Light precipitation is included in the count. This does not mean that it rains all day.
November, December or January: which should you choose?
| Month | Day | Night | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | +17 °C | +13 °C | +22 °C |
| December | +15 °C | +12 °C | +20 °C |
| January | +14 °C | +11 °C | +19 °C |
November has warmer days than December. The difference matters if you prefer warmth to cooler walking weather. December and January have similar daytime temperatures.
The annual charts for Funchal compare air and sea temperatures with the rest of the year. For a closer look at December, see the December charts and archive by year.
Things to do in December
- On a dry day, Madeira Botanical Garden offers walks among its plants and viewpoints over Funchal.
- Zona Velha offers narrow cobbled streets for a town walk. Rua de Santa Maria and the surrounding streets are a place to look for painted doors.
- The Sacred Art Museum in the former bishop’s palace is an option for a rainy day, with Portuguese and Flemish painting and sculpture.
About the data
Air temperatures use the WorldWeatherAI archive for 2020–2025. Precipitation uses data for 2020–2025. Sea temperatures use WorldWeatherAI seasonal data.