We visited Madeira in low season and loved it. Here are nine reasons why autumn and winter, from November to February, are a great time to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Madeira, along with the Azores, is one of Europe’s best-kept natural secrets. In the cooler months the island is mild, green and far quieter than in summer, so it suits a few days away as much as a longer stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Madeira archipelago is an autonomous region of Portugal, off the northwest coast of Africa. It has two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, which were settled in the 1400s, and both have a warm, subtropical climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most visitors are active travellers who come to hike along the old levadas (irrigation channels) in the mountains, run trails or play golf. There is plenty to do on the water too: sailing, dolphin and whale watching, surfing and stand-up paddleboarding at the Garajau Marine Nature Reserve<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Short on time? Our top picks are just below. After them you’ll find why we think Madeira is a great winter destination, based on our own visits, a month-by-month guide and answers to the questions we hear most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n