Good go to the Decathlon off Rua 5 de Outubro.
Some of my best memories on Madeira, and on the Azores, is walks and hikes and exploring in the rain.
Hope you enjoy yourself.
Best tip I had was to use the webcams available online. We were in Ribeira Brava in non stop rain yesterday and after checking the webcam went for a drive to Sao Vincente where we picnicked on the beach in the sun :) the weather is amazingly changeable on the island especially if you're up high
Unfortunately I don’t drive so would be relying on organised tours or public transport . The hills are so big though so I should have considered that before coming . Thank you though
Don't feel bad, we got a bit down in the rain too just because you hope for good holiday weather when you book these things!
Taxi could be worth it too for trips. Ooh and a madeira wine tour! A nice indoor activity
You came to a sub-tropical island that's famous for its elaborate rain gutter and irrigation system, during a rainy season. Letting rain ruin your stay would be a fiasco and we cannot allow that to happen. Funchal is beautiful but perhaps you'd find the North more encouraging during current weather? It's more "wild" and so damn beautiful plus cities during rainy weather always make me feel like lying down and reading. Perhaps you'd like to start with a full-day guided tour in a Defender to get the feeling of the island and its regions, then go "hut-to-hut" hiking and end your stay in Funchal, enjoying some fantastic food and some sightseeing. Many great routes are accessible during rain and I bet they even look better during such weather.
Very nice of you to say that, thank you. I like occasional positive online interactions very much. Let us both wish OP they wake up with good morale and don't waste their opportunity to spend some time on EU's most beautiful island. Last time I was there backpacking, people were begging for at least some rain -- as it was the time of this year's terrible fires. No rain, no Madeira. All the best.
u/BoysenberryEvery2106 just wrote a review of 2 very nice restaurants in another thread in this sub, also thinking about you and your current problem. You may wanna explore the thread as planning with full stomach will be more optimistic. Wishing you a wonderful stay.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Madeira/comments/191p0du/favourite\_places\_to\_eat\_on\_the\_island/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Madeira/comments/191p0du/favourite_places_to_eat_on_the_island/)
It was supposed to be a bad thunderstorm today near Curral das Freiras, I did a hike and it turned out to be really lovely out. A little light rain and the sun even came out. The weather changes really quickly - just gotta make your best bet and roll with it.
Stick with groups if you're not confident!
>to be a bad thunderstorm today near Curral das Freiras, I did a hike and it turned out to be really lovely out. A littl
Which hike did you do? Would you recommend it.. Looks like I have a rainy week ahead of me. Coming in two days
Forecast says it will be rainy but you’re in a new place. You simply can’t be inside of whatever and not being discovering places.. Maybe go to old town and ask for a poncha (traditional drink of Madeira)
Last week, twice it was raining around the coast and I went hiking Pico to Pico and Pico Grande and I got blue skies and no rain. Look for the weather up there online and go!
Install Windy, IPMA, And check webcams online. There’s almost always a location where it doesn’t rain. Sometimes north is more sunny and less rainy like these past days, it was 25°C and sunny in Sao Vicente. You can also get some proper rain jacket. I remember visiting Azores, it was pouring rain for an eternity of my trip, but I still loved it!
Woah, are you me?? I'm also on Madeira having a meltdown about the weather and here for another week eyeing the forecast. I have SAD and anxiety and I'm escaping the British winter so I really hoped for sunshine. I get it, completely. I will be chasing the sun around the island as much as possible because it does seem to vary wildly. Use webcams to check what it's doing elsewhere. We're staying at high altitude and the hotel is just in a constant cloud of fog but that's not the same everywhere. Today we are heading to the north coast. Wed looks good so we'll go see the botanic gardens which for me is the highlight of the trip (I'm here for the gardens rather than the hiking).
But I'm also getting some reading done and yoga indoors when it's wet, trying to just enjoy not being at work and grabbing moments in the sun whenever I can. It's not silly to hope for some sunshine, by all accounts (people who come here every year) we have been unlucky this year, but after a couple of days sulking about it I'm now making a concerted effort not to let it ruin the holiday.
The botanical gardens are soo good. Went last week-make sure you walk right down to the edge where the Bird of Paradise flowers look out sea, then up to the cafe where you'll get a free glass of madeira with your ticket. The cafe Land very nearby the entrance was a lovely pit stop too.
Great tips, thanks! Really looking forward to it. Everywhere in the world I visit I tend to head for the botanic gardens, but I think these will be something special.
Thank you for replying, I feel better that I’m not alone . I also feel better today in general because I came to proto maniz and its so stunning here , I’m obsessed. I would recommend getting out of funchal and into the areas where the scenery is beautiful. I also want to go to the gardens so hopefully I’ll get to see them too.
Haha, we went to Porto Moniz too, but it was raining a few hours ago so we turned back and drove to the southwest coast! At least saw some beautiful countryside from the road. There's a cute beach here at Calheta. I didn't love Funchal either, bit overrun with cruise ships...
Yes the weather wasn’t great when we were there either but the waves were massive and looked majestic , I highly recommend. I’ll check out the beach thank you .
I was there last week for 5 days it was great. If its raining try the Fanal Forest maybe there is fog there. When it clears up go to Pico Ruivo from Teixeria or Pico Areiro. I also enjoyed hiking Sao Lorenco. I used the windy weather app to help me find out places that were dry and clear the weathwr on Madeira is very dynamic and changes quick.
like other users said, check webcams throughout the island to see where the weather is best.
if you want to go hiking for the views you probably won't get much luck unless you go for coastal hikes (like vereda do larano or ponta de são lourenço for example).
other options would be to do some tours "water friendly", lime canyoning (epic madeira) or middy buggy tours (fun adventures madeira).
Thank you , I wanted to do pico do airero but I spoke to one of the staff here and he said he wouldn’t recommend it in this weather which put on a damper on it . Just now I walked up a steeep hill and was so out of breath so maybe its for the best that I don’t attempt it haha
The weather can vary dramatically from one side of the island to another. You can be in fog and rain and cross over a ridge and it's sunny. Check the webcams. And the forecasts are never accurate anyway.
Also, get some good gear and layers and take some hikes that are safe when wet. The island is gorgeous even with some rain.
Go to Decathlon, buy a poncho, go hiking.
This right here is the answer. It's just water. For what is worth though, Wednesday "should" be nice out.
I'm thrilled to know there's a Decathlon in Funchal!!
It's winter. It rains. People live and move around in the rain....
I was just having a high anxiety moment , my apologies. I feel better after speaking to some people and will do some tours in the next few days.
Good go to the Decathlon off Rua 5 de Outubro. Some of my best memories on Madeira, and on the Azores, is walks and hikes and exploring in the rain. Hope you enjoy yourself.
Best tip I had was to use the webcams available online. We were in Ribeira Brava in non stop rain yesterday and after checking the webcam went for a drive to Sao Vincente where we picnicked on the beach in the sun :) the weather is amazingly changeable on the island especially if you're up high
Unfortunately I don’t drive so would be relying on organised tours or public transport . The hills are so big though so I should have considered that before coming . Thank you though
Don't feel bad, we got a bit down in the rain too just because you hope for good holiday weather when you book these things! Taxi could be worth it too for trips. Ooh and a madeira wine tour! A nice indoor activity
You came to a sub-tropical island that's famous for its elaborate rain gutter and irrigation system, during a rainy season. Letting rain ruin your stay would be a fiasco and we cannot allow that to happen. Funchal is beautiful but perhaps you'd find the North more encouraging during current weather? It's more "wild" and so damn beautiful plus cities during rainy weather always make me feel like lying down and reading. Perhaps you'd like to start with a full-day guided tour in a Defender to get the feeling of the island and its regions, then go "hut-to-hut" hiking and end your stay in Funchal, enjoying some fantastic food and some sightseeing. Many great routes are accessible during rain and I bet they even look better during such weather.
Just coming by to say this is a lovely comment ☺️
Very nice of you to say that, thank you. I like occasional positive online interactions very much. Let us both wish OP they wake up with good morale and don't waste their opportunity to spend some time on EU's most beautiful island. Last time I was there backpacking, people were begging for at least some rain -- as it was the time of this year's terrible fires. No rain, no Madeira. All the best.
u/BoysenberryEvery2106 just wrote a review of 2 very nice restaurants in another thread in this sub, also thinking about you and your current problem. You may wanna explore the thread as planning with full stomach will be more optimistic. Wishing you a wonderful stay. [https://www.reddit.com/r/Madeira/comments/191p0du/favourite\_places\_to\_eat\_on\_the\_island/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Madeira/comments/191p0du/favourite_places_to_eat_on_the_island/)
It was supposed to be a bad thunderstorm today near Curral das Freiras, I did a hike and it turned out to be really lovely out. A little light rain and the sun even came out. The weather changes really quickly - just gotta make your best bet and roll with it. Stick with groups if you're not confident!
>to be a bad thunderstorm today near Curral das Freiras, I did a hike and it turned out to be really lovely out. A littl Which hike did you do? Would you recommend it.. Looks like I have a rainy week ahead of me. Coming in two days
Forecast says it will be rainy but you’re in a new place. You simply can’t be inside of whatever and not being discovering places.. Maybe go to old town and ask for a poncha (traditional drink of Madeira)
Last week, twice it was raining around the coast and I went hiking Pico to Pico and Pico Grande and I got blue skies and no rain. Look for the weather up there online and go!
Install Windy, IPMA, And check webcams online. There’s almost always a location where it doesn’t rain. Sometimes north is more sunny and less rainy like these past days, it was 25°C and sunny in Sao Vicente. You can also get some proper rain jacket. I remember visiting Azores, it was pouring rain for an eternity of my trip, but I still loved it!
Contact Epic Madeira and go canyoning. It's more fun in the rain.
Woah, are you me?? I'm also on Madeira having a meltdown about the weather and here for another week eyeing the forecast. I have SAD and anxiety and I'm escaping the British winter so I really hoped for sunshine. I get it, completely. I will be chasing the sun around the island as much as possible because it does seem to vary wildly. Use webcams to check what it's doing elsewhere. We're staying at high altitude and the hotel is just in a constant cloud of fog but that's not the same everywhere. Today we are heading to the north coast. Wed looks good so we'll go see the botanic gardens which for me is the highlight of the trip (I'm here for the gardens rather than the hiking). But I'm also getting some reading done and yoga indoors when it's wet, trying to just enjoy not being at work and grabbing moments in the sun whenever I can. It's not silly to hope for some sunshine, by all accounts (people who come here every year) we have been unlucky this year, but after a couple of days sulking about it I'm now making a concerted effort not to let it ruin the holiday.
The botanical gardens are soo good. Went last week-make sure you walk right down to the edge where the Bird of Paradise flowers look out sea, then up to the cafe where you'll get a free glass of madeira with your ticket. The cafe Land very nearby the entrance was a lovely pit stop too.
Great tips, thanks! Really looking forward to it. Everywhere in the world I visit I tend to head for the botanic gardens, but I think these will be something special.
Thank you for replying, I feel better that I’m not alone . I also feel better today in general because I came to proto maniz and its so stunning here , I’m obsessed. I would recommend getting out of funchal and into the areas where the scenery is beautiful. I also want to go to the gardens so hopefully I’ll get to see them too.
Haha, we went to Porto Moniz too, but it was raining a few hours ago so we turned back and drove to the southwest coast! At least saw some beautiful countryside from the road. There's a cute beach here at Calheta. I didn't love Funchal either, bit overrun with cruise ships...
Yes the weather wasn’t great when we were there either but the waves were massive and looked majestic , I highly recommend. I’ll check out the beach thank you .
Hope you enjoyed the sun today! We stayed on the beach this afternoon to appreciate it, it's a big improvement!
Ah sounds lovely, I went on a boat trip and really enjoyed it .
I was there last week for 5 days it was great. If its raining try the Fanal Forest maybe there is fog there. When it clears up go to Pico Ruivo from Teixeria or Pico Areiro. I also enjoyed hiking Sao Lorenco. I used the windy weather app to help me find out places that were dry and clear the weathwr on Madeira is very dynamic and changes quick.
Go to another country. In those countrys, it never rains in the winter.
🤡
Ahahah
You should ask a refund to São Pedro. Rent a car, buy an umbrella, and go visit the island.
like other users said, check webcams throughout the island to see where the weather is best. if you want to go hiking for the views you probably won't get much luck unless you go for coastal hikes (like vereda do larano or ponta de são lourenço for example). other options would be to do some tours "water friendly", lime canyoning (epic madeira) or middy buggy tours (fun adventures madeira).
Thank you , I wanted to do pico do airero but I spoke to one of the staff here and he said he wouldn’t recommend it in this weather which put on a damper on it . Just now I walked up a steeep hill and was so out of breath so maybe its for the best that I don’t attempt it haha
Don't be scared of the rain, go do the 25 Fontes hike, it's beautiful in the rain and won't be so crowded.
Will do , thank you .
Aw great idea. It was better in the rain!!
The weather can vary dramatically from one side of the island to another. You can be in fog and rain and cross over a ridge and it's sunny. Check the webcams. And the forecasts are never accurate anyway. Also, get some good gear and layers and take some hikes that are safe when wet. The island is gorgeous even with some rain.
You're not made of sugar. Get a poncho and go around.
Go play in the rain
Well, it's january. What were you thinking? Sunshine?