November is one of Madeira’s best-kept secrets. While the rest of Europe pulls on winter coats, Funchal basks in mild Atlantic air, with temperatures hovering comfortably between 17°C and 22°C. The summer crowds have gone, the jacaranda trees are in transition, and the ocean is alive with wildlife. If you have been wondering what to do with a November break, Madeira rewards the off-season traveller generously.

From encounters with sperm whales in open water to cable car rides above a city of terracotta rooftops, here are the five best things to do in Funchal, Madeira, in November, selected to give you a genuine taste of the island at its most authentic.

1. Whales & Dolphins Watching Boat Tour

No visit to Funchal is complete without spending time on the Atlantic, and November is a genuinely compelling month to do it. The waters around Madeira are not a seasonal migration route but a permanent habitat for several cetacean species. Resident sperm whales can be found year-round in the deep submarine canyons just a few nautical miles off the south coast, and common dolphins are a near-daily presence alongside the boat.

What makes November particularly special is the combination of factors that come together at this time of year. Sea conditions are generally calm before the mid-winter swells arrive, visibility is excellent, and the absence of peak-season boat traffic means a more intimate experience on the water. You are not competing with dozens of other vessels for the same sighting.

The Whales & Dolphins Watching Boat Tour offered by Bonita da Madeira operates from Funchal Marina with a dedicated lookout team and a marine biologist on board. This is not simply a boat ride with binoculars. The team uses land-based spotters and hydrophones to locate animals before the vessel even leaves the harbour, which significantly increases the probability of a close encounter. Common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and sperm whales are the most frequent sightings in November, with occasional appearances from Bryde’s whales and short-finned pilot whales.

If you want to understand what you are likely to see before you go, the detailed guide on what to expect on a whale watching tour in Madeira is an excellent resource. It covers species, seasonal behaviour, and practical tips that will help you make the most of the experience.

This activity sits at the top of this list for a reason. It is the kind of experience that stays with you long after you return home.

2. Desertas Islands Boat Tour

About 26 kilometres southeast of Madeira’s main island lie the Desertas, a chain of three uninhabited volcanic ridges rising sharply from the Atlantic. The islands are a protected nature reserve and one of the most ecologically important sites in the Macaronesian region. They are home to the monk seal, one of the rarest marine mammals on the planet, as well as large colonies of seabirds and the endemic Desertas wolf spider.

November falls within the period when calm ocean conditions make the crossing manageable and rewarding. The Desertas Islands Boat Tour takes you along dramatic coastal cliffs, through glassy coves, and close enough to the shoreline to observe the wildlife that has made these islands its home for centuries. The absence of tourism infrastructure on the Desertas themselves means the experience has a raw, exploratory quality that is rare in Europe today.

The journey out and back also passes through productive cetacean waters, so sightings of dolphins and occasionally whales are a real possibility. For anyone with an interest in natural history, geology, or simply in places that remain genuinely wild, this tour offers something beyond the standard holiday itinerary.

3. Beautiful Bays Boat Tour – East

Madeira’s eastern coastline holds some of the island’s most photogenic scenery, and the best way to appreciate it is from the water. The volcanic cliffs, sea caves, and hidden pebble beaches that line this coast are largely inaccessible by road, which means a boat is the only way to experience them properly.

The Beautiful Bays Boat Tour along the East coast follows this shoreline at a relaxed pace, stopping at sheltered bays where swimming is possible, and the water has a clarity that you rarely find in busier coastal destinations. In November, the light has a particular quality, lower and warmer in tone than summer, that makes the basalt rock faces and the deep blue of the ocean look extraordinarily vivid.

This tour is a good choice for those who want to combine ocean scenery with the possibility of a swim in a quiet, uncrowded setting. The eastern end of Madeira, around Caniçal and the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula, is geologically younger and visually distinct from the lush vegetation of central Madeira, and seeing it from the sea adds a perspective that no land-based itinerary can replicate.

All three of the boat tours above can be explored and booked through the Bonita da Madeira tours page, where you can check availability, read full itinerary details, and reserve your spot directly.

4. Monte Palace Tropical Garden

High above Funchal, in the hillside suburb of Monte, the Monte Palace Tropical Garden is one of the most extraordinary public gardens in Portugal. Spread across 70,000 square metres of terraced hillside, the garden brings together plant species from Madeira, South Africa, and Japan within a single, carefully designed landscape. Koi ponds, tiled azulejo panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history, and a collection of cycads that includes some of the rarest specimens in the world give the garden a depth that rewards slow exploration.

November is a genuinely good time to visit. The garden is quieter than in summer, the subtropical plants remain lush and green throughout the year, and the cooler temperatures make walking the steep terraces far more comfortable. The journey up to Monte itself is part of the experience: the Funchal cable car offers a fifteen-minute ride from the seafront to the village, with views across the bay that are among the best in the city.

There is a small café on site and a museum dedicated to the Monte Palace collection of African minerals and pre-Columbian artefacts, which provides additional context for the scope of the private collection that gave the garden its name.

5. Traditional Toboggan Run in Monte, Funchal

The wicker toboggan ride from Monte down to the Livramento area is one of Madeira’s most iconic and photographed attractions, and it is easy to see why. Guided by two Carreiros, the traditional drivers dressed in white linen outfits and straw hats, a wicker basket sledge mounted on a wooden frame glides along roughly two kilometres of steep cobbled roads. Using rubber-soled boots to control the descent and act as brakes, the carreiros can reach speeds of up to 48 kilometres per hour on the sharper sections. The journey takes around ten minutes from start to finish.

Originally, the toboggan was not created as a tourist attraction but as a practical means of transport. During the nineteenth century, these sledges were used to move goods rapidly from Monte down to Funchal at a time when proper road infrastructure was still limited. Today, the tradition survives thanks to a small number of Carreiro families who continue to preserve and pass down the craft through generations.

Pairing the toboggan ride with a visit to Monte Palace makes for an ideal morning itinerary. Begin by taking the cable car from Funchal up to Monte, explore the gardens at a relaxed pace, and finish the experience with the exhilarating ride back down. November is particularly pleasant for this activity, as queues are generally shorter and the atmosphere feels calm and unhurried.

Planning Your November Visit to Funchal

November in Funchal offers a balance that is difficult to find at any other time of year. The island is fully operational, all tours and attractions are running, restaurants are not overloaded, and the ocean conditions are generally cooperative. Average sea temperatures around 22°C mean that water-based activities remain comfortable, and the dramatic Atlantic light of late autumn gives every landscape photograph a quality that summer’s harsh midday sun rarely produces.

If you are planning your time carefully, prioritise the ocean experiences first, particularly the whale watching tour, as these depend on weather and sea conditions. Book in advance to secure your preferred date, and use any weather-related flexibility to plan the land-based activities, such as Monte Palace and the toboggan, around whichever days are less suitable for being on the water.

Madeira in November is not a compromise. For many travellers who have been at different times of year, it becomes the preferred season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Funchal, Madeira, in November?

November is a wonderful time to visit Funchal. The top activities include whale and dolphin watching boat tours, exploring the Desertas Islands, cruising Madeira’s beautiful eastern bays, visiting the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, and experiencing the traditional toboggan run in Monte. The mild Atlantic climate makes all of these experiences enjoyable without the summer crowds.

Is November a good time for whale watching in Madeira?

Yes, November is an excellent month for whale watching in Madeira. The Atlantic waters around the island are home to resident sperm whales year-round, and November often brings sightings of common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and occasionally fin whales. Cooler air temperatures and generally calm seas make for very comfortable tours on the water.

How do I book a boat tour in Funchal in November?

You can book whale watching and boat tours directly through Bonita da Madeira at bonitadamadeira.com/tours/. Tours operate from Funchal Marina and include experienced marine biologists on board. Booking is recommended even in November, as tour capacity is limited to maintain a quality experience.