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PolskiChoose the Canary Islands if you want the warmest, sunniest winter in Europe, sea swimming and easy flat promenades. Choose Madeira if you are drawn to dramatic green mountains, levada walks and a slightly cooler, wetter climate, and do not need a sandy beach. Both are Atlantic islands with mild winters, both are in the Schengen area and both share the same time zone as the UK, but the experience is quite different.
Madeira is a Portuguese island about 450 kilometres north of the Canaries. It is smaller and steeper, with one main city, Funchal. The Canary Islands are Spanish and offer seven very different islands, from the resorts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria to the volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote and the beaches of Fuerteventura.
Side by side
| Canary Islands | Madeira | |
|---|---|---|
| Winter daytime high at the coast | About 21-23°C in the sunny south | About 19-20°C in Funchal |
| Rain in December and January | Very little in the south | Noticeably more, several times the southern Canaries |
| Sea temperature in winter | About 19-21°C | About 18-19°C |
| Beaches | Many sandy beaches | Mostly rocky or pebbly, sand on Porto Santo |
| Terrain | Flat promenades in many towns | Steep almost everywhere |
| Choice of bases | Very wide, seven islands | Mainly Funchal and the south coast |
| Sales tax | IGIC, 7% general rate | VAT, 22% standard rate |
| Flights from northern Europe | Many direct routes | Fewer; the airport is affected by wind |
Weather
The Canaries are warmer and drier. On the south coasts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, winter afternoons of 21 to 23°C and long sunny spells are normal. Funchal is pleasant too, usually around 19 to 20°C, but it gets more cloud and rain, and the north of Madeira is wetter still. If guaranteed sunshine is your priority, the Canaries win. See the warmest Canary Island in winter and the best Canary Island for winter sun.
Landscape and lifestyle
Madeira is spectacular: lush valleys, steep cliffs and hundreds of kilometres of levadas, the old irrigation channels that now make some of the best walking routes in Europe. Funchal is an attractive small city with a market, gardens and a lively waterfront. The downside is the terrain: most of Madeira is steep, so daily walking can be hard work.
The Canaries offer more choice of lifestyle. You can live by a flat promenade in Los Cristianos or Puerto del Carmen, in a real city like Las Palmas, in a green Canarian town like Puerto de la Cruz, or by the beaches of Corralejo. There are large long-stay communities from Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Read Los Cristianos for a long winter stay and Las Palmas neighbourhoods for winter.
Beaches and swimming
The Canaries are the clear winner. Most resorts have sandy, sheltered beaches where many long-stayers swim all winter. Madeira’s coast is mostly rocky, with sea pools and a few artificial sandy beaches; for a golden beach you need to take the ferry to Porto Santo.
Cost
Rents in popular areas have risen in both places, and prices depend more on the exact area than on the island. A practical difference is tax: the Canaries have their own low sales tax, IGIC, with a 7% general rate, so many everyday goods and services are cheaper than in mainland Spain or Portugal. See IGIC in the Canary Islands and monthly rental prices in the Canary Islands.
Getting there
The Canary Islands have more direct flights from northern Europe, especially to Tenerife and Gran Canaria, which makes it easier to come and go or receive visitors. Madeira has fewer routes, and its airport is known for wind restrictions that sometimes delay or divert flights.
Stay rules
Both Spain and Portugal are in the Schengen area, so the same 90/180-day rule applies to visitors from outside the EU and the days count together. Check your dates with the Schengen 90/180 calculator and read the 90/180 rule in the Canary Islands.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Canary Islands | Warmest and sunniest, sandy beaches, flat promenades, many flights, low IGIC tax | Popular resorts are busy, less green in the south |
| Madeira | Stunning green scenery, superb walking, attractive Funchal | Cooler and wetter, steep terrain, few beaches, fewer flights |
Who should choose which
Choose the Canary Islands if warmth, sunshine and swimming come first, if you want easy flat walking, or if you are wintering for the first time.
Choose Madeira if you are an active walker who loves green mountains and does not mind cooler, changeable weather and steep streets.
You can also compare the Canaries with other winter destinations in Canary Islands vs Algarve vs Malta.
Frequently asked questions
Is Madeira warmer than the Canary Islands in winter?
No. The south coasts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria are usually two or three degrees warmer and much sunnier than Funchal.
Does Madeira have beaches?
Few sandy ones. Most of the coast is rocky; the best sandy beach is on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo.
Is Madeira good for older visitors?
It can be, but the steep terrain makes daily walking harder. Flat Canarian towns such as Los Cristianos or Puerto del Carmen are easier. See the best places for retirees in winter.
Do the 90 days count separately for Spain and Portugal?
No. Both are in Schengen, so all your days in the area count together.
Our verdict
For a warm, sunny winter by the sea, the Canary Islands are the better choice for most people. Madeira is a wonderful alternative for keen walkers who value scenery over sunshine.