All you need to know about the 2025 Madeira Flower Festival — last updated on 22.03.25. This guide is updated often to keep you informed and ready for the event.
Today, I’m excited to share the best advice and answers to this fantastic event’s frequently asked questions. Don’t miss out on any of the essential information – keep reading!
When people think about the Madeira Flower Festival, they imagine it to be a happy and colourful event. Nevertheless, many important questions are still not answered anywhere. So, today, I want to share the best advice and answers to all frequently asked questions about the Flower Festival in Madeira. And you won’t want to miss anything, that’s for sure!
The questions I often get asked are:
1. What is the Madeira Flower Festival?
2. When is the Flower Festival?
3. What time does the parade begin and finish? How long does the parade last?
4. How long before do you need to find a position to stand? Is there a bus we can catch? Will taxis be working?
5. Where would be the best place to get a good view of the parade?
6. Flower Festival tickets: where can I book a seat for the flower grandstand? How much is a ticket?
7. Where must we see flower carpets and the Wall of Hope?
8. How do we find the schedule of the Flower Festival?
9. When is the flower festival next year?
10. On average, what is the weather like in Funchal in May?
11. Is it worth going to the flower festival?
12. Looking for an Unforgettable Flower Festival Experience? Want to Know How We Can Help?
To answer that, keep reading, but first, let me tell you:
1. What is the Madeira Flower Festival?
The Madeira Flower Festival is an annual event that attracts hundreds of spectators worldwide and is one of the most beautiful events you may ever see!
This glorious Flower Festival celebrates the start of Spring and the lush growth of plants, which is more intense in Madeira because of the subtropical climate.
The preparations begin many months before, with the festival theme, fabrics and flowers chosen, costume design, flower carpets, and floats. After that, a lot of work goes into making the decorations, costumes, and dancers’ training.
How do we celebrate?
Madeira is very busy for most of the season. The celebration starts on Saturday. Thousands of children gather in Praça do Município Square to participate in the “construction” of the flower wall — the Wall of Hope. On the second day, there is a magnificent parade with dancers dressed in flower costumes and a display of dozens of allegorical floats covered with a sea of flowers and foliage. It is stunning!
Other activities during this time include making flower carpets in the streets, folklore performances, flower exhibitions, workshops, classical music concerts, and a street market.
Flower Groups perform in specific locations with stands one weekend after the Grand Parade. Usually, there is a classic car parade, but it is still in context with the flower theme.
There is a contest for the best shop window decoration with flowers, flower exhibitions in strategic locations in many villages around the island and flower displays in the hotels.
Come and experience the fantastic Madeira Flower Festival. You can’t miss it.
2. When is the Flower Festival?
The Funchal Flower Festival is held in May.
- The three main parades, which are always held on the first and second weekends (Saturday and Sunday), should not be missed.
- The children’s parade and the Wall of Hope are on Saturday from 10:00.
- The main parade is on Sunday at 16:30.
- The Madeira Classic Car Show is on the second Sunday at 16:30.
3. What time does the parade begin and finish? How long does the parade last?
🌸 First Sunday – Grand Flower Festival Parade
The Grand Flower Festival Parade, held on the first Sunday of the celebrations, begins at 16:30 and concludes at approximately 19:00. Spanning 1.5 kilometres, the parade features around 1,500 participants and typically lasts between two and a half to three hours, depending on the number of performers and the rhythm of the procession.
🚗 Second Sunday – Madeira Classic Car Show Parade
On the second Sunday, the Madeira Classic Car Show (Madeira Flower Classic Auto Parade) also starts at 16:30 and finishes around 17:30. With 150 to 200 vintage vehicles participating, the parade lasts about one to one and a half hours. After the parade, the classic cars remain on display until 18:30, offering visitors a chance to admire these historic beauties up close.
🛒 Need tickets? View our available tours and seating options here.
4. How long before do you need to find a position to stand? Is there a bus we can catch? Will taxis be working?
If you are unsure when to walk into the city on Sunday to see the parade and do not want to miss it, you must arrive 30 minutes earlier. It will depend on your hotel’s location and the transportation you will use to get there to understand when you should leave.
Some hotels offer courtesy buses, so ask about the times at the reception.
There are frequent buses on the main road in the hotel area. Any bus marked “Centro” will take you to the city centre. Public transportation is often cancelled or diverted before and during significant events, and some roads close during the parade. Ask the reception for the time and location of the bus stops.
Getting a taxi or bus to return to the hotel may be challenging, with waiting times of 2 to 3 hours, as thousands of visitors try to secure transport after the parade.
5. Where would be the best place to get a good view of the parade?
There are only two options to watch it on Sunday afternoon:
- Comfortably seated on the grandstand.
Standing with the crowds, free, with the inconvenience of having people in front of you limiting visibility and fatigue because of the time standing;
Best place to be? Anywhere along the route. There are Grandstand seats at various points between the Empresa de Eletricidade da Madeira (near the Cable car station, in the Old Town), where it starts, Avenida do Mar (seafront) and Avenida Sá Carneiro (near the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum), where it ends.
6. Madeira Flower Festival tickets: Where can I book a seat for the flower grandstand? How much is a ticket?
To secure your Madeira Flower Festival Parade grandstand seat, consider booking one of our exclusive packages. These offer a stress-free experience, with a reserved seat ensuring an uninterrupted view of the hours-long parade and return transport to your hotel, avoiding 2 to 3-hour waits for taxis or buses after the event.
You can find the different options below—each one offers a different way to enjoy your morning: whether it’s exploring the city on a Funchal walking tour, relaxing on a boat trip, or taking a round-trip cable car ride with stunning views over the capital to visit one of the 13 most beautiful gardens in the world – The Monte Palace Tropical Garden.
If you’re still in Madeira on the second Sunday of the Flower Festival, don’t miss the Madeira Classic Car Show Parade. This elegant showcase features a selection of rare, vintage vehicles parading through the centre of Funchal. Many of the cars on display also take part in the Madeira Classic Car Rally and the Madeira Classic Car Revival, two of the island’s most prestigious motoring events. After the parade, the vehicles remain on show until 18:30, offering a rare opportunity to see these classics up close.
Tip: Madeira Flower Festival tickets sell out fast—book early to guarantee your seat!
Already Have Your Tickets?
Make the most of your Sunday by joining a morning tour before the parade. It’s a great way to explore without spending the entire day sitting and waiting. You’ll still have plenty of time to return to Funchal for lunch and enjoy the afternoon parade (tickets not included).
Here’s a tour I highly recommend:
7. Where must we see flower carpets and the Wall of Hope?
They lay out the flower carpets along the Avenida Arriaga, between the fountain roundabout at the bottom of Santa Catarina Park and the Cathedral. If you encounter any difficulty finding it, ask anyone for directions.
The Wall of Hope Ceremony usually begins at Avenida Arriaga and involves hundreds of children. They walk to the “Praça do Município”, where the parade ends.
The “Praça do Município” (Municipal Square) and the “Largo do Colégio” (Colégio Square) are the same squares with different names.
8. How do we find the schedule of the Flower Festival?
For those who visit Madeira to witness this rare beauty event, here’s some helpful Flower Festival information:
- The flower arrangements exhibition and the flower carpets are always on Friday
- The Wall of Hope is always on Saturday.
- The Parades are always on Sunday.
You can access the program on the following page and download it in several languages:
Last-minute updates will likely be announced on the Madeira Tourism Official website, but I will keep this post updated.
9. When is the flower festival next year?
The Flower Festival will be held annually in May.
Madeira Flower Festival 2025 Schedule:
1st – 24th May – Exhibitions and entertainment in downtown Funchal
3rd May – Wall of Hope Ceremony
4th May – Great Allegorical Flower Parade
11th May – Madeira Classic Car Show Parade
10th – 17th May– Madeira Flower Collection (Fashion shows inspired by flowers)
Date TBA – Flower Concerts in Nature
Date TBA – Flower Sculptures Exhibition
Events take place across Funchal, except for the Flower Concerts in Nature, which are held in scenic outdoor locations. The main highlight is the city centre. More details will be announced soon.
10. On average, what is the weather like in Funchal in May?
It’s a lovely time of the year to visit Madeira. We have also been fortunate with pleasant weather (annual average: 20,9 °C). However, it may get a bit chilly on some days. In addition, if you like flowers, now is an excellent time to visit the gardens.
11. Is it worth going to the flower festival in Madeira?
Yes, it is worth it! The Flower Festival is the most famous event in Madeira, and you will experience a fantastic atmosphere and spectacle. Like all events held in Madeira, the locals (Madeirans) will redouble their efforts so that everyone can enjoy it. If this is your first visit to Madeira, I believe this will not be your last. I know you will like this wonderful island.
It is the time of year when nature’s paintbox is fully functional, making Madeira more colourful.
12. Looking for an Unforgettable Flower Festival Experience? Want to Know How We Can Help?
If you are planning to visit the Madeira Flower Festival and want a well-organised trip, we are here to help. Whether you are travelling alone, with family, or in a group, we can assist with hotels, excursions, activities, airport transfers, and more.
For a personalised itinerary tailored to your needs, book our Personalised Madeira Itinerary Experts service. Our team will design the perfect trip for you, and the planning fee will be fully credited toward your booking.
Get started here:
Don’t forget your camera. It will be an incredible month, not to be missed! Follow our social media pages for Madeira Flower Festival photos and more information. Please leave your opinion below or email us if you require help planning your trip.
I hope you will be here! Enjoy your holiday and Madeira experiences.
