Monte: cable car, garden and toboggan
Take the cable car up from the Old Town, spend the morning in Monte Palace garden, then ride down in a wicker toboggan. The ride stops in Livramento, still above the centre, so plan the last stretch back.
Plan it as a half-day
Start early in the day and leave the afternoon for the market or the Old Town.
- Time
- 4–5 hours
- For two, all three tickets
- €108
- Toboggan
- Closed on Sundays
- Car needed
- No
The visit in four steps
Cable car up from the Old Town
The station is on Rua Dom Carlos I, by Almirante Reis in the Old Town. Buy a one-way ticket if you are coming down by toboggan.
Monte Palace garden
The entrance is next to the top station. Give it 2–3 hours, then walk down to Nossa Senhora do Monte church.
Toboggan from below the church
Ask about the queue before you buy. The ride is about 10 minutes and 2 km, steered by two carreiros in straw hats. Departure on the map →
Livramento back to the centre
Taxi, bus or a long walk downhill. Back in town, carry on with the rest of Funchal.
Only want the toboggan? Go straight to the departure near opening time and leave the garden for another day.
Three tickets, paid separately
Monte is a neighbourhood, not one attraction: transport, garden and toboggan each have their own ticket.
Cable car
€16 one way · €22 return
08:45–17:45, closed 25 December.
Ages 7–14 half price, 6 and under free. Buy online to skip the ticket desk. Buy online →
Monte Palace garden
€18 per adult
09:00–18:00 (October–March); 09:00–19:00 (April–September). Closed 25 December.
Children up to 14 free with an adult. Last entry 17:15 in winter, 18:15 in summer. Buy online →
Toboggan (cestos)
€30 one · €40 two · €60 three
Monday to Saturday, 09:00–17:45. Closed Sundays, 14 and 15 August, 25 December, 1 January, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Price per sledge. Sold on site for the same day only; no online reservations. No three-person rides in rain or on wet ground. Operator’s notice →
€108 for two adults: one-way cable car, garden and one toboggan. Skip the toboggan and it is €40 each with a return cable car.
Prices and hours from the cable car, Monte Palace and Carreiros do Monte, checked 3 November 2026.
Getting up, and back from Livramento
No car needed. If you drive up, your car stays in Monte while the toboggan takes you down.
Up to Monte
Back from Livramento
Monte Palace or the Botanical Garden?
Pick one for a relaxed half-day.
Monte Palace
Next to the cable car, with lakes, tiles and steep paths. The easiest fit with the toboggan. The palace itself is closed to visitors.
Botanical Garden
A separate garden, reached by its own cable car from Largo das Babosas. That line does not go down to the seafront. Botanical cable car →
Monte church
A short stop between the garden and the toboggan. Charles I of Austria, the last emperor, is buried inside.
On cruise days, start early
Several ships in port means queues at both the cable car and the toboggan. Check the ship calendar for your date →
- Be at the cable car when it opens, or go up by taxi.
- If the toboggan matters most to you, queue for it before the garden.
- On a cruise yourself? Work back from all-aboard time and leave room for both queues and the ride back from Livramento.
A driver for the climb and the return
A private 90-minute tuk-tuk with Madeira Tuk Tuk: up to the toboggan, a look around Funchal and a pickup after the ride. Good if you want the toboggan without sorting out transport.
- The toboggan ticket is extra and bought on the day.
- No garden visit included.
- Maximum 3 passengers per tuk-tuk
- Combined passenger weight below 210 kg
- Not suitable for children under 3 or wheelchair users
I have not taken this tour; it is picked from the listing and its reviews. Affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Choose your date and group size to see available departures and the total price. See dates and prices on GetYourGuide →
Questions before visiting Monte
Is Monte worth visiting?
Yes, for the tropical garden, the view over Funchal and the toboggan ride, which you will not find anywhere else. Give it half a day.
Do you have to take the cable car to Monte?
No. Bus, taxi or tuk-tuk all go up. The cable car is the scenic way, not an entry ticket. Ways up and back →
Can you book the Monte toboggan online?
No. Sold on site for the same day only; no online reservations. A tuk-tuk tour covers the transport, not the toboggan. Tickets and hours →
Does the toboggan take you back to Funchal centre?
No. It stops in Livramento, still above the centre. From there take a taxi, bus 19 or walk downhill. The last leg →
Are the Monte toboggans open on Sunday?
No. They run Monday to Saturday and close on Sundays, 14 and 15 August, 25 December, 1 January, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Opening hours →
Is Monte Palace the same as the Botanical Garden?
No. Monte Palace is next to the cable car in Monte. The Botanical Garden is a separate garden, reached by its own cable car from Monte. Choose a garden →
Fit Monte into your Madeira holiday
Our family can plan your days around your dates, transport and the places you want to see. A personal plan from our family is €149 for up to 5 days (€199 for 6 to 8), ready in 48 hours.