Monte and the toboggan ride: cable car, gardens, prices
Go up by cable car, stroll through a tropical garden and come down in a wicker toboggan. Toboggan tickets can only be bought on the day.
In short. The cable car climbs from Funchal to Monte (€16 one way, €22 return). At the top are the Monte Palace tropical garden (€18) and the start of the toboggan ride (€30 for one person, €40 for two, €60 for three), which doesn’t run on Sundays. The Botanical Garden is close by, with another cable car.
- cable car from Funchal to Monte, one way
- €16
- toboggan for two people
- €40
- entry to Monte Palace
- €18
- Duration
- Half a day
- Route
- Little walking
- Level
- 1 of 5, easy
- Where
- Monte, above Funchal
In this guide: 8 sections
What it is
Monte sits above Funchal, and you get there by cable car from Rua Dom Carlos I. This is where the toboggans set off: the traditional ride down through the streets, steered by the carreiros (the toboggan drivers).
Monte Palace has a tropical garden (the inside of the palace isn’t open to visitors) and, from Monte, another cable car takes you to the Madeira Botanical Garden.
Before you go: booking and rules
- Toboggans. Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 to 18:00; the Monte terminal closes at 17:45. There are no online bookings: you buy the ticket on the spot, for the same day, and the ticket office may close early. In rain or on wet ground there are no rides for three people. Closed on 14 and 15 August, 25 December, 1 January, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
- Funchal cable car. From 8:45 to 17:45, every day except Christmas Day; free up to age 6 and half price for ages 7 to 14. E-tickets are valid for 60 days.
- Monte Palace. From 9:00 to 18:00 from October to March and from 9:00 to 19:00 from April to September; last entry at 17:15 and 18:15 respectively. Closed on 25 December.
What it costs
| What | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cable car from Funchal to Monte, one way | €16 | Madeira Cable Car |
| Cable car from Funchal to Monte, return | €22 | Madeira Cable Car |
| Monte Palace (free up to age 14, with an adult) | €18 | Monte Palace |
| Toboggan: 1, 2 or 3 people | €30, €40 or €60 | Carreiros do Monte |
| Botanical Garden cable car, one way | €11 | Botanical Garden Cable Car |
| Botanical Garden (from age 13; €12.50 in 2027) | €10 | IFCN |
Shall we arrange it all?
We sort out the tickets that can be bought in advance, go round with you and wait for you at the bottom of the ride.
Ask for a proposal on WhatsApp
We’ll reply with a proposal and a fixed price, with no obligation.
How to get there
The cable car leaves from Rua Dom Carlos I, in Funchal, and arrives at Largo das Babosas, in Monte. For the Botanical Garden there are buses 29, 30, 31 and 31A, or the cable car from Monte.
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
- A bank card: the Botanical Garden takes Multibanco cards and there’s no cash machine nearby
What if the weather changes?
In rain or on wet ground, the toboggans don’t take three people: split between two toboggans or go down by cable car.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the Monte toboggan ride?
- €30 for one person, €40 for two and €60 for three. You pay on the spot, on the day.
- Do the toboggans run on Sundays?
- No. They run Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 to 18:00, and are closed on some public holidays.
- Can you book the toboggan ride online?
- No. The Carreiros do Monte only sell tickets on the spot, for the same day.
- How much is the cable car from Funchal to Monte?
- €16 one way and €22 return, for adults; free up to age 6 and half price for ages 7 to 14.
Sources and review date
The facts on this page were checked against the official sources below on 11 October 2026. Rules, opening times and roads change: always check the latest status of the route before you set off.
Shall we arrange it all? Just tell us the day.
We sort out the tickets that can be bought in advance, go round with you and wait for you at the bottom of the ride.
Ask for a proposal on WhatsApp
We’ll reply with a proposal and a fixed price, with no obligation.
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