Cable Car Ride to Monte and the Botanical Garden

The Teleférico do Funchal is a cable car that climbs from the Zona Velha, the old town on the Funchal waterfront in Madeira, Portugal, to Monte on the hillside above the city. The lower station is on the Promenade do Funchal, and the ride takes about 15 minutes each way, passing over rooftops, gardens and the Ribeira de João Gomes valley. At Monte, visitors can walk to the church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and the starting point of the wicker toboggan ride. A further cable car links Monte to the Botanical Garden, which makes a combined visit possible. Reported 2026 adult return fares are about €18 to €22, and a glass-floor cabin costs about €10 extra, though visitors should confirm current prices at the ticket office. The cable car runs daily from about 09:00. No fitness or skill is required, which makes it one of the easiest attractions on the island for families, older travellers and those who want to avoid the steep road. There are no age limits beyond ticketing rules for children, and equipment is not needed. Visitors bring a camera, comfortable walking shoes for Monte and a light jacket, since Monte is cooler and often cloudier than the seafront. Cabins are operated by trained staff from a control room, with emergency procedures and rescue plans for stoppages in line with cable car safety standards, and the cabins are enclosed so wind and sun are limited. The service may pause in strong wind or maintenance periods, so visitors check status on the day. Clear mornings provide the best views of the bay, and afternoon cloud can obscure the hillside. The ride can be paired with a toboggan descent or a bus back down to the city. Visitors can also walk down from Monte on the steep road, which takes time and is demanding on the knees.