Funchal Cable Car (Teleférico do Funchal)

The Funchal Cable Car, known locally as the Teleférico do Funchal, is a gondola lift that links the Old Town waterfront of Funchal with the hillside district of Monte on Madeira, Portugal. The lower station stands on the Promenade da Zona Velha, a short walk from Mercado dos Lavradores and the Madeira Story Centre, and the line climbs about 560 metres to Monte in roughly fifteen minutes. The cabins pass over the rooftops of the Old Town, banana terraces, small gardens, and a ravine, giving views across the bay of Funchal that widen as the car rises. On clear days the harbour, the cruise terminal, and the Atlantic are visible behind the city, and photographers usually get the best results from the seaward side of the cabin on the way up and the opposite side on the way down. At the upper station in Monte, visitors are close to the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, and the start of the toboggan ride is a short walk away. A second cable car runs from Monte to the Madeira Botanical Garden, so many visitors combine all three stops in a single day. Operating hours are daily from roughly 9AM to 5:45PM, with extended hours in summer, and details are published at madeiracablecar.com. A return ticket costs about €18, with a one-way fare of about €12.50, though prices change and should be verified before travel. Each ride takes about fifteen minutes, and visitors should allow additional time at Monte. Many people ride up and then descend by toboggan or on foot, then take a taxi back, so a one-way ticket can suit that plan. Morning is the best time, before cloud builds over Monte and before queues form at the lower station; afternoon cloud can hide the view and in poor weather the lift may be suspended. Queues are longest around midday and on days when cruise ships are in port. The cabins are enclosed and glazed, so the ride is comfortable in wind, but visitors who dislike heights should note the cabins pass high above the ravine.