Monte at a glance
Monte is the hill district above Funchal. Visitors come for three things: the cable car ride from the old town, the Monte Palace tropical garden and the basket toboggan, a ride in a wicker sled down the road from Monte.
All three can be combined in half a day. The cable car goes up, the toboggan comes down, and the garden sits next to the upper cable car station. This independent guide lists the prices we could check in October 2026. Where we could not verify opening hours, we say so and suggest you check on site.
Monte prices and hours compared
Adult prices as checked in October 2026.
| Stop | Price 2026 | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Cable car Funchal–Monte | €22 return, €16 one way | Daily 8:45–17:45, closed 25 December |
| Monte Palace garden | €18, children up to 14 free with an adult | 9:00–18:00 October to March, 9:00–19:00 April to September |
| Basket toboggan | €30 for one person, €40 for two, €60 for three | Check on site |
| Botanical Garden | €10 over 12 years, €3 children | Daily 9:00–18:00, ticket office until 17:30 |
Our picks: Monte
A tuk-tuk to the toboggan, or a half day to the Nuns Valley.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tuk-tuk tour to the toboggan and the old town
Pick-up and a driver-guide for 90 minutes. The toboggan ride itself is not included and is bought on the day.
Check availability →
Nuns Valley half-day tour
Pick-up at selected hotels in Funchal, with taxes and fuel included. The listing does not mention a guide.
Check availability →Monte and Funchal tours
Tours that include Monte, the gardens and the toboggan, plus levada walks and island trips from Funchal, with live prices and availability.
The Monte toboggan: price and ride
The Monte toboggan ride (Carreiros do Monte), a trip in a basket sled, costs €30 for one person, €40 for two and €60 for three since 1 May 2026. Before that date the fares were €27.50, €35 and €52.50. The operators' association announced the change on 30 April 2026.
The ride covers about 2 kilometres from Monte downhill to Livramento. There is no transport back up, so plan how you return to Funchal. Opening hours are not officially verified. One undated listing gives daily 9:00 to 18:00 and shorter hours on Sunday, but we do not rely on it. Ask on site when the last ride leaves, especially in the shoulder season.
Monte Palace garden
The Monte Palace Madeira, Jardim Tropical, costs €18 for adults. Children up to 14 enter free when accompanied. The garden opens from 9:00 to 19:00 between April and September and from 9:00 to 18:00 between October and March. The museum opens 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 17:00. The garden is open every day except 25 December.
The interior of the palace is not open to visitors. You can pay by Multibanco, Visa, Mastercard or cash. The entrance is next to the upper cable car station. Buses 20, 21, 22 and 48 also serve it. Older guides give €12 or €15, which is out of date.
Other sources list slightly different hours, such as 9:00 to 18:00 all year. The garden operator's own times are the ones above.
The Funchal cable car to Monte
What you pay and what changed in 2026.
Fares
€22 return and €16 one way for adults. Children aged 0 to 6 ride free, children aged 7 to 14 pay half. The e-ticket is valid for 60 days.
Ride and hours
The ride takes about 15 minutes and climbs 560 metres. The lower station is in the Funchal old town. The cable car runs daily from 8:45 to 17:45, except on 25 December.
Funchal →Glass-floor cabins
The cable car closed in January 2026 for modernisation and reopened in April with five glass-floor cabins, according to press reports. Ask at the ticket office whether they cost extra.
Maintenance stops
The cable car paused for maintenance from 20 to 24 July 2026. Short pauses can recur, so check the operator's notice before you travel.
A half-day plan for Monte
One order that works, and what it costs.
Ride the cable car up and start with the Monte Palace garden, which is next to the upper station. Then do the toboggan down to Livramento. Arrive early enough that the garden, the museum and the last toboggan ride are all still open.
For one adult this adds up to €70 in 2026: €22 for the cable car return, €18 for the garden and €30 for the toboggan. If you ride the toboggan down, you will not use the return half of the cable car ticket, so a one-way cable car ticket at €16 brings the total to €64. That is our own sum from the 2026 prices above, so confirm the one-way fare at the ticket office.
The Botanical Garden has its own cable car from Monte, charged separately. Check the current price on site. If you want the garden, visit it on another day from Funchal, where it costs €10.
More to plan
Funchal, tours and the rest of the island.
Other cable cars in Madeira
Besides the Funchal cable car, the cable car to Madeira's Botanical Garden is a separate line from Monte and is charged on its own, so check the price on site.
On the west coast, the cable car at Achadas da Cruz (see Porto Moniz) costs €3 one way and €5 return, with reduced fares of €1 and €2 for over-65s and students. The ride takes about 5 minutes and leads down to the Fajã da Quebrada Nova.
Monte: frequently asked questions
How much is the Monte toboggan in 2026?
Since 1 May 2026 it costs €30 for one person, €40 for two and €60 for three. The fare was €27.50, €35 and €52.50 before that.
How long is the toboggan ride?
It covers about 2 kilometres downhill from Monte to Livramento. There is no ride back up, so organise your own way back to Funchal.
How much does the Monte Palace garden cost?
€18 for adults in 2026. Children up to 14 enter free when accompanied. It is open daily except 25 December.
What are the toboggan opening hours?
We could not verify official hours. Check on site on the day of your visit.
Which buses go to the Monte Palace garden?
Buses 20, 21, 22 and 48 serve the garden, according to the garden operator. The entrance is next to the upper cable car station.
Is the cable car worth the price?
€22 return buys a 15-minute ride with a 560-metre climb over the city. The upper station is next to the Monte Palace garden.