The Monte cable car is the easiest way to see how steeply Funchal climbs from the sea. Cabins leave from the lower station on Rua Dom Carlos I, at the edge of the old town, and glide up over rooftops, gardens and banana plots to Largo das Babosas in Monte, a hill village that wealthy families once used as a cool summer retreat. The views back over the bay and the harbour open up with every minute of the ride. At the top you are a few steps from the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, the pilgrimage church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, where the last Austrian emperor, Charles I, is buried, and the start of the famous toboggan run. The toboggans are wicker basket sledges on wooden runners, pushed and steered down the steep lanes by a pair of carreiros dressed in white with straw boaters, who use the rubber soles of their boots as brakes. It began as a way of getting down the hill quickly and has become the island’s most cheerful tradition.
How it works: the cable car runs every day of the year except Christmas Day, from early morning until late afternoon. You can buy a one-way or return ticket, and online e-tickets stay valid for sixty days. Children up to six ride free and those from seven to fourteen pay half price. The usual plan is the cable car up and the toboggan down, so buy a one-way ticket if you intend to slide back.
What to expect: the toboggan starts near the church steps and runs down the lanes for around ten minutes to Livramento, where the carreiros stop and the ride ends. Fares are set per sledge for one, two or three people, and the drivers’ association raised them in May 2026, so expect a noticeable but not outrageous cost for a once-in-a-lifetime ride. From Livramento you still need to get back to the centre: take a taxi from the rank, catch a local bus or walk down, which takes the best part of an hour. The cable car and the toboggans are both popular with cruise passengers, so queues build from mid-morning on ship days.
Making the most of it: go up early, visit the Monte Palace garden while it is quiet, look into the church, then ride the toboggan before lunch. A second cable car links Monte with the Botanical Garden across the valley if you want to add another garden. Bring a light layer, because Monte is cooler and often mistier than the seafront.
What to expect
The experience
A cable car ride from the old town to Monte, time at the top for the church and gardens, and an optional toboggan ride down to Livramento.
Best time
Early morning on a clear day, before the cruise groups arrive and before cloud settles on the hill.
How long
Allow two to three hours for the ride up, a garden visit, the church and the toboggan.
Tips
Buy a one-way cable car ticket if you plan to ride the toboggan, and budget for a taxi or bus back from Livramento.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want the classic Funchal experience in a single morning.
- Families
- Young children ride the cable car free, and older children love the toboggan, which is fast but steered carefully.
- Couples
- Share a toboggan, then walk the quiet lanes of Monte and stop at a café with a view over the bay.
- Pair with
- The Monte Palace Tropical Garden at the top station and the Zona Velha old town at the bottom.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the garden.
Good questions
How long is the Monte cable car ride?+
The ride from the old town to Monte takes roughly a quarter of an hour, climbing steadily above the city. The views over the bay are best on the way up, so try to get a seat facing the sea.
Is the Monte toboggan ride safe?+
Yes, it is a long-standing tradition and the carreiros steer and brake the sledge throughout. It feels fast on the steepest sections, but riders sit in a padded wicker seat and simply hold on.
Where does the toboggan ride end?+
It ends at Livramento, partway down the hill rather than in the city centre. From there take a taxi, a local bus or walk down to Funchal.
Can you take the cable car down instead?+
Yes. Buy a return ticket if you would rather skip the toboggan and ride back down to the old town with the same views.
Is the cable car open every day?+
It runs daily throughout the year, closing only on Christmas Day. Hours run from early morning to late afternoon, so plan your last ride down accordingly.
