{"id":865,"slug":"funchal-cable-car-monte-palace-gardens-guide","title":"Funchal Cable Car & Monte Palace Garden: Complete Visiting Guide","excerpt":"Funchal cable car and Monte Palace gardens tickets, prices, and combo tips.","content":"Soaring over Funchal to the cool hills of Monte, then wandering one of the island's most beautiful gardens before hurtling back down in a wicker sledge, this is the classic Madeira half-day. Doing all three together is easy once you understand how your funchal cable car and monte palace gardens tickets fit around each other. Here is the route, the prices, and how to plan it so the pieces connect.\n\n## How much are Funchal cable car and Monte Palace tickets?\n\n>In 2026 the Funchal cable car costs roughly 16 euros one way or 22 euros return, though some listings show less, so confirm first. Monte Palace Tropical Garden entry is around 18 euros for adults, free for under-15s, and is separate from the cable car. Monte Palace Tropical Garden is included on the Tripnly Madeira City Pass™, so pass holders skip the garden ticket booth and pay nothing for entry. The cable car is not included, so you'll need to buy that ticket separately. The toboggan down costs 30 euros for one person or 40 euros for two sharing.\n\n## The Classic Monte Route\nThe smart move is to treat the cable car, the garden, and the toboggan as one connected outing rather than three separate tickets. The usual rhythm is to ride up from the Funchal seafront to Monte, spend an hour or two in the garden beside the upper station, then descend by the famous wicker toboggan. Because of that, you rarely want a return cable car ticket. The whole loop takes around half a day and is one of the most rewarding [things to do in Funchal](https://madeiracitypass.tripnly.com/blog/best-things-to-do-in-funchal/).\n\n## Riding the Cable Car Up\nThe Teleférico do Funchal glides from a base station by the old-town waterfront up to Monte in a scenic fifteen-minute ride, climbing around 560 metres with sweeping views over the city and bay. It runs daily from about 8:45am to 5:45pm, with adult fares in 2026 of roughly 16 euros one way and 22 euros return, and reduced or free travel for children. For the combo route, buy a one-way ticket up rather than a return, with the latest fares in our [Funchal cable car tickets](https://madeiracitypass.tripnly.com/blog/funchal-cable-car-tickets/) guide. \n\n## Monte Palace Tropical Garden\nRight beside the upper cable car station lies the lush Monte Palace Tropical Garden, a steep, terraced wonderland of koi ponds, Japanese-inspired corners, African sculpture, azulejo tiles, and a small museum. Entry is around 18 euros for adults and free for children up to 14, a separate ticket from the cable car, but the Tripnly Madeira City Pass™ has you covered here: the garden is included, so you walk straight in rather than paying at the booth. Allow at least an hour, and go early before the cruise-ship crowds arrive, as our [Monte Palace tropical garden tickets](https://madeiracitypass.tripnly.com/blog/monte-palace-tropical-garden-tickets/) guide explains.\n\n## Coming Back Down: Toboggan or Cable Car\nThe most memorable way down is the carros de cesto, the traditional wicker toboggans steered by two white-clad carreiros who run and brake the sledge along a two-kilometre road toward Livramento. The ride lasts around ten minutes and costs 30 euros for one person or 40 euros for two sharing, and it does not run on Sundays. It is touristy and not cheap, but enormous fun, and ends partway down, from where a bus or taxi returns you to the centre, as our [Monte toboggan run guide](https://madeiracitypass.tripnly.com/blog/monte-toboggan-run-guide/) explains. If the toboggan is not running or not your thing, simply ride the cable car back.\n\n## Tickets, Timing, and Tips\nA little planning makes the pieces click. Decide your descent before you buy, since choosing the toboggan means a one-way cable car ticket up rather than a pricier return. With a Tripnly Madeira City Pass™, Monte Palace Tropical Garden is already included, so you only need to pay for the cable car and, if you choose it, the toboggan. Sorting your funchal cable car tickets online in advance saves queuing, especially when ships are in port. Go early for the clearest views, bring a light jacket as Monte is cooler than the seafront, and carry cash for the toboggan. Plan for roughly half a day to enjoy all three.\n\n## People Also Ask About Funchal Cable Car and Monte Palace\n### Are the cable car and Monte Palace included in the Tripnly Madeira City Pass™?\nMonte Palace Tropical Garden is included in the Tripnly Madeira City Pass™, so pass holders skip the booth and enter free. The Funchal cable car is not included, so you'll need to buy that ticket separately, at roughly 16 euros one way or 22 euros return.\n\n### Should I buy a one-way or return cable car ticket?\nIf you plan to ride the toboggan down, buy a one-way ticket up, since you will not need the return. Only buy a return if you intend to come back down by cable car rather than by sledge.\n\n### How much is the Monte toboggan ride?\nSince May 2026 the wicker toboggan costs 30 euros for one person and 40 euros for two sharing a sledge, paid in cash. It runs Monday to Saturday and takes about ten minutes.\n\n### How long do you need for the cable car, garden, and toboggan?\nAllow around half a day to comfortably ride up, explore Monte Palace Tropical Garden for an hour or two, and take the toboggan or cable car back down without feeling rushed.\n\n### What is the best time to visit Monte?\nEarly morning is best, before the cruise-ship crowds arrive, for the clearest views, shortest queues, and calmest garden paths. Monte is also cooler than Funchal, so bring a layer.\n\n## Madeira's Most Iconic Half-Day\nTie the three experiences together and you have one of Madeira's signature outings. Buy your funchal cable car and monte palace gardens tickets with the toboggan descent in mind, ride up early for the views, lose an hour among the koi ponds and tiles, then sledge back toward the city. Few half-days pack in so much scenery, history, and sheer fun.","author":"Yağmur Dudu","authorInfo":{"name":"Yağmur Dudu","bio":"Tripnly Global Ambassador · Travel Writer","avatarUrl":"https://ethical-car-b690d7e735.media.strapiapp.com/Yagmur_Dudu_rounded_b0517b520f.png","role":"","socials":{"twitter":"","x":"","instagram":"https://www.instagram.com/yagmurdudu/","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/ya%C4%9Fmurdudu/"}},"date":"2026-11-04T16:07:23.466Z","category":"Local Experiences","imageUrl":"https://ethical-car-b690d7e735.media.strapiapp.com/Strapi_Article_Cover_Photo_2026_10_27_T151428_659_fa621dcfd0.png","imageCaption":"","readTime":6,"views":0,"isPopular":false}