Cable Car (Teleférico Do Funchal) To Monte

The Funchal cable car lifts passengers from the waterfront at the edge of the old town to Monte, the village on the hillside above, in about fifteen minutes. It opened in 2000 and runs for roughly three kilometres, rising to around 560 metres above sea level, and it has become one of the most popular things to do in Funchal. The cabins glide over rooftops, gardens and banana plots, and every few minutes the view widens until you are looking down on the whole bay.

The lower station is in the Zona Velha, close to the sea and a short walk from the market and the seafront promenade. The route climbs steadily across the city, passing over terraced slopes, church towers, tiled roofs and ravines, and at points the ground falls away steeply beneath the cabin. The ride is smooth, though it can be breezy, and in hot weather the cabins are well ventilated. On the way, you cross the Ribeira de João Gomes, one of the three streams that run through Funchal, and see how closely houses cling to the hillside. Views toward the harbour, with cruise ships and ferries, and out to the Atlantic, are the highlight.

Monte is a very different place from the waterfront. At around 550 metres, it is cooler and often misty, with big trees, gardens and a village feel. The church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, dedicated to Our Lady of Monte, patron of the island, sits at the top of a long staircase, and each year on the 15th of August, thousands of pilgrims gather here. Inside the church lies the tomb of the last emperor of Austria-Hungary, Charles I, who died in exile in Madeira in 1922. Close to the church is the entrance to the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, a short walk uphill.

The descent can also be made on one of the island's best-known attractions, the toboggans of Monte. Wicker sledges with wooden runners are guided down the steep road by two men in white clothes and straw hats, who steer and brake with their rubber-soled boots. The ride, which lasts a few minutes, goes down to the area of Livramento, and it is as much a tradition as a thrill. A taxi or bus can take you back up. A second cable car runs from Monte up to the Botanical Garden, so you can combine sights.

Tickets can be bought for one-way or return trips at both stations, and queues can build at midday, especially when cruise ships are in port, so go early. The cable car runs daily, and the timetable can change with the weather, so check before you go. In strong wind or low cloud, it may close. Bring a jacket, as Monte is cooler than the coast. The cable car suits visitors of all ages, including those with limited mobility.