Funchal Cable Car

My wife and I visited for the first time recently when our cruise ship docked in Funchal, and we fell in love with the place. The cable car is a fantastic way to see the city and get to the Palace or Botanical gardens. The price was 12euro one way or 18euro return, and although the queue is quite long, it moves quickly, but don't be fooled by the queue for the tickets, the queue after purchasing them was 3 times as long, but as I say, it moves quickly. And there's a lovely café at the top just behind the cable car station, with a lovely terrace, perfect for a spot of lunch and a drink.

Funchal cable car in Madeira takes you way up into the mountain from the promenade. Great views of the whole area. Seaside, marina, kitchen gardens and the city itself. At the top you have to exit, where you can have a drink and a bite to eat at one of the bars, all with fantastic views. There's also a quaint little church up there. The cost of the ride was €18 round trip or €12 one way.

The city of Funchal is known as a garden city due to the interplay of green spaces and houses, with a very rich flora in a symbiosis of country and city.

This harmony of the landscape and surroundings makes the cable car ride a pleasant experience.

Watch the city recede and approach the steep nature as you climb the mountainside, framed by the blue of the Atlantic.

Also take a look at the natural beauty of Madeira, the course of its relief and its geology from the city to the hills of the municipality of Monte.

If you’re wanting a Birds Eye peak of Funchal going up to the Palace and botanical gardens, this is the faster and scenic route. Affordable and easy, about 20 minutes max up, the wait if you buy a ticket on the day isn’t too long.

Nice views, I never saw a cable car so close to house roofs :-)
18 eur return ticket to Monte.

Very nice cable car and very busy, long queue s. Did not put us off and the views at the top was well worth it. Then came back down in a wicker basket. Highly recommended.

This really is worth doing. As all the reviews mention the queues start Earlyish & just keep growing. Late October we arrived 9.45 & waited 30 mins to get a cable car. If we had better walking shoes we'd have opted for walking down or trying the tobogganing option. That was unbelievably busy ..& rather expensive!!!

A very nice place and an experience to take.

I recommend to but the tickets in advance because this way you don't need to stay in a line/queue outside the building (the starting point). In fact the line I have mentioned goes to the ticket office inside of the building.

We bought the tickets online, so we just entered the building and joined the line to take the cabin. This line is different from the one for the tickets.

The cabins are quite comfortable and the view is wonderful. There were 6 people in our cabin.

When you come up, there is a great tropical garden which I definitely suggest to visit as long as you are anyway there.

To go down, you can take either a cabin again or you can try the local attraction toboggan. We took toboggan and it was really one of the best things we did. Toboggan is totally safe and even I wasn't afraid, however, I am an easily frightened person. This attraction isn't cheap: in July 2023 the prices were approximately 25€ for one person in the sledge and 37€ for two people.

The cable car is open 9-5.45pm every day. It is a quick way to reach Monte or Funchal. It costs €12 for one way or €18 for a return. It provides excellent views across the city. The journey takes 15 to 25 minutes.

A nice experience,  beautiful view.
You can see Funchal from above, how beautiful it is, and also see the houses, the sea and nature, as you go up from the city center to the middle of the mountain by cable car. Ride of about 10 to 15 minutes. You can also visit the tropical garden after experiencing the cable car.
You can also be brought down a part with a toboggan (traditional wicker basket sledges in Madeira made from wood). This is also recommended, although it is pricey (27.50 euros for one person). From there you can continue down to Funchal on foot or by taxi. I did it on foot for more experience and to discover Funchal. That was a half-hour walk. Both activities are highly recommended!!

Great view . Beware that the ride down by sledge is only a shirt distance. You may have a very step walk back like I did. Taxi ride may suit older people and family with kids to get back to the bottom

Great trip up the mountain in a 6 seat gondola. Felt very safe. Don’t go in the morning if there is a cruise ship in port as the queue will be horrendous. We went as ship was departing there was no queue at all and we watched it sale as we ascended. Nice casual walks at the top and you can slide back down in a sledge if you haven’t bought a return ticket. Spectacular views, friendly staff well worth the €18 return. Spent about an hour at the top before returning on one of the last cars but there was a short queue to return as we left it so late.

A great way to get up the steep incline to the beautiful part of Monte.
Takes about 15 minutes to get up on the cable car but it gives you the best views over Funchal.

Great trip on the cable car up to the top of Do Monte in Funchal the capital of Madeira with panoramic views over the bay and mountain. This is how you get to the toboggans to ride down the 2 kilometres down Do Monte

Scenic ride up the hill in Funchal. The queue was long upon visit, so do consider purchasing tickets in advance. Tickets are sold in a single or return journey.

The entire ride took around 15 to 20 minutes and is really stable. Embrace yourself with a panoramic view of Funchal and take some time when you reach the upper station.

Would say it's a must when visiting Funchal.

Loved it beautifully clear day, what stunning views and a nice Irish Coffee when we got off.

A nice visitor trip. Be prepared to queue a little. It took longer to queue than the journey but didn't distract me from the great views of Maderia.

Brilliant ride. No queue to buy tickets but long queue to get on cable car. 7 people max per car and you can have a photo at the bottom and by the tomevyou get to top its ready for you. Fantastic views over Funchal. Smooth ride and doors open and close automatically.

Avoid if there are Cruise ships in the harbour but great when you get to ride.

This is a "must try" thing in Funchal. If you buy one-way ticket, you can come down by the famous toboggan (+ 40 mins walk).