Cable cars in Madeira: Funchal, Monte, Garajau and the fajãs

Madeira’s cliffs are so steep that cable cars are sometimes the only practical way down to the sea. Some are tourist rides with great views; others are lifelines for farmers.

Funchal to Monte

The best-known ride starts in the old town near the seafront and climbs over the rooftops and gardens to Monte, about 15 minutes away. At the top are the Monte church, the Monte Palace garden and the start of the toboggan ride.

• Tickets: in 2025 an adult one-way ticket cost around €15 and a return about €20, with lower prices for children. Check the current price on the official site before you go.
• Tip: go one way and come down by toboggan, or walk back down through the streets.
• The line closed for modernisation in early 2026, with new cabins and cables planned. Check that it is running on your dates.

Monte to the Botanical Garden

A second line links Monte with the Madeira Botanical Garden across the valley. Combine both lines and the gardens for a half day. See Funchal’s gardens.

Garajau

East of Funchal, near the Cristo Rei statue, a short cable car drops to a pebble beach below the cliffs, popular for swimming and diving in the Garajau marine reserve.

Cable cars to the fajãs

Fajãs are small flat strips of land at the foot of sea cliffs, formed by old landslides and often farmed. Several can be reached by cable car:

• Cabo Girão: a cable car runs from near the skywalk down to the farmed Fajãs do Cabo Girão. See Cabo Girão.
• Rocha do Navio, Santana: down to a nature reserve on the north coast.
• Achadas da Cruz, Porto Moniz: one of the steepest cable cars in Europe, down to a tiny fajã with a few houses.
• Fajã dos Padres: a lift down to a farm estate and restaurant by the sea, west of Funchal.

These are short, steep rides. Opening hours depend on the season and weather, and some close in strong wind.