The Monte toboggan: price, where it ends and how to plan it
Madeira’s wicker toboggan ride down from Monte: 2026 prices, how long it takes, where it drops you, how to get back to Funchal, and combining it with the cable car.
The carros de cesto, wicker sledges on wooden runners, have been taking people down the steep streets from Monte to Funchal since the 1800s. Two drivers, the carreiros, dressed in white with straw hats, run alongside, steering and braking with the rubber soles of their boots. It is touristy, short and brilliant fun.
Prices
From 1 May 2026:
- One person: €30
- Two people: €40
- Three people: €60
Pay at the ticket office at the start, next to the steps below the Monte church.
How long is the ride?
About 2 km and around 10 minutes, down the winding road to Livramento. The sledge reaches surprising speeds on the straight parts. There are photographers along the way who sell the pictures at the end.
Where it ends
The ride stops at Livramento, a neighbourhood still high above the centre, not in Funchal itself. From there you can:
- take a taxi waiting at the bottom down to the centre,
- walk down, about 30 to 40 minutes on steep streets,
- or catch an orange city bus.
How to plan it
- Take the cable car from the old town up to Monte.
- Visit the Monte church and the Monte Palace garden.
- Take the toboggan down to Livramento.
- Taxi or walk back to the centre.
See cable cars and Funchal’s gardens.
Tips
- Go in the morning or late afternoon to avoid queues, especially on days with several cruise ships in port.
- The toboggans usually run during the day and can stop in bad weather. Check on the day, especially on Sundays and holidays.
- Small children ride on an adult’s lap. Ask the drivers if you are unsure about anyone joining, such as during pregnancy.