The Madeira Cable Car (Teleférico do Funchal) is a gondola lift that connects Funchal’s Old Town to the hillside village of Monte, on the island of Madeira, Portugal.
This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips. It was last checked in June 2026, when standard return tickets cost €22, up from €20, following a capacity expansion that also introduced new glass-floor cabins, a detail still missing from many other guides.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily, 08:45–17:45 (last boarding). Closed only on 25 December. |
| Ticket prices | Standard cabin: €16 one-way / €22 return. Glass Floor Experience: €26 one-way / €32 return. Children 0–6 free, 7–14 half price. |
| Address | Lower station: Jardim do Almirante Reis, Rua Dom Carlos I, 9060-190 Funchal. Upper station: Largo das Babosas, 9050-541 Funchal (Monte). |
| Nearest transport / parking | Bus stop “Pinga”, served by several Horários do Funchal routes. Almirante Reis car park adjoins the lower station. |
| Typical time needed | 30–40 minutes for the return ride. Half a day if combined with Monte Palace Tropical Garden. |
Madeira Cable Car opening hours
The Madeira Cable Car runs daily from 08:45, with last boarding at 17:45. These hours apply throughout the year, with no separate summer or winter timetable published on the operator’s website.
The cable car closes only on 25 December. Operations can pause temporarily during high winds, electrical faults, or unplanned maintenance, so it is worth checking conditions on the day if the weather looks unsettled.
Top Madeira experiences to book in advance
- 🚙 Northern Madeira jeep tour combining ocean pools, cliffs and mountain views on this guided off-road adventure
- 🍷 Funchal food and wine tour for a relaxed way to feast in the capital on this small-group tasting experience
- 🐬 Dolphin and whale watching cruise on a luxury catamaran tour
- 🌲 West Madeira highlights tour visiting waterfalls and the Fanal Forest on this full-day scenic island trip
- 🚶 Old Funchal walking tour covering the historic heart of Madeira’s capital with a local expert guide
Madeira Cable Car ticket prices
A standard return ticket costs €22, and a one-way ticket costs €16. Children aged 0 to 6 travel free, and those aged 7 to 14 pay half price.
Five cabins now offer a Glass Floor Experience, with a transparent floor panel for €26 one-way or €32 return. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in June 2026. Madeira does not currently have a multi-attraction city pass, such as Go City or a Funchal CityPass. The cable car is sold as a standalone ticket, though it is often bundled commercially with the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, the Botanical Garden Cable Car, the Monte toboggan ride, or a hop-on hop-off bus tour.
🌟 Why book the Northern Wonders Jeep Tour?
- ✓ Off-Road Adventure: Get off the beaten track in a 4×4 Jeep to reach spots standard tour buses can’t access.
- ✓ Iconic Natural Pools: Includes a dedicated stop to swim in the famous Porto Moniz volcanic pools.
- ✓ The “Veu da Noiva” View: Witness the dramatic Bridal Veil waterfall dropping directly into the Atlantic.
- ✓ Ancient Fanal Forest: Walk through the mystical, fog-shrouded Laurel forest (UNESCO World Heritage).
How to get to the Madeira Cable Car
The lower station sits in Jardim do Almirante Reis, a flat park in Funchal’s Old Town (Zona Velha), close to the Mercado dos Lavradores. It is a short, level walk from the seafront promenade and the main marina area.
The nearest bus stop is “Pinga”, directly outside the station, served by several Horários do Funchal city routes. Tickets cost around €1.95 on board, paid in cash. From the cruise terminal, it is roughly a 15 to 20 minute walk along the seafront.
Parking at the Madeira Cable Car
The Almirante Reis car park is a multi-storey garage next to the lower station, making it the most convenient option for drivers. Rates are around €1.40 per hour or €10 for a full day, and the entrance can be tight for larger vehicles.
Street parking nearby is limited. Many white-lined bays are marked “M” for residents only, and parking in these spaces risks a fine.
How long to spend at the Madeira Cable Car
A return ride alone takes around 30 to 40 minutes, including boarding and a one-way journey of 15 to 20 minutes each way. This is enough time for a straightforward there-and-back trip.
Most visitors allow half a day if they plan to explore Monte once they arrive, including the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, the Monte Church, or a toboggan descent.
Accessibility at the Madeira Cable Car
Both stations and the standard cabins are wheelchair accessible. Cabin speed is reduced inside the stations, and staff are on hand to help passengers board and disembark.
Only one wheelchair is permitted per cabin for safety reasons. Accessible toilets are available at both the lower and upper stations.
Inside the Madeira Cable Car: what to see
The ride covers around 3.2 kilometres and climbs roughly 560 metres between Funchal and Monte. Cabins pass over the rooftops of the Old Town, the harbour, and increasingly green hillsides as the route climbs.
Standard cabins seat up to seven people. The five new glass-floor cabins add a transparent panel underfoot, giving a direct view of the ground below for an additional fee.
On arrival, passengers step out at Largo das Babosas, a small square in Monte. The entrance to the Monte Palace Tropical Garden is a short walk away, as is the Monte Church.
A separate cable car, the Botanical Garden Cable Car, connects Monte to the Madeira Botanical Garden. This is a different company and ticket from the Madeira Cable Car.
Visitors can return to Funchal by cable car or take a traditional wicker toboggan from Monte down to Livramento, for an additional fee paid in cash.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive before 09:30 or after 16:00 to avoid the busiest periods of the day. |
| Crowds | Queues lengthen quickly when two or more cruise ships are docked in Funchal on the same day. |
| Layout | The lower station is at ground level in a flat park, so no stairs are needed to reach boarding. |
| Entry process | Online tickets carry a QR code that is scanned directly at the gate, bypassing the ticket desk. |
| On-site logistics | Toilets, a café, and a small shop are available at both the lower and upper stations. |
Frequently asked questions about the Madeira Cable Car
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Madeira Cable Car suitable for children? | Yes. Children aged 6 and under ride free, and those aged 7 to 14 pay half price. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Booking online is not compulsory, but it is recommended in peak season to skip the ticket desk queue. |
| Is the Madeira Cable Car open on Sundays? | Yes, it operates every day except 25 December. |
| Are bags allowed on the Madeira Cable Car? | Yes, hand luggage and small bags travel inside the cabin at no extra charge. |
| How long does the Madeira Cable Car ride take? | A one-way journey takes around 15 to 20 minutes. |
Things to do near the Madeira Cable Car
- Monte Palace Tropical Garden: a large botanical garden with exotic plants, tiled panels, and an art collection, a short walk from the upper station.
- Monte Church: an 18th-century church holding the tomb of the last Austro-Hungarian emperor, near the upper station.
- Monte toboggan ride: a traditional wicker sledge descent from Monte to Livramento, guided by local “carreiros”.
- Botanical Garden Cable Car: a separate cable car linking Monte to the Madeira Botanical Garden over a wooded valley.
- Mercado dos Lavradores: Funchal’s main produce and flower market, a short walk from the lower station in the Old Town.
What to visit tomorrow
- Botanical Garden Cable Car (Funchal): links Monte to the Madeira Botanical Garden, around 10 minutes from the city centre.
- Garajau Cable Car (Caniço): descends from a coastal viewpoint to a sheltered beach, about 15 minutes east of Funchal.
- Fajã dos Padres Cable Car (Quinta Grande): drops to a coastal plantation and restaurant, about 15 minutes west of Funchal.
- Cabo Girão Cable Car (Câmara de Lobos): descends the cliffs near the Cabo Girão Skywalk, around 30 minutes west of Funchal.
- Achadas da Cruz Cable Car (Porto Moniz): one of Europe’s steepest cable cars, around 1 hour 15 minutes northwest of Funchal.
More Madeira travel
Other Madeira travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guides to Madeira’s north coast highlights, including the Miradouro do Véu da Noiva, the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools, the Miradouro Ribeira da Janela, Seixal Beach and the Fanal Forest.
- Guides to Madeira’s best south coast attractions, including Cabo Girao and Ribeira Brava Beach.
- Survey the mountains from Madeira’s Boca da Encumeada Viewpoint.
- Funchal travel guides: The Madeira Botanical Garden, Funchal Cathedral.
