Monte Palace Tropical Gardens is a 70,000-square-metre botanical and art garden in the hillside village of Monte, above Funchal, Madeira. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
This guide was updated in August 2026. The current adult ticket price is €18, higher than the €15 still quoted by several recent third-party guides.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily except 25 December. Garden: 9am–7pm (Apr–Sep), 9am–6pm (Oct–Mar). Museum: 9am–5:30pm (last entry 5pm) |
| Ticket prices | Adult €18. Children up to 14 free with an adult. Schools free (registration required) |
| Address | Caminho das Babosas nº4-A, 9050-541 Funchal, Portugal |
| Nearest transport | Funchal Cable Car direct to the main entrance; buses 20, 21, 22, 48 |
| Typical visit length | 2 to 3 hours |
Monte Palace Tropical Gardens opening hours
The garden is open daily except 25 December, from 9am to 7pm between April and September, and 9am to 6pm between October and March.
The on-site museum keeps shorter hours, 9am to 5:30pm, with last entry at 5pm.
Free guided museum tours can be booked in advance, though these are only available to groups.
Monte Palace Tropical Gardens ticket prices
A full-price adult ticket costs €18.
Children up to 14 years old are admitted free when accompanied by an adult, and school groups can visit free after registering for the education programme.
Payment is accepted by Multibanco, Visa, Mastercard, and cash.
The garden is not included in any city pass, though it’s commonly combined with the Funchal Cable Car and the separate Botanical Garden Cable Car nearby.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
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
How to get to Monte Palace Tropical Gardens
The Funchal Cable Car (Teleférico do Funchal) runs directly from the Old Town to the garden’s main entrance, taking about 15 to 18 minutes.
Local buses 20, 21, 22, and 48 also serve Monte from central Funchal.
By car or taxi, the drive from central Funchal takes about 15 to 20 minutes; there are entrances at Caminho das Babosas (north) and at Belvedere (east).
Parking near Monte Palace Tropical Gardens
Limited street parking is available near the garden’s entrances, though many visitors arrive by cable car or bus instead.
How long to spend at Monte Palace Tropical Gardens
Most visitors need 2 to 3 hours to see the gardens and museum at a relaxed pace.
The site covers 70,000 square metres across sloped terrain, so allow extra time if you plan to explore fully.
Accessibility at Monte Palace Tropical Gardens
The garden’s own website notes that, given the slope of the land, mobility may be challenging for visitors with reduced mobility.
The Palace building itself is not open to the public, so accessibility concerns mainly relate to the garden paths.
Inside Monte Palace Tropical Gardens: what to see
The estate’s original house was built around 1892 to 1897 by Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues and later became the Monte Palace Hotel, closing after his death in 1943.
Entrepreneur José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo bought the estate in 1987 and opened it to the public as a tropical garden on 5 October 1991.
Highlights include Japanese-inspired oriental gardens with koi ponds, an extensive collection of Portuguese azulejo tile panels dating from the 16th to 21st centuries, and Madeira’s native Laurissilva forest plants.
The on-site museum displays “African Passion”, a collection of over 1,000 Zimbabwean stone sculptures, alongside “Mother Nature’s Secrets”, a mineral and gemstone collection.
🌟 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).
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Combine your visit with the Funchal Cable Car up and the wicker toboggan down for a full Monte day out. |
| Wear comfortable shoes, since the garden covers sloped and uneven terrain. |
| Visit the museum before 5pm, since it closes earlier than the garden itself. |
| Download the free interactive map app for an overview of the collections before you visit. |
| Allow extra time in summer, since the garden stays open later, from 9am to 7pm. |
Frequently asked questions about Monte Palace Tropical Gardens
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Monte Palace Tropical Gardens suitable for children? | Yes, children up to 14 enter free with an adult. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Not for general entry; group museum tours must be booked ahead. |
| Can you go inside the Palace building? | No, the interior of the Palace is not open to the public. |
| Are bags allowed inside? | General bags are fine; no specific restriction is published. |
| Is Monte Palace Tropical Gardens wheelchair accessible? | Only partly, since the sloped terrain can be challenging for visitors with reduced mobility. |
Things to do near Monte Palace Tropical Gardens
Monte Church, with its towers and views over Funchal, is a short walk from the garden. The Monte Toboggan Ride departs just below Monte Church, offering a traditional wicker-sledge descent.
The Botanical Garden Cable Car connects Monte to Madeira’s Botanical Garden, on the opposite side of the valley. The Funchal Cable Car station at Monte links back down to the Old Town.
Alternative attractions
The Madeira Botanical Garden, reachable by the separate Botanical Garden Cable Car, offers a more traditional botanical collection. Palheiro Gardens, on the eastern side of Funchal, combine formal gardens with sweeping coastal views.
The Quinta das Cruzes Museum Garden, in Funchal’s Old Town, offers a smaller historic garden setting. Ribeiro Frio, in Madeira’s central highlands, is a nature park focused on native flora and trout farming.
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, Monte Church and the Madeira Cable Car.
