Madeira is famous for its gardens, and Monte Palace Tropical Garden (Jardim do Palácio do Monte) is the best of the bunch.
At 70,000 square metres — roughly ten football pitches — it’s twice the size of the Botanical Garden and packs in far more than just plants. There are African sculptures, Portuguese azulejos, oriental gardens, koi carp, peacocks and a museum full of minerals and gemstones.
It is, in short, extraordinary, and one of the best things to do in Funchal. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
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A Short History of Jardim do Palácio do Monte
The estate was originally Quinta do Prazer, the property of British Consul General Charles Murray. In 1892, it was bought by Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues, who built a grand house inspired by the palaces he’d seen in the Rhine Valley. It became the Monte Palace Hotel, the place to stay for visitors to Madeira, until it closed following Rodrigues’ death in 1943.
In 1987, the entrepreneur José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo bought the property. Four years later, Monte Palace Tropical Garden opened to the public.
How to Get to Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Monte Palace is in the village of Monte, high above Funchal. I took the cable car up and a local bus back down, a combination I recommend.
Cable car
Note: the Madeira Cable Car is closed for maintenance until 5th April 2026; a shuttle service from Funchal is available during this period.
The best way up is by cable car. The Madeira Cable Car (Teleférico do Funchal) departs from a base station next to the seafront promenade for a spectacular 15-minute ride up to Monte.
A one-way ticket will set you back €14.50; a return ticket is €20 (2026 prices). Before you buy a return, decide whether you want to take the wicker toboggan back down instead — more on that below.
INSIDE TIP: Between April and November, there’s usually at least one cruise ship in Funchal’s port, and the cable car to Monte is a popular excursion. Queues can be lengthy, and the gardens get busy from late morning. If possible, visit on a day with fewer ships in port or catch one of the first cable cars of the day.
By bus
Local buses 20, 21, 22 and 48 serve Monte. In 2025, the fare is €1.45 using a prepaid GIRO card (€2 from the driver on board). You can check routes and fares here.
By car
If you are brave enough to tackle Madeira’s challenging roads and have rented a car for your stay, this is the easiest way to get to Monte Palace Tropical Garden. Parking is available close to the entrance.
By tour
If you’d rather leave the logistics to someone else, this highly-rated tour includes a tuk-tuk there and a toboggan ride back — a great combination.
The wicker toboggans
One of the most distinctive ways to return to Funchal is by wicker toboggan. Two carreiros in traditional straw boaters will push you down the steep 2km route towards Funchal. Originally, these sledges carried freight; today, they carry tourists (and the queues can be equally weighty).
Originally, these wicker toboggans were used to carry freight down the steep 5km hill between Monte and Funchal. Today’s ride covers 2km of the original route.
In 2026, prices are €27.50 for one person and €35 / €52.50 for two / three. Check current prices here. The service doesn’t run on Sundays. Collect your ticket from the booth next to Monte Church, then join the queue.
This is not a cheap way to return to Funchal (and be prepared for long queues). In 2025, the Monte to Funchal toboggan ride cost €27.50 for one person and €35/€52.50 for two/three people. You can check the current prices here.
INSIDER TIP: If you’re also planning to visit the Valley of the Nuns– and it’s well worth it – this day tour combines both with a toboggan ride and is a particularly good option if you’re travelling solo in Madeira.
Plan Your Visit: Practical Information
Opening times: Daily 9.30 am–6 pm (open until 7 pm in the summer months). The museum is open 9 am–5.30 pm.
Tickets: €18 for adults; free for children under 15. Cash and cards accepted.
When to visit: Monte Palace is a year-round destination. Late spring to early summer (April–June) is peak bloom time, but when I visited in November, the garden was lush and full of colour.
How long to allow: At least two hours; I spent three. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and you’ll want to take your time.
Eating and drinking: There are two cafés. The Greenhouse is at the highest point of the garden. The Bluehouse Café does tastings of Madeira wine, and your entry ticket includes a free glass. Don’t skip it.
What to Expect from Your Visit
Monte Palace is home to over 10,000 plant species from across the globe. Depending on when you go, you might spot Himalayan orchids, hydrangeas, South African proteas and clivia, or cycads — ancient plants considered living fossils.
The garden also has a section dedicated to the Laurissilva, Madeira’s native laurel forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Keep an eye out for peacocks roaming the paths and koi carp in the ponds.
But the plants are only part of the story.
The museum
If you arrive by cable car, the museum is the first building you’ll encounter. It houses two remarkable collections.
Paixão Africana (African Passion) is the Berardo Collection of Zimbabwe stone sculptures, one of the finest of its kind. Rooted in the art movement that emerged in Tengenenge in the 1960s, it includes work by celebrated artists such as Henry Munyaradzi and Bernard Matamera, as well as notable women artists, including Erina Fanizani.
Segredos da Mãe Natureza (Mother Nature’s Secrets) displays around 1,000 gem and mineral specimens, mostly from Portugal, Brazil, South Africa, Zambia, Argentina, Peru and North America. The petrified wood alone is worth the entrance fee.
The tiles
Azulejos feature throughout the garden, dating from the 16th to the 21st centuries. Forty panels trace the History of Portugal, each depicting a key moment. Look out for the monumental Adventure of the Portuguese in Japan — 166 tiles celebrating the long relationship between the two nations.
The oriental gardens
A large section of the garden pays homage to Chinese and Japanese cultures.
Stone lanterns, bridges, Buddhas and pagodas dot the landscape, and a line of painted wooden samurai stand guard. It’s a world away from the Portuguese tiles just metres away, which is part of what makes Monte Palace so compelling.
Central lake
At the heart of Monte Palace Tropical Garden is a show-stopping central lake with a man-made waterfall. Monte Palace itself is not open to visitors, but it makes a beautiful backdrop. Take your time here; it’s the kind of spot you don’t want to rush through.
Stop at Monte Church Before You Head Back to Funchal
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte is a short walk from the garden and well worth a few minutes.
Dedicated to Madeira’s patron saint, thousands make an annual pilgrimage here on the Feast of the Assumption (15th August). It’s also the resting place of Charles I of Austria, the last Austro-Hungarian emperor, who died in Madeira in 1922 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004.
Monte Palace vs Botanical Garden Madeira
The Madeira Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico) is downhill from Monte Palace and roughly half the size. Both are beautiful in their own right, but they differ considerably in scope.
The Botanical Garden has a superb plant collection but relatively little else beyond a reconstructed palheiro (traditional house). Monte Palace layers sculptures, tiles, museum collections and oriental gardens as well as its flora. If you can only do one, Monte Palace is the more rewarding day out.
But you can fit both gardens into your Madeira itinerary by connecting them via the Botanical Garden cable car (Teleférico do Jardim Botânico) or taking a half-day tour.
Planning your Madeira trip? These guides will help:
- A Week in Madeira Without a Car: An Easy 7-Day Itinerary
- Solo Travel in Madeira: The Ultimate Guide
- 35+ Fabulous Things to Do in Funchal, Madeira
- How to Do a Day Trip to Câmara de Lobos, Madeira from Funchal
- How to Visit the Sensational Valley of the Nuns, Madeira from Funchal
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.