Teleférico do Jardim Botânico

This is the second of Madeira's two cable cars, and the shorter one. It runs from the top of Monte down to the Jardim Botânico, which sits halfway down the hillside above Funchal. The ride takes 8 to 10 minutes.

The line follows a valley for much of the way. The views are of green slopes and terraced ground rather than open coast, so this is the less scenic of the two rides — the Funchal–Monte cable car is the one with the sea in it. What this line gives instead is the arrival. The cabins set down at the botanical garden itself, and the ride doubles as the approach to it.

• Tickets: the booth at the top of Monte sells single and combined tickets. Buy there before you walk down to the station.
• Take the downhill direction: ride from Monte down to the garden. The way up from the Jardim Botânico ends with nearly 500 steps.
• Reaching the station: about 800 m on foot from the Monte cable car, down and then up again. It is manageable with a stroller.
• Views: the line runs partly through a valley, so it is less scenic than the Funchal–Monte cable car.

Most people arrive from above. Take the cable car up from central Funchal to Monte, then walk about 800 m to the top station of this second line. The path drops slightly and then climbs again, and it is passable with a stroller. The church at the top of Monte is on the way, and the ticket booth is there too. The other option is to ride up from the Jardim Botânico at the bottom, but that direction leaves you with nearly 500 steps to handle.