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Things to do in Monte

Our most recommended things to do in Monte

From Funchal: Nuns Valley, Monte and Sleigh Ride Tour

1. From Funchal: Nuns Valley, Monte and Sleigh Ride Tour

Depart Funchal and journey to the Pico dos Barcelos to experience one of Madeira's unique viewpoints. Get a breathtaking view of all points of the island, before making your way up to Eira do Serrado. Admire the surrounding chestnut trees and eucalyptus plants of the natural wonderland. The ancient footpaths are still used by locals and tourists, and the narrow road and tunnels can still be seen.  From an altitude of 1,094 meters above sea level, see across to the Nuns Valley. Isolated from the rest of the island, the Nuns Valley is surrounded by lava rock and takes its name from the nuns that once inhabited the valley as they fled from pirate attacks during the 16th century. Try some traditional chestnut cake and pastries only found in the region, along with different traditional liquors. Then, go to Monte, one of Madeira´s old tourist stops, and visit the church where the tomb of the Emperor Charles I of Austria can be found.  Add a little adventure to the day and enjoy an unforgettable 2-kilometer toboggan ride down the old road of Livramento, where the bus will pick you up at the bottom.

Funchal: Monte Experience by Tuk-Tuk

2. Funchal: Monte Experience by Tuk-Tuk

Departing from Funchal, you will take a 20-minute climb by tuk tuk to Monte. With an altitude of 585 meters above sea level, this is bound to be both a fun and scenic trip. Being a village at a high altitude, Monte of course offers several stunning views over the surrounding region. Upon arrival, you can buy the tickets before starting your descent down the mountain in a "basket cart". The process of descending in a basket cart, which has over 100 years of history, consists of a thrilling 2-kilometer descent. Bound to be an experience you will never forget, your basket-cart ride will soon have you safely at the bottom of the mountain. Your driver/guide will be at the end of the trip waiting for you, at which point you will return to the city.

Funchal: Madeira Island Group Surf Lesson

3. Funchal: Madeira Island Group Surf Lesson

Join a surf lesson in the clear Atlantic waters off Madeira Island, and learn the fun sport for the first time or hone your surfing skills with an expert instructor. Enjoy the ease of a hotel pickup from Funchal, and be directly dropped off at the best surfing spots on the island. Kick-start your lesson with a warm up and a technical demonstration on the beach before hitting the water to catch some waves. Feel the cool waters beneath your gliding board, and the adrenaline course through you after catching your first wave. Enjoy the top surfing spots for beginners on Madeira Island, including Praia do Seixal, Praia de Machico, and Porto da Cruz, where your instructor will bring you to make sure you get the best experience possible.

Funchal: Monte Tuk Tuk Tour to the Toboggans

4. Funchal: Monte Tuk Tuk Tour to the Toboggans

Pick up at your hotel or another location of your choice in one of our tuk tuks with an experienced Guide that will lead you through all the tour, explaining everything you need to know. A completely private experience in a funny vehicle. It will start with a brief explanation of what will be the entire tour and what you will see and do during the 1.5 hours tour. Experience the tobbogan ride with a tuk tuk tour from Funchal to Monte, stopping at the viewpoint with an amazing city view and having a chance to visit Monte's well known Church. The toboggan ride is something mandatory to visit when you visit Madeira. You will enjoy the ride going down from Monte to Funchal. It will stop in a place where the tuk tuk will be waiting for you to drive you back. (We are not responsible if the toboggans stop working, due to weather conditions)

Funchal: Old Town Tour by Tuk Tuk with Traditional Toboggan

5. Funchal: Old Town Tour by Tuk Tuk with Traditional Toboggan

Enjoy this adventurous tour of Monte Village and Funchal with an exhilarating toboggan ride at the end. Admire beautifully decorated streets and visit the Church of Our Lady of the Mount. Starting at the Old Town, see the “painted doors” throughout the streets of Santa Maria, where numerous doors were painted by different artists giving this street a unique glow. Also, admire the picturesque details of cobblestone floors and the façades of the old houses on Rue de Santa Maria. Next, continue towards Monte and visit the Church of Our Lady of the Mount. The structure that is visible today for all its visitors was completed back in 1818 and is one of the most sought sites by churchgoers and tourists in general. After visiting Monte, dare to ride some toboggans, more commonly known as “Carreiros do Monte." Toboggan riding was traditionally a means of transportation by locals who wanted to travel quickly from Monte´s village to Funchal. This adventurous and old-fashioned transportation appeared around the 1850s and is still in use today.

Funchal: Monte Palace Tropical Gardens Tour

6. Funchal: Monte Palace Tropical Gardens Tour

The tour will start at the city center, and up the hills that characterize the island, on a fun tuk tuk ride. Enjoy the wonderful view from the viewpoint and visit the church before heading to Monte Palace. Explore the tropical garden and marvel at the variety of pants and serene scenery. After visiting the garden, customers will come back to the city center, and drop off at a place of their choice.

Funchal: Monte Tropical Garden & Toboggan Ride by Tuk Tuk

7. Funchal: Monte Tropical Garden & Toboggan Ride by Tuk Tuk

Feel the thrill of riding by Tuk Tuk around the stunning Monte Tropical Garden. Begin in Funchal city and head towards the mountains. Arrive in Monte Palace Madeira and enjoy a cup of coffee. Explore over 70,000 square meters of exotic plants and breathe in the beautiful ambience of the garden. Uncover one of the most exciting and wonderful places Madeira has to offer. Begin the trip in the Old Town in Funchal city, a main tourist attraction full of fun stories and curious facts. Venture to the mountains up to Monte city. Feel mesmerized by the lovely plants, and visit one of the most popular churches on the island, Monte's church. Learn of the day of Lady of Monte, the most attended feast on Madeira Island all year. Take your time at the Monte Palace Madeira, adored for its facinating and immense garden. Take photos, relax, enjoy some coffee, and prepare to get lost in the nature of the garden grounds. Visit the central lake and marvel at local swans, ducks, peacocks, and chickens. Enter the Monte Palace Madeira Museum and explore the three floors filled with sculptures, history, and a unique mineral collection. End the tour at a legendary charm of the island, the famous Monte Toboggan. Enjoy the thrilling ride down the hill, the way the locals used to.

Madeira: Private Monte Tour By Cable Car with Transfer

8. Madeira: Private Monte Tour By Cable Car with Transfer

We will visit the Monte parish, where we take you to their public gardens around the church, we will visit it's beautiful church and also we will see the old train station that used to be there before. The Monte parish was created on 9th February 1565, based on devotion to Our Lady of Monte, which dates from the fifteenth century. With the flood of 1803, the Our Lady of Monte became evoked as the patron saint of Madeira and, in 1818, the church was inaugurated in her honour. Monte boasts some of the most beautiful palaces and many other aspects that embrace this place with timeless romanticism. We will take the Cable Car and see Funchal from the Air and have nice perspective of the whole city.

Madeira: Monte Sightseeing Tour & Toboggan Sled Ride

9. Madeira: Monte Sightseeing Tour & Toboggan Sled Ride

Take a tour beyond the extraordinary with the Monte Toboggans Sled. Visitors from all over the world use this transport seeking a ride full of emotions and adrenaline. Embark on an unforgettable adventure ride with splendid views over the city. Begin the tour with a walk around the parish of Monte in the hills of Funchal. Visit the Largo da Fonte, a stunning square with its beautiful gardens from where you'll see the old train station. Learn about the history of the iconic sled that was used as a traditional form of public transportation by local residents in the 19th century. Continue the walking tour to see the beautiful church of Monte where the tomb of the last Austro-Hungarian emperor is located. In the end, it's time to take a fun downhill ride with the Toboggan sled to Funchal city.

From Funchal: Full-Day Guided Madeira Island Tour

10. From Funchal: Full-Day Guided Madeira Island Tour

Explore the stunning island of Madeira. The first stop will be at Monte and marvel at the Church and surroundings. Discover the magnificent Tropical Garden of Monte. Surrounded by the island's towering mountains and immersed in the laurissilva forest, you will find Casa do Poiso, where it presents visitors with the best of Madeiran cuisine. Ribeiro Frio is an exquisite place, and we can see that it is surrounded by fragrant forests, which offer a pleasant atmosphere. Its slopes are populated by numerous species of plants, which form the Forest Park of Madeira. In the Faial area, where there is a beautiful beach with a natural pool, there are several leisure spaces and support infrastructures. Santana is a must-visit area on a visit to Madeira, due to its traditional houses, although in very small numbers. It is very close to Parque das Queimadas, where the Caldeirão Verde and Inferno levadas begin (fabulous for nature lovers!).

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What people are saying about Monte

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 677 reviews

Luis is a very good tour guide! This tour is definitely worth it, it’s very fun going in the tuktuk and around the island. Luis will tell you information you never knew (from a local) of the island, between monte and old town Funchal. He will go above and beyond to make sure you have a great trip. He offered suggestions for restaurants and also offered for me to message him on my holiday if I had any questions about Madeira.

Great way to explore the highlights in Madeira. The guide was informative throughout the trip. Great idea to get to the sleigh ride first thing to avoid the long quest that soon build. Great value for money. Would highly recommend and half the price of any cruise ship offerings.

This was a really lovely tour. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Tony was a marvellous guide who told us so much about Madeira. He was so courteous and great fun with it. We saw spectacular scenery in Nuns Valley and had a fabulous trip from Monte in a toboggon. A top notch tour!

We had a great day with João & Magdalena! They really tried to focus on establishing /improving the surfing skills of each participant and were friendly and attentive. They alao recommend us a restaurant that turned out great! Definitely recommend it.

Great trip . Highly recommend and good value for money . Went direct to the Toboggan ride from pick up so meant we missed some of the long queues that can build up . Only waited about 30mins max. Nuns Valley sights and viewpoints were outstanding