Monte Tuk-Tuk Tour in Madeira: Gardens & Church

Ride up the mountain in a tuk-tuk and spend an hour and a half wandering the Monte Palace gardens at your own pace.

A private tuk-tuk tour from Funchal to Monte in Madeira takes three hours and covers the Church of Our Lady of Monte and the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, with pickup and dropoff included. The driver is a local guide who explains the history and significance of each stop as you climb toward the mountains. You spend ninety minutes at the gardens to photograph the swans, ducks and peacocks, explore the museum's sculptures and minerals, or sit with coffee. The tour ends at the Monte Toboggan, the 1850s wooden slide that once carried locals down the hill and now runs as a ride anyone can take.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Funchal and Monte highlights

• Start tour at Old Town Funchal
• Visit Church of Our Lady of Monte
• Explore Monte Palace Tropical Gardens
• Enjoy coffee at Greenhouse Coffee Roaster
• Visit Monte Palace Madeira Museum
• Ride down hill on Monte Toboggan

The Experience

The tuk-tuk picks you up in Funchal's Old Town and heads toward the mountains. As you climb, the driver points out the stories woven into the landscape—the facts and history that make the route more than just a ride uphill. The Church of Our Lady of Monte sits at the top of the first leg, one of the most visited churches on the island and the center of Madeira's biggest religious celebration on August 15th.

The Monte Palace Tropical Gardens are the heart of the tour. You have an hour and a half to move through the grounds at your own speed—no rushing between stops. The central lake holds swans and ducks; peacocks and chickens wander the main areas, and the variety of plants fills the frame for photographs. Inside the palace itself, the museum spreads across three floors: two devoted to sculptures and other artworks, the third to a collection of minerals. The Greenhouse Coffee Roaster sits within the park if you want to pause with a cup before moving on.

The tour ends at the Monte Toboggan, a wooden slide that dates back to the 1850s. In the 19th century, locals used it as their main way down the mountain to Funchal. Today it runs as a ride, and you can take it if you choose—a final descent that closes the loop between the quiet gardens and the energy of the city below.

What’s included

• Pickup and dropoff in Funchal.
• a local driver who guides you through the history and stories of each stop.
• a blanket for the ride.
• insurance.
• ninety minutes at the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens to explore at your own pace.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by TUKWAY MADEIRA

Is this one for you?Choose this if you prefer a guided tuk-tuk ride over driving yourself—your local driver handles the mountain roads while you sit back, and the long garden stop lets you explore at your own pace instead of rushing between viewpoints.

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Top questions

How long does the tuk-tuk tour spend at the Monte Palace gardens?

The Monte Palace Tropical Gardens get an hour and a half of the three-hour tour, giving you time to walk the grounds, photograph the animals and plants, visit the museum, or relax with coffee at the Greenhouse Coffee Roaster inside the park.

What is the Church of Our Lady of Monte and why does it matter?

The Church of Our Lady of Monte sits at the top of the mountain and is one of the most visited churches on the island. August 15th marks the day of Lady of Monte, the most important and most attended religious celebration in Madeira, and the driver will explain its significance during the tour.

Does the tuk-tuk go inside the Monte Palace gardens?

The tuk-tuk drops you at the entrance to the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, but you walk through the gardens yourself during the ninety-minute stop—the tuk-tuk does not circulate inside.

What is the Monte Toboggan and can I ride it?

The Monte Toboggan is a wooden slide that dates back to the 1850s and once served as the main way for locals to travel down the mountain to Funchal. Today it operates as a ride that anyone can take, and it is the final stop on the tour.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Pickup and dropoff are included in the tour price, starting from Funchal's Old Town; pickup outside Funchal is available upon request for an additional cost.

What languages does the driver speak?

The local driver and guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, and will share stories and facts about Monte and the island throughout the three-hour tour.