MONTE Palace was one of the best botanical gardens I have ever been to. It is set on a slope -- as most things on Madeira are -- but unless you have severe physical issues it need not be a problem since E5 will buy you a seat on an electric car if you are tired. It runs from the bottom of the gardens right up to the cafe at the top. Entry costs E15 and you get given a colourful little map marking out all the paths and attractions so you don't get lost or miss anything. We opted to work our way down on the right, swing in to the flamingos, central lake and waterfall, past the palace and down to the bottom before climbing our way up the other side of the gardens to the top. Enjoying these gardens takes time and we spent the whole of the afternoon here wandering round the 70,000 sq metres site. There are plants here from South Africa to Scotland and from Australia to the Himalayas as well as Japanese and Chinese oriental gardens. Koy carp swim in many of the pools, some swans in others and the walks are shady and cool out of a sun which even in November hit 29C on some days. If you feel a different call of Nature then a major plus of the site is that toilets are discretely available in many places. We counted at least six from the very top right down close to the lowest point and they, like the rest of the gardens, were kept in very good condition. The cafe at the top provided a nice haven for a quick snack and we had tuna and chicken sandwiches and a soft drink each at very reasonable prices. To round our visit off we caught a breakneck descent on one of famous toboggans which brought a whole new meaning to the expression "handbrake turn"! Not for the faint-hearted! Definitely a must visit place while you are on Madeira and, in my opinion, Monte Palace was even better than the Madeira Botanical Gardens. Don't miss it.

To get here via car (not the cable car as that's not for everyone, especially with the fear of heights) is a journey in itself... steep and narrow streets and then avoiding the tobogans :) but once here then you pass the parking lot by the church and take a street down (unless you arrived from it) and there is actually a decent free parking lot (during both May and December visit a "person directing" the traffic asking for $ so you really have no choice... it's a weird situation..) and then you need to walk up the steep hill to enter the grounds - for my parents in their late 60s/early 70s it wasn't easy, even for us in the mid/late 30s either. Now, once in the grounds... you can spend here an hour or you can spend here 10 hours... there is so much to see and experience, or simply to sit down and enjoy with your eyes - I am glad I had a chance to visit this place twice as during the 2nd time the pace was slower and I was able to appreciate it more. Just to give you an idea.. when we visited first time in May 2024 I forgot to visit flamingos LOL... in December 2024 we made that happen! Monte Palace can be a day in Madeira on it's own! It's a huge place! There are 2 restaurants - one inside the park and one outside where the cable cars arrive/on the way to the parking lot - and then there is a Poncha/snacks bar inside the grounds as well, do your homework as it takes effort to get here and you will leave lots of energy here as well

Wet morning in Funchal queuing for the cable cars, but when you get to the top don't bother going off to the Botanical Gardens on the other cable car. Instead, spend the time in this fabulous garden. Very hilly (as is normal in Madeira) but plenty to see including flamingoes and some of the most impressive plants on the island. The modern art gallery is a bit hit and miss (but that's modern art for you...), but you can easily spend a couple of enjoyable hours here.

We visited via the cable car. We were very impressed with it. There is an art gallery and a museum to view as well as the plants and flowers. The oriental gardens reminded us of our Japanese trip earlier in the year. History in the form of mosaic tiles and flamingos to view are some of the activities available. To make the most of things I suggest you allow a full day to visit. I think this is a great trip out when In Funchal.

The gardens are so beautiful. We were unsure as it felt like a steep price but would say that it's worth it to go in. They are gorgeous and there's lots of paths and artwork to see. Also a bar with nice views across the city. The cafe Land at the top of the cable car line was also nice to get a snack and coffee

Got the cable car up and just decided on the off chance to give the Monte Palace a go. We were so glad that we did. It cost €15 per adult which we felt was a good price. There is so much to see here, winding paths, sculpture, tile mosaic, Japanese gardens, arches, flamingos, waterfalls, crystal and minerals, artwork and astonishing views. We got to the large lake around 12.30 when live music was being played (for an hour) - so relaxing sitting there listening to it with a Pina Colada out of a fresh pineapple. There's also a viewing area where you can watch the toboggans going down the hill and braking sharply to get around the bend. A great day out.

Lovely grounds with flamingos, free madeira tasting (bring your ticket to the cafe) and live music and sometimes dancing most days at 12.30. We were very lucky as Sunday was traditional dancing and music. Cable car is expensive, and walking down is not fun so I would recommend taking the bus. I’d recommended here in preference to Botanic Gardens if you’re only doing one, due to diverse attractions.

If you like art, nature, serenity and the sense of sensory freedom here is a walk to do. The different colors and shapes that make up the vegetation is an invitation to leave. Imagination flows. The ends of the birds , the water and even the wind are an invitation to stop a few times during the journey and taste the world of the senses. AinDa you can stop for a delicious coffee with cake or a poncha. I highly recommend it for all ages. A tour to recharge the energies and allow you to connect with inner peace.

Garden exceptional both from the botanical point of view but also by its facilities, kiosks, basins, viewpoints etc, we could spend hours without getting tired! To go there two solutions , the cable car , an unforgettable experience, or to get there by car , but be careful this solution is reserved for drivers who have participated in the worst rallies in the world due to the narrowness of the streets and its vertiginous elevations! You arrive alive at the top feeling like you have lived the salary of fear! make your choice with knowledge!

Admission costs 15 euros. There's so much on offer. There are small museums with modern artworks and many mosaics and paintings outside in the open. Much is conveyed about the history of Portugal. The facility is gigantic and fun to explore. The flowers and trees are all beautiful and great maintained. The water features and facilities are really great to admire. It was a lot of fun to explore this area. We were right there early in the morning. Something was accordingly still free in the parking lot and one still had his peace before the onslaught of the crowds