Funchal Tourist Photos Guide

Jardim Botânico da Madeira - The Botanical Gardens of Funchal

Our Funchal tourist photos guide starts with perhaps one of the most popular tourist attractions in Madeira - the Jardim Botânico da Madeira. In English, this venue is commonly known as the Funchal Botanical Gardens. Perhaps somewhat confusingly for the tourist, they are situated in the Bom Sucesso suburb of Funchal, about 4km from the city centre. Funchal Town buses (those coloured bright yellow) routes 29, 30 and 31 all stop at the Jardim Botânico entrance.

In 1881, the Reid family - renown for the famous Madeira Reid's Palace Hotel in Funchal - founded the Quinta do Bom Sucesso. Thus, the roots of the botanical garden were sown. The Quinta was later taken over by the Regional Government. The grounds were transformed into the botanical gardens and was opened to the general public in 1960. Today, the grounds are not just a premier Madeira tourist attraction, the Madeira Botanical Garden is involved, along with others, in the Macaronesia Seed Bank programme which is designed to promote the conservation of plant diversity.

If you have a particular interest in the flora of Madeira, then visit our Flower Photos pages.

Jardim Botânico da Madeira is located in Funchal and is perhaps the most famous public gardens tourist attraction in Madeira island. In all, the gardens cover an area of some 80,000 square metres and boasts a collection of over 2,500 plant species. The entrance fee is a very reasonable for a tourist attraction in Madeira being just €3:00 for adults, €1:00 for children aged 7 to 18 and infants aged 6 and under are free (prices correct as of May 2009). The venue is open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. with the exception of December 25th. Last entry is at 5:30 p.m. The main garden displays are shown in the photos here, but do not be misled, there are plenty of other points of interest waiting to be discovered. Capture your favorites on film and take home your own unique photos to remember your visit by.

Whilst you are at the Botanical Gardens, don't forget to visit the 'Loiro' bird park. This additional tourist attraction is situated adjacent and is free for visitors to the Jardim Botânico. The exotic bird park has the largest collection of tropical birds in Madeira. It consists of about 300, mainly tropical, birds and features many children favourites such as the Blue and Yellow Macaw, Cockatoo, Parrots and Lory. When you have finished your viewing, walk to the top of the botanical garden and consider taking the Cable Car up to Monte.

Teleféricos da Madeira - Funchal to Monte Cable Car

Madeira is quickly becoming renown for its cable cars. These tourist attractions are being added to continually. However, they are not one of the most popular developments with the locals in Madeira - the proposed cable car at Rabaçal has met with much local protest. Nevertheless, one of Funchal's premier tourist attractions is the cable car ride to Monte via the Teleféricos da Madeira. So, naturally, it features here in our Funchal tourist photos guide. If you suffer from a fear of heights, you may want to give this ride a miss. Everybody else who visits Madeira will surely enjoy the spectacular panoramic views available during the journey up from Funchal. Remember to have your camera ready for those stunning holiday photos!

The cable car from Funchal to Monte was an instant success with holiday going public in Madeira. It was opened in November 2000. The lower terminal is situated in the gardens at Almirante Reis in Funchal Old Town. On it journey up to Monte, the cable car route takes you over the bustling streets of the City, across the forests of Babosas and up the João Gomes valley to Monte itself. As our photos show, the terrain is constantly changing and your journey will simply fly by! And, if I haven't already mentioned it: Don't forget to have your camera ready to capture those special photos.

The cable car journey is approximately 1,600m in distance and costs €10 per adult and €5 per child (prices correct as at May 2009). These prices are a bit expensive by Madeira standards, so it is one strictly for the tourist. Like most tourist venues in Madeira, the attraction is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. daily, every day of the year except for Christmas day. The journey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete at an average speed of 4.2 metre per second. At the Monte terminal there is a cafe for refreshments with outside seating giving spectacular views. A choice spot for those special holiday photos! Toilet facilities are also available here and, as usual for tourist attractions on the island, they are kept acceptably clean.

If you want to see detailed photos of everyday places in Funchal, then visit our Funchal Photos Guide pages.

Monte Palace Tropical Gardens

The Monte Palace Tropical Gardens is next on the itinerary of the Funchal tourist photos guide. These gardens are less formally laid out than those of the Jardim Botânico da Madeira, but, nevertheless provide a lovely setting for a half day visit. There is a luxuriant profusion of plants and flowers on display. Typical of Madeira in general, narrow pathways wind their way through the dense vegetation. Each turn presents yet another set of plant species on display. If you are interested in the Flora of Madeira, then visit our Flower Photos pages. Gateways and bridges lead you on a journey past the many species of plants gathered from all around the world.

Curios are dotted here and there about the grounds, just waiting to be discovered as you make your way amongst the labyrinth of paths, steps, slopes and bridges. Many of the curios have their origins in the orient. However, the Madeira, Portuguese and ancient European cultures are also fully represented. Some of the exhibits date from as early as the 2nd century A.D. The photos here are only a small sample of what is contained in the gardens. However, Monte Palace Tropical Gardens is not trapped in a bygone era though, modern art works also grace the grounds. These include a display of contemporary African stone sculptures which are displayed in an indoors museum.

The lake at the bottom of the gardens offers a cooling retreat on a hot, sunny day. From 1904 to 1943, during the time when Monte Palace was a commercial hotel, guests enjoyed pleasant boat trips here. Today, the lake is home to swans, ducks and koi carp and it is fed from a large waterfall designed by José Berardo. As usual in Madeira, the Gardens are open daily (except for 25th December) from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The entrance fee is €10 with children under the age of 15 admitted free. This is somewhat pricey by Madeira standards, but a free sampling of madeiran wine and entrance to the museum is included in the entrance fee. The photos here only give a taste of what is waiting to be discovered. So, if you like flora in general and display gardens in particular, consider this tourist attraction a must visit on your holiday.

Monte Church & Surrounds

Whilst you are in Monte, don't neglect to visit the church and the surrounding area. Monte Church, known to the locals as Nossa Senhora Do Monte church (our Lady of Monte church) was built in 1818. It has a distinctive front white facade that can easily be picked out on the hillside from Funchal city centre below. There are 74 basalt steps leading up to the church. The photos here show the image of Monte that is on display all around Madeira island. At the bottom of this stairway is a platform from which you can gaze down onto the start of the toboggan ride.

To the left side as you look at the front of Monte Church, is a small square where you can stop by and have refreshments and view the assortment of local goods put out for display on wooden trestle tables. The choice goods are woollen jumpers and hats - many a tourist to Madeira forgets that the altitude often means that the temperature here is much cooler than down in Funchal city centre. To the front of this small square are the Monte Municipal Gardens. These are a free facility which, depending on the time of year, can offer a profusion of colour and variety. You won't find many photos of the Municipal Gardens in the guide books. Perhaps, because there is no entrance fee, they are not considered a tourist attraction. Nevertheless, if you are interested in the Flora of Madeira, take the time out to visit here.

Monte Toboggan Ride

If you descend the 74 steps that lead down from the front of Monte Church, you will arrive at a small, square viewing platform. Here, you can look down at the start of the Monte Toboggan run. An ideal spot for some more holiday photos! The toboggan is really just a wicker basket on wooden sled runners and the design dates from the 1850s.

Originally the toboggan run was intended to provide a fast means of transport for the Madeira locals and their goods into Funchal City centre. However, today, it is exclusively a tourist attraction. This is reflected in the cost which currently stands at €20:00 for one passenger, €25:00 for two passengers sharing or €37:50 for three passengers sharing (prices correct as at March 2009). By Madeira standards, these prices are almost as steep as the route. The toboggan run is just 2 kilometres in length and runs from Monte down to Livramento.

The carreiros de Monte are all suitably dressed in white with straw hats. Originally, in the early 1900's it was a tradition of the locals to toss gardenias and roses on the passing tourists as they made their toboggan descent. Unhappily, this is no longer true. Indeed, you will not see many locals walking along the route at all. Today, they prefer the comfort of a car whilst travelling up and down the steep slopes. Towards the start of the run, you are best advised to enjoy the panoramic views over the City. If you intend taking photos during your journey, then this is the spot to take them. Then, when you turn into the narrow, high-walled roads, just sit back and enjoy the exhilaration of the ride.

At the end of the toboggan run, you will find yourself in Livramento, still some 2 kilometres away from the city centre. However, nearby is the restaurant A Seta, meaning, in English, The Arrow. The address is Estrada do Livramento 80. The restaurant specializes in regional cuisine. All the meals here start with a plate of homemade brown bread which is usually still warm from the oven. The bread is to be eaten with meat that is held on a a long skewer above each table. This restaurant is a favorite with tour groups and is perhaps one of the best in and around Funchal. It is well worth a visit at the end of your ride. There is also a gift shop nearby.