How Many Cable Cars Are There in Madeira? Complete List, Routes and Prices

There are seven public passenger cable cars in Madeira, ranging from Funchal’s famous ride to Monte to small cliff railways serving remote coastal fajãs. Six are currently available to visitors, while the Rocha do Navio Cable Car in Santana is listed as closed at the time of writing. In this updated guide: find every route, what each cable car is actually for, verified 2026 fares where published, and the practical details that will help you choose the right ride for your itinerary.

The complete list of Madeira cable cars

Madeira’s cable cars are not all the same kind of attraction. The two Funchal lines are panoramic city transport and sightseeing experiences, while the coastal lines were principally built to connect farmers and residents with difficult-to-reach land below the cliffs. Today, those rural routes offer some of the island’s most memorable short journeys.

Funchal and Botanical Garden: Madeira’s classic cable-car pairing

O Funchal Cable Car is the one most visitors mean when they talk about taking a cable car in Madeira. It rises from the Old Town waterfront to Monte, crossing above red-tiled roofs, gardens and the steep amphitheatre of the city. Take it uphill if you want the full reveal of Funchal and a relaxed arrival near Monte Palace, the Church of Our Lady of Monte and the traditional basket sledges.

At the top, the Botanical Garden Cable Car provides a second, separate ride between Largo das Babosas in Monte and Madeira Botanical Garden. It is useful rather than repetitive: this line floats over the Ribeira de João Gomes valley and makes it easy to combine Monte with the Botanical Garden without driving the steep roads between them.

For a practical half-day, take the Funchal line uphill, explore Monte, continue down to the Botanical Garden on the second line, then return to central Funchal by bus or taxi. Alternatively, use the Funchal Cable Car as a one-way ascent and descend by road after visiting Monte. If you plan to add the famous wicker sledges, read our Monte Toboggan Ride guide before deciding how you will get back to town.

The rural cliff cable cars: transport first, attraction second

Outside Funchal, Madeira’s cable cars show why the island needed them. Narrow strips of fertile land, known as fajãs, lie between the sea and dramatic cliffs. Before cable cars, farmers reached many of these places by steep footpaths; transporting crops was even harder.

Achadas da Cruz, on the far north-west coast near Porto Moniz, is the most dramatic. The small cabins descend an exceptionally steep green slope to Fajã da Quebrada Nova, where cultivated plots, a pebble shore and immense north-coast cliffs create a quiet, almost isolated setting. It is a destination in its own right, not simply a photo stop.

Fajã dos Padres, near Quinta Grande on the south coast, has a gentler holiday feel. The descent leads to a historic agricultural estate with tropical fruit, vineyards, a restaurant and a swimming area. There is no road to the lower property, so the cable car is the normal way to arrive unless you come by boat.

Fajãs do Cabo Girão “Rancho” is another working cliff connection, descending from Sítio do Rancho to cultivated land and a pebble beach below the Cabo Girão area. It is separate from the Cabo Girão Skywalk: do not assume that visiting the glass platform automatically brings you to this station.

Garajau and Rocha do Navio: beach access and a closed route

O Garajau Cable Car is the shortest and easiest coastal ride. From the Ponta do Garajau area near the Christ the King statue, it drops to Garajau Beach, within the protected Garajau Marine Reserve. Use it for a beach day, snorkelling or diving rather than as a major sightseeing excursion. There is parking near the upper station, but the beach is much more enjoyable when sea conditions are calm.

O Rocha do Navio Cable Car in Santana normally provides access to the coastal nature reserve and agricultural fajãs below. It was Madeira’s first modern cable car, but it is currently marked as closed by the official tourism board. The reserve may still be seen from surrounding viewpoints and coastal walks, but do not rely on the lift for access until its operating status changes.

Which Madeira cable car should you choose?

If you have time for only one, choose the Funchal Cable Car for the best all-round first visit: it is central, easy to combine with other sights and gives the broadest view over the city and bay. Choose Achadas da Cruz for the most dramatic descent and a wilder north-coast landscape. Choose Fajã dos Padres for a slower day centred on swimming, lunch and subtropical scenery.

The Botanical Garden line is best as part of a Monte-and-garden route, while Garajau is mainly practical beach access. Rancho is the most local-feeling choice, especially for visitors interested in Madeira’s farming landscapes rather than a conventional tourist attraction.

• Check the weather before setting out: cable-car services can pause for strong wind, maintenance or operational reasons, especially on exposed coastal cliffs.
• Take the Funchal Cable Car uphill: the city and bay open out below you as the cabin climbs towards Monte.
• Do not confuse the two Monte lines: the Funchal Cable Car runs between the Old Town and Monte; the Botanical Garden Cable Car runs between Monte and the Botanical Garden.
• Bring water and sun protection to the rural fajãs: lower coastal areas can be much warmer than Funchal or the mountains.
• Keep your return journey in mind: remote cable cars may be the simplest way back up the cliff, so note the final departure before wandering away from the lower station.
• Use a car or organised day trip for Achadas da Cruz and Rancho: they are far less convenient to reach from Funchal by public transport than the city lines.

Perguntas frequentes

How many cable cars are there in Madeira?
Madeira has seven public passenger cable-car installations: Funchal, Botanical Garden, Achadas da Cruz, Fajã dos Padres, Fajãs do Cabo Girão “Rancho”, Garajau and Rocha do Navio. Rocha do Navio is currently listed as closed, leaving six available to visitors.

What is the best cable car in Madeira?
The Funchal Cable Car is the best choice for most first-time visitors because it is easy to reach, offers wide views over Funchal and links directly with Monte’s gardens and historic attractions. Achadas da Cruz is the best choice for a more dramatic cliff-and-ocean experience.

Can you use Madeira’s cable cars as public transport?
They are transport in the literal sense, but most are not substitutes for normal buses. The Funchal and Botanical Garden routes are useful for visitors moving between attractions, while the coastal lines mainly provide access to beaches, farms and fajãs below steep cliffs.

Are Madeira cable cars suitable if you are nervous about heights?
That depends on the route. The Funchal and Botanical Garden lines are smooth gondola rides with spacious views, while Achadas da Cruz, Rancho and Garajau descend much steeper cliff faces. If heights are difficult for you, start with the Funchal line and avoid looking directly down on the rural descents.

Facts and prices verified in September 2026. Before travelling, always recheck the operator’s status on the day, particularly after poor weather. For practical route planning, see our guides to driving Madeira’s mountain roads, Funchal Old Town and the island’s best sunrise and sunset viewpoints.