This is a very eclectic place! We took the cable car up to it and then spent a few hours wandering around it. It's built on the hillside, so the further into the garden you go, the further down the hill you go - and then you have to walk all the way back up to get the cable car back down (or the sledges! 😲). There is an exit at the bottom of the garden, but you won't have seen all the grounds and you'd have about an hour's walk back to the city centre (I'm not sure about buses). The palace, just looks like a big house. It looks great, but we didn't go in it, and I'm not even sure that you can. As you enter the grounds, there is a cafe and some exhibits - one on Zimbabwe, one on gemstones and one on Monte Palace. There's a second cafe near the bottom of the gardens. The grounds are fabulous 😁. Paths all over the place, leading you through hundreds of different plants. There are 'tiles' and sculptures everywhere you look, but my favourite was the oriental garden, closely followed by the central lake. If you like gardens, walks and art / sculptures, then this is definitely one for you. We were €12.50 each to get in.

Worth every penny of the visit. There’s plenty of gardens to see and wonderful plants, scenery and buildings. Beautifully curated and structured waterfalls and a storytelling of the history with traditional Portuguese tiles. Awesome atmosphere and plenty of space. The views down to the city are breathtaking and the cable cart is amazing. Word of advice, take your best walking shoes! As there will be plenty of hills, stairs and uneven terrain!

Stunning botanical gardens displaying a phenomenal selection of plants. If you’re a fern/palm fan they have an amazing array and gorgeous selection to weave a route through. Cafe at the top was unexpectedly tasty and affordable for food and drink. Will add the place is not particularly wheelchair (almost inaccessible) or pushchair friendly - they’re are buggies to ferry you from the bottom to the top, but we had a baby in pushchair and was a lot of carrying the pushchair and stairs.

This botanical paradise showcases the incredible diversity of flora from around the world and offers a peaceful retreat for nature lovers. As you stroll through the garden's winding pathways, you'll encounter an exquisite collection of exotic plants, vibrant flowers, and towering trees. The meticulously landscaped grounds create a harmonious blend of colors, textures, and fragrances, transporting you to a world of natural beauty. The highlight of the Monte Palace Tropical Garden is its stunning collection of azulejos, traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles. These intricately designed tiles depict historical scenes, cultural motifs, and mythical tales, adding a touch of artistry and storytelling to the garden's ambiance. The garden's tranquil ponds, cascading waterfalls, and serene lakes further enhance the sense of tranquility. These water features provide a soothing soundtrack and create a peaceful atmosphere that invites visitors to relax and immerse themselves in the serene surroundings. For those seeking panoramic views, the Monte Palace Tropical Garden offers breathtaking vistas of Funchal, the capital city of Madeira, and the surrounding mountains. These vantage points provide a stunning backdrop for memorable photographs and allow you to appreciate the island's natural beauty from a unique perspective. The garden is also home to a fascinating museum, which houses a diverse collection of artifacts from various cultures and periods. From African sculptures to Asian ceramics, the museum offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of global heritage. Overall, the Monte Palace Tropical Garden is a true haven of tranquility and natural splendor. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat, a chance to reconnect with nature, or an opportunity to explore cultural treasures, this hidden oasis in Madeira will leave you awe-inspired and rejuvenated.

Very nice botanical gardens, everything is kept clean and nice. The only downside is that there aren't really that many different species of flora. Still a very nice place indeed. We got free wine-tasting with our ticket and there was also a mineral exhibition and an exhibition of African statues and art. Overall a great experience.

Very nice park with plenty of plants and flowers. Japan garden inside. Great view from park to port, Funchal and the ocean. I saw two places where I could stop for the snacks and drinks. Park was clean and tidy. The price is reasonable. I give 4/5 only because I expected more different flowers inside the park.

Interesting place to explore, mostly outdoors with a few indoor museums (more like a gallery or a collection on display). Definitely not pushchair friendly, the ticket lady warned us but we went in anyway, toddler had some bumpy rides and we had to carry pushchair up&down quite a lot of steps. It is still a lovely day out, LO enjoyed the many little waterfalls & fountains. We took the cable cars to get here which was really good, as it wasn't busy we had it to ourselves on both ways

The garden is impressive. A lot of different types of plants. The palace is amazing. So many details worth noticing there. The waterfall and the pound make the place even more charming. Take a snack with you. Find a quiet cozy bench with a view. Enjoy it! I would plan to spend there for about 2 hours.

A truly beautiful garden, I prefer this one rather than the other one. It's wilder, it has a lot of amazing tropical plants and it makes me want to come back every time I'm visiting Madeira. Restaurant is also decent with a nice choice of vegetarian dishes which are naturally hard to come by on Madeira. Visit this place, but pay attention to the weather. It's way nicer to take photos through the trees when the sun is shining bright!

A challanging drive uphills from downtown Funchal (or a smoother ride with the Cable Car) will take you to this tropical garden. It’s quite large so if you want to experience the entire park ensure to have enough time. Be aware that it’s not very stroller friendly.

Extraordinary place! Recognized internationally. We get there via bus not cable car. There are so many spots and sections of the garden that you shall plan at minimum few hours to manage your visit. Place is well organized, descriptions of all the constructions and green elements. Highly recommended!

A really beautiful garden with plenty to see. The entire garden is on a slop and mainly on cobbled paths. I would highly recommend a guided tour as they explain the history, types of plants/trees and you get a better overall experience. Cable car back down was fab.

Absolutely gorgeous place! Took some awesome photos and even managed to get some incredible drone footage! Some areas can get quite crowded though. Only takes around an hour to go round but if you take your time and visit every area and read all the information you could easily be there for 3-4 hours! Nice filler for a gap in your day! Would recommend visiting but I would suggest taxi or walking to it, as the roads are for the toboggan and they are all on very narrow roads which should be one way but they're not so if you meet another car one of you will have to reverse up or down a steep hill 😅🤣 good luck to anybody brave enough to drive there!

An out if this world experience!! To see is to believe!! Every area in the garden is unique & maintained with love. Visited for my birthday. Fantastic views, incredible variety of flora plus stylish garden layouts & immaculate detail. Absolutely blew me away 10/10

very nice and shady park. Very varied with different architectural styles, plants, water features and animals. there are probably 100 ways to walk. The basket toboggan rides can be observed well on the south-western part (red No. 15). A stay of at least 1.5 hours should be planned. But you can also spend half a day and more there. there are all sorts of seating options everywhere. There is a transportation service from the lower part of the park to the top for a small fee.

The best gardens I've ever seen in my life. The variety is staggering. It's also arranged very tastefully. It feels sheltered from everything because of the tall trees and the steep terrain. Going down is ok, but going back up will take some time if you're out of shape. But it's not extremely so. You just need to take your time. Will go again for sure.

Absolutely recommend this place. You need separate ticket for that (12.5 euro per one, children under 15 free). We had really good relaxing time there. Beautiful plants there. Also some paintings or sculptures from different parts of the world. Little likes with flamingos and fishes.

Stunning tropical gardens. Beautiful views over Funchal. Gorgeous lush statues, tiles, plants, waterfalls, wildlife. Great for photographers. Beautiful light although can be challenging on a cloudy day. A rich history with additional exhibitions. Challenging terrain for anyone with walking difficulties or a wheelchair due to the inclines and cobbles but not insurmountable. Cafes and staff lovely. A thoroughly enjoyable day.

The gardens are open from 9.30-6pm. You reach the gardens by cable car, no 21 bus from Funchal or hire car. There are three entrances. It costs €12.50 to enter. There are a number of interesting museums onsite that are free to enter. The gardens and museums will take approximately 3 hours to explore. There is a big lake where you will see swans and flamingos. There is a range of plant life. There is a cafe on site. The food and drinks are reasonably priced. The staff are friendly and helpful.

A steep descent into a lush garden, filled with ferns, trees, and tropical flowers. It starts off with a 3 story gallery with African art, and the further you go into the garden, you meet Japanese elements, bridges over water channels, cascades, and a few ponds. It is a nice walk (what goes down, must come up, yes?) And a relaxing experience Don't visit if you are in a rush or if you want to tick a box ☑️ that you have visited.

Amazing place, lots of natural beauty. It will take a lot of time because the place is big and there is a lot to see. I recommend the price 12.5 euros. A great choice to go up with the cable car

Well worth the effort. This garden are right on top of the mountain, accessed by cable car or taxi (unless you are a hiker or live up the mountain) but it is well worth the cost/energy to get there. Loads of interesting plants, water features and trees. Its hilly, and could be hard work for some. They have thought of this though. You can see the whole thing walking almost entirely downhill, and they have a car to get you back to the top. Take a camera, of course, but some of this is almost too much for lenses. The best memories will be in you brain forever.

Beautiful garden above Funchal. Take the cable car up and admire the views on the way already. The garden is very relaxing, packed with greens, koi ponds, artwork and something interesting around every corner. You can easily spend a couple of hours here just wandering and getting almost lost. Stunning even in rainy weather when we visited.

Well worth it. Keep in mind there are two gardens in Funchal, the public Botanical Garden and the private Monte Palace. This one is Monte Palace, more expensive and located higher in Funchal. There are two cable cars that reach this place: one goes directly from the city centre near the ocean (longer ride), another one from the public Botanical Garden (shorter ride). An exiciting but costly way of visiting this place is to reach it via cable car and then go down with a toboggan/sleigh ride. You can also use public buses if you are short on budget. The garden itself is surprisingly big and filled with unexpected elements. You will find an African exhibition, a Japanese garden, an Egyptian vase... and lots of various trees and flowers. You could easily spend some 3-4 hours exploring all the small paths and admiring all the little details, but you can also take a quicker walk to only see the highlights. Toilets, cafes and spots with drinkable water available.

The location and much of the structure of the garden is undeniably spectacular - there are some breathtaking views through the garden down into the valley and harbour, and impressive little lakes and waterfalls. But I have to say the gardens overall felt a bit sad and unmaintained. There are intentional ways to let a garden overgrow etc and have a more natural feeling, but this just seemed more like neglect - there were bits of rubbish in various spots, shabby-looking monuments that were surely never intended to look so unclean, leaves piling up in water features. It was quite a contrast to the botanical gardens where we saw more people taking care but still keeping a nice lush natural feel in some parts. A highlight for us was the (unexpected) exhibition of Zimbabwean sculpture - so expressive and evocative. Even if it was a bit odd to find it in such a place and one wonders how exactly it all came to be there...

Beautiful gardens and definitely bigger than they look at first glance. I would leave at least 2 hours to fully explore the museums and gardens and just enjoy the beautiful views. We did a big hike before visiting the garden and would not suggest that as it is all up and down hills lol! Lots of plants and flowers in bloom to admire.

The park is a must see when in Funchal. You can spend as little or much time as you want, it’s great for a quick 45 minute walk around the park, or a thorough exploration of the grounds. There are frescos and plaques around the gardens that explain Portuguese history. Also, the park is quite clean and well maintained!

Garden is much smaller than expected but still very terrific. Every corner has its own flora and fauna. Monte Palace in the middle of the garden looks spectacular and all the waterfall sounds around relaxes a lot. You can visit cafe at the very corner that has a tasty coffee and free Madeira wine shots with a view to Funchal.

Very beautiful park. To go there you can use cable car. There are two panel cars but you need only the first one. There are two-way tickets but I prefer taking one-way and coming back by taxi. Or you can use also sled which seems fun.

Beautiful gardens! Surprised it is one of the 13 most beautiful gardens in the world though: i was expecting more. A must visit in funchal however. Very uphill.

Nice artifical garden, full of tourists so taking a good photo can take some time. Some exhibitions, like the African, is little bit boring to me. You can get here by car or even better way by using the cable car.

Amazing place ! Very interesting, well-kept garden with beautiful exotic plants. There are many steps, but a car service is available for people with reduced mobility. We recommend it!

This tropical garden is enormous and you have to spend many hours to see everything. I recommend the right side of the garden where you can sit and see people going down the road on those sleights! It’s so funny😃 also the views on the ocean from this place are amazing. They ever have flamingos 🦩🦩 also its cheaper to get here than to the botanical garden.

Brilliant day out. Loved the cable car ride up with fantastic views and the gardens were beautiful and do interesting to visit. The exhibition of huge quartz rocks was wonderful and it was such fun exploring all the oaths and studying the plants and seeing all the koi carp. Definitely recommend

So disappointed with this. Firstly, don't bother trying to drive and park near the gardens. The route google or waze wants to send you is crazy. And when you get there parking is so inadequate and we visited midweek. Park in Funchal and take the cable car or get a taxi. However, that's really if you like a medium sized Japanese style garden with not that many species of flowers. We found it really quite boring. After doing many gardens in the UK, Spain, France, Austria, south Africa and other countries this was by far the worst and we spent as much time in the cafe as we did going around the gardens, but that was partly down to the slow service. We were expecting this next bit, but just to point it out. This is in madeira so the gardens are in terraced design on a steep slope, lots if stepped ramps but don't expect an easy stroll.

We come here often with family and friends visiting us. It is usually a fantastic experience. At the end of the day, today, we took a number to get a ride back to the cable car. The woman working was incredibly rude to me, my wife, and pretty much everyone around us. I am hard of hearing, and my wife told me our numbers and the woman snapped at my wife and told her, “I did not call those numbers!” My wife said that she was talking to me, her husband,… The lady told her to calm down and started talking Portuguese very angrily. This isn’t the first time we saw this. Everyone on the ride… They were seven of us in all, were absolutely horrified by the way this woman was behaving. She should not be in customer service, tourism, or dealing with people in general, let alone elderly. People are afraid to ask her any questions. If she explained nicely to everyone how it worked, it would’ve been a normal good experience. I will avoid coming back here for this reason alone. This woman does not belong in this beautiful place.

Beautiful garden with some oriental vibes here and there. It’s very green and lush and you could have a lot of beautiful pics taken. It’s a perfect place for couples or tourist who want to have a hike and trail park with some shops, exhibits and cafe. But for people with a stroller it’s a horror story. We had a hell of a time climbing up and down throughout the park. It’s recommended from my side either have a babycarrier for small kids or only go with kids that are able to walk on their own (7+ years). In short: A nice and beautiful park for people who can walk on their own, and with kids possible only if they walk on their own.

A lovely experience, gardens spread over a few acres on fairly hilly terrain. Nice cafeteria. Would be difficult ( not impossible) for disabled - some assistance available

Beautiful gardens situated above the city. Enjoyed the cable car ride up as well. I thought the "eclectic" art collections might be tacky all mixed together, but walking through the grounds did not make me feel that way. If you find a quiet spot away from the crowds it's easy to imagine yourself a guest strolling through the gardens of the hotel during its heyday

Very beautiful exotic gardens! If you have it, take at least half a day to visit this gardens, otherwise you’ll have a strong unsatisfying feeling. It is a large garden, with different arrangement styles and long walks. All of them deserve at least a look. You’ll find many areas where you can have a rest or you can contemplate the nature. My advice is not to schedule less than 4h for this location.

Beautiful and interesting place. Must see in Funchal. Gardens are well maintained and contain variety of exotic plants. Many paths to choose from but easy to navigate and see all the features within couple hours walk. Lots and lots of photo opportunities. Amazing sculptures in the museum pavilions. I would recommend getting there by cable car, even if you scarred of heights. Gonna be more scarred driving a car up there.

Spectacular Gardens. It is very worthwhile visiting for an afternoon. We had a really nice time at the Monte Palace for a few hours in the afternoon. It's substantially cooler in these gardens than elsewhere, and we enjoyed a few hours away from the heat in beautiful surroundings. Plenty to see and meandering through the gardens was wonderful. Seeing the flamingos and a good view of the Madeiran sledges was a bonus. I'd recommend giving yourself a few hours to explore and wander around the different routes in the gardens to really appreciate them. Beautiful place; well worth visiting.

Good looking garden with some viewpoints on the Funchal city. We have used the pack for 35 euros to take the cable car round trip here, the entry itself cost around 9 euros per person. Honestly if I would have to choose I would go rather to the tropical garden than this one.

Beautiful park on the Funchal hills. You can easily reach it by cable car or car but parking is an issue. The gardens are stunning and give you a sense of peace, a must visit if you’re on the island.

One of the most beautiful gardens we have ever visited. Totally worth the visit. It has different themes and areas with a nice storyline about Madeira and it's culture. It is very cozy and relaxing. Totally recommend.

We visited this place in October and enjoyed it a lot. The whole garden is quite big, so you can spend several hours in it. There was an exhibition about African art in one of the buildings/museums inside the Palace. Also, our best part of the whole thing were the places with Asian motives + the section where you can admire flamingos!

Monte Palace is absolutely stunning!!! The art, the plant life, the flowers, the views!!! I could go on and on. The admission price is definitely worth it!! It is also conveniently located next to the cable car!

Very charming garden and it features cozy cafeteria. I noticed they were in the process of renovating the restaurant, which adds to its appeal. During my visit, I was captivated by the sight of elegant flamingos, a plethora of beautiful plants, and the tranquil levadas, making it a picturesque and serene destination 🦩

One of the nicest botanical gardens I have visited. The view of Funchal is amazing, I would recommend to do this if you want to see Funchal from the hills. There are several flowers and ponds with Koi fishes. There are two coffee stores inside but I would recommend to go to the ones on the other side of the cable car, the view is also good and there quality is good.

Beautiful and eclectic gardens. Could spend a full day exploring although I spent about 3 hours which was enough to get a good feel for the place. The gardens are build on a hillside so lots of steep stairs and paths so be prepared. Highly recommended and the cable car ride is also fun and spectacular.

Amazing place

Insider tip: skip the free Madeira wine at the bottom of the park and go to Greenhouse Roastery by the second entrance on the top of the park.

Must Have Madery

Very beautiful gardens! Eclectic collection of outdoor sculptures and installations. Indoor exhibit of Zimbabwean and other Southern African woodcarvings from 197Os. Go late in the day to avoid line-ups for the cable car.

Amazing garden with exotic plant's collection.

Truly spectacular gardens, full of lush vegetation and flora from all over the world, lots of water features and statues/art. There are hidden delights everywhere, such as a tiny chapel carved out in a cave. It is on a hillside, though, so needs some decent footwear, and if you can't face the walk all the way back up from the lowest level then there is a small shuttle service. All in all a great place to unwind. We didn't see all of it (it's huge) but still had a lovely hour walking around.

Prachtige tuin. Knappe Afrikaanse beelden in museum.

These gardens have so much to see, the number of plants is incredible and over a vast area.

Amazing gardens full of vibrant peace and beauty

Gorgeous botanical garden, exceptional upkeep - you can tell it's managed with love.

Really good value for money as you can easily spend 3 to 4 hours here exploring the many different types of plants and garden areas such as the Japanese garden. A different landscape round every corner. Be prepared for cloudy weather though as it is high up, and if going out of season, it can be chilly if cloudy, so don't wear just shorts and a t shirt! I speak from experience in March.

A refreshingly beautiful tropical park in the heart of Funchal. Easily accessible by cable car (costs 18€ return) or by car, this park is a landscaping marvel! Don’t miss the flamingoes when you go here. They’re absolutely adorable. The park is built on several levels and has varying landscapes. Just take a good 2-3 hours to spend here and explore the man-made beauty of this place. Breathe in the fresh air and soak in all the different species of flora they’ve cultivated here! Only thing is the price- it’s 12.50€, a bit expensive for a park. Should definitely be more accessible. They offer a free shot of at the end of the tour but they don’t have any non-alcoholic options so that’s a shame. I’d still recommend going here for a relaxing day.

The garden is stunning, with its vast size and a variety of scenic paths to explore. Although we chose to walk uphill, it turned out to be a challenging and arduous climb. Alternatively, there is a convenient cable train that takes you directly to the top of the gardens. Initially, we planned to take the traditional path downwards through the bog, but the line was too long, so we decided to skip it.

For the entry fee of 12,50 you get a lovely walk among beautiful plants and statues and nice museum like expositions. Though a lot was under construction and not accessible when we were there. I do recommend going here if you have the chance if you like seeing nice plants. Though it was not as diverse as your typical botanical garden.

Lovely day out and absolutely lots to see and do. Make sure you are physically able to walk steep inclines, as is/can be strenuous work for a day out. Well worth the visit and there are places to have something to eat. We only went in the one at the furthest end and didn't think much to what was on offer (this is the place you get a free sample to drink with your ticket).

This tropical garden is a really wonderful experience for people of all ages. It's much larger than it seems and has some fantastic displays to explore. You can see the immaculate flora but also flamingos and other birds. It's a multi level experience that has lots of history to learn about on the way. We especially loved the piña coladas on sale in the center! Highly recommend to anyone who takes the cable car in Funchal - it took us about one and a half hours but we didn't see everything in detail as we arrived late. You could easily spend much longer here and also enjoy the restaurant which has great views

Magnificent! Spent her more than 2 hours, Thiec is an Amazing place, peaceful and relaxing. You should not miss: Well maintained gardens and plants, it houses a huge exotic plant's collection, coming from all over the world, together with flamingos, swans, and Koi fish. It Also has Zimbabwean sculpture exhibition, minerals collection (mainly from Brazil and South Africa), Portuguese tiles from different ages spread all around the gardens, amazing Japanese style gardens, and two example of santana typical houses. I don’t understand why it is less popular than the botanical gardens (which also have thousands of review and this place very few). Entrance ticket 12,50€ There a nice cafe inside the garden. Parking lots outside. Few meters from the Church of Our Lady of the Mount and the “Basket ride” starting point and teleferico arrival point from Funchal city center

4-5h of walking among green sceneries

The ride up in the cable car was smooth, and the views were beautiful. The cafe at the top had a unique view down to the coast and served great cakes and coffee, with friendly and helpful table service. The stunning gardens with so many different and exotic plants were superb, and the mineral gallery and African art exhibition made it a very diverse visit that was well worth spending the time.