Funchal: Toboggan and Old Town Experience with Tukway

Monte toboggans and painted doors, in one smooth morning. This 2-hour Tukway experience links Funchal’s Old Town with Carreiros do Monte in Monte, plus a stop at the Church of Our Lady of the Mount and fun photo moments along the way.

I love the small group size (up to 5), because you actually hear the guide and get time to look around. I also love the walk through Rua de Santa Maria, where those famous painted doors, cobblestones, and old-house facades turn a short stroll into something memorable.

One watch-out: the toboggan ride costs extra (paid separately), and this tour is not set up for wheelchairs or people with mobility impairments.

Key highlights you will care about

• Painted doors on Rua de Santa Maria, made by different artists, for serious photo payoff in a small area
• Church of Our Lady of the Mount in Monte, a major stop that dates to a structure completed in 1818
• Carreiros do Monte toboggans with a safety briefing and timed, organized fun
• Small-group touring with local guides who explain what you are seeing as you go
• Pickup from hotels or cruise terminals, with a small vehicle that can reach places big buses often cannot
• Blanket provided, a nice touch if the Monte air feels cool

Why Monte and Old Town belong together

Funchal can feel like a city split into two moods. Down by the harbor, you get busy streets and sea-level energy. Up in Monte, you get cooler air, steep lanes, and that calm, church-forward atmosphere that makes people slow down.

This tour strings those moods together in a practical way. You are not just riding from A to B. You are getting the reason for the views, plus a bit of local story that helps the city click into place.

And the Monte part matters. That church stop is a big cultural anchor, and it is timed so you can enjoy the area before the toboggan fun starts.

Getting around by Tukway feels smarter than big buses

The Tukway is the secret ingredient here. It is a small, nimble ride that can maneuver through Funchal without the stop-and-start drag you can get on larger coach tours.

You start with pickup in Funchal, or from the cruise ship terminal. Then you get scenic drive time, with viewpoints along the way, so you ease into the day rather than sprinting straight to attractions.

I especially like that the guides treat the driving time as part of the experience. If your guide is people-focused, you get local context on neighborhoods and the way Madeira’s geography shapes daily life.

Also, you get a blanket. That sounds small until you are higher up and the air cools off.

Old Town on foot: Rua de Santa Maria and its painted-door art

The Old Town portion centers on a simple but genius idea, you walk streets where the details are the attraction.

Rue de Santa Maria is where you get the painted doors. These are not just random decorations. They are door-front artworks created by different artists, so the street feels like an open-air gallery while you move along the cobblestones.

Look for the mix of textures: the stone underfoot, the historic house facades, and the way the doors create bursts of color against older walls. Even if you are not a museum person, this kind of street art makes the walk feel personal.

Practical tip, wear shoes you trust on cobblestones. It is not hard walking, but the footing matters for comfort and photos.

Monte village, the Church of Our Lady of the Mount, and why it matters

The Monte stop is built around the Church of Our Lady of the Mount. The structure you see today was completed in 1818, and it remains one of the most visited sites for both churchgoers and tourists.

What you get here is more than a quick photo stop. The guide frames why Monte drew people historically, and you can feel how the setting supports the religious and cultural role of the church.

Inside or around the area, you get that classic Madeira rhythm: people pause, take in views, and treat the visit as an event. The location gives you natural angles for pictures, too, since Monte sits above Funchal.

If you want a calmer feel, this is the part where you slow down. You can take a breath, look around, and decide how much you want to focus on the church versus the scenery.

Carreiros do Monte: how the toboggan ride works and what it is really like

This is the headline activity, and it is also the part you pay extra for.

The toboggan option is called Carreiros do Monte, and it is traditionally how locals traveled quickly between Monte and Funchal. The ride appeared around the 1850s and it still runs today, which is why it feels more like living tradition than a theme-park stunt.

Here is what to expect in a practical sense:

• You get a safety briefing before you ride
• There is a photo stop and a bit of free time
• The toboggan portion is planned with enough time to stay comfortable, not frantic

The ride itself is brief and intense in the way good street sports are. You get the thrill, then you move on.

One smart strategy that many guides use is timing. Several guides mention going earlier helps you avoid the worst lines, especially during cruise-heavy days. When you can, choose the earliest available slot if your schedule allows it.

Cost note that affects your math: the toboggan tickets are not included. You pay €35 for 2 people separately.

How the 2-hour pace feels in real life

Two hours sounds short, but this tour uses time well.

You spend time in transit with scenic viewpoints, then you get a focused walk in Old Town, then you shift to Monte for the church, then you have the option to add the toboggan ride. You are not stuck doing one single long thing for the full duration.

The scheduling also helps with energy. You are up and down, but the day is broken into chunks. That matters on a steep island where most visitors otherwise burn out quickly.

If you hate rushing, this can still work, as long as you respect the flow. The tour is small-group sized, so it is not slow, but it also is not a sprint.

What you actually get for the money (and what costs extra)

The tour price is listed as $94 per group up to 2. For that, you get pickup and drop-off in Funchal (or cruise terminal), a local driver/guide, and a blanket.

That base price is good value because it includes transportation plus guided storytelling. In places like Madeira, the value is often in the local context, not just the sights themselves.

Then there is the main add-on: the toboggan tickets are €35 for 2 people. If you want the Carreiros do Monte ride, plan for that extra cost from day one so the total does not surprise you.

Also, food and drinks are not included. Tourist attraction tickets are not included either, so if you plan to pay for anything else besides the toboggans, budget separately.

My quick value check:

• Great value if you want both Old Town details and Monte scenery, plus you likely want the toboggan
• Lower value if you skip the toboggan and only want a drive-and-walk tour, because the ride is the most distinct part of the experience

The guide makes or breaks it, and you can stack the odds

This is one of those tours where the guide’s style matters a lot. The best experiences are the ones where someone points out what you might otherwise miss.

From the guide names that show up again and again, like Miguel, Louise, Luis, Ricardo, André, Francisco, Erica, Gil, and Rui, there is a clear pattern. They spend time explaining what you see on the route and at stops, and they also help you with the timing around the toboggan.

A few guides also recommend earlier starts to avoid long queues. It is not magic, but it often makes a difference on cruise days.

A practical tip for your comfort: bring weather-appropriate clothing. Monte air can shift quickly, and you want to feel good when you stop for photos and when the toboggan time comes.

Also consider bringing both card and some cash. One guide even stepped in when someone reached the top and only had a card, so having options reduces stress.

Who this tour suits best, and who should skip it

This experience fits best if you:

• Want a compact Funchal tour with both Old Town street detail and Monte viewpoints
• Enjoy guided context instead of self-guided wandering
• Want a real activity with the toboggan, not just a look-and-go sightseeing day

It is not suitable for:

• Children under 3
• People with mobility impairments
• Wheelchair users

If you are traveling with luggage or bulky items, plan ahead. Luggage or large bags are not allowed, and baby strollers are not allowed either.

If you are comfortable on uneven stones and short walks, you will likely enjoy the pace.

Should you book this Tukway + Monte toboggan experience?

I think you should book it if Monte and the toboggans are on your Madeira list. The combination is unusually efficient: Old Town street art and details in one pocket, then the church and viewpoints in another, then the classic ride that connects the two places historically.

You might skip it if you are only in Funchal for a quick visit and you are on the fence about paying extra for the toboggan. The base tour price is fair, but the true “wow” element is the ride.

Finally, if you can choose the timing, pick earlier. It is not a guarantee of empty lines, but it is the clearest way to reduce waiting and keep the day fun from start to finish.

If you want a Madeira morning that feels locally grounded and not just a checklist, this one is a strong choice.

FAQ

Is the toboggan ride included in the $94 price?

No. The toboggan tickets are paid separately at €35 for 2 people.

How long is the tour?

The duration is 2 hours.

Where do you get picked up?

Pickup is included at Funchal or the cruise ship terminal, with pickup and drop-off also included.

What language is the guide?

The live tour guide speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

What should I bring and wear?

Bring weather-appropriate clothing. Also plan for outdoor walking on cobblestones.

Is this tour suitable for wheelchairs or strollers?

No. Baby strollers are not allowed, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.