Cable Car to Funchal Gardens

If you take the shuttle into town - you'll be within a couple of blocks of the famous market - if you carry on past that market for another 10 min or so - keeping the foreshore on your left. Ask anyone they will direct you.

If like you get there and find a horrendous queue - catch the local bus up the hill - costs about euro 1 not 12 - and is just as exciting as the bus is large, the roads are narrow, windy, and 2 way. Really its a great bus ride (and I come from a hilly town I'm not easily impressed). We took the cable car back down (both the bus and the cable car end up in the same place). The gardens at the top will take hours and its a fantastic day out.

Google Maps will direct you to the start of the cable car, if you need it, but when you are close, just look for the cables in the air and follow them to the bottom.

You need two cable cars to get to the garden. One from the "Jardim do Almirante Reis" (at the bottom near the coast) to "Monte Palace Madeira" (at the top with a fantastic view) and another (called "Teleférico do Jardim Botânico") down to the garden.

You take the same cable car back to the top and then you can select to go down by the cable car or the sleigh (https://www.carreirosdomonte.com/) down - if you dare. I was scared stiff, but my wife enjoyed it.

Last time we walked down. DON'T DO THAT. Our legs were stiff and sore for three days.

Thank you both. Your suggestions were exactly what I was looking for. BTW- I have read about several accidents on that toboggan sled. No, thank you. A horrible way to quickly end your vacation!