Madeira Trip Guide
Madeira Tickets: Official Prices, Trail Slots and What to Book (2026)
Madeira tickets start at $3.44 (€3) for the Porto Moniz pools and the Achadas da Cruz cable car, and this page covers every entry ticket on the island: trail permits, cable cars, gardens, pools and the Porto Santo ferry. For flights, see Madeira airport. The ticket that matters most is not a museum ticket. It is the SIMplifica trail slot, required for every classified walking route. Almost everything else is bought on the day: the Monte cable car, Monte Palace, the toboggan and the pools. The São Vicente caves are closed indefinitely, so there is no ticket to buy. For a whole-trip budget see Madeira costs, and for the island overview Madeira, Portugal in brief.
Quick answer What costs what, what to book ahead, what is closed
Most Madeira tickets are cheap and bought on the day: the Funchal to Monte cable car is $18.37 (€16) one way and Monte Palace $20.70 (€18) at its kiosk or online. The ticket that needs planning is the SIMplifica trail slot, bookable for the same day or the next day with no longer window published. The Porto Santo ferry is sold by the operator at seasonal fares, and boat tours are reserved on their listings. The São Vicente Caves are closed indefinitely, so there is no ticket to buy. One price is not published anywhere official: the CR7 Museum. The Cabo Girão skywalk is $5.74 (€5) on SIMplifica.
Key takeaways
- Every classified trail needs a prior SIMplifica booking since 1 January 2026, from $5.17 (€4.50) a trail, rules on Madeira trail fees.
- The Monte cable car is $18.37 (€16) one way and $25.30 (€22) return, paid at the station.
- The Porto Santo ferry costs $82.70 (€72.02) return in high season and $67.60 (€58.90) from October to March, before the fuel surcharge.
- For guided options that bundle a ticket or a permit, the PR8 transfer with permit at $36.00 is the cheapest, and the rest are on Madeira tours.
Every Paid Entry in Madeira Compared, With the Official Price
Each price below comes from the operator's or the council's own website, or from IFCN, converted at €1 = $1.1481. The table compares the adult price, where you buy the ticket and whether buying ahead matters.
| Ticket | Adult price | Where you buy it | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classified trail (PR) booking | $5.17 (€4.50) a trail | SIMplifica portal, online only | Yes, same or next day only |
| PR1 full crossing | $12.06 (€10.50) | SIMplifica portal | Yes, same or next day only |
| Trail passes (1, 3 or 7 days) | $10.33 (€9) to $60.30 (€52.50) | SIMplifica portal | Bought with the slot, applied automatically |
| Funchal-Monte cable car | $18.37 (€16) one way, $25.30 (€22) return | At the station | No |
| Monte-Botanical Garden cable car | $12.63 (€11) one way, $18.37 (€16) return | At the station | No |
| Madeira Botanical Garden | $11.48 (€10) | At the gate | No |
| Monte Palace Tropical Garden | $20.70 (€18) | Kiosk only, no online sale | No |
| Monte toboggan | $34.40 (€30) one person | At the rank, same day only | No, and no Sundays |
| Blandy's Wine Lodge tour | $19.52 (€17) Lodge Tour | At the lodge, Avenida Arriaga 28 | Not stated on the tours page |
| Porto Moniz natural pools | $3.44 (€3) | At the pools | No |
| Achadas da Cruz cable car | $3.44 (€3) one trip, $5.74 (€5) round trip | Ticket office at the cable car | No |
| Porto Santo ferry, tourist return | $82.70 (€72.02) high season, $67.60 (€58.90) off-season | Porto Santo Line | Our reading: yes, to fix the sailing |
| Desertas Islands visit | Authorisation required | IFCN authorisation via SIMplifica, on private or licensed boats | Yes, always |
Two entries sit outside this table: the CR7 Museum price is not published by anyone official, and the São Vicente Caves are closed so no ticket exists. The Cabo Girão skywalk ticket, $5.74 (€5), is covered on the Cabo Girão page. Figures current in Q3 2026.
Trail Tickets: SIMplifica Slot or a Transfer
Since 1 January 2026 every classified trail needs a prior booking on the SIMplifica portal, and IFCN takes no bookings or payments at its offices. This table compares the official booking with the transfer tours that bundle the drive, and states what each price actually covers.
Are you paying for the right to walk, or for someone to drive you to the start and collect you at the end?
| Option | Price | What it covers | Cancel | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIMplifica trail bookingConfident hikers with a hired car who only need the legal right to walk | $5.17 (€4.50) a trail, PR1 full crossing $12.06 (€10.50) | The slot and the fee only, no transport | Refund only if the trail is officially closed that day, requested within 10 working days | Official site |
| PR8 transfer with permitWalkers who want the PR8 permit handled and the trailhead drive sorted in one booking | $36.00 | Round-trip transfer from Funchal, Caniço, Santa Cruz or Machico, the PR8 trail permit and a digital map, self-guided | Free up to 24 hours before | Check Availability |
| PR1 transfer with permit helpHikers doing the PR1 ridge who want pickup at Achada do Teixeira and help with the permit booking | $38.00 | Sunrise transfer to Pico do Areeiro, return pickup after the hike, permit booking assistance, the fee itself paid separately to IFCN | Free up to 24 hours before | Check Availability |
| Pico do Arieiro sunrise transferSunrise walkers who already have their own permit and just need both ends of the trail covered | $56.00 | Transfer only, hotel pickup included, no permit bundled, the PR1 permit is the hiker's own responsibility | Free up to 24 hours before | Check Availability |
| Rabaçal levada transferLevada walkers heading to Rabaçal, where the last road is closed to private cars | $50.00 | Transfer to Rabaçal for the 25 Fontes and Risco trails with a route map, the trail fee is separate | Free up to 24 hours before | Check Availability |
If you have a car, book the SIMplifica slot and drive. If not, the PR8 transfer with permit is the one listing that covers the permit and the transport in one price.
Monte Tickets: Cable Car, Garden and Toboggan
Monte holds three separate tickets from three different sellers, and every price here comes from the operator's own site or the tour listing. The table separates what you buy yourself on the day from the tuk-tuk tours that bundle a ride.
Do you want the ride up and down on your own schedule, or a driver who waits?
| Option | Price | What it covers | Cancel | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funchal-Monte cable carAnyone who wants to ride up to Monte on their own timetable | $18.37 (€16) one way, $25.30 (€22) return | The ride, daily 08:45-17:45, ages 7-14 half price, under 7 free | Not stated | Official site |
| Monte toboggan at the rankVisitors who want the classic wicker sledge down the hill | $34.40 (€30) one, $45.90 (€40) two | The run down to Livramento, Monday to Saturday 09:00-18:00, ends away from where it starts so you need a ride onward | Same-day tickets only, no online booking | Official site |
| Monte toboggan tuk-tuk tourTravellers who want the toboggan ride bundled with sightseeing and hotel pickup in a private group | $46.00 | Private tuk-tuk tour of Monte and Funchal Old Town with the wicker basket toboggan ride and hotel pickup included | Free up to 24 hours before | Check Availability |
| Tuk-tuk with cable car finaleVisitors short on time who want a city tour and the cable car ride in one go | $92.00 | Two-hour small-group tuk-tuk tour of Funchal with the Monte cable car ride up included, toboggan not included | Free up to 24 hours before | Check Availability |
Our pick is to buy the cable car at the station and the toboggan at the rank yourself, within the toboggan's Monday to Saturday 09:00-18:00 hours, and skip the bundle unless you want the tuk-tuk sightseeing too.
Porto Santo Tickets: Ferry First, Then the Island
Porto Santo is the one ferry ticket on this page. Prices below are the operator's own 2026 tourist-class list for adults without the Social Mobility Allowance discount, with the fuel surcharge extra, plus the island 4x4 tour for once you are there.
Is the crossing the trip, or is the island?
| Option | Price | What it covers | Cancel | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porto Santo Line return, tourist classAnyone planning a day trip or a stay on Porto Santo's golden-sand beach | $82.70 (€72.02) April-September, $67.60 (€58.90) off-season | Adult return crossing on the Lobo Marinho, fuel surcharge extra, the operator currently states the crossing takes 3 hours 15 minutes for technical reasons | See the operator's terms | Official site |
| Porto Santo 4x4 highlightsVisitors already on Porto Santo who want the island's highlights shown in a day | $57.00 | Seven-hour open-air 4x4 island tour with hotel pickup on Porto Santo, the ferry crossing is not included | Free up to 24 hours before | Check Availability |
Book the crossing on the operator's site, then decide on the island 4x4 tour once you know the weather. The ferry fares for children and one-way tickets are on Porto Santo.
Tours That Include a Ticket or a Permit
These tours either bundle an entry ticket, handle a trail permit, or cover places that are free to enter. Prices are the platform's listed US dollar prices and each one can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before.
from $36.00
Caniçal Transfer for the PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço Hike
A shared transfer to the PR8 trailhead at Ponta de São Lourenço, Madeira's easternmost tip, with the trail permit and a digital map included.
Check Availability
from $38.00
Pico do Arieiro Sunrise & Ruivo PR1 Hike Transfer
A timed sunrise transfer to Pico do Arieiro with a return pickup after the PR1 ridge hike toward Pico Ruivo, plus permit booking help.
Check Availability
from $56.00
Funchal Pico do Arieiro Sunrise Hiking Transfer
A transfer-only package to Pico do Arieiro for sunrise, with a later pickup from Achada do Teixeira for hikers doing the PR1 trail on their own.
Check Availability
from $50.00
Rabaçal: 25 Fontes & Risco Levada Hiking Transfer
A transfer to Rabaçal covering both the 25 Fontes and Risco waterfall levadas, with a route map instead of a guided walk.
Check Availability
from $46.00
Funchal Monte Toboggan and Old Town Tour by Tuk-Tuk
A private tuk-tuk tour of Monte and Funchal's Old Town with the classic wicker basket toboggan ride and hotel pickup included.
Check Availability
from $92.00
Funchal 2-Hour Tuk-Tuk Tour with Cable Car Finale
A 2 hour small-group Funchal tuk-tuk tour ending with a ride on the Monte cable car, with a local driver-guide and fuel included.
Check Availability
from $23.00
H.M. Borges Winery Guided Tour with Wine Tasting
A short guided tour of the H.M. Borges winery in central Funchal with a wine tasting of 2 to 6 pours, paired with local sweets.
Check Availability
from $19.00
Funchal Old Town Walking Tour
A 2 hour small-group walk through Funchal's Old Town, the Jesuits' College, the Farmers' Market, a wine lodge and a historic sweet factory.
Check Availability
from $57.00
Porto Santo Island Highlights 4x4 Tour with Hotel Transfers
A 4x4 tour of Porto Santo's highlights, including its 9km golden-sand beach, with hotel pickup once on the island.
Check Availability
from $79.00
Madeira Skywalk, Porto Moniz, Seixal & Fanal 4WD Tour
A full-day open-roof Land Rover tour reaching Porto Moniz, Seixal, Fanal forest and Ponta do Sol, with a lunch break and free pickup.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.
Which Madeira Tickets to Book Ahead, and Which at the Door
Almost everything on Madeira is a walk-up purchase, and planning around that saves both time and money. This section sorts the island's tickets into the short list worth booking and the long list you simply buy on arrival, using each operator's own sales rules.
Book Ahead
Only three tickets reward advance planning. Everything else on the island can wait until you are standing in front of the kiosk.
- The SIMplifica trail slot. Bookings open for the same day or the next day only, so this is not far-ahead planning, but you cannot pay at the trail. IFCN takes no bookings at its offices.
- The Porto Santo ferry. The return crossing is $82.70 (€72.02) from April to September, and a booking fixes your sailing on a crossing the operator currently says takes 3 hours 15 minutes.
- Any boat tour. Whale and dolphin trips leave from Funchal marina and are reserved on their listings, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. The seasons are on whale watching in Madeira.
Buy on the Day
These tickets are sold at the door, on the day, and Monte Palace and the toboggan state plainly that they sell nothing online.
- The Funchal cable car to Monte, sold at the station daily 08:45-17:45.
- Monte Palace, kiosk or online at the same price, under 15 free with an adult.
- The Monte toboggan, same-day tickets only at the rank, and it does not run on Sundays.
- The Botanical Garden and the short cable car across to it.
- The Porto Moniz natural pools at $3.44 (€3) and the Achadas da Cruz cable car at its ticket office.
- Blandy's Wine Lodge tours on Avenida Arriaga, from $19.52 (€17) for the Lodge Tour. The lodge's tours page we read does not say whether to book ahead.
Sources: Madeira Cable Car, Monte Palace visit page, Carreiros do Monte, Blandy's tours, IFCN fees FAQ.
The Trail Fee System in Brief
Every classified PR trail now carries a fee for non-resident visitors, charged at the moment you book the entry slot on SIMplifica. The portal applies the cheapest rate automatically, so this table shows what each option costs and whether it covers the PR1 crossing.
Non-residents pay per trail, or buy a 1, 3 or 7 day pass that covers two or more trails. Passes never include PR1, which is always priced separately. The system applies the cheapest rate automatically, so you never overpay by choosing the wrong product.
| Fee | Non-resident price | Includes PR1? |
|---|---|---|
| One trail | $5.17 (€4.50) | No |
| PR1 Pico do Areeiro to Pedra Rija only | $5.17 (€4.50) | Only to Pedra Rija |
| PR1 full crossing | $12.06 (€10.50) | Yes |
| 1-day pass | $10.33 (€9) | No |
| 3-day pass | $25.80 (€22.50) | No |
| 7-day pass | $60.30 (€52.50) | No |
Who Walks Free but Still Books
Three groups pay no fee but must still hold a booking: Madeira residents, children aged 12 and under, and people with a disability of 60% or higher plus one companion. The booking is free for them but the slot system applies all the same. Note that the fee buys the right to walk, nothing else.
On the PR1 crossing, IFCN provides no transport back to a car left at Pico do Areeiro, you leave Pico Ruivo by PR1.1 to Ilha or PR1.2 to Achada do Teixeira.
Source: IFCN fees FAQ. The full walk-through is on Madeira trail fees.
Who Pays Less, Venue by Venue
Reduction rules differ from one operator to the next, and no single rule covers the island. This table gathers the child ages and concession categories exactly as each operator's own site states them, so you can see who qualifies where.
Children's thresholds range from under 7 free at the cable car to under 15 free at Monte Palace, and Blandy's charges teenagers up to 17, so check the row for each venue before you go.
| Venue | Children | Other reductions |
|---|---|---|
| Funchal-Monte cable car | Under 7 free, ages 7-14 half price | None listed |
| Monte-Botanical Garden cable car | Under 7 free, ages 7-14 $6.89 (€6) one way, $10.33 (€9) return | None listed |
| Madeira Botanical Garden | Under 6 free, ages 6-12 $3.44 (€3) | None listed |
| Monte Palace Tropical Garden | Under 15 free with an adult | School groups free with prior registration |
| Blandy's Wine Lodge | Under 6 free, ages 6-17 $9.64 (€8.40) | None listed |
| Porto Moniz natural pools | 3 and under free | Municipal residents $0.57 (€0.50), students and over-65s $1.72 (€1.50), 60% disability card free |
| Achadas da Cruz cable car | None listed | Over-65s and students $1.15 (€1) one trip, municipal card $1.15 (€1) round trip |
| Porto Santo ferry | Under 5 free with a ticket, ages 5-11 $41.30 (€36) return April-September | Lower fares for passengers entitled to the Social Mobility Allowance |
| Classified trails | 12 and under free, booking still required | Residents free, 60% or higher disability plus one companion free |
Sources: Madeira Cable Car, Teleférico do Jardim Botânico, IFCN Botanical Garden, Monte Palace, Blandy's, Porto Moniz pools, Achadas da Cruz cable car, Porto Santo Line price list.
Monte and the Botanical Garden on One Ticket
The Monte to Botanical Garden cable car is run by a different company from the Funchal to Monte line, and it sells the only combined ride and entry ticket on the island. This table compares its fares with the garden gate price, from the two operators' own pages.
Read the combined column against the garden's own gate price of $11.48 (€10) for visitors over 12. The combined ticket is sold by the cable car operator, MTA, and its tickets stay valid for 12 months.
| Ticket | Adult | Child 7-14 |
|---|---|---|
| Cable car only, one way | $12.63 (€11) | $6.89 (€6) |
| Cable car only, return | $18.37 (€16) | $10.33 (€9) |
| Cable car plus garden, one way | $21.80 (€19) | $10.33 (€9) |
| Cable car plus garden, return | $27.60 (€24) | $13.78 (€12) |
Which One to Buy
Our sum: the one-way cable car and the garden bought separately come to €21 for an adult, so the combined one-way ticket at $21.80 (€19) saves €2. That is the ticket we would buy, riding up from Funchal on the Funchal cable car, across to the garden, then down by bus or taxi. The cable car runs daily 09:00-17:00 with last boarding at 16:50, and the garden sells tickets until 17:30, so start the crossing by mid-afternoon.
Under 7s ride free. The garden itself is covered on the Botanical Garden page.
Sources: Teleférico do Jardim Botânico, fares, IFCN Botanical Garden visitor information.
Tickets You Cannot Buy, and Prices Nobody Publishes
Not every attraction on Madeira has a working ticket, and two well-known entries have no official price anywhere online. This section says plainly what you cannot buy, so you do not plan a day around a closed door or chase a figure that no official source prints.
São Vicente Caves
The São Vicente Caves and Volcanism Centre are closed for an indefinite period for maintenance works, per the caves' own site and the São Vicente council. There is no ticket to buy and no reopening date. Do not build a north-coast day around them.
Visit Madeira describes the caves as formed 890 thousand years ago with an underground trail of about 700 metres, which is what you will be missing. The São Vicente Caves page follows the closure.
Cabo Girão Skywalk
The glass platform at Cabo Girão is ticketed through the regional SIMplifica portal: $5.74 (€5) per adult, free for children 12 and under, Madeira residents and wheelchair users, daily 08:00-20:00, under Portaria 591/2025. Some older pages still quote €2, which is out of date. Visit Madeira gives the cape's height as 580 metres.
CR7 Museum
The museum's own site is a JavaScript app whose readable pages carry no price and no hours. We print none. If the CR7 Museum matters to you, confirm at the door in Funchal on the day.
The Rabaçal Shuttle
The last road section to Casa do Rabaçal is closed to private cars. You park above and walk down, or take a local shuttle van. No official fare exists for the shuttle, so we print none.
If you would rather not deal with it, the Rabaçal levada transfer drops you at the trailheads for $50.00.
Sources: São Vicente Caves official site, Câmara Municipal de São Vicente, Área Protegida do Cabo Girão, Museu CR7, Câmara Municipal da Calheta, PR6.
Where to Go Next
Ticket prices are one piece of planning. These pages take the next step, from the trail fee rules in detail to what the island costs overall.
Madeira Trail Fees
The SIMplifica booking system in full, with every rate and exemption. Read the trail fee rules before your first hike.
Monte Cable Car and Toboggan Tickets
The Monte tickets in the order you use them. See the Monte ticket guide.
Madeira Tours
Every tour beside what the same day costs on your own. Compare the tours.
Things to Do
The 24 sights on one map, with the ones that charge entry marked. Open the list.
Porto Santo
The ferry fares by season and what to do once you land. Plan Porto Santo.
Madeira Costs
What the whole trip adds up to beyond the tickets. See Madeira costs.
Madeira Tickets: Questions
Do I need to book Madeira attraction tickets in advance?
Almost never. Only three things reward booking ahead: the SIMplifica trail slot, the Porto Santo ferry and any boat tour. The cable cars, gardens and pools all sell tickets at the door, as the price comparison above shows.
Which Madeira tickets can I buy at the door?
Most of them: the Funchal to Monte cable car, the Monte to Botanical Garden cable car, the Botanical Garden, Monte Palace at its kiosk, the toboggan at the rank Monday to Saturday, the Porto Moniz pools and the Achadas da Cruz cable car. The list with prices is in the comparison table.
Can I buy Monte Palace tickets online?
Yes, but it is optional. Monte Palace Tropical Garden sells tickets online on its own site and at the kiosk, both at $20.70 (€18), with under 15s free with an adult. Details on Monte Palace.
Is the São Vicente Caves ticket on sale?
No. The caves are closed for an indefinite period for maintenance works, so there is no ticket to buy and no reopening date published. See São Vicente Caves.
Is there a combined Madeira attraction ticket for Monte?
Only one: the Monte to Botanical Garden cable car sells ride plus garden entry at $21.80 (€19) one way or $27.60 (€24) return. The Funchal to Monte cable car, Monte Palace and the toboggan are each sold separately. See the combined ticket section.
Do children pay for Madeira tickets?
It varies by venue. Under 7s ride the Funchal cable car free, under 15s enter Monte Palace free with an adult, and children 12 and under walk the classified trails free, though a booking is still required. Each rule is in the who pays less table above.
Booking a Trail Ticket on Film
The trail slot is the ticket most visitors get wrong, so these three videos show the SIMplifica booking screens.
How to pay the fees to access the classified hiking trails?
The regional government agency walks through the SIMplifica trail payment, the one ticket that matters most.
Video: Agência de Inovação e Modernização da MadeiraHow to Reserve Hiking Slots in Madeira 2026 - Tutorial
A screen-by-screen booking of a trail slot, from choosing the route to the confirmation.
Video: Beyond MadeiraPurchasing Tickets for Visiting Classified Walking Trails - Madeira Island
A second walk-through of the same portal, handy if the first one moved too fast.
Video: Hiking MadeiraVideos load from YouTube only when you press play.
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