Toboggan Ride in Madeira with children

Known for its stunning landscapes and delicate climate Madeira offers a wide range of activities for tourists, but one of the most memorable and family-friendly activities is sledging.

Toboggan Ride in Madeira with children is a really fun activity to do with children. The locals call it “Monte Toboggan” and Jolita’s family from “Travel 4 kids” with Greta and Oskaras have tried it out and are sharing their experiences with you. We highly recommend it and Greta and Oskaras would love to do it again!

Toboggan Ride in Madeira with children – the story

Sleigh rides in Madeira date back to the 19th century, when this was a quick way to get from the mountains to the city centre. Today, sledges are more of a tourist attraction than a means of transport, but they still retain their old tradition. The sledges (toboggans) are wooden, woven and have a base made of local eucalyptus, which reduces friction when travelling down the slope.

Toboggan Ride in Madeira with children

The ride starts in Monte, which is above Funchal, the capital of Madeira. Here, visitors can see the church and the beautiful gardens before getting on the sledge. The sleigh ride is about 2 kilometres down the mountain, starting at 500 metres.

The sleighs are driven by “carreiros”, drivers wearing white suits and traditional hats.

Safety comes first, and although the ride may seem a little extreme, it is actually very safe. The carreiros are very experienced and ensure that the ride runs smoothly and safely.

Toboggan Ride in Madeira with children: practical information

Location

The ride starts in the Monte area, which is above Funchal. You can get to the town of Monte by bus and by car. You will definitely find somewhere to leave your car here. You can also take a cable car up to Monte.

Opening times and best times to arrive

The entertainment is organised daily from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:45, except Sundays. Please note that due to weather conditions, it may be closed on other days. But make no mistake, at least as we were told, rain is no obstacle to sledging. Children can only ride with adults.

By the way, our observation was that the queues were much smaller in the afternoon, both at the ticket office and while waiting for the attraction.

Duration of the fun

One ride usually lasts about 10 minutes, depending on weather and traffic. However, queues can last up to few hour.

Prices

The price for the sledges is 27,50 €/one person, 35,00 €/two persons and 47,50 €/three persons. On the first day we planned to take advantage of this attraction by cable car. However, when we arrived at the ticket office in the afternoon, we were told that we had to pay in cash. For our family it would have cost €70 and we didn’t have that amount, so we decided to come the next day. The next day we already had the required amount in cash, but when we arrived before lunch, we paid perfectly well by card.

Your “drivers” will definitely ask for tips – so be prepared have some for to tips. Photographers’ assistants will meet you at the end with your photos – the price per photo is another €10.

By the way, once you have landed with the sledge, you can return to Monte by bus or taxi (cost 20 euros).

Our advices

• Queues were much smaller in the afternoon, both at the box office and while waiting for entertainment.
• Need cash – for entertainment, tips, taxis, photos.
• If you have to wait in a queue, leave one family member waiting and walk around with the kids. There’s a free botanical garden nearby, and you’ll find a waterhole with ducks if you climb the steps.
• We found free parking above the church in Monte, as the parking by the funicular and the botanical garden can be busy.
• If you don’t want to worry and want an organised excursion – with a drop-off/pick-up from/to Monte Town including the landing attraction – buy an organised excursion on the website of our partner attractions.

Toboggan Ride in Madeira are a great activity not only with children, but also for adults who want a slightly different adventure. It is not only a pleasant way to spend time, but also an opportunity to get to know the culture and history of Madeira. Make sure you include this activity in your Madeira holiday plan.

And finally, is it scary? Definitely not! It’s well organised, the “carreiros” often ask if everything is OK, if it’s fun, if it’s not scary – it’s a really safe and fun activity for the whole family!

Traveling to Madeira with children – impressions of our friends from Madeira.

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