Funchal: Toboggan and Old Town Experience with Tukway

Monte in Madeira is where the fun starts, and this Tukway tour ties it to Funchal’s Old Town so you get two sides of the island in just 2 hours. I love the mix of Rua de Santa Maria painted doors and the classic Carreiros do Monte toboggans, and it helps that guides like Miguel, Louise, Luis, and Ricardo are so chatty and organized.

My favorite part is walking the old streets around Santa Maria, where the doors are covered in art that makes the whole block feel like an outdoor gallery. I also like how Monte isn’t just a photo stop, you visit the Church of Our Lady of the Mount, completed in 1818, and the guide connects it to the way people live and pray in Madeira.

One thing to plan for is cost: the toboggan ride is optional and paid separately with tickets priced at €35 for 2 people, so your final total is higher than the base tour price.

Key things I’d watch for before you go

• Small group (up to 5), so you actually get answers and time for photos.
• Rua de Santa Maria painted doors plus a real stroll on cobblestones.
• Monte’s Church of Our Lady of the Mount (1818), a major stop in just the right amount of time.
• Carreiros do Monte toboggans with a safety briefing and a photo pause.
• Pick an earlier time slot when cruise ships are around, to reduce the chance of long waits for the run.

Why this Tukway tour feels different than a standard coach ride

This is the kind of tour that works because it is small and practical. A bigger bus drops you off and moves on, but a Tukway-style setup gets you up to Monte and back through Funchal with a guide who can point out what matters while you’re already in motion.

The best part is that your day has a built-in rhythm. You start with Old Town streets, shift up to Monte for the church, then switch gears into action with the toboggans. That flow keeps it fun, and it also makes the views feel earned instead of random.

If you’re the type of traveler who likes shortcuts to meaning, this tour fits. You don’t just see places, you learn the names and stories as you go, with guides who are often locals, including people like André, Gil, and Erica.

Old Town Funchal on Rua de Santa Maria, painted doors and cobblestones

Your tour moves through Funchal with a guided start, then you spend time walking around Rua de Santa Maria. This is one of those stretches where the details do the heavy lifting: cobblestone floors, old house facades, and the painted doors.

The painted doors are the star. Different artists painted them, so each doorway has its own personality. I like that you’re not hunting for a single attraction, you’re wandering a corridor of art, and you get a local take on what you’re looking at as you go.

Practical tip: wear shoes that can handle uneven cobbles. It’s not a marathon, but the walk is real enough that good grip helps, especially if weather is damp.

Also, you’ll get photo stops built into the route. That matters because in places like Old Town, the best angles are often the ones you catch while you’re moving slowly, not while you’re racing to the next stop.

Monte’s Church of Our Lady of the Mount, why this stop lands

After you leave Funchal’s center, you head toward Monte, a neighborhood known for its viewpoints and religious draw. The tour includes a visit to the Church of Our Lady of the Mount, with the structure visible today completed in 1818.

This church isn’t just scenic, it’s part of Madeira’s ongoing culture. Even in a short visit, you can feel that it matters to churchgoers and tourists alike, which is why it’s such a common waypoint on the island. The guide’s job here is to connect the architecture and location to the human story, not just point out buildings.

What I like: it gives you a breather before the toboggan ride. You get a calm stop, then you shift into adrenaline.

What you might consider: if you’re expecting a long, in-depth cathedral-style visit, this tour is compact. It is designed for movement, so you’ll get a meaningful stop without turning it into a half-day church tour.

Carreiros do Monte toboggans, the fun part that costs extra

The highlight for many people is the toboggan ride in Monte, known as Carreiros do Monte. This isn’t a modern amusement-only idea. It started as a way for locals to travel quickly between Monte village and Funchal, with the tradition appearing around the 1850s, and it is still in use today.

On the day, you have a dedicated toboggan segment with a safety briefing, plus time for photos and a bit of breathing room. You’ll also have free time during this block, which is helpful if you want to check how things work before you commit to riding.

Two practical notes for your decision:

• The toboggan tickets are paid separately, at €35 for 2 people.
• The ride is not suitable for everyone, including people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users, and it is not for children under 3 years.

If you want to ride, plan to bring the right clothing. Even though you get a blanket included with the tour, weather in Madeira can shift quickly, and the toboggan area can feel cooler than Funchal streets.

The timing in a 2-hour tour, how you avoid feeling rushed

This is a tight, well-paced loop. You get pickup in Funchal or from the cruise ship terminal, then a guided drive through Funchal for about 20 minutes. Next, you spend around 10 minutes heading up toward Monte with views along the route.

The Monte toboggan portion is about 30 minutes, including the safety briefing and the photo stop. After that, you come back down to Funchal for another set of guided time, including a visit and walk around Rua de Santa Maria, plus more scenic stops.

So what does that mean for you?

• If you only have a short window, this tour is built for it.
• If you hate feeling stuck in lines, the pacing helps, because you are not waiting around all day.

One more piece of advice I’d follow: try to book an earlier slot if you’re visiting on a cruise day. When cruise crowds hit, the toboggan run can get busier, and guides in past experiences have suggested earlier starts to help. Even if you don’t know what day you’ll be on, picking the earliest available time you can manage is a smart hedge.

Tukway small-group comfort, blankets, and what to bring

This tour runs with a small group, limited to 5 participants. That small size is not just a “nice to have.” It makes it easier to hear your guide, ask questions, and stay together during short walks and photo stops.

Pickup and drop-off are included at your hotel in Funchal or at the cruise ship terminal. And the tour includes a blanket, which is a quiet but useful detail if the air is cooler on the way to Monte or during the wait around the toboggans.

Bring weather-appropriate clothing. Madeira can move from sun to clouds fast, and Monte sits higher, so it can feel different than the harbor.

Also read the “bring and don’t bring” list closely:

• Baby strollers are not allowed.
• Luggage or large bags are not allowed.

If you’re traveling with only a day bag, you’ll be fine. If you have bigger luggage, think about storing it before your pickup.

Price and value, what the $94 base covers and what to budget

The base price is listed at $94 per group up to 2, which is great if you’re going as a couple or small duo. For that, you get pickup and drop-off in Funchal (or the cruise terminal), a local driver/guide, and the blanket, plus guided sightseeing time around Funchal and Monte.

Then comes the one extra payment that matters: the toboggan tickets. You pay €35 for 2 people separately for the ride. That means your total cost depends on whether you actually ride. If you skip the toboggans, you still get the Old Town and Monte church parts of the experience.

Here’s the value math I use when deciding:

• If you want the toboggan experience, you’re buying an activity that is hard to replicate on your own without local know-how.
• If you mostly want pretty streets and the church, the tour still works, but you may feel the extra cost is not worth it unless you’re committed to the ride.

So, if toboggans are on your Madeira must-do list, this combo tour is a solid way to pack it in without spending extra time transferring between places.

Who should book this tour, and who should skip it

This is a strong match if you:

• Want a fun, active Madeira experience without a full day of logistics.
• Like guided context, not just photos.
• Are traveling with a limited schedule, including cruise stops.
• Prefer small-group touring where your guide notices what you’re curious about.

In past experiences with this kind of tour, guides like Luis, Ricardo, and André have been praised for being friendly, professional, and good at explaining local history and viewpoints. That type of guide makes a short tour feel longer in the best way.

Skip it if you:

• Use a wheelchair or have mobility impairments, since it is not suitable.
• Are traveling with children under 3 years old.

And if you’re the kind of traveler who wants long, independent free time at every stop, this may feel too structured. This tour is meant to move.

Should you book the Tukway Monte toboggan and Old Town combo?

I think you should book it if you want the signature Madeira mix: Monte viewpoints plus toboggan tradition, paired with Funchal Old Town details like Rua de Santa Maria’s painted doors. It’s compact, guided, and the small-group size helps a lot with comfort and timing.

Book with a toboggan mindset, though. The real payoff is the ride, and that’s where you spend extra. If you’re on the fence, still consider going early and using the tour’s guidance to help you decide once you’re there.

If you’re easygoing about short walks and you like getting orientation fast in a new city, this is a smart use of a 2-hour window.

If you tell me your travel month and whether you’re arriving by cruise, I can also suggest the best kind of timing to aim for on Madeira.

FAQ

How long is the Tukway Old Town and Monte toboggan experience?

It runs for about 2 hours.

Is pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included at Funchal locations or the cruise ship terminal.

Are the toboggan tickets included in the price?

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

How big is the group?

It is a small group with a maximum of 5 participants.

What languages are the live guides available in?

The live guide is available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

What should I bring?

Bring weather-appropriate clothing. A blanket is included with the tour.

Is this tour suitable for young children or people with mobility issues?

It is not suitable for children under 3 years old, and it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users.