Day Trip: Funchal's Botanical Garden by Cable Car

• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Are you curious to know what treasures you can find in the Botanical Garden of Funchal? Let a local show you around! This guided tour unveils tropical wonders and endemic treasures in the elevated Botanical Garden. Join your local host for a day of natural beauty with a touch of Funchal's charm!

Destination

Funchal, Portugal

Category

Day Trips

Duration

5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Español, Italiano, Português

Included

• Private Guide
• Entrance ticket Botanical Garden
• Cable Car tickets to Monte and to the Botanical Garden v.v.
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to other attractions than mentioned
• meals or snacks

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at At the entrance of restaurant Esplanada Teleferico - Funchal to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. From Funchal to undefined

   Meet your host and get ready to mount the cable car. Your host will be there by your side to make the journey a more pleasant and enjoyable experience

4. undefined Exploring

   Let your local host show you around the botanical garden of Funchal. Here you can find must-sees, hidden gems, history, cultural treasures, and more! Your host will make sure to provide you with all the answers and insights you might have along the way

5. undefined Off the Beaten Path

   The best part about this private day trip is that you get to experience the botanical garden from a different perspective - through the knowledge of a local!

6. Ask Away!

   Your day trip is 100% private, meaning that it’s only you and your local host exploring the botanical garden. Take advantage of this opportunity and get all the answers and insights to your questions!

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Iain🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Luana)

14 May 2025

We had a fantastic visit to the botanical gardens. Luana was very knowledgable, engaging and fun to be with. Great Day

Anne🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Luana)

11 June 2025

Luana fulfilled our needs and expectations 100%. She is kind and provided us with many information. We recommend her with out a doubt!Perfect guide

Lyn🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Sherryl)

3 June 2025

The tour was interesting but we didn’t quite make it to tasting 10 items; we got to 7. The visit to the market was our first stop and it was a disappointment but the tasting portion was good. Our tour was on a Saturday and started at 2:00 p.m. Unfortunately, we were unaware that many of the merchants sell out by about noon. This is because the locals visit the market on Fridays and Saturdays to stock up on their needs. It would have been nice if this information was available before we booked the tour. Perhaps Withlocals can add a caution to the advertisement for this tasting tour. Also, one of the restaurants didn’t have the tasting item because it wasn’t the season for it; (I believe that was the reason given) so there was a substitution. I’m not sure why we didn’t make it to 10 except that we ran out of time. Sherryl was very nice.Tasting tour

Ray

(About local Sherryl)

28 May 2025

Sherryl is a great host in Funchal. She showed us around some nice places were we could taste and enjoy Madeira. She knows where to go and we had a wonderfull time with her. Highly recommended.Wonderfull way to explore a city

David

(About local Luana)

3 May 2025

We had a wonderful time on the “10 Tastings of Funchal” tour with Luana — one of the highlights of our Madeira trip. It was just the three of us and Luana, which made it feel warm and personal. Even before the tour, she took time to ask about our preferences and dietary needs — a great start! Luana speaks English nearly like a native, and her stories — from Funchal’s cathedral to the history behind the painted doors — gave real depth to what we saw and tasted. She truly made the tour come alive, and without her, it wouldn’t have been the same. We began with exotic and dried fruits at the market — the mango and passionfruit were delicious (pricy! but no need to buy). Then we tried pastries at a bakery — pastel de nata of course, but my favorite was the bola de coco. At another stop, we enjoyed carne de vinha d’alhos, milho frito, and warm bolo do caco — that last one became a favorite we ordered again throughout the week! Later we had poncha (the lemon one is a must!) and my daughter loved her Nikita Morango. My partner is vegetarian and felt fully included, with thoughtful alternatives at every stop. Luana even recommended a great restaurant we visited a few days later. A perfect mix of food, culture, and genuine hospitality — highly recommended, and we would absolutely recommend Luana as your guide!Personal, Delicious & Memorable Food Tour

Sarah🇺🇸 United States

(About local Luana)

10 April 2025

Luana led me on a nice tour through the Funcal market and its surrounding areas. My favorite part was trying many, many new (to me) tropical fruits. I ended up purchasing a monstera fruit that I carried around like a pet for the next few weeks eating the lovely kernels as they ripened. Tripical Fruit!

Katherine

(About local Sherryl)

8 April 2025

Normally I wouldn’t write a bad review, I just would skip it, however in this case I need to be honest. First of all, Sherryl is a very nice women, however she has only lived in Madeira for 3 years and does not seem to know Madeira very well. For instance, we toured with her on a Sunday and she didn’t know any opening times nor did she prepare a tour given things were shut down. Literally she pointed to a building and told us the name. She didn’t know the history, architecture or anything. I knew more from the guide book. We finally decided to leave half way thru to spend our time in better ways. Finally, there is nothing ‘off the beaten track’ in this tour. It’s 100% standard sites. The tour was a big disappointment due to her lack of knowledge.Left half-way thru

Philip

(About local Sherryl)

5 April 2025

We had a wonderful 3-hour food tour around Funchal with Sherryl, booked through Withlocals. The weather was kind to us and the sun came out, adding to a lovely afternoon of sampling a wide variety of traditional Madeiran food and drink. There was plenty to enjoy, and Sherryl’s knowledge and insights into the island’s history really added to the experience. A great way to explore the local culture through its flavours. Personally we would perhaps have liked more history and information about the island and possibly the inclusion of Madeira wine tasting. It was a lovely start to our stay on the island.Sampling Funchal

John🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Sherryl)

1 April 2025

We started our tour with two confusions- firstly our guide wasn’t Sherryl (but we didn’t catch her actual name when she introduced herself). Secondly, our meeting place: the Poncha de Pescador bar, 188 Rue de Santa Maria was a single closed door that looked nothing like a bar or somewhere we’d expect to meet someone. Fortunately, ‘Sherryl’ was nearby and the tour went well from then on. ‘Sherryl’ was very pleasant, helpful and seemed to know the old town well. A very interesting short tour.A very interesting short tour.

Ian🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Volha)

31 March 2025

What a lovely young lady Volha was. We like to take these tours to get a feeling for a new city and it was very useful. It seemed like we covered everything and the day after we were much better prepared to stroll around, knowing much better where we would end up. The cafe where we met has the best Pastel de Nata and went back again for lunch thevday after. Off the main area so we would never have found it. That is what WithLocsls is all about.Great introduction to Funchal

Christine🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Sherryl)

29 March 2025

Cheryl is a lovely lady, she is very knowledgeable and friendly. Our walking tour started in the market, through town and down to the harbour. We learnt a lot about the history and customs of Madeira. Cheryl also gave us lots of info about bus routes and times. There were many opportunities to sample and buy delicious food. Thank you Cheryl xxChristi

Steve🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Volha)

28 March 2025

We met Volha in the park and she then took us on a tour of Funchal taking us to places we would have missed on.Volha was a superb host so easy to talk to and my wife and I had a lovely time.I would thoroughly recommend a tour with Volha if in Funchal.Lovely walk with Volha

Miranda

(About local Luana)

24 February 2025

Our tour with Luana was our first time using With Locals. Luana has great warmth and energy. The tour was was the perfect way to start our stay in Funchal. She even tried to find a specific pastry i requested. She also sent links to me after the tour for activities we mentioned an interest in doing. It was like having a friend show you their town. Great Experience!

Mariya🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Volha)

31 December 2024

Volha adjusted the route of the tour to accommodate us travelling with a baby buggy (not working great on stairs, of which there are many in Funchal!) and showed some lesser known corners of the city. She is very relaxed and easy going, it was interesting to explore her adopted hometown together. Thanks to a chance encounter with a friend of hers we also found out about Oscar Niyemeyer's buildings in Funchal and visited them as well.A nice stroll through Funchal

Della🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Volha)

23 November 2024

I had such a lovely evening with Volha, who is warm, friendly, interesting and she imparted lots of information about Funchal, and Madeira's history. It is lovely to see a place through the eyes of someone who knows and loves it. It felt like meeting a friend! Conversation was easy, and the overall experience was wonderful. We had a fabulous glass of wine and a delicious snack. Highly recommended.A wonderful evening in Funchal

Rosemary🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Sherryl)

29 October 2024

We had SHERYLL as our guide on both tours and we thought she was very good . itour experience was one of pleasant learning and interaction and was relaxed and good. We had difficulty meeting up the first time - wasting time- we were all in the same place but not recognizing each other as leader and participants - we even stood on the same step! if only she had had a badge or a particular coloured jacket or some way so that we could have identified her! this kind of thing is very difficult in a busy and for us - new place- with a different language too and is stressful. That said, we enjoyed ourselves immensely and hope this comment will help future participants- once met up- the identification can disappear. also, e mails are easier than your portal- not everyone carries their passwords around and mobiles do not aleays cooperate, THis is no reflection on Sheryll, but rather for you to consider in your prep and organisation. #Many thanks - we love Madeira and were so glad to have pre booked for these exceptional experiences.Tasters and Hidden gems

Aleeta

(About local Volha)

29 September 2024

Volha was a very welcoming Funchal tour guide. She was very knowledgeable about the history of Funchal and was able to tailor the tour to our interests. She is very friendly and the whole group got along very well with her - like meeting a new friend! Thank you Volha for an amazing tour!Fantastic private tour

Elena🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Volha)

26 September 2024

I had an unforgettable experience exploring Funchal with Volha as a guide! Her deep knowledge of the city’s history, culture, and hidden gems made the tour not only informative but also truly enjoyable. Volha’s passion for Funchal shines through in every story she shares, and her warm personality made the whole experience feel like a walk with a friend. The tour was perfectly paced, covering all the major highlights while also taking us off the beaten path to discover some of Funchal’s best-kept secrets. Whether it was the historical landmarks, the charming local spots, or the breathtaking views, Volha made sure we saw the heart and soul of the city. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to connect with Funchal’s authentic side. Thank you, Volha, for an amazing day and for making Funchal come alive for us! Great expirience 🩷

D🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Volha)

21 September 2024

Es wahr eine enspante und gut organisierte Stadtführung wir können sie gut weiter empfählen . Danke Volha Tolle Führung durch Volha Void

Els

(About local Sherryl)

12 September 2024

Sherryl is a very sweet lady but for us, she is not “a local”… She indeed lives in Madeira but for us a local should be someone who knows all the tips and tricks from eating in Madeira… This is something we missed, instead of “here you can eat a pastel de nata, which is very popular dessert in Portugal” to “here you can buy the most delicious pastel de nata in Madeira”… so in the end we were happy that we did the tour but a bit disappointed in the tour itself…Not local enough

Simone

(About local Luana)

24 August 2024

Luana è stata molto ospitale, ci ha spiegato nei dettagli la storia di Funchal, le tradizioni e le passioni degli abitanti di madeira. Appassionata dell'isola e di tutte le attrazioni che la contraddistinguono. Grazie per tutto e anche per i suggerimenti su dove gustare la Poncha e dove poter cenare.Alla scoperta di funchal!

Jennifer🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sherryl)

13 August 2024

Sherryl was a wonderful guide through the city of Funchal. She is very knowledgeable about the city and the foods we tried. She was easy to talk to and give great recommendations for our stay in Madeira!Great day in Fuchal

Tony🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Luana)

17 July 2024

Luana was great, approachable, friendly and excellent knowledge of Funchal. We really enjoyed the eating experiences, and a great introduction to traditional Madeiran food. Luana was able to recommend several restaurants. We ate at the Santa Maria Restaurant tonight and had a superb meal, which was excellent value. Thoroughly recommend a tour with LuanaEverything we wanted it to be

Marc🇱🇺 Luxembourg

(About local Luana)

10 June 2024

Not much to say except that the tour was exactly what we wanted and totally flexible and adapted to our needs. Luana, with her great personality and knowledge of the island, made this a very enjoyable tour and we highly recommend booking your tours with her."Thank you"

Marieke

(About local Luana)

2 June 2024

On our first day in Funchal we had a great food&foot tour with Luana. She made a program special for our family and took us to very nice and unique places to eat and drink. We needed and extra hour to enjoy everything. Luana is very enthousiast and familiar and she knows a lot about Funchal and Madeira. We give Luana a very high recommandation!Great tour with Luana

Tom🇺🇸 United States

(About local Engerly )

1 May 2024

Engerly was engaging, knowledgeable, and accommodating. She kept the tour interesting with personal and historical anecdotes. We’ll book her again next time we’re in Madeira.Funchal was beautiful

Johan🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Volha)

25 April 2024

Volha is an entertaining young Italian wan living already for years in Madeira. She speaks good english so easy to follow. She did the 10 tasting in her own way and we loved her enthousiasm. Because we also booked a standard Funchal tour, we made it difficult for her to tell and show things we will not see in the other tour. But she managed. Searching for the right places to eat was a challenge altough it is the title of the tour 😁Volha is a really nice guide!

Cathy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Engerly )

24 April 2024

Engerly was very pleasant, and very knowledgable. We saw so much of Funchal. She took us to a nice local cafe for the a delicious treat. I would highly recommend her!Beautiful town and Island

Silvana 🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Volha)

4 April 2024

It was a lovely and interesting time with volha, like walking through her city with a friend and discovering little secrets and hidden beauties. The cable car ride gave us a great overview of the city. It was a pleasure to be with Volha. Absolutely recommendable! Many thanks and best regards from Silvana & Cameron Lovely walk through Funchal