Stay in Monte
Walk back to your parked car and continue exploring Madeira by road.
Walk back to the carA self-guided journey from Studio Geek Villa
Wake Up
in Monte
Discover the village above Funchal.
Most travellers come up to Monte for a few hours. You have the privilege of waking up inside it.
Begin with the view from Studio Geek Villa, drive to historic Monte and continue on foot through overlooked stories, gardens and traditions. Finish beside the cable car, where you can either return to your vehicle or descend over Funchal.
2–4 hflexible experience
Walk + drivetravel style
Studio Geekstarting point
What you’ll discover
- Your viewpoint over Funchal and the Atlantic
- The Emperor’s last home and resting place
- Monte’s former railway and panoramic walk
- The church, wicker baskets and Monte Palace
- An optional cable-car descent to central Funchal
GuideFree for our guests
TicketsOnly for optional paid attractions
FormatFlexible—pause or shorten it
CarParked in Monte during the walk
Check current attraction opening hours before choosing this experience for the day.
01 · Studio Geek Villa
You are looking down from Monte
— metres above sea level
From this green hillside, the land falls towards Funchal and the Atlantic. This elevated perspective is part of what made Monte a place of retreat above the city.
Pause and notice
Look at how tightly Funchal fits between the mountain slopes and the sea.
Prepare to leave
Wear comfortable shoes, take water and check the weather. Madeira has many microclimates, and conditions can vary throughout the day.
02 · A short drive
Leave the car. Enter the story.
Drive to the parking area beside Quinta Jardins do Imperador. At the time this guide was prepared, parking here was free. Always follow current signs and restrictions on arrival.
Free parking near historic MonteApproximately — from the villa
Remember where your car is
If you descend to Funchal by cable car, you must later return to Monte by cable car, bus or taxi. The experience will help you choose near the end.
03 · Quinta Jardins do Imperador
An emperor’s final refuge
Behind these gates lies a quiet chapter of European history.
Charles I, the last emperor of Austria and king of Hungary, arrived in Madeira in exile in 1921. He spent his final months here in Monte, where the cooler, damp climate and the isolation of the quinta shaped the last chapter of his life.
He died in 1922. Later in this journey, at the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, you will find the place where he rests.
A story in two places
You have found where Charles lived. Keep his story with you until you reach the church.
04 · Between two stories
Let the view guide you
For the next few minutes, the walk itself is part of the experience. The city and sea repeatedly appear between trees, walls and rooftops.
PHOTO MOMENTFrame Funchal through Monte
Why here?
Monte’s elevation, cooler air, gardens and commanding views made it a favoured summer retreat above Funchal.
05 · Railway Interpretive Centre
Before the cable car, there was a train
Imagine arriving here more than a century ago, climbing from Funchal on a rack railway.
MONTE RAILWAY
FUNCHAL → MONTE
DIGITAL DISCOVERY TICKET · SALVIATI STAYS GUEST
Visitor information
Admission is normally free. Opening depends on the current municipal schedule; if it is closed, continue the outdoor journey.
06 · Parque Dias Leite Monteiro
A green pause in the journey
Slow down here. Monte was not only a destination: it was a place to breathe, gather and escape the heat of the city below.
RestFind a bench beneath the trees.
ObserveNotice the garden atmosphere around you.
07 · Nossa Senhora do Monte
Faith, pilgrimage and the end of an imperial story
The church is one of Madeira’s most important religious landmarks and the centre of Monte’s annual devotion to Nossa Senhora do Monte.
Inside, you can find the tomb of Charles I. The story that began outside the Quinta Jardins do Imperador ends here.
Look back before leaving
From the steps, turn towards the city and notice how Monte’s church presides over the slope.
08 · Carreiros do Monte
A street becomes a descent
Monte’s wicker basket cars transform an old form of downhill transport into one of Madeira’s most recognisable experiences.
This changes your route
The basket ride does not finish beside the cable car or your parked vehicle. Check its endpoint and plan your onward transport before riding.
09 · Monte Palace
Choose how deep your day goes
Monte Palace is a substantial visit, not a quick stop. Enter if you want gardens, art and several more hours in Monte—or continue towards the cable car.
10 · Your decision point
Return to the car—or float down to Funchal?
Your car remains near Quinta Jardins do Imperador. Choose the ending that best fits your day.
11 · Teleférico Funchal–Monte
See your morning from the sky
You woke above Funchal. Now descend across the same city you first saw from the villa.
“This morning, I woke up above Funchal…”
Before boarding
Check official cable car information
Check the current operating hours, weather conditions and return options. Keep enough time to retrieve your car from Monte.
Journey complete
You discovered Monte from the inside
Thank you for exploring with Salviati Stays Experiences.