The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is a haven of peace and biodiversity. This 70,000 m2 garden is home to an impressive collection of exotic plants from the four corners of the globe, as well as a variety of wildlife, a museum and an impressive collection ofworks of art. We loved our timeless stroll through this little corner of paradise high above Funchal, the capital of Madeira Island.
In this article, you’ll find some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit and have a wonderful time!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Why visit the Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Is Funchal’s Tropical Garden worth it? Our opinion:
Absolutely! The Monte Palace Tropical Garden, designed by José Berardo, is one of Madeira’s most beautiful gardens. Situated high above Funchal, it offers breathtaking views of the city and the ocean. The garden is home to an impressive collection of tropical and subtropical plants, as well as sculptures, works of art, ponds and waterfalls.
The garden is divided into several sections, each with its own theme. You can find a Japanese garden, a Chinese garden, an orchid garden and a grotto.
This is one of Madeira’s most beautiful gardens!
Our favorite moments
- Discover the view above the pagoda with the sea and the city in the background
- Observe the peaceful Koi fish lake and its lovely waterfall
- A visit to the Monte Palace Museum and its collection of minerals and precious stones (a nice surprise!). In fact, it’s one of the best museums in Funchal!
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History in brief
We learned that the Monte Palace Tropical Garden was created in 1987. Here are a few key dates to help you immerse yourself in the history of this unique park:
- 18th century: the estate originally belonged to an English consul (Charles Murray) who turned it into a beautiful “quinta” (rural estate) .
- 1897: Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues acquires the estate. We learned that he built a manor inspired by the palaces on the Rhine. Later, he transformed it into a magnificent hotel called “Hotel Monte Palace”.
- After the death of Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues, we discovered that the hotel closed and the entire estate fell into disuse.
- 1987: we then learned that José Berardo, a Madeira-born Portuguese businessman, had bought the estate. Passionate about art and culture, he set about transforming the site into a tropical garden. He made a number of improvements that can still be seen today, and added 2 museums.
- Today: Berardo later donated the garden to an institution bearing his name. We discovered that the Berardo Foundation now manages the entire site.
Access: Monte Palace Tropical Garden, Funchal
Where is the Park?
- In the Monte district, high above Funchal
- In the street Caminho das Babosas
- Close to the Teleférico do Jardim Botânico, Monte Church and small Monte Park
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How to get there?
There are several ways to get to Monte Palace Tropical Garden:
Cable car – The most popular method is to take one of Madeira’s many cable cars. The one in Funchal lets you explore the heights of the city. The nearest bus stop to the garden is “Monte”, just a few minutes’ walk from the entrance. The ride takes about 15 minutes and there are no particular difficulties on the way from the cable car to the park. To find out more and plan your itinerary, click here.
Bus – You can also opt for the bus. Lines 20, 21 and 22 serve the Monte Palace Garden. Check the timetable on the company’s official website, here.
Car – If you have rented a car, we recommend that you follow the directions to Monte. The garden is about a 15-minute drive from the center of Funchal. Beware, the roads are winding and sometimes narrow.
Toboggan – Now that’s unusual! After your visit, you can take the famous Carreiros do Monte downhill. These traditional wicker sledges will take you the 2km from the Church of Monte to the Livramento district in around 10 minutes. From here, you can walk back down to Funchal or take a bus or cab. These unusual sleds can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h! We find this means of transport quite unusual. Find out more here.
We do not recommend climbing on foot. From the center of Funchal, you’ll have to walk almost 1h30 with a 560m ascent.
If you don’t want to miss any of this incredible garden with its many remarkable features, why not opt for a guided tour? More info and reservations
Parking
Parking is available near the entrance to the Monte Palace Tropical Garden. It’s not very large and can fill up quickly during the high tourist season. We therefore recommend that you come early to park safely.
VISIT Funchal
- Best things to do in Funchal
- Best restaurants
- Best museums
- Visit the cathedral
- Excursions from Funchal (coming soon)
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
For a quiet visit, we advise you to avoid the busy summer vacation season. The garden is open all year round. Let yourself be tempted, for example, by an autumnal visit to enjoy the freshness and ochre-colored landscapes. If you choose to visit in summer, we recommend arriving before 9:30 am or after 4:30 pm. That way, you can avoid the crowds and the heat. In any case, to make the most of the park, the works of art on display and the scenery, it’s best to visit on a rain-free day.
Length of visit and main difficulties
To visit the garden, the 2 museums, admire the works of art and observe the immense collection of exotic plants, we recommend you allow at least half a day. You could also dedicate a whole day to visiting the Garden and the Monte Quarter.
The Monte Palace Tropical Garden seems complicated to navigate for people with reduced mobility or strollers. Its 70,000m2 are punctuated by paved paths, slopes and numerous steps. Also, note that in high season, the garden can be very crowded, which can make the visit less enjoyable.
Advice on how to visit
The garden doesn’t really have a predefined sense of direction. The area is so vast that you can easily spend hours here! You’re free to wander around as you please, but here are a few suggestions:
- Start at the top of the garden: as it’s situated on a hill, we recommend you start your visit at the top and work your way down. This will make the visit less tiring, and if you come early, you’ll make the climb before temperatures rise again.
- Visit the outdoor gardens first: we think it’s best to take advantage of the morning to explore the park, when the light is beautiful and the temperatures cooler.
- Don’t miss the Oriental Garden: in our opinion, it’s one of the highlights of the Monte Palace Garden.
Here’s a map of the Monte Palace Tropical Garden:
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Visiting with children
We didn’t see any special entertainment for children at the Jadin Tropical de Monte Palace. But they can still enjoy the green spaces, learn to recognize the flora and fauna, and have fun looking for the works of art hidden in the park.
Schedules and rates
The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is open every day except December 25, from 9.30am to 6pm. The museums are open from 10am to 4.30pm.
Admission is €15 for people over 15.
Remember to check the latest information on the official website, here, before your visit.
Catering
Inside the garden, we were delighted to take a gourmet break at the Greenhouse Restaurant. This establishment offers simple, light dishes such as salads, soups, quiches, sandwiches and more. Its green setting is very pleasant!
We enjoyed a slice of quiche with a salad and finished with a delicious Pastel de Nata for dessert. If you feel hungry after or during your visit to Monte Palace Tropical Garden, we recommend a meal at this establishment.
Alternatively, discover our article dedicated to our favorite Restaurants in Funchal.
Discover the exotic flora and fauna of the Monte Palace Tropical Garden
We loved the rich biodiversity of the Monte Palace Tropical Garden. Here you can see a wide variety of exotic plants: over 10,000 from all over the world!
For example, you’ll find tropical and subtropical plants such as tree ferns. They reminded us of our discovery of the Laurissilva Forest, bordering one of Madeira’s most beautiful Levadas.
You can also visit the Jardin des Cicadeas, dedicated to cycads, a family of tropical plants dating back to prehistoric times. We learned that these plants are considered living fossils. The Monte Palace Tropical Garden houses one of the world’s largest collections! We found it fascinating to observe them, thinking that their arrival on Earth dates back 200 million years.
Don’t miss the section dedicated to Madeira’s indigenous flora, especially if you visit the garden at the beginning of your stay. In fact, if you keep your eyes open, you’ll be able to recognize some of the species planted in this park, along some of Madeira’s most beautiful hiking trails!
Of all the magnificent species we loved to observe, the one that impressed us the most was the Dracaena draco tree. We learned that its red sap, nicknamed “dragon’s blood”, was once used by the island’s inhabitants as medicine, paint and varnish for violins. Learning this kind of information allowed us to immerse ourselves in Madeira’s folklore.
During our visit, peacocks, swans, roosters and herons crossed our path. We learned that the peacocks had been imported from Lisbon’s wonderful Jardin Tropical de Belém in the late 90s. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a famous Indonesian fighting cock hidden in the gardens!
One of the Monte Palace Tropical Garden’s greatest attractions is the Koi Fish. These colorful carp, native to East Asia, happily populate the park’s lakes. We enjoyed observing them and seeing the variety of their colors. We learned that the composition of their food was a determining factor in the development of their beautiful pigmentation!
The Oriental Garden and panoramic views over Funchal
We really enjoyed visiting the Oriental Garden, which offers a little change of scenery in Madeira’s verdant landscape.
We learned that its creation followed a trip by José Berardo to China and Japan. He would have been deeply moved by the history, culture and way of life of these 2 countries, which inspired him to create this Buddhist-inspired garden.
In this Oriental Garden, you can observe traditional statues, pagodas and Buddhist sculptures. We particularly liked the place of water in this part of the park. Lakes, waterfalls, miniature islands and ornamental bridges dot the lush landscape of Monte Palace Jadin. This bucolic setting is complemented by a special soundscape created by the bamboo pipes that fill and empty into the lakes. We enjoyed this timeless visit, combining nature and spirituality.
At Monte Palace Tropical Garden, you won’t want to miss the breathtaking views of Funchal Bay and the ocean as far as the eye can see. Scattered here and there, viewpoints remind us that the park, from its 500m altitude, proudly overlooks the island’s capital.
Cultural tour of Funchal’s Tropical Garden Museum
The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is home to one of Funchal’s finest museums: the Monte Palace Museum, which we enjoyed visiting. The building is divided into 3 floors. The first 2 are devoted to African sculptures, while the last houses a unique mineral collection from all over the world. We advise you not to miss this place during your visit.
Museum of Contemporary African Sculpture
We discovered over 1000 contemporary Zimbabwean sculptures at the heart of the “African Passion” exhibition. We liked the tour route, which invited us to put ourselves in the artist’s shoes. Indeed, the first level is dedicated to the individual presentation of artists and their works, while the second recreates the original environment in which these pieces were created and exhibited. An immersive visit that invites us to understand the context surrounding these sculptures.
We learned that the Monte Palace Madeira Museum’s collection of contemporary Zimbabwean sculpture is considered one of the most important outside Zimbabwe. We enjoyed discovering these works dating from the late 1960s. They gave us a unique insight into the art and culture of their home countries at that time.
Secrets of Mother Nature” mineral museum
The first floor of Funchal’s Tropical Garden Museum houses one of the world’s finest private mineral collections! As the tour progressed, we discovered that they came from over 7 different countries.
We enjoyed discovering these minerals, whose diverse shapes, sparkles, colors and sizes make each element unique. You’ll notice that the minerals are displayed in cavities designed to mimic their natural environment of formation. We found this staging very interesting and, above all, relevant.
We also saw precious and semi-precious stones and fascinating specimens of petrified wood for the first time!
As we wandered the aisles, it became clear why the exhibition is called “Mother Nature’s Secrets”. All these natural treasures highlight the diversity and beauty of our planet’s geological treasures, surrounded by the lushness of the Monte Palace Tropical Garden.
Sculptures and Azulejos: art in the heart of vegetation
At the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, we discovered a rich collection of art perfectly integrated into the vegetation. A veritable open-air museum!
We loved hunting for azulejos! These traditional painted ceramic tiles, created between the 17th and 20th centuries, adorn the walkways. The collection on display in the park is considered one of the most important in the country! Take time to observe them: they illustrate the social, cultural and religious moments of their time, which have marked the history of Portugal.
During our visit, Funchal’s Tropical Garden never ceased to amaze us! Among the azulejos and the hundreds of species of flora and fauna, you’ll find an impressive collection of works of art from all over the world! Arches, sculptures, marble or bronze statues, coats of arms, contemporary works… there’s something for everyone!
Highlights include 4 angels carved in granite, representing 4 of the 5 senses: smell, sight, hearing and taste.
We also loved the colorful geometric sculpture, reminiscent of the work of artist Piet Mondrian, nestled in the heart of a verdant parterre. There are so many works to discover in this magnificent garden that you’ll easily find the one that moves you the most.
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Frequently asked questions
Are there any special events or temporary exhibitions at the Monte Palace?
No, there didn’t seem to be anything special going on at the Monte Palace Tropical Garden.
Are there any other remarkable gardens in Madeira?
Yes! Madeira is, among other things, famous for its flowers and lush gardens. The island’s mild, humid climate makes it possible to grow a wide variety of plants, from tropical species to endemic flowers: in the gardens you’ll discover exceptional trees, collections of cacti and tropical plants and, often, beautiful views of the surrounding area.
To make your choice, discover our article dedicated to Madeira’s 6 most beautiful gardens.
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