Downhill, on a couch, on public roads. 

I'm not sure if I need to add a "don't try this at home" disclaimer, but I will anyway: in the event you have your own wicker sofa, please don't speed down a hill in it.

I'm actually from Madeira (Porto Santo Island, the little yellow island next to Madeira Island) and you can't imagine my sheer excitement that you were here and found this tourist attraction good enough for a video. thank you so much for the publicity and recognition. love your videos.

Ah, so this WASNT just some fever dream! I’ve always had a memory of sliding down a hill on a chair/couch/sofa in a warm place, but could never recall more than that. Suddenly, with this video, it’s all clicked back into place!

As a Madeirian, I can confirm that I am absolutely chuffed to bits that TOM SCOTT did a video on our little island. Just Incredible

Something interesting, that you didn‘t mention (and I learned it by driving up the exact road you drove down), in Madeira is right-hand traffic, however due to these rides, this specific 2km of road is left-hand drive, so theres just an intersection with a sign saying „From now on left hand drive“

If this wasn't such an elaborate operation I would think it was satire. King Tom Scott has a good ring to it!

I was one of those tourists that didn't research things to do in Madiera, and didn't know this was a thing until I saw them flying past me on the street... it was a definitely a "what the actual F**k?!" moment

The ride doesn't go down back to the sea (only to about half way from the start), so you either have to walk (ca. one hour), take the bus (has a 10 minute cycle, €2), or a taxi. But beware that there are some taxi drivers who try take more than the fixed price of €10 (check the sign at the end station for the official price); make sure to ask for the price beforehand. The bus station is right next to the taxi line. The bus is also a good option to go uphill. The cable car is obviously a good tourist attraction, though. Also: You can save some money by sharing the ride with another person; there's a separate queue for single tourists.

As a portuguese, with family in madeira, I'm extremely thrilled to see this on your page! Thank you Tom!

My surprise seeing a Tom Scott video in my home town Funchal about the "carreiros do Monte". Hope you enjoyed your stay :) Bonus fun fact: Madeira has one of the biggest pyrotechnic shows in the world. The Madeiran tradition of letting off fireworks on New Year’s Eve began during the 18th century, when the British community living on the island had their own fireworks displays to mark the new year. A century later, the Madeiran banker João José Rodrigues Leitão resurrected the tradition, and from then on the island’s wealthiest families began to compete with each other with their displays, leading to a pyrotechnic display that could be seen from far and wide. In 2006 this show gained international recognition when the Guinness Book of Records officially recognised it as “the world’s largest fireworks display”.

Having to replace the soles of your shoes from running with a couch is the most hilarious problem I’ve ever heard brought up completely seriously.

One summer, when we were kids, my friend and I had two spare skateboard decks. We had the genius idea of going to the hardware store and nailing some rubber straps to turn the decks into 'snowboards'. Except there was no snow; we used them to bomb down large hills of dry grass - 'grass-boards' if you will. It was epic.

I love old traditions like this, it's one of the big things that makes travel and exploring worth doing. I hope the good people of Funchal can continue to do this forever.

Throughout this whole video I thought "neat idea, but it must suck to haul that thing back up this steep mountain" and then I got gently reminded that lorries exist.

I took this ride. It was great fun. It didn’t feel dangerous at all when you consider I had travelled to Madeira in a gravity defying metal tube miles up in the sky.

I've been living here in Madeira for 5 years now and known about the basket cars for ages yet never tried them, seeing how much fun Tom is having, I might have some plans for the weekend.

Portuguese person here! I'm from the continent, but have been to Madeira and this is one of my fondest memories of the entire trip. It's definitely unique and super cool. Also, I love your videos and it's incredible to hear your own native language in one of them, Portugal is an amazing place, and I hope you'll explore some of the other weird attractions we have in a future video.

My grandfather use to work there and this melted my heart, I really appreciated this video thanks Tom!

I'm actually amazed no one's proclaimed the magic phrase for every video of a Portuguese endeavor explored and explained by a foreigner, so here it goes: PORTUGAL CARALHO!

Tom is just living his best life and I'm here for it.

I know a lot of time tourism can destroy the heart of a place through over tourism, but I am glad that it helps to keep these traditions alive, its a piece of history which should be kept alive.

I went to Madeira in October of 2019 and I'm really happy that you made a video about this. Brings up the good memories. Thank you Tom.

It is crazy how polished the road has become in some of those spots because of how much they have done it

I took a vacation to Madeira in 2018 and got to experience this. It was honestly one of the most fun things I have ever done!

Really neat that the toboggans seem to have polished the asphalt itself, you can see reflections in it at several point in the video, like at 1:53 for example.

It's amazing how such a random thing was kept up and looks to be doing well to this day. Never would have known about this sofa ride if it weren't for this video.

I am from Canada and it reminds me of sledding. Dogs sleds are made in a similar fashion and are controlled similarly with people standing on the back like the guys controlling the sled in the video. The sofa style of the sled also reminds me of an old horse pulled sled that my great grandfather built and used to get to church in the winters when my grandfather was a child.

Ayyy, something Tom's covered that I've actually already done, twice in fact. If you ever find yourselves in Madeira, do this, it's definitely worth it, just for the unique experience alone.

What a joy when Tom Scott comes to Portugal, and the video goes up on the 25th of April no less! Hope you enjoyed it, Tom!

I remember doing this while I was on holiday, it was so much fun, the guys who took us down were a good laugh aswell, really made it a good memory

I recommend visiting Madeira in spring. Everything is blooming even more gorgeous and the walk from the the ride end to the city center or harbor is much nicer.

I loved this in madeira. Ive gone to the island every year since i was born- even during covid- and its honestly amazing. the "speeding sofa" scared both me and dad but it was really fun hundred percent recommend madeira for your holidays theres been controversy over whether it should say ‘in madeira’ or ‘on madeira’. firstly, when i say madeira i refer to the 2d area marked on a map. additionally, it would be improper to say that the houses of parliament are on london, however the houses of parliament are in london would be correct. apply the same logic to a tourism shop in madeira- that is my point

thank you for making such an amazing video about the island, and releasing it on our national freedom day! dont know if it was on purpose or just a coincidence, but its very appreciated

Next video on levadas is my bet. Now used as tourist attractions, walks always accompanied with a little water path, but it was made to transport water from the north side (where it rained a lot), to the south where the sun was out and crops could grow faster. Also Poço das Neves, a 'iglo fridge' used to produce ice for the English hotels downtown in Funchal. The ice blocks would be transported in these types of carts down the streets 1.8km up

That looks insanely fun! If I ever get the chance to travel there I want to do this!

France has the tower, Egypt the pyramids and Madeira has the sofa

I'm Portuguese myself but I've never been to Madeira and I had no idea about this attraction over there. Seems super fun!

Really nice to hear someone speak Portuguese in a video...

Oh my gosh I loved doing this as a kid, I have a distinct memory of one of the guys pushing my sofa losing his hat halfway down, highlight of the holiday! Epic 😁

My favourite place on earth!! Been every year since I was born xx

"and...there aren't any seatbelts" Things just got 10x more intense with that sentence alone

I've really got into your stuff lately. As a beginner coder, you really are an inspiration, and I've been enjoying watching all of "The Basics". Keep it up, and have a good day!

Definitely trying this at home.

I refuse to believe all the gondolas successfully made it back up the hill. No one pulled on a ratchet strap and said that's not going anywhere

Interesting to see how shiny the road is due to the polishing effect of the toboggans.

One of my best memories from my trip to Madeira years ago, genuinely feels like you're speeding down once they get some momentum going, would recommend madeira as a trip to anyone

Lets go Madeira! Thank you Tom, for sharing a bit of our traditions. It really means a lot seeing our corner of the world in one of your videos. I hope you enjoyed your stay on our little island.

I went on this a couple of years ago and I 100% recommend it - fast and exciting enough to get an adrenaline rush and tame enough that it's absolutely fine for kids (and cowards like me). If you find yourself in Madeira its a must do!

Tom I don't know how you do it, but your video's are actually as well timed as possible, the toboggan car reaching the bottom of the hill as you were explaining it is just absolute genius

Best part of Mondays is the Tom Scott I get to watch!

I love how random this channel's subject matter is. Very entertaining.

This is the kind of thing you'd do in chaos simulators; kinda neat you can do it in real life now 😮

Tom Scott and Places That Are Very Cool To Visit On Holidays

My honeymoon was in Madeira and we got to experience this downhill ride. Honestly, it was one of the most fun things we have ever done! Never for a moment we felt danger or anything close to that. If we return to Madeira (which we loved it), we will ride it again.

I loved visiting Madeira now and again when I was a kid. Have great memories of riding these a few times!

I haven’t watched the video yet… and I have so many questions.. this is gonna be good

One question remains unanswered: If they use grease to make the sleds glide smoother over the road surface will that not make the asphalt more slippery for any other road user aswell? Im thinking about bikes, motorcycles or with those steep hills maybe even cars

I've been to Madeira like 6 months ago, and absolutely LOVED IT, but didn't get chance to ride those

videos like this I can't tell if Tom Scott is out of stuff to do or if I'm watching pure gold.

A country could makeup something so Bizzare and fun it would easily be recognized as a “tradition” within a few weeks

Been to Madeira a couple of times and this is a must, plus since you’re there Tom, will you be covering the amazing Levada’s irrigation system?

Ive been there and watched people take part, it looked kinda cool but there was a huge queue so I didn't go on it, and I was only in Funchal for a day.

Madeira, "the island for newly weds and nearly deads" as it was once described to me. But it has this going for it. Awesome. Found a reason to get married, thanks Tom!

Love it ! Never stop this it's your tradition !

I watched this with a big grin on my face. idk why, but I just love that this exists.

Here in Brazil we have something similar called "Carrinho de rolimã" where you get on a wooden cart and go down the streets in a similar way. I wonder if they are related! As always nice video Tom.

I can imagine someone lost their sofa in a storm and was like "Hey this looks like a fun way to get tourists in!"

tom scott needs to be in the next super smash bros

I'm so grateful to live in a country with snow where you can just use skis, sleds, snowboards and kicksleds without the hassle.

Looks fun, all the speed of a gentle DH flow line and all the comfort of a sofa.

So this is legal in Madeira, but flying a kite in a public place in the UK is apparently too dangerous 😂

I've been on this! It's a lot of fun, and not really something you could do anywhere else in the world since Funchal is one big hill.

Not to detract from the toboggans, they're a lovely traditional, novel bit of fun, but they're one of the least interesting things about Madeira! The entire island is an absolute stunning marvel! I love that place.

So good to hear Tom Scott saying "Obrigado " 😁

That this is a sustainable industry able to support 154 employees is incredible

+ I'm sorry sir but we have to take your sofa - I will never move from here! + Ok.

Oh wow, only thing you need now is a Leyland Mini under the thing and you're good to go!

Ive tried this i was on vacation with my family in 2019-2020 i spent new years there Me and my uncle tried this together it was great fun

Loved this!!! My husband & I had a Ball!!!! We were in Madeira 3/2022. Can't wait to go back!!❤️❤️❤️

This just seems like a comedy sketch where the topic was "just guys being dudes" but then people got way too invested and made it a real thing. Amazing.

Ungespielt ich habe an dir rumgespielt

This was like watching an episode of 'Last of the Summer Wine'!😄 N.B. There's lots of fun things you can do with a sofa. The various caving clubs in the Mendips have a tradition of playing a game called 'sofa rugby'. It's a bit like the Eton wall game but played indoors in one of the caving huts (bunk houses) and with a sofa instead of a ball. The sofa doesn't usually last the game. It's best played after a night in the pub!🤪

Here in Brazil it's common for kids to make small wooden karts and ride downhill in the streets kinda like these (they're called "rolimã"). I wonder if there is some correlation.

To see that my favourite RU-vidr made a very video about my country, it's a massive thank you.

This guy is the most knowledgeable and the most happiest on RU-vid

I sorta hoped for a bit more history to this!! How did such an unusual practice get started? Is it older than motor cars? If so, how did they return the toboggan to the top? Time to go digging, I 'spose!

To muito a fim de ir nesse lugar em Portugal! I'm dying to go to this place in Portugal! :D

Was there a week ago The hill was so steep that our car broke down It looks very dangerous

Charming and like a soapbox race with a very different sort of charm!

Notice how the road is actually shiny smooth from all those tobogans sliding there every day, wow

PORTUGAL CARALHO!!! Hi Tom, love from Portugal

tom scott in a sofa.

I want to see the reaction of tourists who aren't aware of this tradition 😂

Aha! Finally a place I've been before Tom has and a thrill I experienced before Tom has!

3:08 Tom saying "obrigado" in my language was just what I needed to hear.

Looks like the type of thing you would do if you are bored

So how do the toboggan men get back up the hill? Walk? Van ride? Cable Car? Run?

Didn't know Tom was Mr. Bean

Tom Scott back to his olden days! Brings back the vibes of Two drums and a cymbal fall off a cliff

Madeira is a paradise! Glad you're there and having a good time. It's where I'd like to retire to