Castle Hill Funicular

The funicular opened in 1870 to carry clerks and officials up to the government offices on Castle Hill, and it was among the earliest lines of its kind in Europe. It was out of service for decades from the 1940s and was rebuilt and reopened in 1986. Two cars in period style run on parallel tracks, counterbalancing each other up a steep incline of a little over ninety metres of track, passing midway. The ride itself lasts well under two minutes. What it offers is the view through the front windows as the Danube, the Chain Bridge and the Pest embankment drop away behind you, and arrival directly at the castle terrace rather than at the end of a stair climb.

History

Building began in July 1868, the first test run was on 23 October 1869, and the line opened to the public on 2 March 1870, the second funicular in Europe after Lyon; it has been in municipal ownership since 1920. The two footbridges over the line, removed in 1900 when the castle garden was extended, were rebuilt to the original design in 1983, and after its cars and stations were destroyed in the Second World War the funicular was finally rebuilt and reopened on 4 June 1986 (Wikipedia, Budapest Castle Hill Funicular).

What you'll find

• The wooden cars - stepped period-style carriages with front windows over the track.
• The Danube view - the river, the Chain Bridge and the Pest bank opening up during the climb.
• The upper terrace - arrival beside the castle with the panorama over the city.
• The passing point - the midway crossing where the two counterbalanced cars meet.

When to go

It runs most of the year with a regular maintenance closure, usually for a stretch in winter, so check before relying on it. Early morning avoids the worst queues. Late afternoon and dusk give the best light on the Pest embankment. Queues are longest between mid-morning and mid-afternoon in summer, when several coach groups can arrive at once.

Things to know

The ride lasts under two minutes and costs more than most Budapest transport journeys, which makes it poor value as transport. Queues in summer regularly run half an hour or more, and the return ticket does not help if you plan to walk down. The parallel footpath up the hill takes about ten minutes and is free, with much the same view.

Nearby

Buda Castle and the Castle District are at the top, with the Chain Bridge directly below.

Key facts