Teleferico de Madrid

The Teleferico opened in 1969 and runs about 2.5 kilometres from the edge of the Parque del Oeste over the Manzanares valley to a station in the Casa de Campo, Madrid's largest park at over seventeen hundred hectares, once a royal hunting ground. The ride takes about eleven minutes at around forty metres above ground, with a view over the Royal Palace, the Almudena cathedral, the western skyline and the sierra beyond on clear days. The upper station has a terrace and a cafe. It has been closed since 2022, when structural damage was found, and is being rebuilt with forty-seven new ten-seat cabins; the city expects it to reopen in the first quarter of 2027. Before the closure it ran on a seasonal schedule, daily in summer and weekends only for much of the winter; the Casa de Campo can also be reached by metro.

The main sights

• The valley crossing - eleven minutes over the Manzanares at forty metres.
• The palace view - the Royal Palace and cathedral from the cabins.
• The Casa de Campo - Madrid's largest park at the far end.
• The sierra horizon - the Guadarrama peaks on clear days.

When to go

It is not running until the planned reopening in the first quarter of 2027, so check before going. When it runs, spring and autumn give the clearest air. Afternoon light suits the palace view.

Good to know

The cable car has been closed since 2022; reopening is planned for the first quarter of 2027. The Casa de Campo station is in a remote part of the park with little around it beyond a cafe. The old cabins are being replaced with new ones.

Nearby

The Temple of Debod and Parque del Oeste are at the lower station; the Casa de Campo lake and zoo are in the park.

Key facts