Since the Middle Ages they have helped us reach the tops such as the two beautiful funiculars of Lisbon, the famous funicular of the Buda Castle or the Lugano, Zurich and Ellmau funiculars.

Book your hotel, apartment, guesthouse, B&B or hostel at the best price guaranteed and discover the most beautiful funiculars in Europe. 

1. Bica Funicular

Lisbon - Portugal

The Bica Funicular (Portuguese: Elevador da Bica or Ascensor da Bica) is a funicular in Lisbon, Portugal, that forms the connection between the Calçada do Combro/Rua do Loreto and the Rua de S. Paulo. It is operated by Carris.

The Bica funicular was opened on 28 June, 1892. It climbs the Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo for 245 metres (804 ft) from the Rua S. Paulo. The lower station of this funicular railroad is almost hidden behind a facade on the Rua de S. Paulo with the inscription "Ascensor da Bica". It was constructed by Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard and opened to the public in 1892. In 2002 it was designated a National Monument. (©CC).

2. Zagreb funicular

Zagreb - Croatia

On the list of attractions which delight tourists, the Zagreb funicular certainly always has a significant place. The shortest cable car in the world, only 66 meters longs, has been transporting the citizens of Zagreb between the Upper and Lower Towns for the last century. It was opened in 1890 and until 1934 it was driven by steam. It has maintained its original look and construction until today and that is why it is a protected cultural monument. The lower station is located on Tomićeva Street which leads to Ilica – the longest street in Zagreb, while the other station is located at the base of Lotršćak Tower, on the Upper Town's Strossmayer promenade. (©zagreb-touristinfo.hr).

3. Pau funicular

Pau - France

The Funiculaire de Pau, or Pau Funicular, is a funicular railway in the city of Pau in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département of southwestern France. It links the Boulevard des Pyrénées, on the level of the city centre and the Château de Pau, to Pau railway station in the valley of the Gave de Pau below. (©CC)

4. Gloria funicular

Lisbon - Portugal

The Glória Funicular (Portuguese: Elevador da Glória) is a funicular that links Baixa (Restauradores Square) with Bairro Alto (Jardim / Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara), in Lisbon, Portugal. It is operated by Carris.

The Glória Funicular was opened to the public on October 24, 1885. At first it was designed as a water-powered system, then in 1886 it was replaced by a steam-power one, and finally in 1915 it was electrified. In 2002 it was designated a National Monument. (©CC).

5. Buda Castle funicular

Budapest - Hungary

It's a short ride up to Castle Hill, about three minutes, but it offers great panoramic views and it's also a lot of fun. The Funicular (or Sikló, as it is called in Hungarian) first opened in 1870, and it was designed to provide a cheap commute for the clerks working in the Castle District. Once you have reached the top, Castle Hill offers many nearby sights worth visiting. (©visitbudapest.travel).

6. Guindais funicular

Porto- Portugal

More than a simple means of transport, the Guindais Funicular in Porto is an excellent opportunity to take a sightseeing tour of two important areas of the city. From Batalha to Ribeira, or vice versa, it only takes two minutes with the possibility of enjoying a splendid view over the Douro river and the D. Luís I Bridge. (©visitporto.travel).

7. Polybahn funicular

Zurich - Switzerland

In operation since way back in 1889, today Polybahn funicular rail transports around 50 passengers every two minutes, in both directions. And the route is the very same as that of when it first commenced. Initially the service was powered by water-weights, like that of Bern and still today in Freiburg, although in Zurich the service was soon to be powered by electricity. (©myswitzerland.com).

8. Gelmer Lake funicular

Grimselwelt - Switzerland

People seeking a thrill will find one here in the Haslital valley on the Bernese side of the Grimsel Pass. A monstrous climb of maximum 106 percent indisputably makes this funicular railway the steepest in Europe. (myswitzerland.com)

9. Bom Jesus funicular

Braga - Portugal

The Bom Jesus funicular (Portuguese: Elevador do Bom Jesus) is a funicular located in Bom Jesus do Monte, city of Braga, Portugal.

The funicular was built in 1882 by Niklaus Riggenbach and is the oldest in the Iberian Peninsula.

It is the oldest funicular in the world moving by water counterbalancing, loading water into the car at the top of the hill, which weighs it down so it descends to the bottom, at the same time drawing the lighter, drained car up the hill, where the process starts all over again. (©CC)

10. Monte Brè

Lugano - Switzerland

Since 1912, a cable railway has brought visitors, in a quarter of an hour, from Cassarate to Mount Bré (933metres above sea level), a locality offering many opportunities to the visitor: a big, well equipped picnic area, where it is possible to grill food, walks that are accessible to families even with small children and more difficult mountain hikes.

The cable car remains open until 11.00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday throughout the summer months of June and August. (luganotourism.ch)