Do you know that funicular in Prague is a part of public transport integrated system? It has only 3 stops on Petrin Hill. With time it became a popular attraction for tourists, so a lot of them are willing to get there. Let’s find out what is so special about funicular, its history and work hours.
Funicular in Prague
The length of the railway to the top of the hill is 510 meters up. The mechanism works with a towing cable using an electric motor. On its way funicular makes 3 stops:
- Újezd;
- Nebozízek;
- Petrin.
In general there are 2 funicular cabins. Their speed is 4 meters per second and it takes 4-5 minutes to reach the top of Petrin Hill.
The funicular plays an important role in Prague’s infrastructure and considered to be an attraction. That is why the city carries about it and periodically makes complete reconstructions. The last one was in 2015 – 2016 and the funicular was closed for 7 months.
Facts and History
The Prague funicular railway was put into work in 1891 during the Industrial exhibition. The first cabins were pulled by a water-balance drive system. One ride took about 10 minutes because its way was only 250-300 meters. The funicular was in operation non-stop until the World War I.
After the war the funicular railway was operated until 1921 but the water system was unreliable and therefore its work was interrupted again for long 10 years.
In 1931 the funicular changed its ownership and became a property of the Prague Electric Enterprises. The new owner undertook some changes of the wagons, prolonged the way and electrified the system. In June 1932 the funicular railway started to operate regularly again.
The funicular closed once more in 1965 after landslides on Petrin after intensive rains. The system was destroyed. The city forgot about the funicular for many years.
In 1981 the local authorities financed the renovation and reconstruction of the “old-fashioned” funicular in Prague.
Since 1985 the funicular railway works regularly and continues to be a significant place to visit.
Prices for tickets
The funicular is part of the Prague public transport system, so it operates simple transport tickets. More information about transportation here: Public Transport in Prague. Here are the prices for tickets:
- 90 minutes: 32 CZK for Adults and 16 CZK for kids;
- 30 minutes: 24 CZK for Adults and 12 CZK for kids;
- 1 day: 110 CZK for Adults and 55 CZK for kids;
- 3 days: 310 CZK.
If you do not have a ticket for public transport, you can buy it right here on the station. In addition, you will not need to stand in lines to buy tickets, as there are special automatic machines selling them. But remember that they accept only coins.
Do not try to get a free ride as they do check the tickets.The fine 800 CZK which makes over 30 EUR. So, validate ticket before entering a funicular.
What to see
Entering the station you will notice an exhibition on the Petrin Station. It tells the story in photos about the history of funicular in Prague. There you can see the pictures of old funiculars, mechanisms and how Petrin Hill looked in past.
When you get to the top of the Hill, you can discover the following attractions:
- Observation Tower (a copy of the Eiffel Tower);
- Gardens, Kinsky Palace;
- Mirror Maze;
- Štefánik’s Observatory;
- Hunger Wall;
- Memorials, etc.
Working hours
- in winter (November – March): from 9 a.m. to 11:20 p.m.;
- in the summer (April-October): from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
How to get
The funicular station “Ujezd” is located in a small area called Mala Strana. To get there you need to use tram number 6, 9, 12, 20, 22. Or if you are going to use UBER in Prague, put the pin on the map to Ujezd tram stop. Another good idea, of discovering this means of transport and the hill is a private guided sightseeing tour with local guide in Prague.
