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A funicular is a special type of railway designed to carry people up and down very steep hills or mountains. Two rail cars are connected by a cable, so as one travels uphill, the other travels downhill, helping balance the system. Funiculars are popular in mountain towns, historic cities, and scenic destinations around the world.
One of the best parts of traveling with kids is discovering things you've never seen before. A funicular is one of those "Whoa... what is THAT?" moments that usually turns into one of the most memorable rides of the trip. One of the best parts of traveling with kids is discovering things you've never seen before. A funicular is one of those "Whoa... what is THAT?" moments that usually turns into one of the most memorable rides of the trip. Type: Mountain transportation
Found In: Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Italy, the United States, and many other countries
Best For: Reaching mountaintops, castles, scenic overlooks, and historic neighborhoods
Fun Fact: Many funiculars have been carrying passengers for well over 100 years.
A funicular is a railway built for places that are simply too steep for ordinary trains. Instead of relying on the locomotive alone, two passenger cars are attached to opposite ends of the same cable. As one car climbs the hill, the other descends, helping counterbalance the weight and reducing the amount of energy needed to move both cars.
Many visitors mistake a funicular for a cable car or gondola, but a funicular always travels on tracks while remaining connected by a cable.
Families can find funiculars in destinations all over the world. They're especially common in places where steep hills are part of everyday life.
The word funicular comes from the Latin word funiculus, meaning "little rope" or "small cord." Engineers began building funicular railways during the 1800s as an efficient way to transport people up steep mountainsides and hills. Many historic funiculars are still operating today, carrying both local commuters and visitors.