Riding funiculars

Location: Budapest and Zagreb
March 2010
Adventure #7

In the time it takes to both wait for and ride Zagreb’s funicular, one could walk up and down the steps that flank the miniature train five times. But, in the lackadaisical logic of European vacations, this matters not. Over the last week, I had the gleeful opportunity to ride not one, but two funiculars in my dual home towns thanks to my guests who convinced me that, if given the option, always ride a funicular.

If you are an unfortunate soul who hasn't ridden a funicular or heard whispers of their tales, funiculars are inclined cable railways with tram-like cars that are usually used to tote tourists up to castles. This was the case for the funiculars I have ridden in Heidelberg, Ljubljana, and now Budapest and Zagreb. Apparently there is one in San Francisco, but all of my fun-incular adventures have been across the pond.

In Budapest, my cousins Laura and Brad and I decided to go crazy and spend the $4 needed to ride the funicular, which shuffles visitors from the castle district to the foot of the regal Chain Bridge that marries Buda and Pest. We sat in the first car and looked straight down at the 312-foot-drop – which almost gives you the "I’m about to plummet down the first steep drop of a roller coaster" feeling. Instead, the angle is just an affectation: it was slow and steady glide down the hill, leaving us at the bank of the Duna. Our peregrination was well worth it - another tourist activity to check off my list.

The Zagreb funicular was more comical. Its track is a mere 217 feet long and only operates every 10 minutes. The cute little line - which was built in 1893 - leaves something to be said for length of journey, but the ride only cost 80 cents. Upon exiting, you realize that it wasn’t just a smooth, lazy coast down a hillside: the car gambols, and certainly adds a little spring to its passengers' steps.