After Renovation: Prague Funicular Reopens with a New Look

One of Prague's most popular tourist attractions has reopened after a two-year renovation: The funicular to Petrin Hill has carried its first passengers in new cars featuring a "googly-eyed" design. Among the guests of honor were prominent figures such as Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda. A priest blessed the project with holy water.

The 510-meter-long route up Petrin—known in German as Laurenziberg—covers an elevation gain of about 130 meters. An exciting detail: When the cabins meet halfway, one winks at the other, which then literally “blushes” with its interior lighting.

Technology from the Alpine countries

Young Czech designer Anna Maresova created a unique design for the cable car cars that combines generous glass surfaces with retro elements. “You can see how much energy both sides have poured into the cabins,” she said about the collaboration with the body manufacturers. At the same time, she admitted to having a keen eye for detail, especially when it comes to the interior.

The Austrian-Swiss Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group is the supplier of the cable car system. “The result shows that design and engineering can go hand in hand,” said a company representative. On top of that, he presented a cowbell as a gift. It was a token of appreciation and symbolizes tradition and home.

Ten-Minute Intervals

Unlike in the past, the cabins are controlled entirely from the mountain station. They can accommodate up to 120 passengers. To start with, trial operations will run at approximately ten-minute intervals from the Ujezd valley station up to Petrin. The fare is 100 crowns, equivalent to about 4.10 euros.

In September 2024, operations had to be suspended after heavy rainfall because the slope had become unstable. The total cost for track renovation and vehicles was around 11.2 million euros. In 2019, the best year to date, more than 2.2 million passengers used the funicular.