The Children’s Railway is one of Budapest’s most unique attractions, alongside its famous thermal baths and ruin pubs. Known as the Gyermekvasút in Hungarian, it is a piece of living history and holds the title of the world’s longest children’s railway. With ticket offices, diesel locomotives, and even a steam locomotive on select days, this journey offers a remarkable experience for train enthusiasts of all ages. After visiting, my son decided to become a child railway worker, but joining this nostalgic adventure is more challenging than expected!
Table of Contents
Budapest Children’s Railway: From Communist Era to Tourist Destination
The Budapest Children’s Railway construction began in 1948, during the Soviet-aligned regime. The project was inspired by the “Pioneer trains” of the Soviet Union to train young people for future careers in Hungary’s railway system.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO BUDAPEST
Unlock the best of Budapest with the Budapest Card and enjoy free public transportation, access to the best museums, and relaxation at the famous Lukács Thermal Bath.
Stay connected in Hungary with an Airalo eSim, saving money on data coverage, and ensure your travels are worry-free by getting Heymondo travel insurance for essential peace of mind.
Initially known as the Pioneer Railway, the Gyermekvasút and the wider Young Pioneer movement served as ideological tools to instil the regime’s values in children. Nevertheless, the railway became very popular among children, offering unique extracurricular activities that allowed kids from different schools to connect.
Following the end of the Communist regime, the Budapest Children’s Railway started attracting tourists rather than primarily serving local residents. Today, despite the end of the regime, participation in the Children’s Railway remains a popular activity.
While the staff has changed over the years, the trains have retained the same style as during the Communist era, and the stations are still in their original design. For this reason, a ride on the railway feels like a piece of living nostalgia for the price of a train ticket.
In 2015, the Budapest Children’s Railway gained the Guinness World Records as the longest railway line in the world operated by children.
The Journey on the Budapest Children’s Railway
The Budapest Children’s Railway route was finalized in 1950 and spans 11.7 km (7.2 miles) through the Buda Hills. This light railway line travels from Hűvösvölgy station to Széchenyihegy station. In addition to the two termini, the trains make regular stops at six locations: Hárshegy, Szépjuhászné, Jánoshegy, Virágvölgy, Csillebérc, and Normafa.
The railway itself is a unique attraction, featuring historical carriages and engines. It is also an excellent way to discover the hidden gems of Budapest’s wooded outskirts. Lookout towers, forest playgrounds, shrines, and other interesting sites in the Buda Hills are located near the stations and stops.
The journey from one terminus to another takes approximately 45-50 minutes. You can check the maps for all the attractions near the stations. To make the most of your time in the Buda Hills, you can follow our itinerary.
Hűvösvölgy
We began our trip at Hűvösvölgy, the railway’s northern terminus, and made our way to Szechenyhegy. Both terminuses were 45 minutes from our hotel in Buda, so it didn’t matter which starting point we chose. Both stations are well connected to the centre of Budapest by tram.
One reason to start from Hűvösvölgy is to visit the Children’s Railway Museum. Just remember that you can only pay with cash, in HUF, at the station.
Virágvölgy
To reach one of the most popular spots in the Buda Hills, the Elizabeth Lookout Tower, the highest point in Budapest, you only need to take a short walk through the forest.
You can hike from either the Virágvölgy or Jánoshegy station. Virágvölgy is the better choice because the hike is easier and accessible even with young children in a stroller.
From the Elizabeth Lookout Tower, the view is breathtaking. You can also ride on the Zugliget Chairlift for a bird’s-eye view of the city. We hiked for a bit, but my son wanted to find a playground, so we decided to reach Normafa.
Normafa
Normafa is a wonderful place to spend time with children. The large Normafa Park features a fantastic wooden playground where kids can have a lot of fun.
Additionally, at Normafa, you can try several traditional Hungarian street food dishes, such as lángos, which is a delicious deep-fried dough topped with garlic, sour cream, and cheese, as well as various types of rétes, the Hungarian strudel.
If you have a transfer ticket that allows you only one stopover, you can get off at Virágvölgy and reach Normafa Park on foot, as we did. We spent a couple of hours here, enjoying the fresh climate of Budapest’s hills, and we really loved Normafa Park.
Széchenyihegy
To conclude your trip with more breathtaking views, you can finish the day at Széchenyihegy station, located on Széchenyi Hill, like us. This hill rises to 1,400 feet (427 meters) and gives you a final opportunity to view the city’s stunning panorama.
To go back to the city centre, you can take the Budapest Cog-wheel Railway, also known as tram number 60. At its terminus at Városmajor station, you can transfer to the metro.
Activities and Attractions Along the Budapest Children’s Railway
The Children’s Railway runs in the forested area of Buda in Budapest. You can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities along the railway, ranging from hiking to riding a chairlift. These activities are all indicated on the railway map. Below, I share some ideas and inspirations for your visit.
Children’s Railway Museum
The Children’s Railway Museum is located on Platform 1 of Hűvösvölgy station. It is usually open on weekends and during school holidays.
In the museum, you can learn the history of this narrow-gauge railway from the beginning to the present day. Most documents are in Hungarian, but the numerous images tell their own story.
Many of the images depict young participants from the Pioneers’ Movement. Similar Children’s Railways still exist in Europe, mainly in Germany and countries that were part of the former Soviet bloc.
The exhibit features old tickets, uniforms, signalling lights and discs, timetables, and brochures. There are also giant models of the first railcars and passenger carriages.
Additionally, you can see an old ticket printing machine from the Hungarian State Railways and a vintage telephone the size of a large refrigerator, removed from one of the stations in the 1960s and preserved for future generations.
Normafa Park
Normafa Park is one of the most popular hiking spots in the Buda Hills, but we particularly enjoyed the playground and the street food available there.
The main attraction in Normafa is Anna-rét, located near the Virágvölgy station. This area features a large forest playground. My son loved spending time there while I relaxed on a bench. You could easily spend the whole afternoon here.
The Normafa area is also perfect for picnicking. Nearby, there is a fantastic street food area. We enjoyed delicious lángos and rétes, definitely better compared to those you can eat in the centre of Budapest.
If you’re interested in outdoor activities, several sports clubs provide organized ski lessons in the winter. During the summer, Normafa primarily serves as a starting point for hiking and cycling tours, with various forest paths leading to other locations in the Buda Hills.
Erzsébet Lookout Tower
From the Erzsébet Lookout Tower on János Hill, you can see stunning views of Budapest. On clear days, it is possible to see mountain peaks 77 kilometers away!
The Erzsébet Lookout Tower is located on the highest point in Budapest, standing at an altitude of 527 meters above sea level, and it’s accessible from both Jánoshegy and Virágvölgy stations. From Jánoshegy station to the lookout point, there is a steep 1.1-kilometre forest path. Alternatively, from Virágvölgy station, there is a 1.7-kilometre, mostly paved, step-free road.
The tower, opened in 1910, is named after Queen Erzsébet (Elizabeth of Hungary), who made several visits to the top of János Hill in 1882. Originally, the building served forest tourists and also functioned as a meteorological station for many years.
Károly Kaán Lookout
The Kaán Károly Lookout Tower is a wooden structure at the top of Nagy-Hárs Hill, which stands 454 meters above sea level. This lookout tower provides a panoramic view similar to that of the nearby and more well-known Erzsébet Lookout Tower on Jánoshegy.
The tower is named after Károly Kaán, a forest engineer who worked at the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. He was also a government commissioner for nature conservation and played a significant role in establishing nature conservation in Hungary at the beginning of the 20th century.
Makovecz Imre Lookout
The spiral-shaped Makovecz Imre Lookout is located atop Kis-Hárs Hill, 362 meters above sea level. This lookout provides a panoramic view of northern Buda, the Budapest City Center, Castle Hill, and the Citadel.
The structure has a unique design, built around a central metal pipe with 30 logs attached to create spiral stairs leading to a small observation deck at the top.
Zugliget Chairlift
The Zugliget Chairlift, commonly known as the Libegő (chairlift in Hungarian), is a popular mode of transport in the Buda Hills. It offers a stunning forest setting with panoramic views of Budapest.
The chairlift ride is free in both directions for Budapest Card holders and takes approximately 15 minutes to traverse its 1,040-meter-long route up János Hill. Read my article to discover how much you can save with the Budapest Card.
The upper section of the Zugliget Chairlift runs through the forested, steep slopes of János Hill, while the lower section passes over the streets and gardens of the Zugliget villa district.
The Libegő is easily accessible from the Jánoshegy and Virágvölgy stations of the Children’s Railway. There is a steep, sometimes stepped, 800-meter forest path connecting Jánoshegy station to the upper terminus of the chairlift. In contrast, the route from Virágvölgy station to the upper terminus is a gentler, 1.4-kilometer journey along a mostly concreted, step-free road.
The Zugliget Chairlift operates year-round, from morning until late afternoon, but it is usually closed for maintenance every Monday during even weeks.
Ruins of the Pauline Monastery
In addition to its most well-known landmarks, the area around the Children’s Railway also conceals many lesser-known sites like the ruins of the former Pauline monastery near the Szépjuhászné station.
The monastery was constructed by Italian master builders during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. It was established by the Pauline Order, the only monastic order founded in Hungary. At the time of its construction, the area was sparsely populated and surrounded by forests, making it a peaceful retreat, an essential condition for monastic life.
Not far from the monastery lie the ruins of a square-shaped building, whose purpose remains unclear. It is thought to have been either a guard tower or an economic structure associated with the monastery.
In the 16th century, the monastery underwent significant expansion and the inhabitants were self-sufficient. Ultimately, Turkish invaders destroyed the monastery, and it was never used again. The remaining ruins were uncovered during the 19th and 20th centuries, and the excavation of the site is currently ongoing.
Bátori Cave
The Bátori Cave consists of several branches and shafts that open beneath the peak of Nagy-Hárs-hegy. During the 15th century, the Pauline monk László Bátori lived here as a hermit. He is credited with writing the first Hungarian-language Bible commentaries and works on the lives of saints. Bátori was later beatified.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Pauline Order transformed the cave’s entrance hall into a chapel. According to legend, an underground passage connected the cave to a nearby Pauline monastery. However, this tunnel has never been discovered.
Due to safety reasons, the cave is currently closed to the public, and both its natural and artificial entrances are sealed. Similar caves can typically only be accessed with a permit and by experienced cavers.
How to Become a Railway Worker at the Children’s Railway Budapest
I’m sure you’re interested in learning what kids do at the Children’s Railway in Budapest. Remarkably, this railway is almost entirely run by children! It’s a fascinating concept that seems impossible in Western Europe or the US, but these kinds of activities were pretty common during the Soviet era, and kids really enjoyed them.
After our ride on the Children’s Railway Budapest, my son expressed interest in becoming a child railway worker, so I sought out information. Unfortunately, pursuing this goal requires proficiency in Hungarian and attendance at a school in Budapest or surrounding!
Who Can Apply for the Role of Child Railway Worker
Only high-achieving students from Hungarian schools can apply for the program between the ages of 10 and 12. Excellent academic performance is essential because the kids have to undertake weekday shifts, meaning the railway company needs to ensure they are dedicated enough to keep up with any lessons they may miss.
Today, the Children’s Railway program is more than just an after-school or summer volunteer opportunity. Participants dedicate a significant amount of time there. Similar to scout groups, the community spirit is strong, making the railway an important part of their identity.
What the Role of a Child Railway Worker Involves
The training begins with a four-month course, followed by an exam. After passing the exam, the kids can start working. They will rotate through every available position and can participate in the program until they finish elementary school at around 14 or 15 years old.
The young railway workers are scheduled to work shifts every 15 to 17 days, but they typically work more frequently during winter and summer breaks, which are their busiest seasons. During these times, they may even stay overnight in a student dormitory at one of the stations.
So, unfortunately, this is not an opportunity a European kid can apply for during their summer vacation!
Practical Information for Visiting the Children’s Railway in Budapest
Below, you can find all the practical information you need to plan your visit to the Children’s Railway in Budapest, including details on tickets and directions. I went there with my son, so all the information reflects our updated experience.
Operating Hours
The Children’s Railway in Budapest operates year-round, including on public holidays. It’s closed only on Mondays from the beginning of September to the end of April.
The journey between terminals takes approximately 40 to 50 minutes. If you’re lucky, you may get the chance to ride on a steam train, as steam engines run on select days.
Ticket Information
There are many ticketing options available for the Budapest Children’s Railway. For adults, a single ticket for a one-way trip without stops costs 1,000 HUF. This ticket is valid only for the day it is purchased and allows travel for one person.
If you’re looking for a transfer option for a one-way trip with one stopover, you can opt for a transfer ticket priced at 1,800 HUF.
Children aged between 6 and 18 need to purchase a child ticket, available at half the price of an adult ticket. Kids under six can ride for free.
If you’re travelling in a group, the family daily ticket is a great option to save money. The family ticket costs 5,000 HUF and permits unlimited trips for up to two adults and three children aged 6 to 18, or for one adult and four children. It’s a flexible and convenient option for families and small groups because you can purchase it even if you’re not related, for example, if you’re two single parents travelling together.
Just remember that the Budapest Children’s Railway only accepts cash payments in Hungarian forints (HUF), so ensure you have the correct currency before heading to the station. Unfortunately, there are no ATMs available onsite for currency withdrawals. So, when you’re visiting, prepare ahead and get your cash in advance.
How to Reach the Budapest Children’s Railway
The Budapest Children’s Railway is located in the forested area of Buda Hills. The stations are easily accessible by public transportation from the centre of Budapest.
I recommend you check the best route to your departure and arrival station on Google Maps because the route varies considerably from where you are.
Reaching the Budapest Children’s Railway by car isn’t a great idea. The only park-and-ride facility is located next to Hűvösvölgy station, and parking is not free.
Gyermekvasút (Children’s Railway)
Budapest, Gyermekvasúthoz vezető út 5, 1021
More on Budapest’s Transport History
If you love the Children’s Railway and want to learn more about Budapest’s transport history, I recommend visiting the Hungarian Railway Museum (Vasúttörténeti Park), too.
The Hungarian Railway Museum is something between a museum and an amusement park, located in a former railway station and workshop of the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) on the outskirts of Budapest. It covers about 70,000 square meters and features over 100 exhibits of steam trains, equipment, as well as a miniature railway.
Additionally, the Underground Railway Museum, located at Deák Ferenc tér underground station, focuses on the history of the Millennium Line. We also liked the Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology, and Transport. It currently offers only temporary exhibits due to renovations, but it provides a fantastic insight into Budapest’s transport history.
Where to stay in Budapest
Budapest offers a wide range of beautiful hotels to choose from. Hampton By Hilton Budapest City Centre (here my review) is located in the heart of Budapest, just 600 metres from St. Stephen’s Basilica. They offer a delicious breakfast and have a restaurant and a bar on-site. For those looking for a hotel with unique and stunning decor, Stories Boutique Hotel is a 4-star property situated 500 meters away from the Hungarian State Opera. They have a restaurant on-site that serves à la carte, a continental or vegetarian breakfast. If you prefer an aparthotel, Zoya Luxury Residence is an excellent option with units with a coffee machine, a dishwasher, a microwave and parking space.
The Budapest Children’s Railway offers a unique combination of nostalgia and adventure, making it an unforgettable family experience. Whether or not you aspire to be a railway worker, feel free to share in the comments what you enjoyed most from the historic trains, the breathtaking views, or the fantastic playgrounds along the stations.
