9 min read
Europe’s best cable car rides with mountain views, spectacular cityscapes and ‘coffin cabins’
metro.co.uk
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
A unique way to see a city (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto) As public transport goes, a ride on a cable car is pretty much as cool as it gets. Yes, there’s a certain thrill that comes with nabbing the front seat of the DLR, but a journey on a cable car — suspended hundreds of feet in...
As public transport goes, a ride on a cable car is pretty much as cool as it gets.
Yes, there’s a certain thrill that comes with nabbing the front seat of the DLR, but a journey on a cable car — suspended hundreds of feet in the air — beats a dreary bus or Tube ride any day of the week.
But not all cable cars are created equal.
While they all get you from A to B, some do so in style, providing majestic mountain views and breathtaking cityscapes.
And the good news? You don’t have to travel to far flung destinations to take a ride on some of the world’s best.
Here, Metro has rounded up 5 of Europe’s best cable car trips — from the longest, to the oldest.
Stanserhorn CabriO, Switzerland
Like your cable cars with a side of adrenaline?
The CabriO Cableway, which travels from Stans to Stanserhorn in Switzerland, is the first in the world with a roofless upper-deck.
That’s right, you can stand on top of the car itself, and take in the views of the Alps (stretching out to France and Germany), lakes and forests that sit below you.
After 24 minutes, you’ll reach the Stanserhorn summit station, where you’ll be at a dizzying 1,900m above sea level.
Latest London news
But this doesn’t have to be a quick trip. At the summit, there’s a revolving restaurant, Rondorama, where can enjoy Älplermagronen, aka Swiss Alpine macaroni cheese. Yes please.
Even getting to the starting point is a trip to remember in itself, as you’ll need to take a ride on the world’s oldest funicular. Built in 1893, it still has the same original wood-panelled interiors.
The CabriO reopens for the summer season on April 11, and tickets cost CHF 82.00 (around £80) return.
Teleferico de Gaia, Porto
Climb aboard the Teleferico de Gaia, and you’ll get to glimpse Porto, one of Portugal’s most popular tourist cities, from a unique view.
As you glide 63m above the northern stalwart, you’ll see the Douro River lined by steep vineyards, the gleaming Dom Luis I Bridge, and the red roofs of Porto’s many, many wine cellars.
For centuries, people have crossed the Douro via traditional rabelo boats — famous for transporting port wine barrels — and while a cruise on a rabelo is still a popular must-do for visitors, you can now also get from one side to the other via cable car.
Construction for Teleferico de Gaia began in March 2009 and was completed two years later in April 2011.
The journey is short but sweet, taking just five minutes, but that hasn’t stopped travellers raving about it, with one visitor on TikTok saying buying a ticket was ‘the best decision’.
Meanwhile, a top tip from Canadian travel blogger Krista the Explorer is to time your ride with the sunset, dubbing it the ‘best place’ to watch the sunset in Porto.
A return trip is pretty reasonable at just €10 (£8.69).
Titlis Rotair, Switzerland
It’s another cable car with a difference in Switzerland — this time, the carriage itself rotates.
Another world first, this cable car takes passengers from Engelberg Valley station to the top of Mount Titlis, a glacier-capped mountain in the Swiss Alps that’s 2,020m above sea level.
Of course, the rotating gondola — which you board for the final leg of the journey — means you get panoramic views of the mountains, including one of Europe’s largest glaciers.
Once at the top, guests have plenty to do: there’s an ice cave walk, and the chance to walk over Europe’s highest suspension bridge.
There’s more to come on the mountain too. Construction for the Titlis Tower is underway, due to open at the end of 2026, which will house a restaurant, bar, exhibition space and observation deck.
There’s also the Titlis Peak station, scheduled to open in 2029, a new ultra-chic mountain station which will also have a restaurant.
A return ticket costs CHF 102.00 (around £97) return.
IFS Cloud Cable Car, London
Okay, Londoners might not think of the IFS Cloud Cable Car (formerly Emirates Air Line) as much of a stand-out, but this unique journey in the capital is actually pretty special — and it’s in our own backyard, after all. It even won TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award for ‘Things to do in London’ in 2025.
The cable car opened to the public in June 2012, just in time for the London Olympics. Its original purpose was to quick and easy river crossings during the games.
More than 10 years on, and it’s still the most exciting way to cross the River Thames. The cable car connects Greenwich Peninsula with the Royal Docks. It’s also a five-minute walk from The O2 and North Greenwich Underground station.
It’s the only urban cable car in operation in the UK, and offers stunning views of the capital.
On a clear day you can see The Gherkin, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Thames Barrier.
And, if you’re really brave, you can opt for the Glass Floor Experience which is, you guessed it, a cabin with a special glass floor meaning you can literally gaze down at the city beneath your feet.
For something a little more relaxing you can also opt for a private cabin with a glass of champagne.
A return trip on the cable car starts from just £13 for adults and £6.50 for children.
Forcella Sassolungo, Italy
The Dolomites are currently in the spotlight, as they play host to various events for the Milan Winter Olympics.
But if you think ski-jumping or bobsleighing looks brave, how about taking a trip on the Forcella Sassolungo, often dubbed the ‘coffin-lift’.
Sassolungo is a major peak in Italy’s South Tyrol region, reaching a height of 3,181m. Various ski-resorts sit in its shadow, and it’s popular among hikers in the summer.
Back in the 1950s, construction began on basket-style lifts, serving climbers wanting to explore the area. But in 1971, the lift was updated to the two-person coffin like cabins still in use today. Their narrow shape is so the lifts can navigate the narrow passengers between the rock faces.
The lifts don’t stop, so guests must make a quick dash to hop on in pairs, and brace themselves for the 15 minute journey.
Those who have braved the trip have described the small cabins as ‘squeaking’ and ‘swaying’ in the wind, and some call it in the ‘scariest’ in Europe.
However, the experience also has rave reviews on TripAdvisor, with reviewers calling it ‘iconic’ and an experience that’s ‘just got to be done’.
A return ticket costs €15 (around £13).
The newest — and longest — cable car in Europe
While the proposed the Câble C1 in Paris might not offer stunning views for passengers, it’s still a pretty big deal.
Opening last December, it’s Europe’s longest urban cable car and has been around 17 years in the making.
The first of its kind in the city, it connects Paris’ isolated outskirts with the Métro network (specifically in the southeastern suburbs) that are poorly served by trains and buses.
The cable car system features 105 gondolas with 10 seats each and is designed to carry around 11,000 passengers per day above Parisian streets.The journey time of just 18 minutes (with stops along the way) is revolutionary — by bus or car, it typically takes around 40 minutes.
Commuters can use the cable car with a Navigo pass (a rechargeable smart card for Paris and Île-de-France public transport).
Anyone without the pass will need to purchase two tickets for the journey: €2.50 for the Métro Line 8, and €2 for the cable car.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Read the full article
Continue reading on metro.co.uk
