Hűvösvölgy, Children's Railway — Attraction in Budapest

5 stars for the unique experience of seeing children operating a railway. The trip itself is relaxing, sitting inside an old train passing through the forest. There are extra activities to do in the area, like taking the Zupliget (Libego) chair lift or hiking in the forest by getting off the train.

We didn't do research before visiting so there were a few things that we wished we had known earlier to get a better experience.

We started at the Huvösvölgy station by purchasing adult 2x-trip ticket (1400HUF, 1x-trip is 800HUF) with cash (only) to the children manning the booth. The first kid didn't understand English, but another does, but was not able to help us with the questions of where and how to get to the chair lift station. We bought the 2x ticket thinking the train stop was connected to the lower chair lift station and we'd need to get back to town by the same way we reached Huvösvölgy. This is not the case. The rail trip can be started from either Huvösvölgy or Széchenyihegy station, or maybe even at any stop as you can buy ticket directly (cash only) on board.

The higher chair lift station is reachable from the Jánoshegy stop with a 10min slight incline hike. When we visited there was only a RETURN ticket option sold from machines that cost 2000HUF. There is a ticket counter but it was closed. We didn't take the return trip because the view is nicer from the top going down, and there is a convenient bus 291 at the bottom of the lower station that goes directly to town. Alternatively we could have taken the chair lift back up, hop back into the train and return to either Huvösvölgy/Széchenyihegy station.

This could easily be a half day activity combining train ride, chair lift, and hiking...

I've had several rides on the Gyermek Vasút/Childrens Railway. Always an enjoyable experience, summer or winter. I suggest you buy a return ticket which allows one stop off before you return. We always get on at the start terminal and get off right at the end at Hűvösvölgy/Cool Valley, where the train stops for about 20 minutes or so and reverses it's direction. There are free toilets there, a small museum and refreshments. Next stop on return would be at the Erzsébet Torony lookout if the weather is clear or at Normafa if the weather is snowy for snowplay. From either of these destinations you then get public transport down the mountain. Normafa is great fun if there has been recent snow as many people will be tobbaganing, skiing, and snowplaying. The railway is cute and often filled with mostly tourists. Children sell the tickets, punch the tickets, and operate the railway signals etc etc. In winter the carriages have small coal fired stoves in each to warm them. You can access the start of the train via the Cog Wheel railway, which is an experience in itself up the steep hills. The Fogás Kerekű/Cog Wheel railway is part of the BKK public transport system and doesn't need special tickets, just the usual pass/ticket you use...

We reached the children's railway by the Cogwheel railway. Once off the Cogwheel railway it was a short walk up to the children's railway.

Tickets are purchased on the train. If you are travelling with two or more people buy a group ticket costing 5000 HUF. This will give you unlimited train journeys for the day and you can get on and off all day if you wanted. Note they only take cash. So make sure you take some with you . The chairlift cafe is better for cash too as the reception is poor and the card machine doesn't always work. I would recommend checking the timetable prior to visiting as they run about every hour. We were lucky in that there was a train already in.

The train is run by the children and what a credit they are. They were smartly dressed, polite and clearly loved their job. It was lovely to see.

The train journey is fairly long but not particularly scenic. At the final destination there is a small museum and shop The train stops at various points along the way- one stop there is a cafe - Janos Hegy is the stop for the chair lift down.

I think if you are in Budapest it's a must see as it made for a lovely day out in...