Best for
Families, train enthusiasts, anyone wanting a nature escape from the city centre
Time needed
Half a day, including the hills and connecting railways
Worth it?
Yes — a genuinely unique experience with real hiking scenery attached
Skip if
You're short on time or not interested in a half-day outdoor excursion
About Children's Railway
The Children's Railway (Gyermekvasút) runs an 11-kilometre narrow-gauge line through the forested Buda Hills between Széchenyihegy and Hűvösvölgy, and its defining feature is its staffing model: with the sole exception of the locomotive driver, every operational role — ticket inspectors, station announcers, signalmen, platform staff — is performed by uniformed children aged 10 to 14, trained through a structured programme and rotated through shifts, largely during school holidays and weekends.
The railway opened in 1948 under Hungary's new communist government as a "Pioneer Railway," part of a wider Eastern Bloc tradition of youth railways intended to build practical skills, discipline and a sense of civic responsibility in children through the communist youth movement structure. Similar lines existed across the Soviet sphere; Budapest's is among the most complete and best-preserved surviving examples still in full operation today, having outlived the political system that created it.
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The line connects with the separate Cog Wheel Railway (Fogaskerekű) at Széchenyihegy, which itself climbs up from the city, and runs through Normafa — a popular hiking and picnic area — and up to János-hegy, Budapest's highest point, offering genuine hill-walking and forest scenery unusual for a city-based attraction.
Because the child staff only accept Hungarian forint cash, and because it's aimed at a genuinely different kind of experience than Budapest's landmark sights, it works best as a half-day excursion combined with a hike or picnic in the Buda Hills rather than a quick stop between other attractions.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Every role except the locomotive driver is performed by children aged 10-14
- 2An 11km scenic route through the forested Buda Hills
- 3Connects with the historic Cog Wheel Railway at Széchenyihegy
- 4Passes through Normafa and up to János-hegy, Budapest's highest point
- 5Running continuously since 1948
- 6A genuine hill-walking and nature escape within city limits
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Insider Tips
Bring Hungarian forint cash — cards and foreign currency aren't accepted
Combine with a hike or picnic at Normafa or János-hegy
Ride the Cog Wheel Railway up from Széll Kálmán tér to connect with the line
Check the current timetable before travelling — it doesn't run daily year-round
Treat it as a half-day outdoor excursion, not a quick add-on stop
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Getting There
Terminus stations: Széchenyihegy and Hűvösvölgy, Budapest (Buda Hills, District XII)
Open in Google Maps →- 1Cog Wheel Railway (Fogaskerekű, tram line 60) from Széll Kálmán tér up to Széchenyihegy, connecting directly to the Children's Railway terminus.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're travelling with children who'd enjoy a child-operated train
- You want genuine hiking and forest scenery within city limits
- You have a half-day free and enjoy outdoor excursions
- You're curious about a surviving piece of communist-era youth culture
Skip if...
- You're short on time and focused on central Budapest sights
- Hiking or outdoor half-day excursions don't appeal on this trip
Ready to Book Your Visit?
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