Inspiring Germany
7 cable cars in Germany: get on board, take off, and be amazed
Sometimes they’re historic classics, sometimes modern panoramic gondolas, but Germany’s cable cars always offer new perspectives. After all, they glide over vineyards, forests, rivers, and alpine landscapes, comfortably transporting visitors to spectacular viewpoints. The ride itself is an experience!
Koblenz cable car: hop on the gondola, cross the Rhine
Koblenz: Rhine Cable Car
©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH (Swantje Nickolay)
The 2011 Federal Horticultural Show may be a thing of the past, but the cable car built for the occasion continues to delight visitors. No wonder—it soars from the Deutsches Eck up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, offering unique views of Koblenz’s old town and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. It’s almost a shame that the gondola ride is over after just five minutes. Luckily, there’s the return trip! And in between? Adventure golf, museums, gardens, and plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat beckon.
Rüdesheim cable car: soaring above the vines
Rüdesheim: cable car
©Deutschland abgelichtet Medienproduktion
The romantic wine town of Rüdesheim in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley is world-famous for Drosselgasse, Asbach Uralt brandy, and the imposing Niederwald Monument. You can reach it on foot or by the cable car, which opened in 1954. Its 85 semi-enclosed, long-modernized gondolas with a retro look glide over the terraced vineyards. At the top, the monument, a restaurant, and walking trails await. A charming option: the hiking combo with the chairlift to Assmannshausen, which also offers spectacular views.
Drachenfelsbahn Königswinter: a wonderful classic with castle charm
Drachenfels Castle with the Drachenfelsbahn
©AdobeStock (zaschnaus)
Drachenfels in the Siebengebirge—even the name sounds mystical. The ride up the mountain, which towers some 270 meters above the Rhine, is also fabulously beautiful. A cogwheel railway has been climbing it since 1883, making it the oldest in Germany. This atmosphere alone makes the 1.5-kilometer ride an experience, but so does the view of forests, vineyards, the Rhine Valley, and the castle ruins. You can visit the ruins as soon as you get off the train, as well as the Nibelungenhalle and Drachenburg Castle later on.
Feldbergbahn: a black forest summit experience
If you want to reach the highest mountain in the Black Forest in a relaxed way, take the Feldbergbahn. Since 1999, the eight-person gondolas have been taking passengers from Feldberg-Ort up to an altitude of 1,450 meters. The railway operates almost year-round. Speaking of hiking: The mountain station is the starting point for hikes, family trails, and summit tours, and in winter, you can ski straight from here into Baden-Württemberg’s largest ski area. The observation deck on the 11th floor of the Feldberg Tower is open in summer.
Jennerbahn at Königssee: a cable car ride into the national park
The Jennerbahn, newly built in 2019, takes this classic mountain railway to a modern level: floor-to-ceiling glass fronts and space for up to ten people per gondola offer a significant comfort boost over its predecessor. The view of Königssee, glistening between the Watzmann and other peaks of the Berchtesgaden National Park, is timelessly beautiful. It makes you want to start hiking right away from the mountain station. And in winter? Although ski operations were discontinued in 2024/25, the fun in the snow remains: sledding, ski touring, and snowshoeing are still possible.
Burgberg cable car in Bad Harzburg: a well-rounded experience
The historic Burgberg cable car in Bad Harzburg has been floating up to the 483-meter-high Großer Burgberg since 1929. The ride in the nearly circular 18-person gondola is quite short at three minutes, but thanks to the panoramic view over the Northern Harz, it’s entertaining and offers stunning vistas. And it gets even better! Namely, upon arrival. Right next to the ruins of the old Harzburg Castle, hiking trails lead through the Harz National Park—for example, to the Rabenklippen cliffs and the Molkenhaus—as well as shorter walking paths and even alpaca tours.
Kampenwandbahn: lake, mountains, nostalgic gondolas
Cable car on the Kampenwand
©AdobeStock (streetflash)
Since 1957, the Kampenwandbahn near Aschau im Chiemgau has combined mountain sports, the magic of mountain huts, and a breathtaking panorama. Visitors are captivated by both the imposing Chiemsee and the thrilling, towering Alps. The colorful and charming four-person gondolas add a cozy atmosphere to the experience. They not only take passengers up to an altitude of about 1,465 meters, but also to alpine trails, paragliding launch sites, and rustic huts—and in winter, to natural snow slopes and winter hiking trails.