Since 1885, this funicular has been the fastest route from Bern railway station to the Aare and the Marzili-Bad lido. It now carries a million passengers per year, departing every few minutes on its one-minute journey.

The shortest public funicular in Europe. Until 1974 the Marzilibahn was a water ballast funicular. At the top, a tank under the passenger cabin was filled with 3,500 litres of water drawn from the Stadtbach – the excess weight of the car then pulled the other car upwards. You can see one of the historic wooden water ballast wagons not far from the bottom station – another is on display in the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne.

Today, the fire engine red train that connects Bern’s city centre (300 metres from Bahnhofplatz) to the residential districts on the Aare is powered by electricity.

Altitude: 539 metres
How to get there:
300-metre walk from Bern railway station to Kleine Schanze next to Parliament House, funicular down to the Marzili district
Views: From the Parliament House terrace down to the Aare and the Schwellenmätteli and Marzili districts, on a clear day as far as the Bernese Alps with the Jungfrau
Attractions: (accessible by Marzilibahn funicular) Marzili lido, swimming in the River Aare with views of Parliament House
Food and drink: Restaurant Marzer near the Marzilibahn, Restaurant Marzilibrücke, restaurants in Schwellenmätteli
Accommodation: City of Bern
Groups: The youth hostel (double and multi-bed rooms) near the bottom station of the Marzilibahn has a large hall with a stage
Special comments: You can see one of the historic wooden water ballast wagons not far from the bottom station – another is on display in the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne.