Wuppertal Schwebebahn (Suspension Railway)

The Wuppertal Schwebebahn is the world's oldest electric suspended monorail still in regular service and the symbol of the city of Wuppertal in western Germany. Since 1901 its cars have hung from a steel frame, gliding mostly above the Wupper River through a narrow industrial valley. It is ordinary public transit for locals and a one-of-a-kind sightseeing ride for visitors, and in 2026 it celebrates its 125th anniversary.

Where it is and how to get there

Wuppertal lies in North Rhine-Westphalia, between Düsseldorf, Cologne and the Ruhr area. Regional and S-Bahn trains connect it with Düsseldorf in well under an hour, and Düsseldorf Airport is the closest major international gateway. Cologne is also an easy day trip away by train. Get off at Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof (main station): the Schwebebahn's Hauptbahnhof stop sits right at the Döppersberg square, a few minutes' walk from the platforms. The ride is part of the regional VRR network, so the Deutschlandticket is valid.

A short history

German engineer Eugen Langen designed the system. On October 24, 1900, Emperor Wilhelm II and Empress Auguste Viktoria rode it before the official opening, and the car they used has been called the Kaiserwagen (Emperor's Car) ever since. Public service began on March 1, 1901, and the full line was finished in 1903. In 1950 a young circus elephant named Tuffi famously jumped out of a car into the river and survived with only a scratch. The line became a protected monument in 1997, was rebuilt between 1995 and 2014, and has run modern trains since December 2016.

What to expect on the ride

• The full line: About 8.3 miles (13.3 km) with 20 stations, from Vohwinkel in the west to Oberbarmen in the east. One way takes roughly 30 minutes.
• Views: Most of the route runs above the river, with the western section hanging over a street in Vohwinkel. Sit at the very front or back for the best views.
• Historic stations: Werther Brücke, Völklinger Straße and Landgericht were rebuilt in their original Art Nouveau style.
• The Kaiserwagen: The restored 1900 car runs 65-minute coffee rides with guides in period costume, starting in Vohwinkel. Tours are in German and book up early.
• Schwebodrom: At Werther Brücke station, this attraction uses projections and a virtual reality ride to show Wuppertal in 1929.

Tickets and schedule

A 24-hour ticket costs €7.60 (each additional person €5.10, children under six free), and a combined zoo ticket costs €19. A Kaiserwagen ride is €49.50 for adults and €29.50 for children up to 14 (as of October 2026). At peak times, trains run every three minutes on weekdays, every four on Saturdays and every six on Sundays and holidays. Check the operator's timetable or app for first and last departures.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, especially if you like engineering, industrial history or simply unusual experiences. A round trip on the full line takes about an hour, which makes Wuppertal an easy half-day or day trip from Düsseldorf or Cologne. Avoid the weekday rush hours if you want a seat at the window. Accessibility information for individual stations is available from the operator's free hotline; the historic Kaiserwagen is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

Nearby

Nearby you can visit Wuppertal Zoo (with its own Schwebebahn stop), the Von der Heydt Museum, the Engels House museum on Friedrich Engels' family history, and the Nordbahntrasse trail on a former railroad line.