Zugliget Chairlift (Libegő): Tickets, Winter Hours, Bus 291

What it costs and which ticket to buy

BKV's chairlift information page gives these fares, checked 30 October 2026:

Children under 3 ride free; children count as 3–14 until the day before their 15th birthday. The student fare runs until the day before the 26th birthday and needs a valid student card shown to the platform guide. Pensioner and other travel discounts do not apply.

Tickets are valid for one year from purchase. A return gives two rides in either direction; if you use only one ride on the day, the other stays valid for the rest of the year.

Return, or up one way and down by bus?

The upper station is in the hills, and BKV says buses 21 and 21A run from Széll Kálmán tér to Normafa, about a 20–30 minute walk from it. That makes a loop possible: bus 291 out, chairlift up, walk to Normafa, bus 21 back. Using BKK's 500 Ft single ticket for each bus (BKK price list, checked 30 October 2026):

The loop is cheaper and you see more of the hills, but it adds the walk. Choose the return if you have children, a short winter day or no wish to walk downhill on forest paths.

Opening hours and closures

The chairlift information page lists these seasonal hours from November (checked 30 October 2026):

The page gives no separate last-ride time, so in winter aim to be at the lower station well before 15:30. BKV warns that hours may change because of bad weather or technical faults and suggests checking beforehand; the phone numbers during opening hours are +36 1 391 0352 and +36 1 394 3764.

Maintenance Mondays. The chairlift closes on Mondays in even-numbered weeks, according to the BKV chairlift page, but BKV does not list the dates. Reading the scheme against ISO week numbers, which match the odd-week dates BKV publishes for the Buda Castle Funicular, the chairlift would be closed on 9 and 23 November and 7 and 21 December 2026. That is our calculation, not a BKV list, so phone before travelling on any Monday.

Getting there

BKV's directions:

• Lower station: bus 291 from Nyugati pályaudvar to its Zugliget terminus.
• Upper station: bus 21 or 21A from Széll Kálmán tér to Normafa, then about 20–30 minutes on foot. The Children's Railway (János-hegy or Virágvölgy stops) is also nearby.

Buses are part of the normal BKK network, so a single ticket, a 24-hour ticket or a 72-hour ticket covers them. Our public transport tickets guide explains which to buy.

Buying tickets and paying

There are ticket machines at both stations. BKV says both machines at each station take cards, but only one machine per station accepts cash, so carry a card. You can also buy online in the BudapestGO app.

Machine tickets are printed on thermal paper. Keep them out of direct sun and heat if you plan to use the return half later; BKV advises storing them below 25 °C.

With a Budapest Card

The BKV Budapest Card page says the chairlift is free in both directions with the Budapest Card; you show the card to the staff on the platform. BKK's PLUS product page lists "one Zugliget chairlift ride" among the card's benefits, so expect at least one free ride and ask about the second. Whether the card is worth buying for this and other sights is worked out in our Budapest Card guide.

Children and groups

Children under 10 must ride with an adult. For groups of at least 10 children or students, accompanying adults can travel on the child or student fare, in a ratio of two adults for 10–20 young people, three for 21–30, four for 31–40 and five for groups of over 41, as BKV puts it. A platform guide gives the approval code for the group ticket.

For a second hill ride on the same trip, the Buda Castle Funicular guide covers fares and its own maintenance Mondays.