Góra Parkowa in Krynica-Zdrój and its Funicular

Góra Parkowa (742 m) rises right above the promenade of Krynica-Zdrój, and since 1937 Poland's first funicular railway has run to its summit. Remarkably, it still uses the same original interwar cars. At the top you will find the spa park, a new observation tower with views of the Beskids and the Tatras, and attractions for children.

History: a funicular from 1937

The line was built by the Swiss company Von Roll for the League for the Promotion of Tourism and opened on 8 December 1937. The project was initiated by engineer Aleksander Bobkowski. Both stations are examples of avant-garde modernism; the upper station once had a rooftop viewing terrace with a café, removed during renovation in the 1980s. Today the line is operated by Polskie Koleje Linowe (PKL).

The funicular in numbers

• the line is 642 m long, with a height difference of 148 m between the stations,
• the ride takes about 3 minutes,
• a car holds up to 50 people (PKL usually takes no more than 40),
• capacity is 500 passengers per hour.

From the windows you can see parts of the old luge track from 1929 – Góra Parkowa hosted, among others, the Luge World Championships in 1958 and 1962. The reinforced-concrete start tower from 1938 was used for competitions until the late 1970s and later turned into the children's "Paradise Slides".

What to see at the top

• The observation tower, 36 m high – reached by 216 steps or a lift; on a clear day you can see Jaworzyna Krynicka and the Tatras, and the glazed gallery displays illuminated historic photos of the mountain.
• The Meadow of Music and Light – a trail of about 500 m.
• The "Crazy 1930s" exhibition at the upper station.
• The "Paradise Slides" and a tubing run for children.
• The Spa Park – about 60 ha of paths, pavilions and ponds, including Swan Pond and Michasiowa Meadow with the Bocianówka spring.

Tripto tips

The funicular runs all year, usually from 10:00 to 18:00; ticket prices vary by date, so check the PKL website. There are annual maintenance breaks – in autumn 2026 the line is closed from 19 October to 6 November, though the tower and summit attractions stay open. You can also walk up through the park; the paths are wide enough for pushchairs but stony in places. Allow 2–3 hours for the ride, the tower and a walk. Leave your car in a paid car park in the centre – the lower station is on al. Nowotarskiego.