Funivia del Renon is the cable car between Bolzano and Soprabolzano, the main village on the Renon plateau in the Dolomites. The crossing takes about 12 minutes and lifts passengers off the valley floor onto a shelf of meadow and forest above it. At the top station the Renon narrow-gauge railway sets off across the plateau, and the walking routes that the plateau is known for run out from the villages. It serves as a working link for the people who live up there as much as a sightseeing ride.
Funivia del Renon, Soprabolzano
The narrow-gauge railway waits across the forecourt from the top station — about 5 km of plateau line, out and back.
- Entrance
- Paid. A combined ticket with the Renon narrow-gauge railway is sold alongside the cable-car fare.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking.
- Parking
- Free car park P1, paved, 121 m from the top station; a customers-only car park 39 m away.
- Transport
- Soprabolzano (Oberbozen) stop and station on the Renon narrow-gauge railway, about 50 m from the top station.
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday 6:30–22:45; Sunday 7:02–22:45.
What makes it special
The cabins are wide, glassed on every side, and they barely sway on the way up, which is why the crossing works even for passengers who dislike heights. Below, the valley falls away and Bolzano shrinks to a grid of roofs; ahead, the peaks come up over the rim of the plateau, still carrying snow in April. Twelve minutes later the doors open on Soprabolzano, and the plateau begins straight away: the narrow-gauge railway across the forecourt, a shop for refreshments, walking country in every direction. The station is busy, and a wait to board is part of the trip.
Good to know
- Queues: the station draws a steady stream of visitors and a wait to board is normal — leave slack in the plan.
- Nerves: the cabins are roomy and shake very little, and the crossing takes 12 minutes each way.
- Toilets and water: free public toilets stand 18 m from the station, and a free drinking-water point 51 m away.
- Tourist office: the Ritten–Oberbozen tourist office sits about 50 m from the cable-car doors.
Getting there
Everything at the Soprabolzano end sits in one cluster. Step out of the cabin and the platform of the Renon narrow-gauge railway is roughly 50 m across the forecourt, with the tourist office the same distance and the toilets nearer still. Car parks lie 39 m and 121 m from the doors. There is no approach walk here — the top station is the middle of the village.
Best time to visit
Better: a clear day, with time in hand at the top for the narrow-gauge railway and the plateau. Avoid: a tight connection — the station is busy, the wait to board is normal, and the ride takes 12 minutes each way.
The whole point is the view: the valley on one side, snow-covered peaks on the other well into April. In low cloud the cabin gives you twelve minutes of grey, and the plateau turns into a quieter, more ordinary day out.
Sun & daylight
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Frequently asked questions
How long does the cable car take?
About 12 minutes each way. The cabins are spacious and move very little, which makes the crossing manageable for passengers who are uneasy about heights.What is there to do at the top?
The Renon narrow-gauge railway leaves from beside the top station and runs roughly 5 km out and back across the plateau. Walking routes and a shop for refreshments are close to the station.Should you expect a queue?
Often, yes. The station is busy and a short wait to board is normal rather than exceptional.Does the Bolzano Guest Pass cover the ride?
It has covered the cable-car fare for guests staying in Bolzano. The combined ticket with the panoramic railway is the other option, and it costs only a little more than the cable car alone.