Buda Hills: Normafa to János-hegy and down by chairlift: a walk in Budapest

Bus 21 to Normafa, a forest walk to the city's highest point and its stone lookout tower, then the 1970 chairlift down to Zugliget. About 2.5 km on foot plus the 12-minute ride. Combine with the cogwheel railway (line 60) and the Children's Railway if you have the whole day. No overlap with the existing routes.

Best time: A clear morning or early afternoon on a day the chairlift runs (check BKK's 2026 closure list)

The route, stop by stop

1
Normafa
Bus 21 or 211 from Széll Kálmán tér to Normafa (BKK). The clearing is named after the old beech under which, in 1840, the singer Rozália Schodel sang 'Casta diva' from Bellini's Norma for the National Theatre company (Hungarian Wikipedia; the stored place text says 1850, which should be checked). Wide views over the Ördög-árok valley to Hármashatár-hegy and the city. 20 min.
A clearing in the Buda Hills where locals hike, run, picnic and sledge in winter, named after an 1850 performance of Bellini's Norma under an old beech. Most visitors never leave…
2
Erzsébet Lookout, János-hegy
About 2 km of forest path north from Normafa to the top of János-hegy, at 527 m Budapest's highest point. Frigyes Schulek's neo-Romanesque tower (1908-1910), 23.5 m, named after Queen Elisabeth who came up here in 1882; 100 steps on two intertwined spiral stairs to the open top terrace, from which on a clear day you can see 75-80 km, sometimes to the High Tatras. 40 min.
3
Chairlift, János-hegy upper station
A short walk down from the tower. The Libegő (1970) takes about 12 minutes over 1,040 m and 262 m of height; own tickets only (machines or BudapestGO), Budapest Card free. Closed for maintenance on set Mondays (Oct 2026: 5-16 and 26 Oct). 15 min ride.
4
Chairlift, Zugliget lower station
Zugligeti út 97, terminus of bus 291 back to Nyugati pályaudvar.

Walking directions

Buda Hills: Normafa to János-hegy and down by chairlift

The route, stop by stop

More walks in Budapest