This was not my first trip on the railway but I returned after many years. Our son is now one of the children on the line and we decided to take a trip to see him in action. At the first station we were greated by a couple of the children using very polite English. We bought a family ticket so we could get on and off during the day. The young man who checked our ticket immediately asked if we were "Tim's" parents and sence of pride all the children and other staff show in their work was clear. The journey through the trees was very pleasant. Our son was on stationmaster duties with his red cap and he took his duties very seriously making sure the trains kept to time. A little tip if you take the last train of the day as it collects the children you will hear them singing. Have a great trip.

This is a nice half-day diversion if you just want to do the direct return trip, or longer if you want to do a walking trail in Buda Hills from one of the stations, including to the highest point in the region. Also good value and very sweet meeting / seeing the kids doing the whole grown-up thing. Don't do this trip for amazing views as 95 percent of the time is viewing trees, but it's a really good way to relax and appreciate slowing down!

5 stars for the unique experience of seeing children operating a railway. The trip itself is relaxing, sitting inside an old train passing through the forest. There are extra activities to do in the area, like taking the Zupliget (Libego) chair lift or hiking in the forest by getting off the train. We didn't do research before visiting so there were a few things that we wished we had known earlier to get a better experience. We started at the Huvösvölgy station by purchasing adult 2x-trip ticket (1400HUF, 1x-trip is 800HUF) with cash (only) to the children manning the booth. The first kid didn't understand English, but another does, but was not able to help us with the questions of where and how to get to the chair lift station. We bought the 2x ticket thinking the train stop was connected to the lower chair lift station and we'd need to get back to town by the same way we reached Huvösvölgy. This is not the case. The rail trip can be started from either Huvösvölgy or Széchenyihegy station, or maybe even at any stop as you can buy ticket directly (cash only) on board. The higher chair lift station is reachable from the Jánoshegy stop with a 10min slight incline hike. When we visited there was only a RETURN ticket option sold from machines that cost 2000HUF. There is a ticket counter but it was closed. We didn't take the return trip because the view is nicer from the top going down, and there is a convenient bus 291 at the bottom of the lower station that goes directly to town. Alternatively we could have taken the chair lift back up, hop back into the train and return to either Huvösvölgy/Széchenyihegy station. This could easily be a half day activity combining train ride, chair lift, and hiking around the forest.

This is a unique experience not to be missed. A legacy from the Communist era, children act like little adults running everything from the Ticket Offices, to Ticket inspection, and Signalmen. Only the train driver is an adult. Like the Chairlift, the ticket price is incredible value, cost 1400 HUF for a return ticket along the full length of the track. Journey time partly depends on the waiting time at the train crossover point, but around 45 minutes. There's a little Museum (100 HUF) about the Railway at the Huvosvolgy end of the track. It's mostly in Hungarian but there are two explanatory sheets in English covering Participants (Children) and History of the Vehicles. I love the way the traditions have been kept since the Communist Era with Salutes at all the Stations and Smart Uniforms for all the Children.

You will have a very pleasant travel experience, especially when you see the children managing things there and enjoy the fact that they can be the builders of this country's future. I strongly recommend traveling by these trains and benefiting from the beautiful landscapes and breathtaking views.

5/5 lazy sunday activity to ride on this weird little train up to the hills. On the day’s last train most of the kid operators were already finishing their work days but still the experience was very pleasant. We took the train Viragvolgy and walked a couple km to the chairlift and took it down. Very nice activity, highly recommended!

Interesting initiative. It really seemed a lovely attraction for children/families. During the weekend when I was there it was lively or better packed. It's even nicer to encounter the train passing by while you're walking in the forest.

£3 return trip through the woods and up to Budapest’s highest point. If you get off ( we got off at Janos Hegy) and had to pay an extra &1.50 each. Don’t argue with the kids it’s only &1.50! Great afternoon out.

Have you seen the children in Railway uniforms doing ticketing, ticket checking, station duties, if not please do visit Children's Railway Budapest. The whole journey is full of natural beauty, and on top of that the toy trains with kids on board is an amazing experience. The journey is a bit long if you are taking the whole return route but otherwise amazing experience.

Great familyday out with kids. Service on board the train is of course excellent. You can eat at the end stop Hűvösvölgy (pizza, hot dog). The trainride goes through the green Buda hills and the views are excellent.

My partner wandered off after a ride on the cog railway and came across this. For £4 return it was outstanding. The children all smartly turned out in their uniforms did a great job. Really was a well spent afternoon Great stations

I'm guessing it's nice for small kids, the ridge is not too long and the forest is beautiful.

The operation team are very cute! PS: Don't forget to bring cash in HUF

Great fun. It is a real train, with children as conductors and guards. C 40 mins each way. Stations/halts for forest walks. One station links to chairlift and Elizabeth Tower. (Strenuous steps!) Mainly forest views so choose a good travel companion for chatting. But fresh air and novelty. Out of city on tram an added bonus. Don't take the bus! Keep rail alive!

We reached the children's railway by the Cogwheel railway. Once off the Cogwheel railway it was a short walk up to the children's railway. Tickets are purchased on the train. If you are travelling with two or more people buy a group ticket costing 5000 HUF. This will give you unlimited train journeys for the day and you can get on and off all day if you wanted. Note they only take cash. So make sure you take some with you . The chairlift cafe is better for cash too as the reception is poor and the card machine doesn't always work. I would recommend checking the timetable prior to visiting as they run about every hour. We were lucky in that there was a train already in. The train is run by the children and what a credit they are. They were smartly dressed, polite and clearly loved their job. It was lovely to see. The train journey is fairly long but not particularly scenic. At the final destination there is a small museum and shop The train stops at various points along the way- one stop there is a cafe - Janos Hegy is the stop for the chair lift down. I think if you are in Budapest it's a must see as it made for a lovely day out in the Buda Hills.

Very enjoyable. The railway is run by children up to the age of 14yrs. It is considered a great honour to be chosen to work here.

Amazing scenery and experience, kids loved it and the parents too! Fair price and don't forget to get souvenirs on the train (on the way back). Recommended to stop half way to visit the huge playground and park in the forest. Staff kids are sweet and well-trained :)

10/10 for Children railways. Unique experience, hard working student volunteers who enjoy serving the customers and very friendly. Don't miss to have a selfie with one of them. The journey is nostalgic. The train goes through a tunnel which the kids loved. We all had a wonderful time using the railway for a return trip while visiting the Elizabeth lookout tower on János Hill. Hope to return soon.

It sounds cheesy but the Children's Railway is a great experience whether your'e an adult or a child. You climb through a beautiful forest, you can get off, go for a hike, and get back on to complete the ride, and it's great to see the kids in their railway uniforms proudly working the railway. Highly recommended.

Great experience, all the staff were very efficient and friendly. Great way to get away from the city and wander through the woods.

Great experience, truly a fun ride and all the little attendants are very professional and polite, no issues if you don't speak Hungarian as most of them spoke very good English.

Good fun, well run, and, for Budapest, pretty cheap. Well worth getting out midway along and making the climb up to ertsebet tower. Great way to spend a morning.

The train ride is about an hour from Szechenyihegy to Huvosvolgy passing through beautiful mountain forest on both sides. Very cute kids performing their conductor duty sincerely. The place is not touristic but must visit for those who likes peaceful away from the city kind of environment.

Everybody was really kind. The trains, the stations are clean and new looking. We had a really good time.

Best place for visitors and children who want to live in the world of railways!

Great for outdoor activities especially for families with children

A lovely experience. See children managing your journey.

Good fun, a great trip up the mountain and even better that there is a steam engine on some services. Great value for money too

Wonderful experience of an open-air train that goes through the woods for 7 miles! Our family had a great experience and we just rode the train 7 miles out and back without any additional excursions with our two little boys on what was a very hot day in Budapest - but a refreshing day in appropriately named “Hüvösvölgy” (chilly valley). Definitely recommend this unique experience with or without kids.

Fun for all ages and seasons. One way trip is about 2 Euro, round trip 4. Train rolls along the backside of Buda hills and has a nice panorama view of Pest. Great to see the kids out there enjoying helping run the railway. Insta @budapestdiscovered

Nice way if spending time in nature. Make sure you dress properly for the weather and hiking. Parking spaces nearby, paid.

Loved it! A little railway track through the uphill forest run by children! It was wonderful to see a youngster in the ticket booth, conductor, and a young lad in uniform came into the carriage to sell us postcards and small items. So cute. It was nice that even the littlest children would stand along the track, saluting the train as it went by. It's definitely worth doing rather than the usual attractions in this city.

Beautiful trip for children. The controllers are also children who stay at the summer camp of the Gyermekvasút and obviously they are enjoying running a raikway business!

Amazing and fun experience for kids, a train ride in the woods up the mountain with beautiful views. The ushers and station staff are children aged 10-14 except for the locomotive who is not a child (:

Great experience for children and also for adults. A wonderful atmosphere were you can see children doing there 'job' very seriously ! Congrats ! 👏👏👏

Such an alternative fun day out and lovely and cool chugging along through the trees. Enjoyed tram ride and old locomotive to ascend to the children's railway. Children tried out their English and took our tickets and sold souvenirs on board. They looked very smart in their uniforms and saluted the passengers, they take it very seriously. What a brilliant tradition to keep going and a great work experience initiative. The chairlift down gives you superb views over the city and the bus back into the centre gives a completely different perspective through the suburbs. If you are only on a short city break probably not top of your list as all the connections take time, but if you have kids, have a BKK transport pass to use to get there and time to relax, then we thoroughly recommend it as a totally memorable experience.

My kids loved it. Its also worth visiting the small museum at the end of the line.

No experience like this in the world! Beautiful little train ride through the woods with official Hungarian children as conductors but not driving.

The most wholesome train ride I have ever been on! Absolutely loved this. We took the cog-wheel railway up to Széchenyi Hill and then got off at Jánoshegy so that we could go up Elizabeth Tower and take the chairlift down. This makes a really great afternoon out and is well worth the effort!