Last updated: November 2026
If you’re in Montecatini Terme, don’t leave without going up to Montecatini Alto, the old hill village. The nicest way is the red funicular, two wooden cars called Gigio and Gigia, which have been climbing this hill since 1898. The journey takes about eight and a half minutes, and you can stand on a tiny balcony at the end of the car if you’re lucky with a space.
I must flag the important bit first, because this post is being written in November 2026. The 2026 season ran from 21 March to 1 November. The operator’s own site currently says the funicular is closed for maintenance until 19 March 2027. So if you’re reading this in winter, you can’t ride it tomorrow. You can still reach the Alto by road, by taxi or bus, or on foot by the path they call La Corta. Always check funicolaremontecatini.com before you set out.
The short version
- Right now (winter 2026–27): closed for maintenance, with a planned reopening on 19 March 2027. Confirm on the official site.
- In season, typically: late March to the first Sunday in November, 9.30am to midnight, every 30 minutes. In 2026 that meant 21 March to 1 November.
- Tickets, 2026 prices: €4 single, €7.50 return for adults; children aged 6 to 10 pay €2 / €4; under 5s free. Buy at the station, and keep the return ticket.
- Time at the top: an hour is a rush; two or three hours is a proper half-day, with lunch.
- If it isn’t running: drive or take a taxi up, or walk the path. The village doesn’t close when the cars do.
The ride
The lower station is on Via Armando Diaz, in Montecatini Terme, close to the spa buildings. The line is 1,077 metres long, with a maximum gradient of about 38.5 per cent. The two cars pass in the middle, which children love, and then you arrive in the Alto. The comune notes that Giuseppe Verdi was at the opening, on 4 June 1898. The cars are still the old ones, restored, with wooden benches.
You can only buy tickets at the station, in cash or by card, when you board. If the lower ticket office is shut, you may be able to pay at the top. Keep the ticket for the way down. In heavy rain or a storm they may slow or stop the service, which is as it should be.
Dogs are allowed, on a lead. Medium and large dogs need a muzzle. Pushchairs have to be folded. The operator’s own rules are more precise than the comune page about wheelchairs: they can take one foldable wheelchair per trip, but the person needs to be able to manage some steps at the upper station, where there isn’t a proper ramp because of the slope. If steps are difficult, going up by taxi is the kinder plan.
What to do in Montecatini Alto
The Alto is the original village, on the ridge, with a square, stone palazzi, a view over the plain, and a slower pace than the spa town below. You come to wander, to sit, to eat, and to look. There are a few churches, a fortress tower, and lanes that run off the piazza. It won’t fill a whole day unless you let lunch run long, which I recommend.
At dusk, if the funicular is running late, the ride down is a pleasure. In season the last cars are at midnight, which makes dinner at the top a realistic idea, not a rush. Check the time of the last descent anyway, and don’t cut it fine on a busy Saturday.
If you have energy left in the spa town, the Tettuccio is the grand place to see, even if you only look at the architecture. Montecatini Terme is one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe, a UNESCO listing since 2021. I’ve written more about the waters in my hot springs guide. Pescia, where I used to come down from the villages, is the next town along the valley, a short train ride away.
If you book through this link I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
How to get there
By train: Montecatini Terme is on the Florence–Viareggio line, the same one as Pescia, Pistoia and Lucca. From the station, it’s a walk or a short hop to the lower funicular station on Via Armando Diaz.
By car: park in the spa town, not in the tight lanes of the Alto, and ride up if the funicular is open. If it isn’t, there is parking near the village; follow the signs and don’t block a gate. The road is steep but ordinary.
On foot: the path known as La Corta runs near the funicular line, with a Via Crucis along it. It’s a proper uphill walk, not a shortcut in sandals.
Best time: April to June, and September or October, when the funicular is usually running and the piazza at the top isn’t packed. A weekday is kinder than a Sunday in August.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Montecatini funicular open in winter?
Usually not. It is a seasonal service, typically from late March to early November. In winter 2026–27 the operator announced a maintenance closure until 19 March 2027. Check the official site before you go.
How much does the Montecatini funicular cost?
In 2026 a single adult ticket was €4 and a return €7.50, with reduced prices for children aged 6 to 10. Under 5s were free. Buy tickets at the station, and keep the return stub.
Is the funicular accessible with a wheelchair?
Only in a limited way. The operator allows one foldable wheelchair per trip, but there are steps at the upper station and no proper ramp. If steps are difficult, go up by taxi or car instead.
Can I go to Montecatini Alto if the funicular is closed?
Yes. You can drive, take a taxi or a bus, or walk up. The village is open even when the cars are not running.
More from the hills
- Tuscany’s hot springs
- The Pescia valley without a car
- The Montecatini Terme town page
- Find Montecatini Alto on the Village Finder
Susan
