Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Israel Haifa The Carmelit

The Carmelit

This subterranean funicular is one of the world's smallest subways.

Haifa, Israel

Added By
Ross Hyzer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
At the platform   generalising
Pulling into the station   Osmar Valdebenito
Boarding the Carmelit   random exposure
A peek inside   galio
Carmelit station   Osmar Valdebenito
Carmelit station entrance   Osmar Valdebenito
Carmelit   pauldickerson / Atlas Obscura User
  pauldickerson / Atlas Obscura User
  pauldickerson / Atlas Obscura User
  pauldickerson / Atlas Obscura User
  pauldickerson / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

With a skyline dominated by the slopes of Mount Carmel, Haifa ranks as Israel's third-largest city and can trace its history back more than 3,000 years. It also boasts Israel's only underground metro, which makes up in elevation change what it lacks in other metrics.

Opened in 1959, the Carmelit climbs from the Mediterranean shore to the top of Mount Carmel. It was intended to provide quick and easy transit between the commercial districts along Haifa's waterfront and the modern residential center of the city, which was situated atop the heights of the mountain for which the line is named. Serving six stations, from Paris Square at sea level to Gan Ha'em at the mountain's peak, the Carmelit ascends 274 meters (899 feet) over the course of its 1.8 kilometer (1.1 mile) run.

Since the time of its completion, much of Haifa's population has shifted to other parts of the city, leaving the Carmelit lightly used in the present day. It was closed for extensive renovation from 1986 to 1992, and again to repair a faulty cable from March to July of 2015. Nevertheless, its two two-car trains continue to make the eight-minute journey up and down the mountain every day, sharing a single track with only a brief parallel section to the allow the counterbalanced trams to pass by one another.

Related Tags

Trains Subways Funicular Mountains

Community Contributors

Added By

RHyzer

Edited By

blako, lesliek, pauldickerson

  • blako
  • lesliek
  • pauldickerson

Published

July 6, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.urbanrail.net/as/hai/haifa.htm
  • https://jaspasjourney.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/the-carmelit-underground-haifa-israel/
  • http://www.subways.net/israel/haifa.htm
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelit
  • http://mapa-metro.com/en/israel/haifa/haifa-carmelit-map.htm
The Carmelit
HaNassi Boulevard 122
Haifa
Israel
32.804645, 34.987194
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Atlit Yam

Haifa, Israel

miles away

Medical Clowning Program at Haifa University

Haifa, Israel

miles away

Nisco Museum

Ein Hod, Israel

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Haifa

Haifa

Israel

Places 3

Nearby Places

Atlit Yam

Haifa, Israel

miles away

Medical Clowning Program at Haifa University

Haifa, Israel

miles away

Nisco Museum

Ein Hod, Israel

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Haifa

Haifa

Israel

Places 3

Related Stories and Lists

14 Amazing, Gravity-Defying Funiculars

railroads

By Eric Grundhauser

Related Places

  • Istanbul Tunel Karaköy Beyoğlu

    Istanbul, Turkey

    Tünel

    Climb a steep hill in 90 seconds on the second-oldest urban subway in the world.

  • Old summit power house.

    Beacon, New York

    Ruins of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway

    The remains of what was once the world's steepest passenger funicular.

  • Niesenbahn

    Mülenen, Switzerland

    The Niesenbahn

    Traversing steep Alpine slopes, this engineering marvel is one of the longest and highest funiculars in the world.

  • Amidst spring colors

    Bergen, Norway

    Fløibanen Funicular

    A favorite with sightseers, this Norwegian funicular provides easy access to a stunning view of Bergen and its environs.

  • Knoxville Incline Overlook Park - stairs near Welsh Way

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Knoxville Incline Overlook Park & Greenway

    An abandoned incline railway site is now a green space with six acres of trails connecting hilltop neighborhoods.

  • Viewpoint Bahnhof Eismeer

    Grindelwald, Switzerland

    Bahnhof Eismeer (Eismeer Railroad Station)

    The second-highest train station in Europe.

  • Alpine tunnel telegraph station

    Gunnison, Colorado

    Alpine Tunnel

    The first railway tunnel to cross the Continental Divide and, at 11,523 feet, was once the highest railroad tunnel in the world.

  • London, England

    Supper Club Tube

    A decommissioned tube carriage within a London museum hosts a regular pop-up supper club.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.