The Schwebebahn is one of the most distinctive pieces of urban infrastructure in Germany. Built in 1901, it is a suspension railway that hangs from a steel elevated frame and runs for 13 kilometres along the Wupper river and the main streets of the city. More than a century later it is still the main form of public transport for a large part of the city, running every few minutes from early morning until midnight.
Riding it is worth doing for the experience alone. The carriages swing gently as they move, offering a bird's-eye view of the river below and the old industrial buildings that line the valley. The stations are largely original Jugendstil ironwork, and a few have been restored to something close to their 1900s appearance. Board at Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof and ride the full length — it takes about half an hour end to end.