The modern Merano 2000 cable car was opened in Christmas 2010 after only ten months of construction. It carries passengers safely and comfortably to a height of 2,000 metres in just seven minutes, transporting them to a hikers paradise – the Merano 2000 area. This modern cable car can carry up to 120 people per trip, meaning that long waiting times are a thing of the past. The upper station houses a bistro on the first floor where visitors can take in the magnificent view of Merano and the whole of the surrounding Adige (Etschtal) valley. Visitors can choose from a number of excursions with various levels of difficulty from the upper station. The cable car also has an intermediate station between the upper and lower stations. Thanks to a safety ramp and an architecturally spectacular car, visitors can descend quickly and discover great hiking trails along the way.