A magnetic levitation system for contactlessly holding and moving a carrier in a vacuum chamber, including a base defining a transportation track, a carrier movable above the base along the transportation track, and at least one magnetic bearing for generating a magnetic levitation force between the base and the carrier. The at least one magnetic bearing includes a first magnet unit arranged at the base and a second magnet unit arranged at the carrier. The magnetic levitation system further includes a magnetic side stabilization device for stabilizing the carrier in a lateral direction, the magnetic side stabilization device comprising a stabilization magnet unit arranged at the base, wherein at least one of the first magnet unit and the first stabilization magnet unit is arranged in a housing space of the base, the housing space being separated from an inner volume of the vacuum chamber by a separation wall.