The invention relates to a guide rail for an elevator system, comprising at least two rail elements (11a, 11b) which jointly form a guide rail section having a functional raceway (31a, 31b, 31c) in a direction of travel. Each of the rail elements (11a, 11b) is connected to the shaft wall. Furthermore, adjoining rail elements (11a, 11b) are located at a distance from one another so that the rail elements (11a, 11b) can freely undergo thermal expansion in the direction of travel. In addition, at least two of the adjoining rail elements (11a, 11b) have edges which face one another in the region of the functional raceway (31a, 31b, 31c) and which have a complementary shape such that any cross-section of the guide rail section that runs perpendicular to the direction of travel in the region of the functional raceway (31a, 31b, 31c) extends through at least one of the two adjoining rail elements (11a, 11b).