Formed over 2 million years ago, the caves in Slovenia are true wonders that you just have to see to believe! Now, Slovenia has over 10,000 registered caves, so it would be impossible to visit them all during a single visit, but it is easy to visit three of the best caves all on one day trip from Ljubljana.
So, in this article, we’ll cover 3 of the best caves in Slovenia including the largest underground cave in the world, a unique cave castle, and an unforgettable train ride through one of the most beautiful caves in the world.
Watch our full video below to see these amazing caves for yourself!
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Getting to the Caves in Slovenia
It’s best to see the caves in Slovenia as a day trip from the capital of Ljubljana. The caves are about 45 minutes to an hour’s drive outside of Ljubljana. It’s an easy drive if you have a rental car. However, if you prefer not to hire a car, you can also book a tour to get there as well. Just know that most tours will not include all three cave attractions, but will still give you a sampling of two of the most popular caves in the country.
If you are up to driving yourself though, you can scan for the cheapest car rentals here!
1. Skocjan Caves
Skocjan Cave is a massive cave network and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s famous for having the largest underground cave chamber in the world! This chamber was beautifully craved by the Reka River and can only be seen by guided tour.
The informative guided tour starts off slow, meandering through some pretty standard, almost ordinary cave chambers. However, once you reach the Grand Chamber, you will see why this cave is so special and so popular! The sheer size of the cave will make you say, “Wow!”
The full guided tour takes about an hour and a half and is around 2.5 km long. There are over 800 steps going both up and down, so you would want to wear good athletic shoes and comfortable clothes for walking.
There are also multiple hiking trails that you can take on the way back. They have a short 15-minute trail back, a longer 30-minute trail back, and a very long hour-and-a-half trail back. I recommend taking the 30-minute trail back so you can see as much of the natural beauty of the area as possible but still have time to visit other caves in the area.
However, if you decide to take the long 1.5 hour trail make sure to bring plenty of water and food to get you through your hike.
The only drawback of going to Skocjan Cave is that you are not allowed to take photos and videos in the most spectacular cave chambers. Otherwise, visiting Skocjan Cave is an incredible experience.
Check out their website here for the latest tour schedules and prices.
2. Predjama Castle
The next cave that we recommend is actually a cave-castle combination. Predjama Castle is built strategically into the side of a mountain and is known as the largest cave castle in the world.
Built over 800 years ago in the 13th century, the castle was never really comfortable for living in, but it was perfect for defensive purposes. The castle was attacked several times, but the only time its walls were breached was during the 15th century, and even then it took the enemy over a year to break into the walls of the castle.
Do you know what the weakest part of the castle wound up being?
The lavatory!
While the then-owner Knight Erasmus was sitting on the toilet, one of his servants betrayed him by letting his enemies know. The enemy fired the cannon, blowing through the toilet and blowing through Erasum as well.
Now, you know how some audioguides are dull and boring, well the one at Predjama Castle is really well done and quite intriguing. It’s full of great stories like this murder on the toilet story, and we really enjoyed listening to all the stories and didn’t want to skip one. It really made the exhibits come to life.
Check out their website here for the latest hours of operation and prices.
Pro tip: Tickets for Predjama Castle and Postojna Cave can be bought together for extra added savings!
Postojna Cave
Our last stop was Postojna Cave which has the most stunning stalemates and stalactites you will ever see! Your journey starts with an electric train ride deep into the cave. This ride was really fun and will turn your trip to the cave into a truly unforgettable experience.
After the cave ride, you will walk 1.5 km (0.9 miles) through the most beautiful parts of the cave, seeing stunningly intricate cave formations. Some of the stalagmites and the stalactites have the most beautiful white color and seem to sparkle in the light. It’s beauty that you have to see to believe!
In addition to seeing this stunning cave, you get to learn about the baby dragons that live inside the cave. This little creatures are so unique because they don’t have eyes. Instead they “see” through their pinkish translucent skin. They can even go years without eating making them while adapted to cave life. It’s one of the most interesting animals we’ve even see and was an unexpected and fascinating part of our guided tour.
Check out their website for the latest tour schedule and prices!
Final Thoughts on the Caves in Slovenia
You might usually think of caves of dark and dreary places, but we found the caves of Slovenia to be truly enlightening. I’m glad we made the time to go, and you will be too!
Want even more ideas for your Slovenia trip? Check out our other Slovenia travel guides below!
- The Top 10 Travel Destinations in Slovenia
- 10 Things to Do in Bled, Slovenia
- 10 Beautiful Sights in Kranj & Skofja Loka
- Discover the Hidden Gems of Eastern Slovenia
- What to Know Before You Go to Piran Slovenia
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