Hidden away beneath the forested plateaus and mountains of the Slovak Karst National Park lies a fascinating world.
Far removed from the lush surface, hundreds of limestone caves shun the radiant light of the sun to dwell in darkness.
Even though most are closed off from the public, those that are not offer a spectacular view inside the Earth’s womb, so much so, that UNESCO declared them a World Heritage site in 1995, to honour and protect their unique beauty and incredible diversity.
During my trip to Slovakia, I had the chance to visit four out of the five (Jasovská, Dobšina, Gombasecká, and Ochtinská), only missing out on Domica Cave, near the Hungarian border.
Each cave offers a completely different and exceptional experience, ranging from inimitable limestone formations to Aragonite structures, rendering it well worth visiting all of them.
JASOVSKÁ CAVE
Located just 30 kilometres outside of Košice in the village of Jasov, this cave is the perfect introduction to the underground wonders of the Slovak Karst.
Revealed to the world as early as 1846 by the monks of the nearby monastery, Jasovská Cave became the first cave in Slovakia open to the public. To the local populace, however, the cave system was far from unknown. Used as a shelter at least since Neolithic times, the peasant population of the area sought refuge inside this subterranean hideout multiple times during Turkish and Tartar raids.
As archaeologist ventured ever deeper into its depths, several curious findings have been unearthed. Besides the intact skeleton of a cave bear (which can be seen in the cave) and other discoveries from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods, scientists stumbled upon the oldest cave inscription in Slovakia. Dating back to 1452, its author, Jan Jiskra of Brandýs, euphorically wrote down the heroic deeds of his Hussite forces, swaggering about his victory against his Hungarian foe.
The true highlight of the tour is the cave itself though.
Shaped by the underground flow of the Bodva river, the limestone cavern is richly adorned with colourful dripstone art. Stalagmites and stalactites stoically watch in silence as parts of the wall seem to melt away to form cascading waterfalls. In the sepulchral shadows of ebony towers, lurk dragons and other vicious beasts, patiently waiting for their quarry. Whole cities appear from the dark and get swallowed again.
Wander through the twisted and obscure corridors of this secluded realm, and lose yourself to the blackness of the mountain, while your shadow dances between the stony columns of aeons.
At least for 45 minutes. That’s how long the tour, leading you to wonderous places like the Great Dome, the Maze, or the Dining Room, will last. Let your mind run free and see where your imagination takes you!
TOURS
Tours run several times a day and are conducted in Slovak. There is information in English available, though.
The tour takes 45 minutes.
The ticket office opens 10 minutes before the tour starts, so don’t be surprised if it is closed should you arrive early.
The temperature inside the cave fluctuates between 8.5°C and 10°C, so bring at least an extra jacket.
HOW TO GET THERE
Buses run regularly from Košice to Jasov and back. The ride takes between 50-60 minutes. Get off at Jasov, Jednota and follow the brown signs (jasovská jaskyňa). It will take 10 minutes to get to the entrance. The bus stop back to Košice is a little bit further down the road towards the village centre.
PRICES*
General admission | 7€
Students | 5€
Photo/Video | an extra 7€
OPENING HOURS*
Apr-May | 10:00-14:30
Jun-Aug | 9:00-16:00
Sep-Oct | 10:00-14:30
The cave is closed from November to the end of March.
DOBŠINA ICE CAVE
Deep inside the dim woods of the Slovak Paradise lies a frosty kingdom.
Hidden away beneath the expanding branches of conifers, a gaping rift grants entrance to this exceptional creation of mother nature. Those who descend into the depths of the mountain will find a frozen realm where the cold reigns supreme.
Beyond the last daylight, a series of metal stairs and catwalks leads ever deeper into this bizarre world.
Enclosed by ice, you will stride through frozen tunnels, past towering walls that will make your neck hurt, and protruding columns ready to awe you. Its grand halls are adorned with whimsical ice sculptures and formations alien to most eyes, featuring a spectre-like statue seemingly escaping through a tiny hole in the cave’s ceiling.
Although short, a visit to Dobšina Ice Cave is a unique journey, only a few places on Earth can replicate.
Opened to the public back in 1871, it became one of the first caves in the world to have electric lighting installed. In 1890, a concert was held in the icy domains of the Great Hall in honour of Karl Ludwig von Habsburg, and up until 1946 it was even used for ice skating by the locals.
Today, it remains one of the most important ice caves in the world.
TOURS
Tours run several times a day and are conducted in Slovak. At all the other caves I got the English information handed without asking, but this time around I didn’t and forgot about it. I pressume that there is one available though.
The tour takes 30min.
Temperatures can drop to -3°C, so remember to bring warm clothes, especially in summer.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are buses going either from Poprad (45min) or Rožňava (85min) to the cave.
Keep in mind, however, that despite the name Dobšina Ice Cave is actually located near the village of Stratená, so you want to get off at Stratená, Dobšinská l’adová jaskyňa bus stop. When you get on the bus, just tell the driver you want to go to Dobšinská jaskyňa.
From the bus stop it will take 20 minutes to reach the entrance.
PRICES*
General admission | 9€
Students | 8€
Photo/Video | an extra 10€
OPENING HOURS*
15 May – 31 May | 9:00-14:00
Jun-Aug | 9:00-16:00
Sep | 9:00-14:00
The cave is closed from October till mid May.
GOMBASECKÁ CAVE
Stalagmites and stalactites are universally known, even to those of us who do not consider themselves speleologists (a fancy word for cave explorer).
However, concealed behind a metal door that guards the entrance to Gombasecká Cave, a stunning dripstone world awaits the curious. Beyond the stalagnate of Hiroshima (stalagnate = the coalescence of stalagmites and stalactites = column), named after its resemblance of a mushroom cloud, a truly extraordinary sight reveals itself.
Blinding white rain, fluorescing in the radiant glow of artificial light, emerges from the cove’s ceiling and wets the rocky cave floor below, creating a glistening fairyland in the bowels of the earth.
At least, it would appear that way.
In reality, these imposter-raindrops are millimetre-thin, hollow soda straw stalactites that form over the course of millennia and only grow a fraction of a millimetre per year. If a couple of them form in unison and in close proximity to each other, the aforementioned mirage occurs.
Although, this beautiful illusion might only hold a split second, the magic lingers.
The initial astonishment will eventually fade but this unique spectacle will leave you with a sense of wonder.
TOURS
Tours run daily and are conducted in Slovak. There is information in English available.
The tour takes 40 minutes.
Temperatures inside the cave are around 9°C.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are daily buses from Rožňava to the cave entrance (Slavec, Gombasecká jaskyná), although sporadically. You also have the option to get on/off the bus at Plešivec, rázc. Vidová or Slavec, rázc. Silica.
If you get off at Slavec, rázc. Silica head straight across the bridge and then take the departure on the right, afterwards simply follow the road to the cave entrance (approx. 1,7km).
If you exit the bus at Plešivec, rázc. Vidová cross the road. There is a gravel road to the left of the last house. Head up that road and take the second option to your left. The entrance to the walk is a little inconspicuous. Once you have the river to your left, you know you’re on the right path (approx. 2km). This is definitely the nicer option.
PRICES*
General admission | 6€
Students | 5€
Photo/Video | an extra 7€
OPENING HOURS*
Apr-May | 10:00-14:30
Jun-Aug | 9:00-16:00
Sep-Oct | 10:00-14:30
The cave is closed from November to the end of March.
OCHTINSKÁ ARAGONITE CAVE
When scientists drove a research tunnel into the north-western slope of Hrádok mountain in December 1954, no one could have predicted that they would unearth a truly remarkable, geological discovery. Hidden beneath thick layers of marble, lay an absolute astonishing sight.
By sheer coincidence, they had stumbled upon a cave system adorned with Aragonite, a scarce, rhombical, crystalline form of limestone.
Today, the Ochtinská Aragonite Cave is in fact one of only three Aragonite caves open to the public worldwide. Despite their respective beauty, the other caves on this list pale in comparison to the exceptionalism that awaits visitors who make the journey to this remote corner of Slovakia.
After a short descend, the treasures of this natural wonder reveal themselves.
Beautiful blue and greyish marble permeates the brown cave walls, while bright white Aragonite structures garnish the cavern’s ceiling. Initially small and inconspicuous, they grow larger with every corner turned. Resembling corals and ordinary minerals clinging to the cold rock at first, the scenery changes quickly from hall to hall, until these inorganic creations suddenly appear anything but lifeless.
Filling gaps and crevices within the rocks surface, the Aragonite starts to look evermore strange. The crystals fade, overgrown by tumorous formations, while thin strands sprawl forth, enforcing the idea of some sort of nuclear mould happily mutating in this dark domain below the surface.
Yet, gaze up and you might also lose yourself amidst a starlit sky, mimicking the Milky Way.
It is this mesmerizing contrast between beauty and abomination that further amplifies the allure of this subterranean wonderland.
TOURS
Tours run several times a day and are conducted in Slovak. You will be given information in English, though.
The tour takes 30-45 minutes.
Temperatures range from 7°C to 8°C so, as with previous caves, pack some extra clothes.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are no direct buses going to Ochtinská Aragonite Cave. The fastest way is to take the bus from Rožňava towards Revúca and get off at Gočaltovo, Hrádok bus stop. Once there, follow the signs leading away from the main road for two kilometres.
The walk will roughly take 30 minutes, so remember to crosscheck the bus schedule and the starting times of the tours if you want to avoid long waiting times.
Buses run very inconsistently, so definitely check the times for the bus back if you don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere.
PRICES*
General admission | 8€
Students | 7€
Photo/Video | an extra 10€
OPENING HOURS*
Apr-May | 9:00-14:00
Jun-Aug | 9:00-16:00
Sep-Oct | 9:00-14:00
The cave is closed from November to the end of March.
PHOTOGRAPHY
If you plan on taking photos/videos inside the caves, be prepared to empty your pockets.
Prices for the extra ticket are steep. Very steep.
In fact, it costs more than the actual ticket! Expect to part with 7-10€ more than you would normally do.
There is a somewhat reasonable explanation, though. At first, I suspected them to milk their UNESCO World Heritage status, however, one of the guides told me that prices were that high to prevent people slowing down the tour by taking a bazillion pictures.
I can’t really argue with that, can I?
In any way, you will get a coloured sticker to put on your clothes, to show the guides you paid the extra fee. Every cave has its own colour, so don’t try to bullshit the guides by putting on a sticker from another cave should you visit a couple.
Of course, you could always try to sneak in a couple of pictures with your phone but be warned that there will be two guides (one in the front, one in the back) keeping a watchful eye out for pesky rule breakers like myself. I tried once and was quickly reminded that it was prohibited without the extra ticket. The guides were not unfriendly though, and I was able to pay for the ticket inside the cave.
If you don’t really need the pictures (e.g., for a blog), I would strongly advise you to just enjoy your time there and not bother with the extra costs.
*All prices and opening hours as of August 2021. All caves are closed on Mondays.
For the latest prices, tour starts, and opening hours check the website of the Slovak Caves Administration.
