Postojna Cave

What makes it special

Postojna is the only karst cave with a railway, and the line, the first ever laid underground when it opened in 1872, is still how you go in. The whole system runs to 24 kilometres.

Walking, the route crosses the Russian Bridge and climbs through halls of stalactites and stalagmites, the Gothic Hall among the most richly decorated. Watch for the Brilliant, in the Brilliant Passage: a stalagmite about five metres tall, the most famous in the cave and its symbol.

The olm is a blind amphibian and the largest of all cave-dwelling animals. It can live for up to a hundred years and go several years without food. Olms live in large aquariums in the middle of the cave, where they have laid eggs.

The walk ends in the Concert Hall, where the guide tells you about the cave's underground post office, the only one in the world.

Visiting

Postojna's cave train takes the first stretch, about two kilometres into the cave to the Great Mountain, where you get off and walk. Be at Postojna Cave Park half an hour before your tour, because boarding starts 15 minutes ahead of the tour time. Train and walk together cover about five kilometres of the cave, and the visit takes about an hour and a half.

Guides split the passengers into groups by language, and the walk of just over a kilometre begins on a steep slope at a quick pace. The groups are large at first and spread out as the route goes on, so hang back if you want room for photographs.

The path takes prams. If walking is hard for you, or you use a wheelchair, see the cave by train only. Without an online ticket, buy at the main cash desk, a short walk from the cave entrance.

Guided or on your own

Every tour is guided, so the only choice to make is the language. Guides lead groups in Slovenian, English, German or Italian. For any other language, ask for an audio guide, offered in 17 languages, and follow the group with it.

Tips

Book the first tour of the morning to miss the biggest crowds. In summer the cave stays open until 6 pm, so if you are pairing it with Predjama Castle, about 15 minutes away by car, you can see the castle first and take a later tour.

Photographs and video are allowed without flash or a tripod, but recording the guide's commentary is not. If you came without a jacket, you can hire or buy a rain jacket at the entrance.