How To Visit the Postojna Caves in Slovenia
The Postojna Caves are one of the most popular attractions in Slovenia, and they should definitely be on the short list of your things to do while visiting! Continue reading to learn all about the Postojna Caves and how to visit them.
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What are the Postojna Caves?
The Postojna Caves are a series of vast, intricate caverns in the south of Slovenia that are estimated to date back a few million years. Their beauty and history draw a consistent crowd, with guided tours offered daily!
The public portion of the caves are well maintained with established paths, and there is even an underground train that delivers you to and from the walkable portions of the tour. Throughout the caves, you will be able to enjoy the many stalagmites and stalactites adorning the surrounding rock.
The Postojna Cave are also famous as the discovery site of the olm, a type of cave-dwelling salamander nicknamed the “baby dragon.” Since olms have adapted to the dark, lightless cave life, photos of these little salamanders aren’t allowed – but you are able to see a couple of them and learn about their history while visiting as well!
How To Get to Postojna Caves from Ljubljana?
The Postojna Caves are conveniently very easy to get to from the capital of Ljubljana! The visitors lot at the caves are under an hour’s drive away from the city, only about 30 miles by highway.
If you do not have a car at your disposal, there is also a train available that will take you from Ljubljana Bus Station to Postojna – it should take about an hour’s time and runs approximately every twenty minutes.
There are also a handful of tour guide companies that offer their services to take you from Ljubljana to the Postojna Caves (and more) on a day tour if that is your preferred travel style!
How Long is the Postojna Cave Tour?
The Postojna Cave Tour runs for 90 minutes start to end, including the train rides in and out of the cave. In total, the tour covers about 2 miles of the cave’s interior. There aren’t any bathrooms inside the cave, and the only exit for visitors is the timed train ride back out, so you should expect to be inside the cave for the full 90 minute duration if possible. There is however a souvenir shop inside the cave if you’d like to pick something up before leaving (though there are plenty of shops when you are back outside of the cave as well).
Are There Other Caves in Slovenia?
While the Postojna Cave is perhaps the most famous cave, Slovenia is home to many other caves as well! Another popular destination is the Skocjan Caves, which are even categorized as a UNESCO world heritage site! Other smaller caves include the Cross and Planina caves.
Tips Before Going to the Postojna Caves
The Postojna Caves are highly trafficked and the tour system is a very well oiled machine at this point, so you can be assured that your visit will go smoothly! A couple of things we recommend keeping in mind ahead of time to best enjoy the experience though are below:
- The caves have a consistent temperature of 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) all year long, so if you think you might get chilly it’s best to pack a layer to wear while in the caves!
- The tour runs for an hour and a half start to finish, so it might be helpful to pack a water bottle and a light snack if you think you may need a little something while in the cave!
Group Tours
If you’re looking to take some of the logistics off of your plate and join a group tour that guides you through the Postojna Cave and surrounding attractions, there are a handful of options that provide transport from Ljubljana! You can check tour availability for your travel dates through the link below:
Where To Stay
While we recommend stopping through the caves on a drive from Ljubljana to Piran, there are also accommodations right near the caves in the town of Postojna if you prefer a more relaxed travel style or if you would like to spend additional time at the caves! If looking to stay right near the caves, you can check out the accommodations below:
- Popular: The Postojna Cave Hotel
- Budget: The Youth Hostel Proteus Postojna
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
