On the trail of stalactites and rock formations – Caves worth exploring!

The Szemlő-hegy Cave is one of the most beautiful cave systems in the capital. It is called the "underground flower garden of Budapest" because of its incredible geological formations. On the 300-metre route, which takes about 40 minutes to cover, you can admire pisolite formations and gypsum crystals, which are rare sights in Europe. You can even take your baby buggy down with you. Make sure to watch the 3D film and see the interactive exhibition as well.

The nearby Pál-völgy Cave is another exciting excursion spot with its gap-like corridors, large changes in altitude, scallops formed by hot water and fabulous stalactites. The Pál-völgy Cave is the longest cave system in Hungary. You can go on a one-hour guided tour and see a 500-metre trail (out of the currently known length of almost 32 kilometres). The path in the cave leads through more than 400 steps and on a seven-meter-high, secure ladder with railing, which is why children under the age of five and shorter than 115 centimetres are not allowed in.

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Did you know that Hungary also has a Leaning Tower of Pisa? And that we also have the Niagara Falls? But not above ground, as Italy and Canada, but underground. The Abaliget Cave is one of Mecsek's best-known sights. You can walk along its 466-metre main branch comfortably, even in everyday clothes. The cave formations have such special shapes that some of them have been given names. In addition to the two mentioned above, you can see the Flórián well, the Calvary, the Elephant Head, or the ruins of Carthago. Hundreds of bats also sleep in the cave. You can see horseshoe bats during winter, and you can learn more about their life at the Bat Museum. 

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If you plan to discover the cave on the Balatonederics Plateau, get ready for a real adventure tour! Although you can choose between several difficulty levels, in some parts you will have to get through narrow passages by crawling on all fours or on your stomach, while in other places ladders, ropes, and step screws will help you on your way. Of course, you will receive caving equipment for this, but make sure to choose your clothes accordingly. Perhaps the most beautiful of the halls hidden deep inside the earth is the Hanging Garden, where you can see thousands of stalactites in the company of dozens of head-high dripstone columns. You can only approach the cave on foot, and the 40-minute forest walk from the base to the cave entrance is part of the adventure. 

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Mammoth teeth and Mother-in-law's mouth – the special mineral formations and beautiful stalactites in Saint Stephen’s Cave in Lillafüred have been given catchy and imaginative names as well. The tour takes about 30 minutes, and the part of the cave you’ll see is about 170 metres long.

The entrance to the Anna Cave – which is unlike any other in the world – is located nearby, next to the waterfall in Lillafüred. It was formed from limestone tufa released from the water of the Szinva spring. Along the 208-meter cave walk, you can see various fossilised plants in addition to the limestone formations.

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The most famous attraction of the Aggtelek karst is the Baradla cave below Aggtelek and Jósvafő. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s the most popular, longest and most spectacular cave in and around Hungary. The complex cave system is enormous, and a part of it, the Domica cave, can be approached from Slovakia. Several tours are organised in the National Park to explore the 25-kilometer-long cave system. You can visit the illuminated sections on paved sidewalks and stairs wearing your normal clothes, but if you are after more of a challenge, you can join adventure tours led by a professional caver, with headlamps and overalls.

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