Explore One of Europe’s Most Captivating Caves on a Historic Train Ride Through Time

If you’re planning a trip to Slovenia, Postojna Cave is a must-visit destination that takes you on an unforgettable journey with a train directly through a cave. It’s one of a kind of an experience in this world’s most famous karst caves. Postojna Cave will take you on a thrilling ride, so read on to learn how to get there, why to visit, how to buy the ticket, and more.

Why Visit Postojna Cave?

Postojna Cave is Slovenia’s most visited attraction and one of Europe’s most spectacular underground systems. Stretching over 24,120 meters (79,130 feet), this awe-inspiring network of caverns and passages reveals stunning formations created by nature over millions of years. The cave is known for its intricate stalagmites, stalactites, and the unique train ride into the heart of the cave. 

Another rare feature of Postojna Cave is its unique resident: the olm, or “human fish,” an unusual cave-dwelling amphibian that can live over 100 years. The olm adds an air of mystery to this hidden world with its translucent skin and serpentine shape.

Why is Postojna Cave Special?

Apart from its natural beauty and historical significance, Postojna Cave is renowned for its role in scientific exploration and conservation. Its formations reveal millennia of geological history, and it was one of the first caves in Europe to be scientifically studied. Postojna has been a major tourist attraction for over 200 years, drawing international visitors since 1819, when it was opened to the public.

Getting to Postojna Cave

Location

Postojna Cave is located in the town of Postojna, roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, and 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the Adriatic coast, making it an easy day trip from both the capital and coastal areas.  We came to Postojna Cave by car from Bled via the A2 highway heading south toward Ljubljana, then switched to the A1 motorway toward Koper/Postojna, following the signs for Postojna Cave as you approach the town. The journey is straightforward and takes about one hour and 20 minutes, covering roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles). Once you arrive, parking is easy and free right at the cave’s entrance, making this the quickest and most convenient way to travel from Bled.

Parking at Postojna Cave

Parking is available on-site. A full-day parking ticket at the Postojna Cave Park entrance costs 6 €. There’s ample space, so you’ll find a spot without trouble, even during peak season. 

Opening Hours to Postojna Cave 

Postojna Cave is open year-round, with hours varying by season. The opening hours are from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, depending on the season. It’s best to check the exact times before your visit, as they vary occasionally. Check on the website here – link.

Tickets to Postojna Cave

The ticket includes a 90-minute guided tour, which features the iconic underground train ride and a walk through the stunning formations. Combo tickets with nearby attractions like Predjama Castle are also available at a discount, making it a great option if you plan to explore the area.

Note that you are buying the tickets for a specific time to enter. Check the times out here –link. 

• Adults: 29.90 €
• Penguins: free entry

The ticket is only valid for the specific tour time it was purchased. You can change your tour time up to 30 minutes before the selected Postojna Cave tour. If you make this change at least 24 hours before the scheduled time, there is no charge. However, if you change the tour time within 24 hours, a fee of 2 EUR per ticket will apply. Changes cannot be made online less than 30 minutes before the tour; instead, you must visit the Postojna Cave Park ticket office, where the change fee is 5 EUR per ticket.

We recommend buying a combination of tickets to Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle, which, as a combo, you get cheaper. We bought such a combo online, which we also recommend doing – online purchase of tickets.

The Legendary Cave Train

One of the highlights of Postojna Cave is its underground train, an attraction in its own right. First introduced in 1872, the Postojna Cave train was the first cave railway in the world, allowing visitors to marvel at the cave’s beauty while winding through its vast chambers. Today’s electric version is modernized, but the route retains its historic charm, whisking you into the heart of the cave at a comfortable 10 kilometers per hour. The 3.7-kilometer train ride passes through several chambers, giving you a firsthand look at the spectacular geological formations and making it one of Europe’s most memorable cave experiences.

Additional facts about the Postojna Cave Train

• First of Its Kind: The Postojna Cave train, introduced in 1872, is the world’s first cave railway.
• Electric System: Originally hand-pushed, it became electric in 1959 for a smoother, eco-friendly experience.
• Length & Speed: The train travels 3.7 km (2.3 miles) into the cave at around 10 km/h (6 mph), offering leisurely views of the formations.
• Open Carriages: Designed for 360-degree views, the train lets visitors marvel at stunning stalagmites, stalactites, and rock formations.
• Over a Century of Service: With over 100 years in operation, it’s transported millions through iconic chambers like the Great Mountain and Spaghetti Hall.

Legends of Postojna Cave

Local legends add a fascinating layer to the magic of Postojna Cave. According to folklore, a dragon once dwelled deep within the cave, guarding its treasures. When “baby dragons” (the olms) were discovered in the cave’s pools, locals believed them to be the dragon’s offspring. Although we now know they’re a unique species adapted to life in darkness, the legend of the dragon lives on, captivating the imagination of young and old visitors alike.

Tips for Visiting Postojna Cave

• Dress Warmly: The temperature inside the cave hovers around 10°C (50°F) year-round, so a jacket is a good idea.
• Plan Your Visit: Arrive early in peak season to avoid crowds, especially if you plan to visit other nearby attractions like Predjama Castle.

Our Waddle of Postojna Cave

Postojna Cave was the second cave we visited in Slovenia with the first one, Škocjan Caves, which we fell in love with, and we thought no other cave could shock us anymore. 

Already after parking the car, it was clear that it was a world attraction. The whole area has souvenir shops, people helping with tickets, guides, restaurants, hotels, and more. It’s an entire area around the cave. As the time of your tickets gets closer, you can comfortably wait in a dedicated waiting area; before then, you will be divided into groups based on the language. 

Train Ride in Postojna Cave

The train is truly one of a kind and unique. When you enter, they will take a picture of you, which you can then get at the end of the tour. The train ride through the cave is one of the most unique and magical experiences you can get in Slovenia. As you board the open-sided electric train, you’re transported into a world of ancient formations and stunning underground landscapes. The train winds along a 3.7-kilometer (2.3-mile) route through a series of breathtaking chambers, offering panoramic views of the cave’s stalactites, stalagmites, and intricate rock formations. And it is also quite fast, though not everyone feels the same. It goes at a gentle pace of about 10 kilometers per hour (6 mph).  It was nice to explore the cave like that. 

What Will You See at Postojna Cave

After stepping off the train deep inside Postojna Cave, you will walk through some of its most stunning chambers and formations. 

Great Mountain (Velika Gora). The tour begins with a walk up the Great Mountain, a massive underground hill covered in glittering stalactites and stalagmites. The sheer scale of this area is awe-inspiring, giving you a first taste of the cave’s natural grandeur.

Beautiful Caves (Lepe Jame). This section is one of the highlights of Postojna Cave, with intricately shaped stalactites and stalagmites in striking formations. The Beautiful Caves are known for their colorful mineral deposits, which create unique patterns and hues on the walls and ceilings. It’s a stunning area where you’ll see some of the cave’s most delicate and artistic formations.

Spaghetti Hall. Named for its long, thin stalactites resembling spaghetti strands, this hall showcases one of the cave’s most unusual formations. The ceiling here is covered in slender, white formations, creating a surreal and whimsical effect.

White Hall and Red Hall.  These two chambers are named for the colors created by mineral deposits in the formations. The White Hall has bright white stalactites, while the Red Hall’s formations are tinged with shades of red and pink due to iron oxide. The two’s contrast adds to the cave’s sense of wonder and variety.

Brilliant (Briljant). The tour culminates with the Brilliant, the cave’s most famous and photographed formation. This iconic white stalagmite glistens under the lights, standing proudly as a symbol of Postojna Cave. Its sparkling appearance is due to a calcite layer, making it look almost otherworldly.

Concert Hall.  Near the end of the walking tour is the Concert Hall, a vast chamber with incredible acoustics and enough space to hold over 10,000 people. Occasionally, this chamber hosts concerts and events, taking advantage of its natural amplification. This marked the end of the tour, though you can still shop here underground. There is a souvenir shop deep inside the cave; of course, it is time to check it out. What shocked us was the bathroom, which you could use for one euro or so. Well, we guess it’s a payment for the experience of using a bathroom in a cave. Still, for the price of the ticket, the bathroom could have been for free. 

When the train arrives and everyone boards, it takes you back to the surface, and once again, you have time to check out the beautiful cave formations. At the end, you can also purchase the photo they took of you in the beginning, and out you go. 

Postojna Cave is truly one of the most magnificent cave systems in the world, and not only because of the unique train ride. However, it is a big tourist attraction as well. While it was also magical, still, if we had only time for one cave, we would choose Škocjan Caves. We hope you enjoy Postojna Cave as well and waddle on!

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