All You Need To Know Before Visiting Škocjan Caves
When in Slovenia, you will visit at least one of the over 1,300 caves, and Škocjan Caves are the ones that should be on your bucket list. This breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site offers an unforgettable experience, waddling deep into Slovenia’s underground world. Here’s all you need to know before you visit.
The Škocjan Caves hold a rich and fascinating history, intertwining natural evolution with human exploration and cultural significance. Located in southwestern Slovenia, these caves are part of the larger Karst Plateau, a region known for its dramatic limestone formations and underground rivers. The history of Škocjan Caves spans millions of years, beginning with their formation and thousands of years of human interaction and exploration.
The caves began forming over 3 million years ago due to the erosive power of the Reka River. Over millennia, these formations grew into one of the world’s largest underground canyons, towering stalactites and stalagmites decorating its caverns. This complex system of passages and chambers stretches over 6 kilometers, with some of the largest underground halls in Europe.
The caves have been known to humans for thousands of years. Archaeological findings indicate that people lived near the Škocjan Caves as far back as the Bronze Age (approximately 3,000 years ago). Evidence of prehistoric settlements and burial sites near the cave entrances suggests that the caves may have held spiritual significance for early inhabitants of the region.
Written references to the Škocjan Caves date back to the 2nd century BCE, when Greek geographer Posidonius mentioned the existence of the Reka River disappearing into the earth. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that formal explorations began.
Due to its outstanding natural value, the Škocjan Caves were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986, becoming one of the first natural sites in Europe to receive this designation.
Why Visit the Škocjan Caves?
The Škocjan Caves aren’t just your average limestone caverns. It is known for having one of the largest underground canyons in the world. Imagine waddling through tunnels and caverns so grand they seem otherworldly, with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites surrounding you at every turn. The biggest hall is so large, a city can be built here. It indeed left us speechless as we laid eyes on it. It’s not just the beauty that stuns, but the sheer scale. Exploring the Škocjan Caves is like stepping into another dimension, where nature’s power and beauty have sculpted these stone masterpieces for millennia.
How to Get to the Škocjan Caves
Situated in the southwestern part of Slovenia, the Škocjan Caves are easy to reach from various points in the country. If you’re staying in Ljubljana, it’s roughly an hour’s drive, while those based in the coastal town of Koper can expect a 30-minute trip. The caves are also accessible by train. You’ll want to hop on a train to the Divača station, which is about 3 kilometers from the cave’s entrance. From there, you can either take a taxi or enjoy a scenic waddle to the park.
If you’re driving, don’t worry about parking; plenty is at the cave’s visitor center. The parking is free; from there, it’s just a short waddle to the ticket office.
Opening Hours and Tickets
Opening Hours
The Škocjan Caves are open year-round, with slightly different hours depending on the season. In the summer months (April to October), tours typically run from 10 AM to 5 PM. In the off-season (November to March), tours are less frequent, generally starting from 10 AM, so be sure to check their official website for up-to-date details before you plan your visit.
Ticket Prices
Tickets cost around 22€ for adults, 16€ for students and seniors, and 10€ for children. Penguins have free admission.
For any opening hours and prices, changes, check out their website here – link
How much time do you need at Škocjan Caves?
The guided tours last about 90 minutes; every minute is worth it. Then, you have to waddle further around or take an elevator up, which is the shortest way. You can choose to waddle 5 km and do 1000 steps or also opt for an early exit from the cave system in the Big Collapse Doline (Velika dolina) (which means 3 km of walking and 500-800 steps) after emerging in daylight. Take the longer route.
What to wear at Škocjan Caves?
The temperature in the Caves is 12°C. In the interior of the cave, so dress warm if you get cold quickly. Be prepared, especially in the summer, for the temperature drop. You’ll also need to wear good shoes because, although you’ll be waddling, some parts of the cave can be slippery.
Before we continue to waddle, be aware that taking photos is not allowed, which is such a shame, as the caves are beautiful and deserve to be shared with the world.
Also, it is not allowed to visit the Škocjan Caves with pets.
Are the Škocjan Caves worth it?
Absolutely, 100%! The Škocjan Caves are not just a stop on your trip to Slovenia – they’re an experience. The caves are less touristy than the more famous Postojna Cave, which means a more intimate encounter with nature. We even liked it more than Postojna Cave.
Waddling through Škocjan Caves
First of all, remember, NO PHOTOS! Which is such a shame because this cave is out of this world.
We bought our tickets at the ticket office near the parking space. You can also purchase tickets online; it might be good to check as there are specific time slots to enter the cave, so we got a little lucky. First, they still had tickets; second, we only waited about 20 minutes. From the ticket office, it is quite a waddle away to the entrance of the cave; it felt like a school trip.
Before entering the cave, the group was divided into smaller groups based on the language of the guided tour. They also explained a bit more about the cave, how it came to be, and other interesting facts. Only here did we also learn that taking pictures is impossible. You enter the cave by a human-made tunnel and waddle along it while stopping in three major rooms where the guide will tell you more about it.
While waddling in the cave, you have several major stops in significant rooms. It was a shame we couldn’t take pics because it looked amazing in each room we stopped at. The caves are huge, and we enjoyed them, especially the last one.
- Silent Cave (Tiha Jama). Entering through the Silent Cave, you’re immediately enveloped in ancient formations’ still, ethereal atmosphere. The Silent Cave is characterized by its quiet ambiance—no flowing river here, just the hum of silence and the breathtaking formations of stalactites and stalagmites. You’ll see limestone curtains and pillars that have taken millennia to form. This room acts as an introductory chamber, allowing you to marvel at some of the cave’s most intricate formations up close before moving into the larger chambers.
- Murky Hall (Dvorana Ponvic). As you move deeper, the scale and drama begin to build. In Murky Hall, also known as the Hall of Potholes, you’ll find massive cylindrical potholes created by ancient water flows. This room’s name comes from its darker atmosphere and peculiar rock formations, which add to the mystique. The cave walls have distinct patterns formed by dripping water over the ages, creating various textures and colors.
- Great Hall (Velika Dvorana). One of the highlights of the cave system, the Great Hall, is an expansive chamber that feels like a cathedral inside the earth. The sheer size is staggering, with ceilings towering over 100 meters high in places. You’ll be in awe of the enormous formations, including giant stalagmites and stalactites that almost seem like natural sculptures. The room’s magnificence is enhanced by carefully placed lights that highlight the scale and beauty of the structures.
- Šumeča Jama (Roaring Cave). Named for the roar of the Reka River that carves through it, Roaring Cave is where visitors encounter the river’s force and power. This chamber is filled with the echo of the rushing water as it cascades through a steep channel. The damp, echoing environment contrasts with the stillness of the Silent Cave, and the intense energy of the river here gives you a sense of the power of nature in shaping the landscape.
- Martel’s Chamber. Martel’s Chamber is among the largest underground chambers in Europe, and it feels like a natural amphitheater. Its enormous size and vastness make visitors feel small, and it’s almost impossible to take in its entirety from any single vantage point. This room is often the favorite one, combining size and spectacular formations. Here, you’ll also experience the reverberating sound of the Reka River, which flows far below, giving this space a unique acoustic quality.
- Hanke’s Channel. The journey to Hanke’s Channel is often one of the most memorable parts of the cave. This section includes a narrow passageway leading to a suspended bridge, spanning the underground canyon and giving a view of the river below. This room is breathtaking and a little intimidating, as you can see the water churning around 50 meters beneath the bridge. It’s a place that leaves an impression, offering one of the best views of the underground river’s path.
- Schmidl Hall. This hall is known for its hauntingly beautiful stone terraces, which resemble natural pools, and for formations that almost resemble artwork. Named after a 19th-century explorer, Schmidl Hall is a popular room for its elegance and tranquility. It’s beautiful to see how mineral deposits have shaped the landscape, creating shapes and textures unlike anything above ground.
Expect to feel awe-inspired by both the intimate details and the vastness of these underground spaces. The guided tours typically last around 1.5 to 2 hours and lead you through a carefully curated route that showcases the highlights of this breathtaking subterranean world.
Taking the Long Route Back from Škocjan Caves
Once you exit the cave, you have several, well, three options to return to the visitor center and parking space. The first one is via elevator to take you back up and is the shortest one as well as the easiest one. The second and third are longer (the thirst being the longest) but are worth the waddle. We, of course, took the longest one, which will take you through another cave (it’s like you get a gratis cave with this one), impressive formations, and lush green forests. And the good thing is that you can now take pictures.
Tominc Cave
The Tominc Cave, located within the Škocjan Caves Regional Park in Slovenia, is a smaller but fascinating part of the cave network that showcases unique geological features and a rich history. Unlike the vast and dramatic main chambers of the Škocjan Caves, Tominc Cave offers a more intimate look at karst formations and ancient cave structures. Named after a local figure, this cave is less frequented by large groups, making it a quieter and more serene spot to explore. You can observe intricate stalactites, stalagmites, and smaller underground corridors shaped over millennia by water erosion. The cave is home to various cave-dwelling species, adding a distinct biodiversity to its mysterious environment. Tominc Cave also holds historical significance, with evidence suggesting it was used by early humans seeking shelter in the karst landscape.
The Big Collapse Doline and the Little Collapse Doline
The Big Collapse Doline and the Little Collapse Doline are two enormous sinkholes, or dolines, located at the Škocjan Caves in Slovenia. These formations are among the most impressive natural features of the cave complex. Formed over millennia by the collapse of underground chambers due to the erosive power of the Reka River, these dolines reveal the immense scale and depth of the karst landscape. The Big Collapse Doline is particularly striking, measuring about 165 meters (541 feet) in diameter and 120 meters (394 feet) in depth, with steep rock walls covered in lush vegetation that hosts a variety of unique plant and animal species. The Little Collapse Doline, though more minor, is equally fascinating, offering a more intimate view of the karst process and an atmospheric setting with ferns, mosses, and smaller trees growing along its edges. Together, these dolines serve as a dramatic natural gateway to the Škocjan Cave system, showcasing the powerful erosion and collapse forces shaping the region’s underground marvels.
As we waddled on, the surroundings just got more and more breathtaking, and as we said already, taking the longest route back is 100% worth it.
The Reka River Sinkhole
The Reka River Sinkhole is a striking natural feature within the Škocjan Caves, where the river disappears dramatically underground. Flowing across the karst landscape of southwestern Slovenia, the Reka River carves its way through rocky terrain until it reaches the edge of the Škocjan Caves, where it plunges into a massive sinkhole and continues its journey beneath the surface. This phenomenon creates a surreal scene, as the river is suddenly swallowed by the earth, vanishing into the cave’s depths where it forms a powerful underground waterway. The sinkhole itself is an impressive sight, surrounded by steep cliffs and lush vegetation, highlighting the dramatic contrast between the surface world and the hidden, intricate underground systems of the region.
In conclusion, the Škocjan Caves offer an unforgettable journey through one of nature’s most impressive underground wonders. From the powerful descent of the Reka River into the depths of the karst landscape to the towering stalagmites and breathtaking chambers, every step through the cave reveals another marvel of geology and history. Outside the cave, the trails and viewpoints allows you to fully appreciate the unique beauty and ecological significance of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether you’re an adventurer, a nature lover, or simply curious about Earth’s hidden wonders, the Škocjan Caves promise an experience that lingers long after you’ve left. A visit here is truly a journey into the heart of Slovenia’s natural heritage, and one that offers memories for a lifetime.
