Plan your visit
When to come, what to wear, how to get there and which cave suits whom.
Five things to know first
Slovenia's caves are easy to visit. A little planning makes the difference between a good day and a queue.
It is cold. Caves in lowland Slovenia are 8 to 12 °C in every season. In August that is a 20-degree drop from the car park. Bring a fleece or jacket and wear closed shoes with a good sole.
You cannot wander in. All show caves are visited on guided tours that leave at set times. In July and August the popular slots at Postojna and Škocjan sell out, so buy timed tickets online.
The small caves keep small hours. Several are run by volunteers and open only at weekends, or on Sundays, or in summer. Check before you set out.
Distances are short. Postojna, Predjama, Planina, Rakov Škocjan, Lake Cerknica and Križna jama all lie within about 30 km of each other. Škocjan is half an hour further.
Leave it as you found it. Do not touch formations, leave the path, or use flash on animals.
When to go
| Season | What to expect | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Apr–Jun) | Rivers high, forests green, Lake Cerknica usually full. Smaller caves begin to open. | Škocjan, Rakov Škocjan, Lake Cerknica |
| Summer (Jul–Aug) | Everything is open, including Pivka Cave, Snežna jama and the cave under Predjama. Busy; book ahead. | Small and seasonal caves; escaping the heat |
| Autumn (Sep–Oct) | Fewer visitors, stable weather, autumn colour on the Karst. Some small caves reduce hours. | Postojna, Škocjan, the Karst villages |
| Winter (Nov–Mar) | Postojna, Škocjan and Predjama Castle stay open with fewer tours. Many small caves close for bats. | Quiet visits to the big two |
By car, by train, by bike
A car is the simplest way to combine several sites in a day. The A1 motorway from Ljubljana to the coast passes Postojna (about 40 minutes) and Divača for Škocjan (about an hour). Slovenian motorways require an electronic vignette.
Without a car, trains and buses run from Ljubljana to Postojna and Divača. Postojna Cave is a walk from the town; at Divača a signed footpath leads to the Škocjan visitor centre in about 40 minutes. The country lanes around Cerknica and across the Karst are excellent for cycling.
Dress for ten degrees
- A warm layer, even in midsummer
- Closed shoes with grip; paths are damp and sometimes steep
- A light waterproof for dripping ceilings
- Water for the walk back up at Škocjan
- Gloves and a hat for Snežna jama
- Cash for the smaller, club-run caves
Which caves are easiest?
Postojna Cave is the most accessible: most of the distance is covered by train and the walking section is largely step-free, with assistance available for wheelchair users on request.
Škocjan, Vilenica, Županova jama, Dimnice and Pivka Cave all involve hundreds of steps. Križna jama's short tour is on a natural, uneven floor. If mobility is a concern, contact the operator before booking.
Caves for families
Best first cave
Postojna. The train is an event in itself, the route is easy and the vivarium has live olms.
For the over-eights
Škocjan, if they can manage the steps and are not afraid of heights. Križna jama's short tour, with lamps and a boat, feels like a real expedition.
Short and easy
Pekel Cave and Kostanjevica Cave are under an hour, with a waterfall in one and bats in the other.
This site is an independent guide. It does not sell tickets and has no connection with the operators of any cave. Opening hours, prices and booking rules are set by each operator and change from season to season; follow the official link on each cave page.
