Journey into the bowels of the Earth: descend into the magical caves of our country!

There are approximately 4,170 caves in Hungary, many of which are also accessible to the general public. In our country, you primarily find classic karst caves, which were created by cold rainwater seeping into rock cracks or flowing through sinkholes. Wonderful stalactite formations have formed in these sinkhole or spring caves, and they are typically found in the Bükk, Aggtelek Karst and Bakony. The other large category is thermal karst caves, which were created by warm or lukewarm thermal waters flowing up from deep below. In addition to stalactite formations, so-called thermal karst mineral deposits can also be seen in these passages. Such are the significant caves of the Buda Thermal Karst.

Most of the caves in our country are not open to visitors, but fortunately, many built-up and adventure tour options are open to those interested. You can browse the underground passages that can be visited as part of the built-up and cave adventure tours on the website of the Hungarian National Parks. 

The built-up caves can be easily explored in street clothes. They are equipped with railings, stairs and adequate lighting. No special equipment is required for these routes, and the tour focuses more on geological curiosities and spectacular stalactites. These include, for example, the Abaligeti Cave, the Anna Cave, the Baradla Cave, the Buda Castle Cave, the Pál-völgyi and Szemlő Mountain Caves, or the Tapolca Lake Cave, where you can glide on the underground lake by boat. These routes are ideal for families, school groups or those arriving with small children.

However, for those who are not satisfied with a comfortable walk, we warmly recommend cave adventure tours. During the tours, you can climb down into passage systems where there are no built-in walkways and rooms bathed in light – participants set off in overalls, helmets, and headlamps, in smaller groups, always accompanied by a professional guide.

During the adventure tour, you can explore caves that have been preserved in a state close to nature: there are no decorative lights, and the untouched beauty of the stalactites and passages is revealed to you in its raw reality.

One of the most exciting and the second longest cave systems in the Bükk Mountains is the Bolhási sink-hole cave, which is over 5 kilometres long. The cave, located north-east of Jávorkút, features snow-white – or even red – walls, stalactite flows and narrow passages. A “minefield”, siphon passages and crawling sections make this extreme cave tour exciting, for which you can register at the Bükk National Park Directorate (BNPI). Tours to the Gyurkó-lápai cave in the Lázbérc Landscape Protection Area are also led by authorized tour guides from the Bükk National Park Directorate. Unlike the Bolhási sink-hole, this cave can be explored in outdoor hiking clothing, even with a flash lamp. Interestingly, bats roost in the only 50-metre passage all year round. Also in the Bükk, on the outskirts of Miskolc, is the popular hiking spot, Kecske Hole Cave. The Kecske Hole, which is only 460 metres long, is rich in stalactites. Its special feature is that you can explore the entire spring cave in safe, yet very adventurous conditions. Advance registration is required for the 1.5-hour extreme tour. You also have the opportunity to go on an underground tour in Bakony: the Szentgáli Kőlik Cave, for example, is a real “teaching cave” with its diverse formations and adventurous passages. The Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate launches basic and extreme tours on a daily basis, even before winter sets in. Finally: the Orfű Trió Cave is one of the best-known adventure hiking locations in the Mecsek. Visitors can explore the very diverse passage system in helmets, headlamps, and overalls, in which there are fissures, wide corridors, narrow crypts, spacious shafts, and chimneys.