Visiting Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle in Slovenia

Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle can easily be visited in one day. Indeed they make a perfect day trip while in Slovenia, whether on a road trip through the country or visiting from the capital city Ljubljana. Within one day you can tour the underground world of Postojna Cave and the world’s largest cave castle at Predjama Castle. Here’s our guide to visiting Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle in Slovenia.

VISITING POSTOJNA CAVE AND PREDJAMA CASTLE

GETTING TO POSTOJNA CAVE FROM LJUBLJANA

POSTOJNA CAVE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Postojna Cave is located just 49 km from Ljubljana, in the town of Postojna. Trains run every hour from Ljubljana train station to Postojna. It takes approximately one hour. From the train station it’s a 30 minute walk to Postojna Cave. Buses are another option, taking a similar amount of time, but having the advantage of dropping you at the caves themselves.

POSTOJNA CAVE BY CAR

A hire car is a great way to explore Slovenia. Postojna Cave can easily be added to any road trip itinerary. We travelled from the capital Ljubljana to explore both Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle, and then continued on into Croatia. The journey from Ljubljana to the caves takes approximately one hour. They make a perfect stopping point on your way south into Croatia.

VISITING POSTOJNA CAVE

The Postojna Cave system is the most popular tourist attraction in Slovenia, and with good reason. This series of caves offers an underground spectacle. The Postojna Caves are some 24km long, two million years old and were hollowed out by the Pivka River.

You enter the caves on an electric train. The train covers a distance of 3.2 km, with the remaining 2 km covered on a guided walk. The complete tour takes about 1.5 hours in total.

Within the caves there are a vast array of stalactites and stalagmites, enormous icicles and even fragile spaghetti. Many of these stalactites and stalagmites are two million years old! Did you know, it takes 30 years to produce 1 mm of stalactite? The final cave on the tour is the Concert Hall, which is the largest in the cave system and can accommodate 10,000 people for musical performances. Don’t miss sending a postcard from the underground post office! Here you re-board the train and head back to the entrance.

Postojna Cave has a constant temperature of between 8°C and 10°C, with very high humidity, so a warm jacket and comfortable shoes are advised.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT POSTOJNA CAVE?

Postojna Cave only: Adults €27,90; Children €15,50 (high season)

For a combined ticket to visit both Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle: Adults €38,50; Children €23,10 (high season)

Prices correct in 2019.

TOP TIPS FOR VISITING POSTOJNA CAVE

• Dress warmly with a coat and comfortable shoes as the caves have a temperature of between 8°C and 10°C and high humidity.
• The caves can get very busy, particularly in the summer months, so get there early. The first tour departs at 9am in the summer. If you are on these first tours you are likely to have a smaller tour group. At peak times on busy days there can be up to 200 people per group!
• The caves are not accessible to strollers, so if you have young children take a carrier.

GETTING TO PREDJAMA CASTLE FROM POSTOJNA CAVE

Predjama Castle combines perfectly with a visit to Postojna Caves, as it is located just 10 km away. In July and August there is a free shuttle bus that goes between Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle. Parking is very limited at Predjama Castle so we recommend to catch the shuttle bus, particularly during these busy summer months.

Outside of these two months, you would need to take a taxi or use your own car to get between the two locations.

VISITING PREDJAMA CASTLE

Predjama Castle  is a medieval marvel, perched in the middle of a 123 metre high cliff. Built in the 15th century, it was the hideaway of the rebellious knight Erazem, the Slovenian equivalent of Robin Hood. Behind the largest cave castle in the world, there is a network of secret tunnels, from where the knight Erazem of Predjama would set out on his plundering expeditions. The cave under Predjama Castle is home to a colony of bats (this can be visited on a separate tour).

There is a free audio guide, which we would definitely recommend, as there is limited signage around the castle. Without the audio guide you would simply be wandering from room to room, not knowing anything about what you were seeing. A visit to the castle takes about an hour.

Our boys really enjoyed the tour of the castle. The audio guide kept them interested, particularly the stories about the knight Erazem.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT PREDJAMA CASTLE ?

Predjama Castle only: Adults €14,90; Children €8,90 (high season)

For a combined ticket to visit both Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle: Adults €38,50; Children €23,10 (high season). We would definitely recommend this combined ticket.

Prices correct in 2019.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VIST POSTOJNA CAVE AND PREDJAMA CASTLE?

The Postojna Cave Park, of which Predjama Castle is a part, is open all year round, but the tours and opening hours vary according to the season. More details can be found here.

WHERE TO STAY AT POSTOJNA CAVE PARK?

The Postojna Cave Hotel Jama is located within the cave park. The cave entrance is located a two minute walk from the hotel and the shuttle bus to the Predjama Castle departs from just outside. Family rooms are available.

Have you visited Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle in Slovenia? 

FOR MORE ON SLOVENIA:

8 Things To DO In Ljubljana with Kids