Postojna Cave by train

What it is and what you see

Postojna Cave, in the Slovenian karst, has been receiving visitors for 200 years: the park estimates more than 39 million. The system has 24 km of galleries and the standard visit covers about 5 km. Almost all of it is done by train: a 3.7 km ride on the only double-track underground railway in the world, opened in 1872. The rest, a little over a kilometre, you walk with a guide among stalactites, columns and enormous chambers.

On the way you see the Brilliant, a five-metre stalagmite, and the Ballroom, with Murano glass chandeliers. The cave's animal is the olm, a blind amphibian that can go up to ten years without eating; you see it up close at the Proteus Vivarium, 50 m from the entrance.

What the visit is like

It lasts about an hour and a half. You board the train 15 minutes before your time, so the park asks you to be at the entrance 30 minutes early. The walk is on non-slip concrete, with no steps, but has a climb of about 200 m at a 20% gradient and a similar descent.

Guides explain in Slovene, Italian, English and German. There is an audio guide in 19 languages, Spanish included, for €3.90. You may take photos and video without flash or tripod. Inside it is 10 °C all year: bring a coat and trainers; if you need them, they rent rain ponchos for €8.

Opening hours

Open every day of the year, public holidays included. Departures are at set times and change with the month, according to the official timetable:

• January to March, November and December: 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00.
• April and October: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00.
• May, June and September: from 9:00 to 17:00, with departures every hour and also at 10:30 and 15:30.
• July and August: as in May, plus a departure at 18:00.

Tickets and price

The cave ticket costs €34.90 in the park's online shop, and the park states that cave tickets are only sold on its official website. There are packages that add Predjama Castle, the vivarium and the Cave and Karst Expo: cave and castle, for example, from €49.90. Prices for children and young people appear when you choose the ticket in the shop.

The ticket is valid only for the time purchased. You can change it free up to 24 hours before, for €2 after that and for €5 at the ticket office if there are fewer than 30 minutes left. In summer, the park recommends buying at least a day ahead. With a package, the cave goes at the booked time and you use the rest whenever you like within 30 days. More details in tickets and packages.

How to get there and park

By car, take the A1 motorway to exit 41, Postojna, 2 km from the park. From Ljubljana it takes less than an hour. The car park costs €6 a day, and motorhomes have an area 250 m from the cave, open from April to October, for €25 a night.

By train, the Ljubljana to coast line stops at Postojna; from the station it is about 25 minutes' walk or a local bus to the park. Buses from Ljubljana arrive every hour at the village station.

With children, pushchair, wheelchair or dog

Pushchairs up to 80 cm wide can use the paths and ramps, and if folded they go on the train. Under-14s enter only with an adult. In a wheelchair, the park advises doing only the train stretch or going with someone to help on the slope; you must give two days' notice and there is a 50% discount with a certificate. Dogs cannot enter: they wait free of charge in the park's kennels, in the shade, next to the Expo, subject to availability.

Do not bring large backpacks, umbrellas or helmets: there are lockers in the Expo pavilion.