Skocjan Caves is a breathtaking cave system in southwest Slovenia near the town of Divaca, a little more than an hour drive away from Bled, so you can easily make a day trip to Skocjan and see the caves.
The Skocjan Cave is protected by UNESCO since 1986, it has beautiful stalactites, stalagmites, and other interesting rock formations, but what sets this cave apart from other caves is the underground river and the largest discovered underground cavern in all of Europe. The cavern is of truly gigantic proportions and it’s hard to believe it’s real and not some computer-generated imagery from Lord of the Rings. The cave is several million years old.
There’s a ten minute walk in the open to the actual entrance of the cave. At the entrance, the guides split the visitors depending on the language (English, German, Italian, Slovenian, etc.) into groups of 25 or so visitors and then lead them into the cave. There are five main stops in the cave where the guide explains the area and points out interesting formations with a flashlight. The path is well lit, has railing all along one side and is fairly even and paved. You walk for nearly two hours. There are large noisy waterfalls within the cave and it’s really exciting to walk on the bridges from one side to the other and on the walkways around the huge caverns with incredible views all around. The cave is fairly cold and most people wear jackets – it’s 12°C in dry areas and 0-20°C in areas with flowing water. There is a restaurant and souvenir shop on the property for a meal after you are done.
Timetable of visits:
January, February, March, November, December: 10:00, 13:00
April, May, October: 10:00, 13:00, 15:30
June, July, August, September: 10:00, 11.00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00
The guided tour through the cave costs €16 for adults, €12 for seniors and students, and €7,5 for children. The extended tour (main tour through the cave + following the Reka River underground) costs €21 for adults, €16 for seniors and students, and €11 for children.
There are hundreds of steps on steep and sometimes slippery paths, so even the basic tour would not be an option for smaller kids, those with mobility issues or not prepared with sturdy walking gear_
Skocjan Caves can only be visited on a guided tour run by the Skocjan Caves Regional Park. During the high season from June to September tours leave every hour. (photo: Jost Gantar / slovenia.info)
The cave is huge, and of course you can’t see every centimetre of it. The most common tourist tour takes you through two parts of the cave and takes about 2 hours altogether. On this tour, you will walk 3 km. (photo: Jost Gantar / slovenia.info)
Make sure you bring a jacket as it’s a very chilly 12°C inside the caves. (photo: Jost Gantar / slovenia.info)
The cave was discovered in the mid-1800s by explorers who entered the cave in boats. However, in the darkness they couldn’t see just how vast the cave was. (photo: Jost Gantar / slovenia.info)
One of the most interesting formations are the ‘pools.’ It seems impossible that something so artistic could occur naturally. The pools fill with water a few times a year during heavy rain. As the water spills over the edge, minerals are deposited, which continuously adds to the depth of each pool. (photo: Jost Gantar / slovenia.info)
The cave was created millions of years ago by the Reka River, which still streams through part of the cave. (photo: Jost Gantar / slovenia.info)
Tourism in the cave can be traced back to the early 1800s, and, although thousands of visitors have passed through the cave since, the space is still rustic and raw. Inside the cave, nature still rules. (photo: Jost Gantar / slovenia.info)
The paths in the Skocjan caves are very well maintained. (photo: Jost Gantar / slovenia.info)
You will see enormous stalactites and stalagmites, Europe’s largest underground canyon, and the Reka River running through the base of the cave. (photo: Borut Lozej, Archives Park Skocjanske Jame)
For about an hour and a half, your guide will lead you through the caves, sharing historical and scientific facts. It’s an overall downhill walk through the cave. (photo: Borut Lozej, Archives Park Skocjanske Jame)
Along the way, you will walk on trails that hug the side of the cave walls and walk across a narrow bridge that sits 50 meters over the Reka River. (photo: Borut Lozej, Archives Park Skocjanske Jame)
The unique rock formations were shaped, and continue to be shaped, over thousands of years. (photo: Borut Lozej, Archives Park Skocjanske Jame)
The rock formations developed over a period of thousands of years as water dripped through the cracks leaving behind minerals. (photo: Borut Lozej, Archives Park Skocjanske Jame)
The cave is living and breathing, the stalalities and stalacmites are still growing. (photo: Borut Lozej, Archives Park Skocjanske Jame)
Descending into these awe-inspiring underground cathedrals is like visiting another planet. (photo: Borut Lozej, Archives Park Skocjanske Jame)
The tour of the cave ends at the natural opening of the cave. This is only place on the tour where you are permitted to take photographs. (photo: Borut Lozej, Archives Park Skocjanske Jame)
When you reach the end of the cave, you are greeted by bright sunshine. (photo: Borut Lozej, Archives Park Skocjanske Jame)
More info about the Skocjan Cave: All You Need To Know To Visit Skocjan Caves
More Skocjan Cave photos: 30 Beautiful Photos To Inspire You to Visit Skocjan Caves
Location:
Skocjan Cave Address: Matavun 12, 6215 Divaca, Slovenia
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 45.663168, 13.989321
GPS coordinates: 45° 39′ 47.4048” N 13° 59′ 21.5556” E
Traditional region: Littoral (Slovene: Primorska)
Municipality: Divaca
Directions from Apartments Fine Stay to the Skocjan Cave (drive 129 km, 1 hour 10 minutes)
Directions from Apartments Fine Stay Bled to the Skocjan Cave (drive 127 km, 1 hour 8 minutes)
