Caving Under Budapest
Brief Overview
Budapest is the capital of caves. It is the only capital in the world which has caves of significant size and length underneath its buildings and streets. More than two hundred caves are known under the Buda side of the town. However these caves also have a special place in the world because of their unusual thermal water based development.
The hydrothermal caves of Budapest were created by the same thermal springs that supply the famous spas of the capital and the entire area is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Adventure Caving
Adventure Caving is the tour that we did so this will be the focus of this guide. The tour operator also offer a Cave Walk and Geological Tour which will will give more information about below.
What to expect
The tour is a 2.5 – 3 hrs long adventurous climbing-crawling tour into a 30 km long multi-level labyrinth system (the longest cave of Hungary). During the caving tour you will often have to climb on walls and crawl through narrow passages, so you must be in good physical health to participate.
Caving equipment (overalls, helmet and light) are provided and there will be a pouch for your cell / mobile phone if you want to take pictures. (take at your own risk)
The temperature in the cave remains at a constant 10 °C (50 °F) all year. Light pullover and comfortable trousers are enough under the overall. The cave is dry during the year. You can change your clothes in changerooms, found at the cave entrance.
The tour is strongly not recommended for very overweight people. This may sound harsh but you will get stuck!
Age limit is 10 – 55 yrs, children under 14 years need an approval from their parent to participate on the tour if the parent is not present at the tour.
Tour Operator Video:
Cost & Opening Times
Tours run everyday. Please contact the tour operator directly to check availability.
You can book by contacting them at [email protected]
The tour costs 10,000 HUF (£24.00 / $33.00 / €30) per person and 7,000 HUF ($23.00 / £17.00 / €20) per person under 14 years.
Book the tour using our recommended partner:
How to get there
This is for the Adventure Caving only.
The cave is located 45 min by bus or 15 min by taxi from the city center.
The cave can be reached by the bus No. 65 leaving from Kolosy square. You have to step off at the fifth bus stop, named Pál-völgyi cave.
By car you have to follow the Szépvölgyi street leading to the Hármashatár-hegy. The sign Pál-völgyi cave can be seen from a distance, you have to stop here. Our changing room is found on the second floor of the entrance building of Pál-völgyi cave.
The other Caving Tours
A LESS ADVENTUROUS TOUR
Cave Walk – a less adventurous tour, fine even for those who suffer from claustrophobia, no upper age limit 2.5-3 hrs private Cave Walk into two caves, both paved and equipped with artificial lighting. The first cave is the ”underground flower garden” of Budapest because of its charasteristic mineral concretions (cave corals, calcite plates) and gypsum crystals. The other cave has calcite and barite crystals and calcite plate deposits originating from former hot-water lakes. Stalactites and stalagmites can also be found there.
CAVE WALK AND CLIMBING-CRAWLING TOUR COMBO
Geological Tour. If you are a fan of geology or just want to have a deep insight onto the world of hydrothermal caves and underground hot springs, this tour is for you. The package contains a 45 minute easy walk into the Szemlő-hegyi-cave and a climbing crawling adventure into the Pál-völgyi-cave system.
Both these tours can be booked the same way as mentioned above.
We loved Caving Under Budapest! If there is one thing we would say you must do, it would be caving! Make sure its on your list!
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