Postojna Cave

The large number of visitors from all over the world shows that the cave enjoys huge popularity. More than 14,000 people visited Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle in a single day in August 2018, which was a new record. There’s a saying that all roads lead to Rome and we could also say that all roads lead to Postojna Cave. It’s best that you buy the ticket online and choose the date and time of your visit, so you can avoid the long queues. You can only enter the cave with a qualified guide who welcomes you at the cave’s entrance. You’ll learn about the cave’s wonders in detail in various languages: Slovenian, English, German and Italian. Audio guides are also available in 17 different languages.

Just sitting down in the underground train was quite an experience for me because I don’t remember ever visiting a cave the way I did in Postojna Cave. The underground train ride was at times so thrilling I got goose pimples. This thrill evoked an even greater interest and a desire in me to see and experience the cave in the best way possible. The train journey lasts 3.5km and you can see plenty of different stalagmites, stalactites and cave chambers along the way, which were formed by Mother Nature herself. The remaining 1.5km are then explored on foot with a guide and it’s best that you wear sports shoes. The path is also suitable for people with disabilities and reduced mobility as well as families with small children. The tour takes approximately 90 minutes.

There are also animals living in the cave. The most famous and most well-known is the olm or Proteus in Latin and known in Slovenian as “the human fish”. Not many people know that these special amphibians can last without food for 12 years and can live up to 100 years. It reaches from 25 to 30cm in length. Adult olms have no eyes and their skin is extremely sensitive to light. Because of its peculiar features and an unusual shape, it deserves the nickname “the queen of the underworld”. The olm was like a cherry on top at the end of the cave tour. One could say we journeyed through a strange underground world of caves formed by Mother Nature. In 1979, the Slovenian legendary group Ansambel Lojzeta Slaka recorded a song in Postojna Cave, which is also a venue for numerous events throughout the year. One of the most famous is the live Nativity scene, held during Christmas from 25 to 30 December. It attracts numerous national as well as foreign musicians each year. Welcome to the queen of caves.

The easiest way to get there is via A1 motorway from Ljubljana or Koper by taking the Postojna exit and then following the signs leading you to the car park at Postojna Cave. If you also want to see the largest cave castle in the world along with other attractions, then I recommend staying at Youth Hostel Proteus, which was named after the olm. Hostelling International cardholders also get a 10% off their Postojna Cave as well as Predjama Castle ticket purchase.