A fabulous exploration of immense caves listed by UNESCO
You won’t be disappointed by a visit to the Skocjan caves! These Unesco World Heritage caves are a must on any trip to Slovenia. For almost 3 kilometres, you’ll walk through an extraordinary underground world and along the edge of a gigantic canyon, the largest in Europe, where the River Reka roars to life. 1? hours of incredible adventure in the depths await you!
In this article, you’ll find all the details you need to organise a successful visit to the Skocjan caves, the two easiest ways to get there and also the great things to do around the caves that other tourists miss out on, because as I explored the area in depth, I found two really great things to do in addition to the visit. You’ll find them in this article.
A 2-hour guided tour of the Skocjan caves
Once you’ve bought your ticket, you join a group for a guided tour of the Skocjan caves. The tour starts at full time. 90,000 people visit the caves every year. Most of them arrive between 10am and 1pm.
After leaving the information centre, you’ll start by walking 15 minutes in the footsteps of your guide to reach the cave entrance. Say hello to the sheep as you pass their field.
The magnificent “quiet cave” – 30 minutes
Once you’ve passed through the entrance gate, take a long, illuminated tunnel cut into the rock (photo above). You then enter Tiha Jama, the “quiet cave”. It’s called quiet because, for the moment, you won’t be able to hear the River Reka. In absolute peace and quiet, you follow a small path with a nicely concreted and lit floor. You’ll go from one discovery to the next.
Warning : As soon as you start your visit, you are struck by the coolness of the cave. The temperature is just 12°C. Don’t forget to bring a jumper. Avoid flip-flops and sandals, as they’ll slip a bit and your feet will get cold.
At every bend in the path, you are dazzled by a new tableau of stalactites and stalagmites.
Towards the end of the visit to the quiet cave, the walls widen to reveal an immense chamber with a ceiling over 30 metres high – it’s a spectacular sight! It’s funny to think that you’re right underneath the car park where you parked your car. As you emerge from this immense hall, you’ll start to hear the Reka river rumble by. The excitement is at its peak. You are approaching the bowels of the earth.
The underground grand canyon – 30 minutes
The discovery of the caves continues on foot. You discover an immense underground canyon (it really is gigantic!). In the distance, you can see a long luminous path clinging to the side of the cliff, a fabulous vision of adventure like you’ve never seen before.
Size: This canyon is over 100 m high, 3.5 km long and 2.2 million m3. It’s all over the place!
We then cross the small Cerkvenik footbridge. This canyon is my favourite part of the Skocjan caves. It’s this part of the tour that can’t leave you indifferent. Even visitors who are a little blasé about everything will be amazed. In fact, this canyon is worthy of a grandiose scene from The Lord of the Rings.
You’ve never seen anything like it!
The walk continues along the side of the wall, before finally coming into view of the dazzling light and lush vegetation. We’ve reached the exit of the cave!
Tip : The exit of the cave is a good place to take photos of silhouettes against the light. In the rest of the cave, the light is too weak and unless you’re a well-equipped pro or have an excellent smartphone, it’s hard to get good photos.
At the end of the visit: the backlight as you leave the cave
The Okroglica abyss – 10 minutes
Once out of the cave, it’s on to the next thing: we wander to the bottom of the chasm and once again, we’re treated to lush vegetation and, above all, the abundant River Reka, which jumps over three magnificent waterfalls. You’d think you were in a lost, secret place in the middle of the jungle. You then climb back “to the surface” through the forest on a funicular railway.
Trail no. 3, a must!
At the end of the tour, your whole group and the guide will walk to the funicular that takes you back to the surface. On my first two visits, I did what everyone else did – I followed the group, which was a big mistake! You can go back up on foot along path number 3, which is superb. It passes through gorges and then back into a superbly lit cave, the Mahorčič cave. You follow the river Reka on a footbridge attached to the wall. See the photos below for yourself.
Freed from your guide, you can now move at your own pace, take photos and, as not many tourists take this route, you can find yourself almost alone in a huge cave (if you wait a little while for visitors to move on).
The only drawback: You won’t get back up with the funicular, so you’re good for a good climb (difference in altitude of around 120 m).
Spring – summer – autumn: This route is closed in winter.
Tip: If you want to take some spectacular photos, stand back a little with your friends and family who are accompanying you on this extraordinary tour. You’ll be able to take some great photos of yourself on footbridges hanging from the wall, suspension bridges, etc.
In short, if, like most tourists, you don’t take path number 3 at the end of the guided tour, you’ll be missing out on part of the visit and the chance to take some very beautiful photos. If you have the energy and time, take path number 3 because you won’t regret it.
Don’t take route 3
- If you have difficulty walking.
- If you don’t like a steep climb.
- If you’re fed up of walking at the end of the guided tour.
At the height of the season, booking in advance can be very useful.
Please note: In very high season, it may be preferable to book your tour in advance or at least check online with your smartphone that there are still places available for your tour. You can, for example, pick up your tickets with your smartphone on the road. Do it here. This is very useful if you’re coming for the last tour of the day, because if it’s full, you won’t be able to move on to the next tour.
Don’t miss the view of the village of Skocjan
Duration : 15 minutes
This viewpoint was built in 1885 for Princess Stefanie of Belgium. The daughter of Belgian King Leopold II, she was the wife of Archduke Rudolph of Austria, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This photo of her dates from 1885, so you can imagine her admiring the same view as you.
At the end of the guided tour, if you have chosen to take the funicular back up the stairs, your guide will bid you farewell. There is a signpost indicating a viewpoint 250 metres away. Go there, because it’s superb once again! You’ll see the waterfalls of the River Reka and the village of Skocjan with its church resting on the edge of the chasm. There’s a great photo to be taken from this vantage point.
And don ‘t forget: it’s not far from the entrance to the caves, and you can see it too if, at the end of your guided tour, you choose the fabulous path no. 3 to go back up.
Getting to the Skocjan caves by car
The Skocjan caves are 4 kilometres from the motorway linking the coastal town of Koper to Ljubljana.
From the centre of the coastal town of Koper, allow 30 minutes (34 km).
From the centre of Ljubljana, it will take you one hour (82 km).
Warning: The Slovenian language declines proper nouns and Skocjan caves become Skocjanske jame on motorway signs (Don’t go out to Rakov Skojan, it’s a completely different place, and an interesting one too. I repeat: make sure your GPS does not select Rakov Skocjan instead of Skocjanske Jame (the Skocjan caves).
Getting to the Skocjan caves by train
The Skocjan caves can also be reached by train from Ljubljana or the Slovenian coast (Koper). You need to stop at Divaca station (1h40 journey from Ljubljana). In high season, a shuttle bus used to run the 3km from the station to the caves, but this has now disappeared. The 3km journey takes an hour on foot. It’s not at all pleasant at first, as it’s on the side of the road. You pass through the village of Dolnje Ležeče and then the path becomes pleasant through undergrowth with welcome shade in summer.
Train timetables for the Skocjan caves can be found here.
If possible, come to the very first or last visit in summer
Tip: I’ve visited these caves several times and at the beginning of July, there were only nine of us in the last group, which makes this long underground walk more adventurous (Unfortunately, this tip doesn’t work every time. It will depend on the day and there may be a few people turning up for the last visit, but probably fewer than for the 10am or 11am visit).
Please note: The opening times for the Skocjan caves change from month to month, so check the opening times for your visit here.
With a dog : It is not permitted to visit the Skocjan caves with a dog.
A beautiful walk in the Skocjan nature park – 50 minutes
The caves are surrounded by a 413-hectare nature park in which there are two pretty little villages, Matavun and Skocjan. Hiking in this park is really very pleasant. If you’ve got a bit of energy left after walking 3 kilometres through the caves, why not take a short stroll and discover the beautiful Mediterranean vegetation, collapsed dolines and friendly local sheep. In just under an hour, you can follow the signposted 2km Škocjan Education Trail around the chasm. It passes by the Skocjan church you saw and the Princess Stephanie viewpoint. It also passes by an interesting Slovenian rustic restaurant that is often full in summer, the “Pr Betanci” tourist farm.
Here’s a map of the local hiking trails with a wide view. They are in red.
Entrance fees to the cave
- Adults: €24
- Retired: €18
- Students: €18
- Under 18s: €12.50
- Under 6s : Free
- These are the summer prices at the height of the season. Out of season, tickets are a few euros cheaper.
- Parking at the Skocjan caves is free.
- Be sure to check the tour departure times. In low season (November to March), there are only three tours a day. Whatever the season, no visits are scheduled before 10am.
A strategic region for accommodation
Situated just 4 kilometres from the motorway linking Ljubljana to the sea, staying in the area around the Skocjan caves is an excellent option, as there are plenty of interesting places within easy reach. It’s a strategic location for visiting Slovenia. The map at the bottom of this article lists what you can see in the area.
The region is very beautiful and authentic. I can highly recommend the following four accommodation options, as they offer a beautiful, authentic stay at affordable prices. There’s also a youth hostel on the list with dormitories or rooms for two.
Combine with a visit to the skocjan caves
For a very sporty day out, you can combine a 2-hour ascent of Nanos with a visit to the caves. Another good plan would be to visit Koper or Piran or Izola on the coast and then the Skocjan caves. Finally, these caves can be combined with a visit to the Slovenian coast lasting several days. In that case, stop off at the caves on the way to or from the sea. Not far from the caves, you’ll also find the famous Lipica stud farm, where some very fine horses, the Lipizzaners, are bred. The Italian city of Trieste is also nearby. Finally, note that the Skocjan caves are an ideal destination on a rainy day.
Where to eat? The pizzeria at Divaca (Michelin)
4 km from the Skocjan caves, the Etna pizzeria is renowned for its quality pizzas. It has also been spotted by the Michelin guide, which awarded it a Bip gourmand in 2020 before withdrawing it in 2022, and by Gault&Millau. Prices range from €10 to €13 for good-sized pizzas. The outside and surrounding area of the pizzeria is completely uncharming, as is the terrace, but inside there is a beautiful modern room alternating between black and wood. Cosy in the evening. If you want to eat cheaply in the evening in the area around the caves, this is one of the places to go.
Please note: During the summer, the restaurant closes for 15 days for annual holidays. Check opening times before you go.
Caution : Once you’ve been served, you’ll probably wonder why these guides are so keen on this particular pizzeria when there are dozens of other pizzerias in Slovenia. Perhaps it’s because of the rotating stone plate in the pizza oven and the care taken in selecting the ingredients? Your pizza won’t be the best of your life, but you should probably try the rest of the menu, because that’s what these culinary guides seem to like. Which I haven’t done yet. Let me know in the comments if this address deserves to stay in the article.
Tip: Don’t forget that in Slovenia, you can ask to share a pizza or take 2 pizzas for 3. Parking is easy in front of the restaurant and it’s right next to the train station. It’s a great place to stop off before heading off on new adventures.
Pizzeria Etna – Kolodvorska ulica 3a – Divača