Hungarian caves offer a unique program for the summer
There are more than 4,100 caves in Hungary, 40 of which can be visited by the general public. During the hot summer days, visiting one of Hungary’s spectacular caves offering a comfortably cool temperature is a perfect program opportunity.
Five of the Hungarian national parks offer caves to visit, claims Hello Magyar: Aggtelek, Balaton Uplands, Bükk, Danube-Drava, and Danube-Ipoly National Parks. The caves of Hungary are quite popular with visitors, half of the people going to these parks also purchase tickets for the guided tours and programs in the caves.
Thanks to the developments of recent years, the caves await visitors with renewed facilities and programs. Additionally, these works have also contributed to protecting natural formations and the preservation of bat habitat, claims Hello Magyar.
Some caves impress visitors with their remarkable stalactites and spectacular mineral deposits, like the Aggtelek Stalactite Cave. According to Érdekes Világ, the Aggtelek Karst is not only a World Heritage Site, but two caves of the National Park are also world records: the 25-kilometre Baradla-Domica cave system is the longest active creek in the temperate zone, and the Szilicei Ice Cave is the lowest ice cave in the world. You can also find one of Hungary’s largest underground halls, the Titans Hall in the park, named after the enormous stalactites in the middle.
The Abaligeti Cave also offers an insight into the natural habitat of the caves: the world of bats.
Most of the caves can be explored by a comfortable walk, but several places – like the Csodabogyós Cave in Balatonederics, the Szentgáli Kőlik or the Mátyás Hill Cave – offer more serious tours with equipment.
If you’re not fond of walking or simply want something more special, the Tapolca Spring Cave offers a unique opportunity in the country to explore a cave by boat.
The Cave Bath of Miskolctapolca is a unique spa in Europe, built in a cave above hot springs. The cave has a healing effect, as well.
Budapest is also packed with interesting caves and programs to visit.
There are about 60 kilometres of intricate systems of caves beneath the capital, Hello Magyar claims. The longest cave of Hungary can also be found here: the Pál Valley Cave System is more than 32 km long.
There are 4 caves in Budapest open for tourists: the well-known Pál Valley, Szemlő Hill Caves, the Castle Cave below the Buda Castle District and the Mátyás Hill Cave.
According to Origo, the Castle Cave offers unique, historic guided walks. During the two-hour tour through the underground halls and corridors, participants gain an insight into how natural caves have been transformed into a labyrinth and how they were utilised in a variety of ways over the centuries: from wine cellar through prison to shelter.
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Source: Hello Magyar, Érdekes Világ, Origo