Belianska Cave

A cave beneath Kobylí vrch

Belianska Cave (Belianska jaskyňa) is the only show cave in the High Tatras and one of the most visited in Slovakia. It lies on the northern slope of Kobylí vrch in the eastern Belianske Tatras, within a national nature reserve in the Tatra National Park (TANAP). The entrance is at 890 m above the settlement of Tatranská Kotlina.

Water carved the cave into dark-grey Triassic limestone. Its total length is 3,829 m, with a vertical range of 168 m. The largest halls formed before the main glaciation of the Tatras. Gold prospectors knew the first sections in the early 18th century — their names can still be seen on the walls. In 1881 J. Husz and J. Britz rediscovered the entrance by chance, and as early as 1882 the cave was opened to visitors with money from the town of Spišská Belá. It has had electric lighting since 1896. Seven bat species have been recorded here, and the tiny crustacean Bathynella natans lives in its pools.

What to see

The tour loop is 1,370 m long, with 125 m of ascent and descent and 874 steps; it takes about 70 minutes. Highlights include calcite flowstone cascades (the High Hall, the Waterfall Hall), pagoda-shaped stalagmites in the Palm Hall, clear pools and snow-white formations in the White Hall and the Treasury. One stop is the Music Hall, named after the sound of drops falling into an underground pool; thanks to its acoustics, concerts of recorded classical music used to be held here.

The cave can be visited only with a guide. In summer tours start every hour, which makes it a good option for a rainy day in the Tatras when the mountains are best avoided.

Practical information

Getting there. From Poprad it is about 30 km via Smokovec and Tatranská Lomnica to Tatranská Kotlina; from Zakopane about 44 km via the Łysa Polana border crossing and Tatranská Javorina (around 55 minutes by car). The nearest bus stop is “Tatranská Kotlina”. From the car park a forest nature trail of about 1 km climbs 122 m to the entrance — roughly 25 minutes of steady walking uphill, manageable for school-age children.

Times and tickets. The cave is open Tuesday to Sunday. In the low season (2 January–31 May, 1 September–15 November and 27–31 December) tours start at 9:30, 11:00, 12:30 and 14:00; from June to August every hour from 9:00 to 16:00. It is closed on Mondays, 1 January, 1 November and from 16 November to 26 December. Tickets go on sale about 15 minutes before each tour, there is no advance booking, and a tour needs at least 4 people. 2026 prices: adults €15, children 4–15 €8, students and over-60s €14. Since 2026 photography without a tripod or flash is free, but only where the guide allows; bats must not be photographed up close.

What to bring. The temperature inside is 5–6.3 °C and humidity is high, so even in summer you need a sweater or jacket and comfortable shoes with non-slip soles. Because of the many steps the route is not suitable for prams, and the operator advises people with heart or breathing problems to consider their fitness.

Nearby

A few kilometres away is the Goral village of Ždiar with its painted houses, and above it the treetop walk on Bachledka. On the way to Poprad, stop in Kežmarok for Kežmarok Castle and the UNESCO-listed wooden articular church.

Official website: ssj.sk

Photos: Rafał Kozubek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Petr Vilgus, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Lech_Darski, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Sabrasas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Guntars Mednis, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jankoznaj93, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.