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Važecká Cave

Važecká jaskyňa, 032 61 Važec, Slovakia
Važecká CaveVažecká Cave — 2Važecká Cave — 3Važecká Cave — 4Važecká Cave — 5

The underground treasury of Upper Liptov

Važecká Cave (Važecká jaskyňa) is one of the best-known caves in northern Slovakia, even though it is among the shortest show caves. It lies in the Važec karst at the western edge of the village of Važec, between Liptovský Mikuláš and Poprad, where the Kozie chrbty ridge meets the Liptov basin. The entrance is at 784 m, just 8 m above the floodplain of the Biely Váh river — so there is no climb to reach the cave.

The cave was formed by former underground waters of a side branch of the Biely Váh in dark-grey Triassic limestone. It is 530 m long. Local people knew the entrance hall for ages, and in 1922 O. A. Húska with A. Somr discovered the continuing passages. According to F. Havránek, who leased the cave, it was provisionally shown to visitors from 1928, the official permit to open it to the public dates from 1934, and after reconstruction of the path and installation of electric lighting the cave has operated since 1954. In 1952 Havránek and members of a Brno caving club discovered the spaces beyond the Stone Dome.

What to see

The tour route is 235 m long, with only 5 m of height difference and 88 steps; the visit takes about 25 minutes. The main attraction is dense snow-white stalactites and stalagmites, rimstone pools and flowstone on the walls. Važecká is an important palaeontological site: many bones of the cave bear, which lived in caves all year round and raised its young there, have been found. Scientists are also interested in the tiny arachnid Eukoenenia spelaea — this is the northernmost known occurrence of a member of its order, which makes the cave a biospeleological site of European importance.

Thanks to its short duration and nearly level route, this is probably the most convenient cave in the region for families with small children and for people who struggle with hundreds of steps.

Practical information

Getting there. From Liptovský Mikuláš it is 30 km towards Poprad, from Poprad 25 km via Svit towards Žilina; from Zakopane about 94 km (around 1.5 hours by car). Parking is right in front of the entrance. Važec has a bus stop and a railway station.

Times and tickets. The cave is open Tuesday to Sunday. From March to May and from September to November 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 in January, February and December, on 1 November and every Monday. 2026 prices: adults €10, children 4–15 €5, students and over-60s €9. Tickets go on sale 15 minutes before each tour and a tour needs at least 4 people; organised groups are asked to call or email in advance. Photography without a tripod or flash is free where the guide allows.

What to bring. It is 6.5–7.1 °C inside — even in summer you will want a jumper.

Nearby

A few kilometres north is the Museum of the Liptov Village in Pribylina, and half an hour away Štrbské pleso in the High Tatras. To the west, near Liptovský Mikuláš, are the Demänovská Cave of Liberty and the articular church in Svätý Kríž.

Official website: ssj.sk

Photos: Govisity / Tip na Trip / kosice.guide, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons; Peko, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Getting there from Ukraine

Border crossings

  • Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké — road, 24/7
  • Malyi Bereznyi – Ubľa — road, 24/7 For cars and buses; pedestrians not confirmed by the Ukrainian border service, lorries up to 3.5 t.
  • Mali Selmentsi – Veľké Slemence (pedestrian) — pedestrian, 09:00–21:00 Kyiv time Pedestrians and cyclists only; inconvenient for the Tatras without onward transport.
  • Chop – Čierna nad Tisou (rail) — rail, 24/7

By car

Uzhhorod – Poprad ≈195 km, ≈2 h 55 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké checkpoint → I/19 via Sobrance and Michalovce → Košice → D1 motorway via Prešov → Poprad (Liptovský Mikuláš is ≈56 km further on the D1, total ≈249 km). Košice – Poprad ≈112 km. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk). Note: from Lviv the fastest way to Poprad is through Poland — Krakovets – A4 – Kraków – Zakopane – Łysa Polana ≈468 km (≈5 h 50 min); via Uzhok and Malyi Bereznyi ≈419 km but slower (≈6 h 40 min). Zakopane – Poprad ≈69 km, Zakopane – Liptovský Mikuláš ≈80 km.

Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.

Location on the map

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Trails nearby

All trails
Škutnastá Meadow – Štrba, stationEasyOne-dayMarkedŠkutnastá Meadow Štrba, stationElevation profile894–1 826 m9.8 kmascent 47 m≈ 2.5 h walking7.5 km from Važecká CaveŠtrbské Pleso, Solisko Sanatorium – Junction in Krivánsky GullyModerateOne-dayMarkedŠtrbské Pleso, Solisko Sanatorium Junction in Krivánsky GullyElevation profile1 137–2 122 m14.7 kmascent 207 m≈ 4 h walking7.6 km from Važecká CaveBiely Váh – KriváňEasyOne-dayMarkedBiely Váh KriváňElevation profile1 209–2 410 m7.2 km≈ 2 h walking7.9 km from Važecká Cave

Nearby attractions

Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasHorse ridingKone vo Východnej: horse rides below the Tatras5.4 km from Važecká CaveKone vo Východnej (“Horses in Východná”) is a small family horse farm on the meadows above the village of Východná in upper Liptov, with a sweeping view of the High...Štrbské plesoLakeŠtrbské pleso9.7 km from Važecká CaveŠtrbské pleso is the emblem of the Slovak Tatras: a large mountain lake at 1,346 m surrounded by spruce forest, hotels and High Tatra peaks.Skok WaterfallWaterfallSkok Waterfall12 km from Važecká CaveSkok (Vodopád Skok) is one of the most beautiful waterfalls of the Slovak Tatras. Here the Mlynica stream drops over a rock step that blocks the middle part of the...

Craft nearby

All craft places
Farma Východná — organic farm below the TatrasEco farmsFarma Východná — organic farm below the Tatras5.7 km from Važecká CaveFarma Východná is the highest-lying organic farm in Liptov, at 930 m in the village of Východná right below the Tatras.TERMAL raj thermal bath, Liptovský JánWater parks & thermal poolsTERMAL raj thermal bath, Liptovský Ján22 km from Važecká CaveLiptovský Ján: thermal water at the entrance to Jánska dolina Liptovský Ján is an old village in southern Liptov, about 10 km from Liptovský Mikuláš, at the entrance...Koliba Strachanovka, Jánska valleyKoliby & Hutsul cuisineKoliba Strachanovka, Jánska valley22 km from Važecká CaveKoliba Strachanovka (Jánska koliba) is a large wooden koliba at the entrance to the Jánska valley in the village of Liptovský Ján, which locals consider one of the...Shepherds' Huts on Polana ChochołowskaCheese dairies & pasturesShepherds' Huts on Polana Chochołowska24 km from Važecká CavePolana Chochołowska is the largest glade in the Polish Tatras and one of the largest in the whole range.Minipivovar TATRAS, PopradCraft beer & breweriesMinipivovar TATRAS, Poprad24 km from Važecká CaveMinipivovar TATRAS is a brewpub on Poprad’s main square, Námestie sv. Egídia, housed in a building with a long brewing history.Furtek's Shepherd's Huts, Kuźnice and KalatówkiCheese dairies & pasturesFurtek's Shepherd's Huts, Kuźnice and Kalatówki24 km from Važecká CaveAbove Kuźnice — the southern edge of Zakopane where most hikes into the Western and High Tatras begin — the flocks are tended by baca Andrzej Staszel, nicknamed "Furtek".