Adventurous Cave Tour in Budapest
Discover the many faced capital’s underground natural treasures
4 Hours
Discover the city’s unique natural beauties under your feet!
Budapest is one of the world's very few cities where almost 200 smaller and bigger caves can be found within the municipal area. These caves were formed by the same springs that today supply the thermal baths. The majority of the caves were discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, when house buildings and drainage construction works were carried out. Budapest has 9 strictly protected caves and 3 are open to the public.
There is a cave on the southeastern side of Gellért Hill which gave the city half of its name. Seeing the hollow in the hill, and the other caves that underlie the Buda Hills, the Magyar conquerors from Asia - with no word of their own for cave - borrowed the Slavic word "pest" from tribes living in the area. They named what is now Gellért Hill "Pest Hill" - or hill of caves. In 1926 a lovely chapel, known as Rock Chapel, was built inside the hollow of Gellért Hill and can be visited today. This will be our first stop during the tour.
Rock Chapel
First we visit the beautiful Rock Chapel, which has its entrance in the hillside 75 feet above the level of the River Danube.
Archaelogical evidence has shown that primitive man inhabited the Buda hills’ caves 4 000 years ago. In the 1920s Paulite monks converted the cave of Gellért hill into a pilgrims’ chapel.
The chapel is one of the most interesting ecclesiastical monuments of the capital.
The Labyrinth of Buda Castle
After our visit in the Rock Chapel we continue our tour to the Buda Castle. The enchanting Castle District with the panoramic Danube view are parts of the world heritages. Here we can find the marvellous, medieval sights within walking distance, the Fishermen’s Bastion, Matthias Church, the Royal Palace and many other historical sights are waiting for the visitors. In the Castle we can have a breathtaking view onto the entire city and take a fabulous visit in the amazing Labyrinth.
The Labyrinth of Buda Castle is the longest and most well-ordered visitable part of the cave system under the Castle Hill in Budapest. It is run by a cultural establishment since 1983 and has become known worldwide in 2000. At the present time it belongs to the top 10 sights in Hungary and it is one of the world’s most interesting underground wonders.
The unique calcareous tufa caves of Castle Hill were created as an effect of the hot water springs at the dawn of the history of the Earth. These caves then served as refuge as well as hunting ground for the prehistoric man appearing half a million years ago. The labyrinth of caves and tunnels which stretch for over 10 kilometres beneath Castle Hill are said to have been joined together by the Turks during the middle ages for military purposes. In the 17th century, parts of the catacombs were used to store wine. More recently, the immediate area under Úri utca served as an air-raid shelter during World War II. Today, about 1.5 kilometres are open to the general public.
Pálvölgyi Cave
After having a look at the wonderful, remarkable sights of the Buda Castle, we arrive to compelling Pálvölgyi Cave, to our last stop during the tour.
Legend says that the cave was discovered by a grazing sheep that got lost. This is the most beautiful and the longest cave in Buda Hills with its 18 km length, which can by visited by the public since 1919. The cave is famous for its unique dripstones, but the narrow, canyon-like corridors, the cauldron-like dissolve formations and the large level differences are also very typical. Some formations are particularly popular with children, such as the animals and the chamber of Snow White and the seven dwarfs.
500 m can be visited with a guide, but it's rather demanding because of the great differences of height. The route has lately been modernized and adjusted for the highest requirements. Ladders and steep stairs help you to move forward.
The tour takes you to the most astonishing stone formations, drip stones, glittering calcium-crystals and prints of primeval shells.
Before and after it you have the opportunity for relaxation in the nice buffet or in the souvenir shop.
Don’t forget the warm cloths!