In short: the Belianska Cave lies in Tatranská Kotlina in Slovakia. The entrance is at about 890 m above sea level. The tourist route is 1,370 metres long and takes about 70 minutes. The cave was electrically lit as early as 1896. It is the only cave in the Tatras open to visitors with a guide.
Outside it is summer, hot, with the smell of a sun-warmed forest. A few steps further a door closes behind you, and the temperature drops so much that you reach for a sweatshirt. In the lamplight stone cascades emerge from the darkness, waterfalls frozen in rock and pools so still that it is hard to tell the water from the reflection.
What to know about the Belianska Cave
- it lies in the Belianske Tatras, in Tatranská Kotlina on the Slovak side of the border,
- the entrance is at an altitude of about 890 m above sea level,
- the tourist route is 1,370 metres long,
- the tour lasts about 70 minutes,
- electric lighting has worked here since 1896, which puts the cave among the pioneers in Europe,
- it is the only cave in the Tatras open to tourists.
What you will see underground
The cave is famous for its rich dripstone decoration: stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and cascades built over thousands of years by dripping water. The route leads through successive chambers and corridors. There are steps, so basic fitness helps, but no special preparation is needed.
Practical tips
- A warm layer. It is cool in the cave all year round. Bring a sweatshirt or light jacket, even in midsummer.
- Comfortable shoes. The paths can be damp and there are quite a few steps.
- The walk to the entrance. A path leads uphill from the car park to the cave. Allow extra time for it.
- Entry times. The cave is visited in groups at set times. The current schedule and prices are on the Slovak Caves Administration website.
- Euros and ID. You pay in euros, and take an ID card with you when travelling abroad.
Getting there from Białka Tatrzańska
From Białka you drive towards Jurgów, cross the border and continue through Ždiar to Tatranská Kotlina. On the way you pass picturesque Slovak villages at the foot of the Belianske Tatras. It is a good trip for a cloudy or rainy day, when there are no views in the mountains and underground the weather does not matter.
An idea for a whole day
The cave in the morning, a walk around Tatranská Kotlina in the afternoon, and in the evening back to Białka to relax at Terma Bania. You will find other trip ideas in the Area section, and accommodation at Willa pod Smrekiem.
Sources of information and photos
We checked the facts, figures and opening hours in the sources below. Prices, timetables and admission rules can change, so please check the organisers’ websites before you travel.
- Jaskinia Bielska, Wikipedia
- Tatrzańska Kotlina, Wikipedia
- Slovak Caves Administration (cave operator)
- Slovakia Travel, the official tourist portal of Slovakia
Photos (main image and illustrations in the text), used under the licences specified by their authors:
- Dripstone decoration in the Belianska Cave: Photo: Petr Vilgus, CC BY-SA 3.0, source: Wikimedia Commons
- Panorama of the Tatras seen from Białka Tatrzańska: Photo: Mateusz Giełczyński, CC BY-SA 3.0, source: Wikimedia Commons
