The town of Postojna is located near the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, just 55 kilometers away. Near this town is a huge karst cave known as Postojnska or Postojna Jama (Slovenia). The word “jama” in this name should not be confusing, as it means “cave” in Slovenian.
Postojnska Jama is an amazing underground formation in karst rock, created by nature itself, or rather, by the waters of the small and unremarkable river Pivka. Pivka flows through the cave itself, where its course stretches for 800 meters, and can be seen near the caves, including the area where the water disappears underground.
The length of all the explored passages of the Postojna Jama cave in Slovenia is 25 kilometers. Over the course of thousands of years, a grandiose stone labyrinth with a rich content has been formed: grottoes and tunnels, passages and descents, ascents and holes, sinkholes, halls and galleries, stalactites and lakes, and underground rivers.
Is it worth saying that this fantastic natural splendor arouses increased interest and attracts the attention of many tourists? Postojnska Jama, one of the most grandiose and mysterious caves in Slovenia, has attracted a huge number of visitors over the past 200 years, reaching 39 million people.
Guided tours in Postojna Yama
In 1818, only 300 meters of cave passages were available for tourists to explore, but now visitors can explore more than 5 kilometers of underground formations during guided tours. The cave tour, which includes a train ride through the cave and a walk along a hiking trail, lasts for an hour and a half. Each tour of the Postojna Cave is led by a guide who provides information to visitors in Slovenian, Italian, English, or German. Visitors can also use audio guides available in 17 languages, including Russian. Cave tours are suitable for all visitors, including families with young children and visitors with disabilities.
There are almost always a lot of people who want to see the Poustovna Yama, and it’s best to arrive at the opening time, as there may not be any queues at that time. The entrance to the cave complex is divided into sessions, with each session lasting 30 minutes. At the exact time indicated on the ticket, visitors enter the cave and board the underground train in an organized manner, marking the beginning of the tour.
Until 1878, visitors could only explore the cave by walking through it. For the past 140 years, a train has been taking visitors to the heart of the Postojna Cave, starting its 3.7-kilometer journey from a unique platform that resembles a large railway station. The walking tour lasts for one hour, and then, in an organized manner, everyone returns to the underground train station and exits the cave to the sunlight.
The first place where the train takes tourists is the Old Cave, which was discovered in 1818 by a Slovak named Luka Čech, who lived nearby. The cave has been the subject of interest from speleologists and archaeologists, who have discovered other previously unnoticed passages. The Pojstina Jama contains a variety of unusual chambers, but the most beautiful and well-known part of the cave is the Conference Hall. Its grand size, walls covered in intricately curved smooth stone, and excellent acoustics create a sense of solemnity and seriousness. During the Christmas holidays, a huge Christmas tree is set up in the Conference Hall, and performances based on biblical stories are held, accompanied by live music and stunning lighting.
The most interesting and amazing stalagmite in the entire labyrinth of caves is the Diamond, a unique 5-meter-high formation of shining white limestone that is considered a symbol of the caves. The Diamond was formed by the constant dripping of water from the ceiling, which is rich in calcium. This calcium gives the formation its white and radiant appearance.
Before entering the Poustonna Jama cave system, you can buy separate tickets to visit the vivarium. However, there is no particular reason to go there, as the cave itself is home to the most interesting local creature. This creature is the European Proteus. The Proteus is a lizard-like amphibian that can grow up to 0.3 meters in length, but it is completely smooth. It is the only vertebrate species in Europe that lives exclusively underground. The Proteus’s body is adapted to living in darkness, and it cannot tolerate sunlight. The local people call these underground dwellers “fish-men” and “human fish.”
After the tour of Postoynskaya Yama, you can walk around the souvenir shops, which are numerous. The main assortment of these shops consists of an incredible number of various jewelry items made of gemstones, raw semi-precious stones, and standard souvenirs.
Note! Read about the main natural attraction in Slovenia, Lake Bled, here.
Opening hours of caves and the cost of visiting them
The Postojna Jama cave complex (Slovenia) is open every day, even on public holidays. The opening hours are as follows:
- in January and March: 10:00, 12:00, 15:00;
- in April: 10:00 — 12:00, 14:00 — 16:00;
- in May and June: 09:00 — 17:00;
- in July and August: 09:00 — 18:00;
- in September: 09:00 — 17:00;
- in October: 10:00 — 12:00, 14:00 — 16:00;
- In November and December: 10:00, 12:00, and 15:00.
You will have to pay for tickets to the cave complex (when purchasing on the website):
- for adults, 25.8€;
- for children over 15 years old and students, 20.6€;
- for children aged 5 to 15, 15.5€;
- for children under 5 years old, 1€.
You can check the current prices on the website www.postojnska-jama.eu/en/. Tickets on the website are cheaper than at the ticket office at the entrance to the park.
The ticket price is for one person and includes basic accident insurance and access to an audio guide. The audio guides are available in multiple languages, including Russian.
Parking is available in front of the complex for a fee of 4€ per day. For tourists staying at the Postojna Cave Hotel Jama, parking is free.
Useful tips
The Postojna Cave is not a very pleasant place in terms of climate conditions. The temperature does not rise above +10…+12 °C, and the humidity is very high.
Tourists who go to explore the underground labyrinths should not only dress warmly, but also wear comfortable shoes that will be convenient to walk on wet paths. At the entrance to the attraction, for 3.5€, you can rent a kind of raincoat-coat.
Interesting facts
- The Postojna Pit in Slovenia allowed for the first documented railway in an underground cave (officially opened on June 16, 1872).
- Electric lighting was installed in the Pit before it was installed in London.
- Adult Proteus have no eyes, and they “see” everything through their skin receptors. “Dragons” have a very good sense of their prey, and their skin is also very sensitive to light. They can go up to twelve years without eating and have a lifespan of up to 100 years.
- The oldest dated stalagmite, located along the tourist route of the Postojna Cave in Slovenia, is called the skyscraper, and its grandeur speaks volumes about its age — it is 16 meters tall. Scientists used a special technique to date it, and its official age is estimated to be around 150,000 years.
Note! Find out what to see at the largest lake in Slovenia, Bohinj, on this page.
How to get to Postoynskaya Yama
Postojna Jama (Slovenia) is located 55 kilometers from Ljubljana. By car from the capital of Slovenia, you need to drive on the A1 highway, moving in the direction of the port of Koper and Trieste to the turn to Postojna, and then follow the signs. From Trieste, you need to drive on the A3 highway, following the Divaca, and then on the A1 highway to Postojna.
From the city of Postojna, the park can be reached on foot in 25 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a bus from the bus station located in the center.
