Cave tours
Szeleta Cave – Prehistory Above Lillafüred
Why it matters
Archaeologists uncovered rich Palaeolithic layers here, including a famed Babony–Szeleta toolkit tradition showing cultural development over an exceptionally long span (roughly 130,000 to 20,000 years ago). Alongside stone tools, digs revealed abundant Ice Age animal bones, placing Szeleta among the key prehistoric localities in Europe.
What to look for
The monumental entrance and roomy first hall carved from hard limestone
Traces and displays (where available) that explain the cave’s Ice Age story
Forested approaches with classic Bükk scenery
Dante’s Inferno – A Window Into the Karst
It’s an amazing—slightly eerie—sight, unlike anything else in the mountains. In this karst-rich limestone landscape, you get a real sense of what lies beneath your feet: caves, shafts, and hidden chambers. A moss-draped amphitheatre of boulders narrows into a funnel-shaped sinkhole that drops into a vast, gaping mouth locals call “Dante’s Inferno.” The name fits. Stepped rock chutes and shelves lead down to a hall-like cavity, where tree trunks and boulders rest beneath a natural rock arch. The so-called Courtyard Stone is actually a collapsed cave chamber; look closely and you’ll spot cave formations on the walls—calcite crusts and pea-stone (pisolitic) deposits—silent clues to the underground world shaping the Bükk.
Goat-Hole Cave (Kecske-lyuk-barlang)
Tucked into the Forrás Valley on Miskolc’s edge, Goat-Hole is a periodic spring cave carved in Triassic limestone, stretching about 480 m. A roomy entrance hall tapers into a winding stream-bed corridor, where you’ll spot calcareous deposits and flowstone (stalactite flows) along the walls. The system ends at a clay siphon.
Why it matters
Archaeology: Finds from the Bükk culture (Neolithic) were recovered here.
Unique life: A rich cave fauna lives in these waters and crevices, including the endemic Gebhardt’s blind amphipod (Niphargus gebhardti), several spider species, and protected bats that form large winter colonies.
Protection: Designated a Special Protection Area in 1982 for its biological and archaeological value.
Good to know
Access may be restricted or guided only—always check current rules.
Expect uneven, wet terrain; proper footwear and a light layer help.
Please do not disturb bats (especially in winter) and stick to marked routes.
Anna Cave (Anna-barlang) – A Rare Travertine Wonder
There are only a handful of caves like this on Earth. Anna Cave was declared protected in 1951 and specially protected in 1982. Its entrance sits in Lillafüred, at the lowest level of the Hanging (Hillside) Gardens beneath the Palace Hotel, right beside the Szinva Waterfall. The ticket office is in the small tower one terrace above the entrance.
What makes it unique
Unlike most limestone caves carved by underground rivers, Anna Cave formed inside calcareous tufa (travertine) deposited by the Szinva Spring. The cavity system is the same age as the rock—it began forming roughly 150–200 thousand years ago and, in places, is still forming today.
What to look for
Petrified plant imprints—leaves, twigs, even roots captured in stone.
Delicate rimstone and flow features created by mineral-rich water.
The magical pairing of waterfall outside and living stone inside.
Good to know
Paths can be cool and damp—bring a light layer and non-slip shoes.
Guided visits operate on a schedule; arrive a bit early for tickets.
Photography rules may vary—check with your guide.
St. Stephen’s Cave (Szent István-barlang) – Lillafüred
A specially protected show cave just 3.5 km from Miskolc, St. Stephen’s Cave opens near Lillafüred, about 500 m from the Palace Hotel beside the Eger–Miskolc road. Visitors follow roughly 1,514 m of walkways through chambers stacked across a 101 m vertical range.
How it formed
This is an intermittent spring (karst) cave. Rainwater on the Létrás-lápa – István-lápa plateau sinks through dolines, travels underground, and dissolves the limestone into galleries and shafts—eventually breaking out as springs lower down.
Why it’s unforgettable
Dramatic “solution” features like the Mammoth Hall and Mother Towers
Rich stalactite and flowstone formations
A real sense of depth as the route climbs and descends between levels
Good to know
Inside temperature is cool year-round—bring a light layer and non-slip shoes.
Guided tours run on a schedule; arrive a little early for tickets.
Some sections include stairs/steeper ramps; check accessibility if needed.
Please follow the guide’s instructions—this is a fragile, protected environment.
