Dobšinská Ice Cave, Slovakia
Stratena -049 71 Dobšiná
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The Slovak Dobšinská Ice Cave is the largest and most beautiful ice cave near the Polish border. This natural wonder, a true underground glacier, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the Slovak Paradise National Park.
Dobšinská Ice Cave - Attractions
Although some ice formations can be found in other Slovak caves (like the Demänovská Ice Cave in the Low Tatras), the Dobšinská Ice Cave is called an "underground glacier" and can only be compared to the most famous Alpine ice caves. The ice mass is estimated at 100,000 tons.
The main attraction of the cave is, of course, the huge masses of ice and natural ice sculptures.
...but also the rock formations, carved by water in the limestone:
Visiting Dobšinská Ice Cave
We visit the Dobšinská Ice Cave with two guides: one leads, the other "closes" the group.
We walk through several ice corridors and halls. We always move on metal platforms and stairs (there are quite a few to climb...)
Sometimes we also pass through ice tunnels:
The guide talks about the cave, its halls, and formations in Slovak, so it's good to learn some basic information and interesting facts about the cave before visiting.
Most Interesting Forms in Dobšinská Ice Cave
The ice formations in Dobšinská Ice Cave have their names and are constantly changing!
In the Ruffini Corridor, you can see the "Elephant's Ear," a hollow in the ice wall "sculpted" by the flow of warmer air through a rock chimney. In the passage between halls, you will find the "Jellyfish":
In the Great Hall, you will see the "Altar," where water still drips from the cave ceiling.
Here you will also find the famous "Well," from which a spring of living water flows!
And here is the entire collection of ice sculptures, the panorama of the Small Hall:
Dobšinská Ice Cave - Fun Facts
Dobšinská Ice Cave was discovered at the end of the 19th century and was opened to visitors and electrified about 150 years ago! In the pavilion at the entrance to the cave, you can see drawings and photos of what visiting the cave looked like.
At the end of the 19th century, ice skating in the cave (in the Great Hall) began. Skaters trained here until the mid-20th century.
Is there life in the ice cave? Yes! Bats (12 species) sleep here, and various "small creatures" like springtails, millipedes, and the relic crustacean blind cave shrimp live here permanently.
Dobšinská Ice Cave - Getting There
You can reach Dobšinská Ice Cave by bus, train (stops right by the parking lot), or car (large, paid parking lots). It's only 73 km from the Polish-Slovak border in Jurgów.
From the parking lot, there is a walking path to the cave: first on a wide gravel road, then on forest paths uphill. The route is about 1 km long, but you also have to climb over 100 meters, so it takes about 20-30 minutes to reach the cave.
Dobšinská Ice Cave - Practical Information
- The cave is closed on Mondays.
- Photography and filming require an additional fee.
- Discounted tickets for children up to 15 years old, students get a small discount (10%).
- Remember to wear comfortable shoes (it's damp and slippery) and warm clothes (temperature below 0 degrees!).
- The tour lasts about 30 minutes.
- Free toilets at the cave entrance.
- Small souvenir shop.
- No dining facilities (only a vending machine with hot drinks), restaurant at the parking lot.
- No age limit for guests, but it's better to carry small children in a carrier (many stairs to climb, specific tour pace).
- On the way to the cave, there is an educational path and a rope park (routes of varying difficulty, also for children).
- No dogs allowed (but your four-legged friends can wait outside the cave with someone from your group).
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