Caves Liptovský Mikuláš - Ploštín

Slovakia is exceptionally rich in caves considering its size. The number of registered caves and chasms has already reached approximately 6,700. Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa is part of the longest cave system in Slovakia, which has a total length of almost 36 km.

Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa is one of the oldest in Europe. Its existence has been documented as early as 1299. It is located near the road leading through Demänovská dolina. If you have ever been to Jasná, you have surely passed right by it. And believe us, it is well worth stopping by.

The cave is unique due to its ice decoration. Intriguingly, just 500 years ago, it was a regular dripstone cave. After the collapse of certain passages and the prevention of air circulation, conditions were created in the cave for the formation of ice. In 1885, a shelter was built near the cave, and the first tourists began visiting it. However, it was not heavily visited; the years 1950–1952 were more significant, when electric lighting was installed. During these years, concerns grew over preserving the ice cover, as the reconstruction damaged the cave and air began circulating inside again. This threatened to melt the ice sheet. Fortunately, the issues were resolved.

An educational trail with interesting information boards leads to the cave. Right before entering the cave, you will become acquainted with the Nízke Tatry National Park and its flora and fauna. The tour route inside the cave is 650 meters long with an elevation gain of 48 m. The tour will take you three quarters of an hour. Dress warmly, due to the ice decoration, the temperature inside stays just above freezing year-round. If you can brave the cold, the cave will reward you with an unprecedented spectacle. Underground, you will admire stalactites and stalagmites, as well as floor ice and ice pillars, which are at their most massive during the spring months.

Eight species of bats have been recorded in the cave. The discovery of bones belonging to the cave bear and other vertebrates proves that it was sought after by animals even in the distant past.

Demänovská dolina is full of other attractions. After exploring Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa, you can head to the neighboring Demänovská jaskyňa slobody. Continuing up the valley, you will reach Jasná, the largest ski resort in Slovakia. But you will not be bored here in summer either. The cable car will take you up to the peak of Chopok, and from there, for instance, to Hotel Srdiečko, which is just a hop away from another famous cave Jaskyňa Mŕtvych netopierov.

You can find accommodation directly in the village of Demänovská Dolina or in nearby Pavčiná Lehota. Both are fully prepared for the influx of tourists, and finding your own chalet or a room in a cozy guesthouse will not be a problem. Private homestays are also booming, and you can stay in almost every house. The advantage of such accommodation is its extremely favorable price. You do not have to go on vacation just for skiing or water, but also to discover underground beauty, and you will hardly find more of it than in Demänovská dolina.

Liptov takes the breath away of thousands of tourists with its beauty. Majestic mountains, fun in Slovakia's best water parks, skiing like in the Alps, or airborne adrenaline. And there is also something to be found below the surface. The longest cave system in Slovakia, which includes Demänovské jaskyne. Let us introduce the most famous one, Demänovská jaskyňa slobody.

You will find this most visited cave in the country just a few kilometres from Liptovský Mikuláš. It lies in Demänovská dolina, which leads to the largest ski resort, Jasná. So you will find nothing but superlatives here.

A trail with educational panels leads to the cave. You might get a little out of breath, but you will be able to rest while gathering information about the history and opening of the cave to the public, as well as about other caves in Slovakia. After the ascent, refreshments in the form of a snack bar will be waiting for you.

The history of opening the cave to the public dates back to 1921, when the first cavers entered it. It happened in an unconventional way, beneath the water surface. Specifically through the lowest sinkhole of the Demänovka stream. The first lighting in the cave was installed just 2 years later, and the first visitors could enjoy its beauty starting in 1924. Since then, newly discovered sections have been continuously connected to the route.

The cave decorations are breathtaking. It is the most varied cave in the entire cave system. Unique features include flowstone water lilies and other forms of karst relief created by the activity of water, such as small cave pearls. There is an underground lake bearing the name Veľké jazero. Its length is up to 52 metres and its width ranges from 5 to 12 metres. Famous areas include Veľký dóm, Jánošíkov dóm, and Ružová sieň. The dripstones in the cave are still growing; those in Veľký dóm grow at a rate of about 2 mm per 10 years. A figure imperceptible to the human eye, yet proof that the cave is still active.

The temperature in the cave fluctuates between 6–7 °C. Prepare for this knowing that you will spend at least an hour underground. The tour along the shorter circuit, measuring 1,150 metres, takes exactly one hour. However, we recommend the tour along the longer circuit, which is 2,150 metres long and takes 100 minutes. It will take you to the most beautiful places of Demänovská jaskyňa slobody, which you cannot reach during the short circuit. Mainly Veľký dóm, the largest accessible underground space in Slovakia, and Ružová sieň.

Underground worlds fascinate many. Liptov and Demänovská dolina in particular offer many opportunities to explore them. Demänovská jaskyňa slobody offers the longest accessible route in Slovakia, and you will enjoy more than enough on it. If it still isn't enough for you, in the very same valley you will find the no less famous Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa. Afterwards, you can head to Chopok or take a ride on the bobsleigh track in Pavčiná Lehota.

You can stay very close by in Demänovská dolina. Here you will find mostly traditional wooden cottages, mountain hotels, as well as the most luxurious hotels for demanding guests. Numerous apartment houses are popular, where you can rent your own fully equipped apartment at various price points for all kinds of clients.

Stanišovská jaskyňa is the only cave open year-round in the Liptov region. You can find it in the Nízke Tatry mountain range, in the charming Jánska dolina valley at the end of the village of Liptovský Ján. From the village, you can get here on foot with an approximately 60-minute walk, or by car or bicycle. You can park directly in front of the cave, making it truly easily accessible.

The cave is an ideal place for discovering underground places, especially for families with children, seniors, or beginner hikers. The terrain is not demanding, and the guide engagingly explains various interesting facts from history and the field of speleology. Stanišovská jaskyňa is open to visitors every day of the year. The tour lasts approximately 45 to 60 minutes. Always check the visitor rules and price list on the official website of the cave prior to your visit.

The full name of this natural monument is Malá Stanišovská jaskyňa. Out of a total length of 871 meters, 177 meters are accessible to the public. Its spaces were explored in 1974, and no archaeological or paleontological findings were discovered inside. However, an interesting feature is the numerous inscriptions on the walls left behind by past visitors. The oldest inscription dates back to the end of the 19th century.

In the cave, you will also discover a copy of an Obo shamanic site. An Obo is a sacred structure made of natural materials, which usually stands on mountain peaks, near rivers, or at other significant locations. It is an ancient custom from the regions of Mongolia, China, and other eastern countries. Lamas built these sacrificial sites to honor the spirit guardian of the given place.

Throughout the year, various events are prepared in Stanišovská jaskyňa, where you and your children can try, for example, moving through tight cave spaces, basic climbing, or traditional food preparation. Children in particular, however, will be absolutely thrilled to discover the mythical realm of Aghartha. Diligent cave explorers have so far discovered several entrances to this mystical underground realm.

In addition to Stanišovská jaskyňa itself, explore Medvedia štôlňa in Žiarska dolina, Mincovníčkovo - Podzemie Pod vežami in Liptovský Ján, and Permoníkovo in Podbanské. From each visit, you will take home a precious coin, and during your last visit, you will also receive a rare coin of the Realm of Aghartha.

The Liptov location offers truly many interesting places worth visiting. We recommend visiting the nearby healing thermal spring Kaďa Liptovský Ján, refreshing yourself in the summer at Termal raj Sorea, visiting Hrad Liptovský Hrádok, or the fallen heroes' monument in Lesopark Háj-Nicovô, from where a breathtaking view opens up over the town of Liptovský Mikuláš and the Liptovská Mara reservoir.

If you long for cave spaces again, Demänovská jaskyňa slobody and Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa in the village of Demänová are certainly worth a visit. On our portal, you will find many accommodation options near Stanišovská jaskyňa or accommodation in Liptovský Mikuláš.

Jaskyňa mŕtvych netopierov is one of the most extensive and most important high-mountain caves in Slovakia. It is also the only accessible high-mountain cave in the country. It is located at an altitude of 1,520 m a.s.l. on the southern side of the Ďumbier massif in Nízke Tatry.

Accessibility to the cave is possible from several directions. From the village of Bystrá towards Trangoška, and from there on foot for approximately 1 hour via a mountain trail to Chata M. R. Štefánika. The second route also leads from the village of Bystrá, but towards Srdiečko, where you will take the cable car to the Kosodrevina intermediate station, or all the way to the top of Chopok peak, and from there on foot to the aforementioned mountain hut. From the Liptov side, a hike on foot is possible from Liptovský Ján, or from the Jasná - Biela púť ski resort by cable car to Chopok and from there on foot to Chata M. R. Štefánika.

The cave is accessible from March to December on weekends, and during the summer holidays, it is open daily. In the months of January and February, it is completely closed. Before you head out for a trip here, check the admission fees and opening hours directly on the official website. Every entry must be reported and reserved in advance by phone or email.

The cave tour is possible on three routes. Route A, approximately 1 km long, can be completed even with children. It leads through the central 7th floor of the cave and consists mainly of rock paths and wire-rope ladder belays. For the more demanding, there are routes B and C, speleotrekking tours made accessible by the speleological guide service. These are accessible only to physically fit persons over 18 years of age. The first of them is slightly less demanding and takes approximately 2 hours. The second one is for advanced visitors with climbing experience, as the truly demanding cave terrain is exposed almost continuously. It lasts approximately 3 hours.

Kozie chrbty, a relatively small limestone massif with deep folding, is 2 km long and 300 m wide. In its depths, it hides an intricate tangle of corridors across a total of (so far known) 14 floors and 2 parallel branches. The currently mapped length of the cave is 19,885 m, with a depth of 324 m. The largest underground space is located directly under Chata M. R. Štefánika. It is the well-known Bystrický dóm hall with a volume of up to 52,500 m³. It is located on the 7th floor, at a depth of 180 m.

An interesting feature is a huge find site of bat bones, the age of which is estimated at 6,000 years. It is precisely to this largest bat burial ground that the cave owes its name. Besides these, however, bones of small rodents, martens, brown bear, and goat were also found on the edges.

Another interesting feature of the cave is the occurrence of volcanic rocks from the Cretaceous period. These are folded into the limestone formation and appear in several cave passages. You can recognize them by their reddish-brown or green color. White-pink agate is also present here.

Since 2001, the cave has been declared a national natural monument. Its environment is cold, humid, and dark, but it has a beneficial effect on the upper respiratory tract. Its average temperature reaches 3.5 °C, while some of its parts do not exceed a temperature of more than 1 °C year-round. For this reason, warm clothing and, of course, suitable sturdy footwear are required to enter the cave.

To become a real cave explorer for a moment and visit what is probably one of the oldest caves in Slovakia. Are you still hesitating? There is nothing to think about, but we recommend taking enough time for the tour and not rushing. It will be ideal to book accommodation near Jaskyňa mŕtvych netopierov so that you don't rush the excursion, but fully experience it, or combine this unique experience with other nearby attractions.