As much of a draw as the mountains and the sea in Slovenia are two world-class but very different cave systems in the unique Karst area.
Postojna CaveCAVE
Just under 2km northwest of the town of Postojna (population 7900), Postojna Cave is one of the largest caverns in the world, and its stalagmite and stalactite formations are unequalled anywhere. It's a busy destination – visited by as many as a third of all tourists coming to Slovenia – but it's amazing how the large crowds at the entrance seem to get swallowed whole by the size of the cave.
Postojna is home to the endemic Proteus anguinus – a cute, eyeless salamander nicknamed 'the human fish' because of its skin colour. Visits of 1½ hours involve a 4km underground train ride as well as a 1.7km walk with some gradients but no steps. Dress warmly or rent a shawl as it's 8°C to 10°C down there.
Škocjan CavesCAVE
The quieter and more remote Škocjan Caves are 4km southeast of Divača (population 1300). A World Heritage site, this immense system is more captivating than the one at Postojna – a page right out of Jules Verne's A Journey to the Centre of the Earth – and for many travellers this will be the highlight of their trip to Slovenia. The temperature in the caves is constant at 12°C so bring along a light jacket or sweater.
Good walking shoes, for the sometimes slippery paths, are also recommended.
You can walk to the caves from Divača in about 40 minutes; the trail is signposted. Alternatively, a van meets incoming trains (when running) or replacement buses, and ferries ticket holders to the caves up to four times a day.
Buses from Ljubljana en route to Piran stop in Postojna (€6, one hour, half-hourly) and Divača (€7.90, 1½ hours, eight daily). Severe ice storms in 2014 destroyed much of the track in Notranjska province; train traffic to Postojna (€5.80, one hour) and Divača (€7.70, 1¾ hours) was suspended indefinitely as we went to press, though replacement buses were in operation.
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