Jasov Cave

Jasovská jaskyňa

The oldest show cave in Slovakia, decorated with colourful dripstone formations and historic inscriptions dating back centuries. Set near a Premonstratensian monastery, it makes an easy and rewarding excursion from Košice.

Things to do

• Tour the show cave — Walk the roughly 550-metre lit trail through chambers filled with colourful dripstone, pagoda stalagmites, and pisolitic formations on a guided visit.
• Find the historic inscriptions — Look for the medieval Hussite wall inscription from 1452, one of the oldest dated records inside a Slovak cave.
• Visit the Premonstratensian monastery — Explore the Baroque abbey next to the cave with its frescoed library, rococo interiors, and ornate church.
• Stroll the monastery gardens — Wander the historic French-style garden behind the abbey, laid out in geometric parterres.
• Watch for bats — The cave shelters colonies of bats, and the surrounding karst is a protected part of the Slovak Karst.
• Day trip from Košice — Combine the cave with a half-day excursion from Košice, only about 30 kilometres to the northeast.
• Hike the surrounding karst landscape — Follow trails through the wooded limestone hills of the Jasovská plateau above the cave.

Food to try

• Bryndzové halušky — Slovakia's national dish of potato dumplings smothered in sheep's bryndza cheese and topped with fried bacon.
• Kapustnica — A hearty sour cabbage soup with sausage and mushrooms, popular across eastern Slovakia.
• Zemiakové placky — Crispy fried potato pancakes seasoned with garlic and marjoram, a common regional snack.
• Košice-style local beer — Try a regional lager such as those from eastern Slovak breweries after your cave visit.
• Pirohy — Filled dumplings stuffed with bryndza, potato, or cabbage, served with butter or bacon.

Local customs & good to know

• Check opening months — The cave typically operates seasonally, mostly from spring to autumn, so confirm the schedule before visiting.
• Dress warmly — The cave stays around 8–9°C year-round with high humidity, so bring a jacket even in summer.
• Buy tickets on site — Tours run at set times with a guide, so arrive early to secure a place, especially at weekends.
• Respect the protected site — Photography rules and no-touch policies apply to preserve the formations and inscriptions.

Nearby

• Zádiel Gorge — 12 km
• Košice — 22 km
• Krásna Hôrka Castle — 27 km
• Rožňava — 32 km