Balcarka Cave 2026: the richest stalactite decoration in the Moravian Karst

Balcarka, near Ostrov u Macochy, is widely regarded as the cave with the richest and most colourful stalactite decoration in the entire Moravian Karst — its ceilings are adorned with thousands of straws and rod-like stalactites, and the highlight of the tour is the 70-metre-long Great Dome, the second-largest accessible space in the region. The tour lasts 45 minutes, covers 600 metres and involves 330 steps. Admission is 120 Kč (adults) (approx. €4.80 — this is a rough guide only, exchange rates fluctuate) / 100 Kč (concessions) / 60 Kč (children), with a 40 Kč surcharge for photography. It’s the smallest and cheapest of the four major show caves — ideal for rounding off a day alongside the others.

QUICK LINKS 💎 Why Balcarka is special · 🏛️ Discovery and history · 💰 Admission and route · ❓ FAQ

If you’ve already seen Punkva Cave (Punkevní jeskyně) with its underground boat trip and the spacious Kateřinská Cave, Balcarka offers something different — less about scale, more about the beauty of detail. It’s the cave that photographers and stalactite enthusiasts often rank first in the whole region.

Why Balcarka is special

Balcarka boasts what is perhaps the richest, most varied and most colourful stalactite decoration in the Moravian Karst. The flat ceilings of its corridors are studded with countless long straws and rod- and carrot-shaped stalactites, and the highlight of the tour is the so-called Gallery, with its particularly dense and abundant decoration.

The cave forms a labyrinth of passages and fissures spread across three levels, linked by tall chambers. The Great Dome, almost 70 metres long, is the second-largest accessible underground space in the whole Moravian Karst — surpassed only by the Main Dome in Kateřinská Cave.

Balcarka is also of archaeological interest: around 15,000 years ago, during the Magdalenian period, a group of reindeer and horse hunters lived here, leaving behind hearths, flint tools and spearheads carved from reindeer antlers.

Discovery and history

The cave was discovered in 1923 by workers who noticed a draught coming from a rock fissure on the eastern side of Balcarova skála (Balcar’s Rock). On 16 June 1923, the first richly decorated chamber was uncovered and named Popeluška (Cinderella). Further sections were gradually explored by residents of Ostrov under the leadership of MP Josef Šamalík, and in 1936 the individually discovered passages were connected into a single system. The cave was opened to the public on Easter Sunday in 1925.

Admission and route

The show-cave route covers 600 metres (out of a total of 1,150 m of known passages), takes around 45 minutes and includes 330 steps — worth bearing in mind if you’re travelling with small children or have difficulty with stairs. The cave maintains a year-round temperature of 7–8°C and almost 99% humidity.

Parking right by the cave’s ticket office is free. Thanks to its lower price and shorter tour, Balcarka works well as a second cave in one day — it pairs nicely, for instance, with a visit to the Macocha Abyss, which is just a short distance away.

Frequently asked questions

What makes Balcarka unique compared with the other caves in the karst? The richness and colourfulness of its stalactite decoration — it’s considered the most lavishly decorated cave in the entire Moravian Karst.

How long does the tour take and how demanding is it? Around 45 minutes, with 330 steps along the route, so expect it to be a bit more strenuous than the walk through Kateřinská Cave.

Is photography allowed inside the cave? Yes, for a 40 Kč surcharge on top of the standard admission fee.

Is Balcarka a good addition to another cave on the same day? Yes — thanks to its shorter, cheaper tour, it combines well with a visit to the Macocha Abyss or another nearby cave around Ostrov u Macochy.

Part of the series A Week in the Moravian Karst: a complete 7-day itinerary. Sources: Cave Administration of the Czech Republic – Balcarka Cave, characteristics, route and price list, Kudy z nudy, Průvodce do kapsy. Prices and opening hours are subject to change — we recommend checking the official websites before your visit.