Top 10 Caves in Croatia
Croatia sits on the Dinaric Karst belt and rivals Slovenia for cave density. The Velebit massif holds some of the deepest pits in Europe; the Adriatic islands hide spectacular sea caves; and Istria's "Baredine" type caves are classic Mediterranean show caves.
1. Blue Cave (Modra Spilja), Bisevo
Sea cave. Light entering through a submerged opening turns the entire chamber electric blue between 11:00 and 12:00. Day-trips from Komiza. Tour grade A.
2. Cave of Vrelo, Fuzine
Karst cave. A 300-metre tourist path through well-decorated chambers in Gorski Kotar's forests. Open year-round. Tour grade A.
3. Lukina Jama, Velebit
Karst cave. -1,431 metres — one of the deepest pits in Europe. Expedition only. Tour grade D.
4. Baredine Cave, Nova Vas
Karst cave. The classic Istrian show cave, five chambers connected by spiral stairways. Houses olms in display tanks. Tour grade A.
5. Green Cave, Ravnik
Sea cave. Larger and less crowded than the Blue Cave, with similar light effects; reached on island-hopping boat tours. Tour grade A.
6. Veternica Cave, Medvednica
Karst cave. Above Zagreb on the Medvednica mountain — the most accessible wild cave to the capital, with prehistoric occupation evidence. Tour grade B.
7. Manita Pec, Paklenica National Park
Karst cave. Reached by a hiking trail in the Velika Paklenica canyon; seasonal guided tours only. Tour grade B.
8. Cerovac Caves, Gracac
Karst cave. Two large adjacent caves (Upper and Lower Cerovac) with substantial fossil deposits including cave bear bones. Tour grade B.
9. Sipun Cave, Cavtat
Karst cave. The small cave directly under Cavtat is a quick visit from Dubrovnik; mostly archaeological interest. Tour grade A.
10. Modric Cave, Rovanjska
Karst cave. Wild caving tour with helmets and headlamps in the Velebit foothills — the best taste of "real" caving available to non-experts in Croatia. Tour grade C.
Planning a Croatia cave trip
Combine Plitvice with Cerovac on a Lika road trip. The Blue and Green Caves are a single boat day from Vis. Modric near Zadar is the best wild-cave half-day in the country.
From reading to planning
See every Croatian cave on the interactive map.