Top 10 Caves in Germany
Germany's cave heritage is concentrated in the Swabian Alb of Baden-Wurttemberg and the Franconian Karst of northern Bavaria. The Aurignacian cave sites of the Lone and Ach valleys are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1. Hohle Fels, Swabian Alb
Karst cave, UNESCO. Site of the Venus of Hohle Fels (35,000-40,000 years old) and one of the oldest known musical instruments. Tour grade B.
2. Atta-Hohle, Sauerland
Karst cave. Germany's most-decorated show cave, famed for its dazzling white aragonite and stalactite hall. Tour grade A.
3. Eberstadt Stalactite Cave, Buchen
Karst cave. Discovered in 1971 by a quarry — exceptionally well-preserved stalactites in compact passages. Tour grade A.
4. Schulerloch, Altmuhltal
Karst cave. Combines stalactite tour with a Neanderthal interpretation centre. Tour grade A.
5. Iberger Tropfsteinhohle, Harz
Karst cave. The most northern show cave in Germany, with a Bronze Age burial chamber and reef-fossil walls. Tour grade A.
6. Bartholomausgrotte, Berchtesgaden
Karst cave. Reached by boat across the Konigssee — small alpine cave with glacial history. Tour grade B.
7. Nebelhohle, Sonnenbuhl
Karst cave. The "fog cave" — long, narrow tour cave on the Swabian Alb, famous in romantic literature. Tour grade A.
8. Barenhohle, Sonnenbuhl
Karst cave. Adjacent to Nebelhohle, the "Bear Cave" preserves Pleistocene cave bear bones in situ. Tour grade A.
9. Geisterhohle (Geissenklosterle), Swabian Alb
Karst cave, UNESCO. Site of more Aurignacian art including ivory figurines. Tour grade B.
10. Maximiliansgrotte, Franconian Karst
Karst cave. Klassic Franconian show cave with stalactites and a 6.5-m stalagmite tower. Tour grade A.
Planning a Germany cave trip
The Swabian Alb sites cluster around Blaubeuren and Ulm. The Franconian Karst is best from Bayreuth or Nuremberg. The Sauerland (Atta-Hohle) is a Westphalia weekend.
Where will you go first?
See every German cave on the interactive map.