Palvolgyi Cave — Attraction in Budapest

Leaving a review as we couldn't find enough information prior to going. The Ticket / Tourist Information Centre: we bought tickets on the spot (for 2 pax) you can ask for ponchos (recommended if you don't have a jacket) a mini exhibition, short but interesting friendly guy at the counter

The Tour There is only 1 official basic tour, a 45-60 min walk in the cave The only slightly 'strenuous' and potentially claustrophobic part is a section where you walk up narrow stairs, probs around 5-10 mins of it. You can take it slow and it was okay for everyone in our group (total of 12 people) Temperature is cooling; we gave away both ponchos to other shivering tourists who were not wearing jackets There is another tour that has been featured loads on YouTube, that's a 3-hour cave tour where they provide helmets and the outer-wear, and you navigate through the really narrow parts of the cave. This tour has to be booked in advance separately, somewhere else. Tour guide is friendly but do not speak English

Losing a star mainly because the audio guide was so boring. You download the app and have it open on your phone. Each time we get to a mini-section of the cave, you listen to the corresponding audio guide for it. It had many unnecessary pauses and the delivery was really monotonous.

Certain sections of the cave have names like 'zoo' or 'fairy tale' as they're shaped like certain animals or figures like Snow White and the 7 dwarves, which is basically 8 stalagmites. Sometimes it feels like they're pushing it to look like something out of nothing. Also wished the guide spoke English so we could understand way more than the boring...

The Pál Beer Pub - especially during the summer - is perhaps one of the most pleasant entertainment spots in Budapest. It's cool, shaded, and can be as much as 4-5 degrees cooler than the city below.

The place is located at the base of Mátyáshegy, in Pálvölgy, between Mátyáshegy and Szépvölgy. It's a popular destination for cavers and the starting point for cave tours.

But here's the essence. The prices at the pub are very reasonable, the staff is friendly, quick, and professional.

They also welcome larger groups and events.

Anyone who knows Budapest understands that Buda and Pest are not the same. Pest is bustling but urban, and it has its unique charm (if you know what I mean).

Buda, apart from the few busy areas, is calm, suburban, especially in the hilly regions. There, in the evenings, there are almost no entertainment options.

Except for Pál :)

The Pál Beer Pub isn't an elite, Michelin-starred place in Buda. But it's a cozy, authentic, and super atmospheric spot. I recommend it to those looking for something different, seeking a truly local experience, and searching for hidden gems...

I should add: I've known the place for over 10 years, and between 2010 and 2023, we occasionally held grill parties, friendly gatherings, and even New Year's Eve...

Cave route had many notable sightseeings- turtle rock, witches’ kitchen, grand hall etc. Pathway is safe and comfortable for everyone, except the stairs in the end of the tour, that were narrow, cold and dangerously slippery. Ticket price was 2500, and 1900 with a student ID. I suppose student pass is normally supposed to be free. Guide was dull and rude. In a group, where majority spoke English, he decided to tell the tour in Hungarian for a singe Hungarian-speaking person. The rest of the group had to listen to the walkie-talkies. When we asked if he could switch the language, so all of the people could be invested, he replied with “you have some problems with that?”. Additionally, it felt as if he was making up new rules on the way through the cave, since he didn’t bother to list them before we entered. I asked him if I could audio-record his tour for the narration in the short movie I was making, he denied, stating that we can record it ourselves somehow. I am convinced, that a person generally not interested in life should be guiding...