Labyrinth under the Buda Castle Hill – Budapest Cave Tour

The Labyrinth or Cave system is one of the most visited and loved attractions under the Buda Castle Hill. It is part of a huge network of underground caves and tunnels in the Buda Castle District in one of the oldest parts of Budapest city, and, since 1987 has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The present maze with its reinforced concrete walls was originally created as cellars and bomb shelters. Today it is a place of interest to visit, as part of a guided tour.
Booking a Castle Cave Tour

Labyrinth under the Castle Hill

After ascending the stairs leading into the underground maze of the Buda Castle Hills you will be walking in the darkness and coolness of the tunnels of the Castle Maze. The staging of the modern day Buda Castle turns into a mixture of historical layers of medieval musty, chilly underground maze (with skulls and bones) as well as Cold War remnants: the Buda Castle Caves are a place of historical mystery and intrigue. For most of the adults and teens the maze does not come through as a scary experience, but for some kids it may need a bit of bravery to venture through the spooky underground hike. Note: there are no scary effects, smokes or vampires jumping at you along the path, it is an actual historical guided tour with genuinely interesting stories and archeological finds.

The mostly well lit Labyrinth is more like an underground city with its own narrow streets right underneath the Buda Castle District, and as such a peculiarity in Budapest. That said, there might be several dark routes in the Labyrinth, badly lit, where your mobile phone torch light may come in handy if you are bothered by walking through a darkish maze (even if you cannot get any cell phone reception 15 metres/ 49 ft underground).

Booking a Castle Cave Tour

Tours – Labyrinth under the Castle Hill

Although the Labyrinth cannot be visited on your own, there are several guided tours in the Buda Castle Caves every day (tours are very popular so pre-booking is essential).

• Explore the centuries old Labyrinth/ Cave system in the Buda Castle Hills, under the Buda Castle District and the Palace complex
• Get a guided tour about the History & Geology of the Buda Castle Caves/ Labyrinth
• Visit approx. 800-year-old man-made cellars and learn about their function in each historical era
• Participate in an underground time travel in one of the most exquisite caves of Central Eastern Europe, one of a kind in Hungary.
• Choose the tour of your preference: short (45 minute) or long (90 minute)
• Flexible Booking and Cancellation (free cancellation 24h before tour date)
• Student / Child discount available
• In summer heat and on rainy days, the caves are much recommended
• No caving skills are required: the route is fully paved and the paths are illuminated on both sides

The tour is suitable for most tourists, including families and senior visitors (Kindly note that it is not suitable for children under 5, wheelchair users or people who suffer from claustrophobic mental pressure). No show or late arrival means that a refund cannot be issued.

Meeting Point for English Guided Labyrinth Tours

There are two meeting points for the cave tours. While the shorter tours start from 2 Darda Street in the Buda Castle, the longer tours start from the Holy Trinity Statue on Szentharomsag Square.

Buda Castle Cave System

The Buda Castle Caves and its tours are managed by the Duna Ipoly Nature Park (National Reserves preserving special habitats along the river Danube by and in Budapest, aka ‘Duna’ River in Hungarian).
During the Labyrinth Tour you will see a fraction of the amazingly complicated underground cave system, which boasts approx. 2,000 cave rooms interconnected with wide and narrow corridors. 300 (three hundred!) houses of the Castle Hill District had cellars as part of the caves boasting 285 wells, much needed during castle sieges.

Kindly note that this tour does not feature vampires or oil lamps.

Booking a Castle Cave Tour

History of the Labyrinth

Today’s underground maze of the Castle Hill of Budapest was in use in the Middle Ages as a shelter, a prison and even as Turkish harem in the 16th century. The underground tunnel system also served as a hospital during WWII.

The Labyrinth under Castle Hill – as a tourist attraction – opened its gates in 1984 with guided tours and film screenings. The Cave Tours are under the management of Duna Ipoly Nature Reserve, as part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

More Caves and Caving in Budapest

Hospital in the Rock

The cave system has been used as an emergency hospital during WWII, the Hospital in the Rock is open for visitors with a very unique, historical atmosphere. 1h tours can be booked in advance.

More details about Rock Hospital

Adventure Caving in Nature Parks in Budapest

A real caving experience is also available in Hungary’s longest cave system, the Pal-Volgyi and Matyas- Hegyi caves, the whole underground system is said to be more than 200km long. This Adventure Caving Tour offers an insight into Budapest’s thermal springs and hydrothermal caves with a professional cave guide (member of the Hungarian Caving Association).

The Adventure Caving Tour Budapest is suitable for children above the age of 12, for families, friends, students or as a corporate incentive and adventurous team building activity. The half-day caving in the nature park area does not require caving experience, however be ready to climb walls and crawl in narrower passages.

Booking a Adventure Caving Tour

Last updated Feb 1, 2024