Buda Castle Buda Castle, Budapest
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
Highlights of Tour
45/ 90 min tour
Unique Budapest Site
Private Tours available
Child/Senior Discount Available
Top rated and one of the most popular tours in Budapest city
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 TourTours – Labyrinth under the Castle Hill
Although the Labyrinth can be visited on your own as well, there are guided tours in the Buda Castle Caves every day.
- 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.
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.
Kindly note that the Buda Castle Caves can only be visited as part of a guided tour which needs to be pre-booked with an English (or Spanish) guide. Daily tours are subject to availability. The starting hours of the tour change from day to day (some start at 11.30 am, others at 2pm or 4pm). Please use the booking calendar to pick an available day/ hour for your Labyrinth cave tour.
The tour is not demanding as there is practically very little elevation (apart from the initial descent into the caves and coming up after the round tour ends).
Cave Tour Hours
11.30am, 2pm, 4pm depending on the day – please see the booking calendar
Opening Hours of Caves
Daily from Monday to Sunday.
Tour hours depend on daily schedule.
Prices of Cave Tour
Adults: approx. €17
Student/ Senior: approx €14- €15
Duration of Tour
Duration: from 40 min to 1.5h
Length of Tour:
approx. 800 m (short tour) up to 1500 metre (1.5km/ 1 mile) on the longer tour
Address: The meeting point depends on which cave tour you book.
- Short Tour meeting Point: 2 Darda Street, Budapest 1014, District I
- Long Tour Meeting Point: Szentharomsag Square at Holy Trinity Statue
Booking
Booking a Cave TourTours – 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.
The shorter tours are approx. 45 minutes. These tours leave from 2 Darda Street, which opens from Orszaghaz Street. The concise tour is suitable for families with younger kids (from about age 6) as long as the kids feel comfortable to walk in caves (and can resist touching the walls).
The longer tours are approx. 1.5 hour: these tours are more elaborate, starting from Szentharomsag Square (Holy Trinity Statue as in the photo). The Labyrinth Tour Guide will have a big sign displaying “CAVE TOUR”. Kindly be aware that there are multiple tours leaving from the Statue, so make sure to approach the right guide at the exact time when the Tour starts (late comers will not be able to contact the guides, as there is no mobile phone reception 15 metres underground). No show or late arrival means that a refund cannot be issued. We suggest arriving at the location 15 min earlier to make sure that you explore the vicinity and locate the right statue and right guide (‘Cave Tour’ sign) in due time. The guide is at the meeting place 1-2 min before the tour is scheduled.
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 TourHistory 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
WW2 Budapest Siege and Cave Tour
The 2 hour walking tour will take you to hidden places and major locations in the Buda Castle that played a key role in the utter destruction of WW2. As part of the tour you will visit the underground caves, the bomb shelters, walk through dimly lit narrow underground paths and feel the lingering historical weight of the doubts and fears of the 1940s big battles. Advance booking the WW2 & Castle Cave Tour is highly recommended as tours will be fully booked.
Hospital in the Rock WW2 Underground Tour
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 and are very popular among visitors.
More details about Rock HospitalAdventure 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 TourLast updated Oct 30, 2024
Dear Editor!
Please remove this page because trademark or author violates our rights. Even the photos here are from our previous cues. The Panopticum lost all the lawsuits in this case. Judgments are final. Corrections have already been completed or are in progress.
Sincerely,
Team Labyrinth of Buda Castle
(For example: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274887-d7372844-Reviews-Labyrinth-Budapest_Central_Hungary.html etc.)
Website: https://www.labirintus.com/en/
Email: info@labirintus.com
Dear former management of the Labyrinth, thank you for the update about your lawsuit with the current owners.
We have removed all photographs for now, as we were unaware that they belonged to you. We will make sure that the new photos do not belong to the former management (you). Please check the rewritten article for your trademark – we hope that the new version complies with your preferences. If there is any legally based request for further changes, please let us know and send your basis of request (trademark) to info@budacastlebudapest.com, and we will remove phrases that may still violate the trademark of the former business.
That said, like Tripadvisor, we can not remove the page, as the attraction exists, and visitors of Buda Castle have a right to be informed about the Labyrinth, the museum / exhibition place under the Castle Hill, under the current management.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Helló!
Nagyon zavaró hogy Magyarországon ahol a forint a fizető eszköz a turista részen minden euróban van megjelenítve!
Amikor mi kimegyünk tőlünk elvárt a kinti nyelv és pénz és nem is akarnak forinttal foglalkozni de bezzeg ha bárki ide utazik nekünk kell tudni idegen nyelvet és nekik nem kötelező ahogy a forint se!
Mit kezdjek azzal hogy x euró??? mennyi az a 12 euró ilyenkor? Komolyan ki kell a magyarnak fizetnie 4-6000 forintot 45 percért hogy egy alagútban mások által szabott idő alatt megnézzen ezt azt?
Azért ennyire irritáló mert az árak 2-3 szorosára nőttek de a fizetés még mindig zömében nettó 235-260.000 ft és ebből örül a magyar ha telik a számlára és ételre.
saját országunk csodáit nem ilyen horror áron kellene nekünk kínálni. Biztos nincs akkora költségük hogy ilyen irreális árakat lássunk.
Üdv: egy magyar a sok közül
Kedves Adrienn!
Köszönjük a Budai Várral kapcsolatos kommentjét.
Jelenleg a Budai Várban működő intézmények valamint a várkerületi múzeumok hivatalos oldalain a magyar látogatók gyorsan és könnyen tudnak tájékozódni, mivel számukra könnyen hozzáférhetőek, magyar nyelven számos oldalon megtalálhatók a releváns információk. Mivel a várról valamint az kerületben található egyéb érdekességekről viszonylag kevés tájékoztatás érhető el angol nyelven, egyelőre a jelenlegi oldalunk angol nyelvű útmutatú a külföldi látogatók részére, de természetesen a jövőben magyar nyelven is elérhetővé tesszük az információkat. Addig is, elnézést kérünk a kellemetlenség miatt és reméljük, hogy jövőre már mindkét nyelvi, vagy több is, elérhető lesz.
A Budai Várban a népszerű barlang túra nemcsak angol nyelvű 45 perces és 1.5 órás verziója foglalható a Nemzeti Park szervezésében eurós áron. Ugyanígy,
ugyanezen túrák magyar látogatókat is várnak. Itt azzal a jó hírrel szolgálhatunk, hogy a barlangtúra elérhető magyar nyelvű idegenvezetéssel is, és a hazai pénztárcákhoz igazítva, az eurós árhoz képest kedvezőbb áron. Foglalását a Duna Ipoly Nemzeti Park honlapján, a dinpi pont hu oldalon tudja véglegesíteni.
Kérjük, hogy itt nézzék meg a további lehetőségeket.
Ha további kérdése merülne fel, lépjen újra kapcsolatba velünk. Várjuk szeretettel az érdeklődőket.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I was wondering if Labyrinth is now available for visiting? It has been noted by some other websites that it’s currently closed. Could you please clarify this for all interested people?
Hi I was just there today! (I’m writing this in case someone else is looking for concrete information like I was before we got there today)
It is open for visitors, however the 18:00 guided tour with oil lanterns hasn’t happened in the last 5 years according to the man at the ticket desk.
Does the Oil Lamp Tour require a reservation?
Hello Margaret,
we have emailed you.
Hello, I would also like to book the oil lamp tour for next week. Is it still possible to do so?
Hi Shaun,
we have emailed you!
Hi there Just wondering will the cave be open in November. I would love to go inside when we are visiting Budapest
Thanks
Linzie
Hello Linzie,
we have contacted you via email! Yes, the Cave – Labyrinth is open in the Buda Castle District in November and December too. The tours are varying lengths and are often fully sold out before the date of the Castle Cave tour. If you wish to make sure that you can participate in the tour, you can reserve the Cave tour with a flexible cancellation option to have a peace of mind in case you need to cancel for any reason later on.
Hope your trip in November will be lovely in Budapest.
Hello are the oil lamp tour aviable for mid april?
Hello Sandra,
we have send you more details via email!
I am trying to book a Buda Castle cave tour on September 22 or 23. Thes dates are completely blocked out on GET YOUR GUIDE and TRIP ADVISOR . Are the labyrinths closed on these dates? Is there some other way to book a tour?
Hello Nadia,
Thank you for contacting us.
Please check the availability in August as the booking system is not opened yet for September.
Have a lovely time in Budapest!
Hi, is it possible to book a tour in line. We are there 9-12 May?
So, is the oil lamp tour happening or not? Do I need reservation?
Hello Gabi,
We have emailed you!
Enjoy your stay in Budapest!
hello would likebto know if visiting the caves with lantern or oil lamp is still possible andvwhere to book it
thank you
Dear Jose,
Thank you for contacting us.
We have sent you an email about the oil lantern tour. This was formerly an option, but it is no longer a characteristic of the Castle cave tours, which are immensely popular nevertheless as one of the best tours in Budapest – thanks to the lovely team of the National Park managing the tours with passionate and knowledgeable tour guides.
For a bit of a Gothic atmosphere during a tour you may wish to consider booking the Castle Tour with Vampires and Legends in the Buda Castle.
Have a nice time at Buda Royal Palace and the Buda Hills!
Bonjour,
Nous serons à Budapest à la fin du mois. Nous aimerions réserver pour le labyrinthe. Merci
Hello Stéphane,
we have sent you an email!
Hello,
I am wondering if you are offering tours in June 2023. I will be there on the 24th of June and history of the caves interest me.
Thanks very much
Hello Rachael,
we have emailed you: yes, there will be tours during the summer season and as June is usually hot you may wish to bring along something warmer as the temperature in the Castle Cave is around 15 degrees Celsius, so a light coat or jumper will be useful.
Enjoy your holiday in June in Budapest!
Visited the Labyrinth in 2999 and hope to do it again this year. Pease send details.
Hello Norm,
We have emailed you!
Enjoy your stay in Budapest!
Hello,
We are looking to book a Labyrinth tour in December (12/8 or 12/9). There are no dates open in December. Are tours offered during the winter?
Thank you
Hello Jenny,
There will be multiple tours in December too, but the booking calendar usually opens up for the next 30 days, each month allowing visitors to book ahead as the year is approaching a given date. For tours in early and mid December in the Castle Caves, please check the calendar early November.
Wishing you a beautiful winter holiday in Budapest!
Hello, can you please email me information on how make a reservation for Oil Lamp Tour – Labyrinth under the Castle Hill? Thank you!
Hello Raiza,
we have contacted you via email!
Hello. How do I book the evening guided tour for the Buda castle labyrinth please? Many thanks
Hello Beccy,
Currently the tour is to be booked ahead for the labyrinth visit. Kindly prepare with a digital ticket or printed.
Have a lovely time in the Buda Castle district in Budapest.
Hi! Are the Oil Lamp Tours available? If so, can you please email me info about making a reservation? Thank you!
Hello Beth,
Currently this particular underground tour is to be booked on the spot, at the labyrinth. Kindly prepare with cash payment at the cashier.
Have a great time in the Buda Castle Hill in Budapest.
Hello,
Is it possible to buy tickets in advance or reserve a time/book a tour? If not, what are the usual wait-times on Saturdays (mid-April)/best time to come?.. We have younger kids so not great in lines and want to be prepared :) Thanks!
Hi Rachelle,
Currently it is possible to book tours on the day for mid April dates at the labyrinth itself (no pre booking)
The best time is when the kids are less tired / hungry (perhaps in the morning hours around 10am). As you will go at your own pace mostly (on a self guided tour) it is perhaps the most flexible option for families.
At any rate, if you should have to go through some waiting time, we suggest bringing some paper and felt tip pens (there is no wifi underground) or let them play a mirror game (copying your/ or each other’s movement), or other ‘queue’ games
Hello, can you please email me information about Oil Lamp Tour – Labyrinth under the Castle Hill (maybe 28. or 29. 4.)? Thank you!
Dear Bozena,
Thank you for contacting us.
We have emailed you.
Have a lovely time at Buda Castle!
Hello, mi is èrdeklődnènk az olaj làmpàs tùra irànt. Màjus 22-ère szeretnèk foglalni, ha van mèg időpont. Köszönjük!
Kedves Viktória,
köszönjük kérdését, emailben kontaktáltuk Önt a Buda vári Labirintus olajlámpás túra foglalás kapcsán.
Can you contact me for the oil lamp tour? Is the oil lamp tour available for May 5th?
Thank you!
Hello Suzy,
Thank you for contacting our tourism team. We have emailed you regarding the oil lamp tour in the Buda Castle Hills.
Have a nice time in Budapest!
Hello, I would like to reserve 2 spot for for the oil lamp tour on May 23. Please contact me.
Hi James,
we have emailed you with further details!
Hi, we are arriving early July and would love to do a tour of the Buda Caves. I can’t find anywhere on your page to book this. Is it still available? Thank you.
Hi Jackie,
we have emailed you!
Have a lovely holiday in Budapest!
hi is it possible to reserve spaces on the oil lamp tour for the night of 19 June 2023 please?
Hi, I am coming to Budapest at the end of July and want to visit the Buda Castle and Labyrinth. Am I able to book this? We don’t want a tour but we also don’t want to turn up and have lots of waiting time/get turned away if we don’t have tickets. Many thanks
Hi, I am coming to Budapest at the end of July and want to visit the Buda Castle and Labyrinth. Am I able to book this? We don’t want a tour but we also don’t want to turn up and have lots of waiting time/get turned away if we don’t have tickets. Many thanks
Dear Karolina,
we have contacted you via email.
Hi! I am coming to Budapest next week and want to book tickets for the Labyrinth. How do i reserve tickets? Is the oil lamp tour still happening, if so how to book that one?
Dear Samskrithi,
Thank you for your inquiry.
We have sent you an email with further details.
Have a lovely holiday in Budapest!
Hi, could you send me some details on the oil lamp tours for the buda labyrinth. thank you
Dear Alex,
Thank you for getting in touch with us.
We have emailed you.
Hello, we want to visit the Labyrinth.
Is it gonna be open in October?
How can I book a visit?
Thanks
Hello Estefany,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Yes, is is open all year round. Booking for the tours is available appr. 1 month in advance, therefore we recommend you book in September.
Have a nice time in Budapest!
Are the oil lamp tours running on the 13 or 14 October?
Dear Josephine,
The Castle Cave tours are available on both days, however, the programme does not feature oil lamps. That said, it is still one of the most popular tours in Budapest among travellers:
https://budacastlebudapest.com/labyrinth-under-the-castle-hill/
Please let me know if I can help more.
What is the historical significance of Buda Castle in Budapest?
Hi,
Is the Labyrinth your all booked out? It shows no availability on GetYiurGuide – is there any other way we can book a tour this week?
Dear Naoko,
Thank you for getting in touch.
Cave tours are extremely popular at Buda Castle.
Unfortunately, this week is already booked up, therefore we recommend the advance bookings at least 10 days before the program.
We have contacted you via email with different cave tour options.
Have a nice holiday in Budapest!
My family will be visiting on Sunday December 24. The previous website seemed to indicate that the Labyrinth would be open at that time, but the tours are not available on Get Your Guide. Will we be able to visit the Labyrinth on December 24th, 2023? Thank you
Dear Rachel,
Thank you for your comment.
While the Labyrinth / Buda Castle Caves (as a standalone cave tour in the general cave system, or as a museum tour in the cave system giving home to the Hospital in the Rock nuclear shelter / hospital) is open most of the days during the year, some days it is closed. That said, some of the tours and activities are also available during the holiday season, or on the nearby dates.
We have sent you more details via email!
Have a wonderful Christmas holiday in Budapest!
Hello there, I would like to receive more information about the oil lamp tour on December 28. Thank you.
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for your inquiry.
We have contacted you via email.
The Castle Cave tours are available, however, the programme no longer features oil lamps during the tour. That said, it is still one of the most popular tours in Budapest among travellers so you may wish to check this option or the night tour with Vampires and Myths.
Please let me know if I can help more.
Hope we can welcome you at Buda Castle!
Hello
I have a group that i’d like to book in with you for the caves under castle hill tour as per the below please:
Group: Arts University Bournemouth
Date: Thu 08/02/2024
Time: 14:00 approx.
Group size: 35
I’ll look forward to hearing back from you and thank you so much!
Kind regards
Paula
Dear Paula,
Thank you for contacting us.
We will soon send you our offers.
Have a lovely winter holiday in Budapest!
Hi
We’ll be in Budapest Thu 28th March to Tue 2nd April. I know that it is the Easter period but, on your calendar there doesn’t seem to be any availability for the whole of April.
Are the tours not running between the 28th to the 2nd? Or already booked out?
thanks
Dear Adrian,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Booking calendars are open until the end of March at the moment.
We recommend you check the availability at the end of February for the Cave Tour.
Since there are only a few guides at the cave system, the tour schedule is finalised 3 months in advance.
Thank you for your patience.
Please let me know if I can be of further help in the meantime.
We downloaded the app in hopes of contacting someone. We want to book the Labyrinth under the Buda Castle tour in May and every date is crossed out. Are all those tour sold out or have you not opened those dates yet?
Dear Caryn,
Thank you for your comment.
We have sent you an email with more details.
Have a lovely holiday in Budapest!
Hi! We would like to do a cave tour with 23 people on Tuesday morning, April 9th 2024, if this is not possible, otherwise Wednesday morning. Is this still possible and how can we book this?
Dear Marit,
Thank you for your comment.
We have contacted you via email.
Enjoy your Spring holiday in Budapest!
We are visiting Budapest in early August and I’m very keen to go on a labyrinth tour with my family, however there are no tickets available then. Is that because all tickets are sold out already or haven’t yet gone on sale? If they’re not yet on sale, please could you let me know when they will go on sale? Thank you
Hello Amy,
Thank you for contacting us about the planned Buda Castle tour.
The tour is not yet bookable for August, we recommend you check it again in June.
Hope we can welcome you at the cave tour.
hi, is the labyrinth accessible freerly, without a guided tour?
thank you
Dear Cleo,
Thank you for your inquiry.
The cave system can be only visited with a tour.
We recommend joining the small group cave tours.
Hi! I wanted to confirm whether you can visit the labyrinth without a tour guide? Or if it is mandatory to book a tour to see the cave. Thank you!
Hello Izma,
Thank you for your inquiry.
It is not possible to visit the caves independently.
Parts of the Cave system are open for visitors, we have emailed you with further details.
Pleas can you tell me the difference between the 40min and the 1.5hour tours? I can’t seem to find it on the website. Also, is the castle free to enter, or enter on your own, if not is there a combined ticket for the two?
Also, when is booking open for December?
Hello Heather,
Thank you for contacting us.
We have emailed you with further details.
Have a nice winter holiday in Budapest!
Hi there, I am traveling to Budapest from November 25-27 and was looking to book a tour of the Buda Castle Cave. It seems that the tour has sold out on the getyourguide website. I was really looking forward to doing this tour and I was wondering if there were any extra spots or a different resource I could use to book this tour. If not could you please let me know if somebody cancels their reservation. Another question is, do you need to have a tour to go into the cave? Please let me know any updates. Have a great day.
Thanks,-Dean