Anna Cave is a true geological rarity — one of only six travertine caves of its kind found anywhere on Earth. Tucked away in Lillafüred, Hungary, this extraordinary cave replaces the usual stalactites with delicate lace-like formations that grew around ancient plant roots and stems, later fossilized within the travertine.

Inside, the atmosphere is cool and damp year-round, offering a refreshing escape in summer. The walls are adorned with intricate calcite lattices resembling frost or coral, alongside fossilized plant imprints. The cave sits right beside the waterfall on the Szinva stream, framed by the hanging garden of the Palota Szálló hotel, making the approach itself a scenic treat in any season.

How to get there

• Bus 15 or 5 from Miskolc to the Palotaszálló stop, then walk toward the waterfall through the hanging garden — well signposted, easy, around 10-15 minutes
• LÁEV narrow-gauge railway to Lillafüred station, then follow the pedestrian underpass toward the stream and the hanging garden
• By car — park at Felső-Hámor, ideally near the Ámor guesthouse, then walk along the stream toward the visible tower of Palota Szálló

Practical information

• Open year-round except during winter
• The tourist route covers 380 m and takes about half an hour to explore
• The hanging garden is wheelchair accessible, though there is no bicycle parking
• Sections of the cave closed to the public can only be visited with permission from the Bükk National Park Directorate
• This was the first Hungarian show cave to install LED lighting, introduced to curb the growth of 'lamp flora'

The cave was discovered in 1833 while digging a water-supply tunnel for local ironworks, and none other than Hungary's national poet, Sándor Petőfi, visited in 1847. The origin of its name remains debated — some say it honors Saint Anna, others a forester's wife, a princess, or the cave's first female visitor in 1926.