Hungary: Discover the mysterious underground world beneath Budapest

Beneath Budapest, the capital of Hungary, lies a mysterious network of caves that fascinates all visitors: from underground heritage mazes, wine cellars to hot mineral cave systems...

Budapest has been ranked as the ideal working holiday destination in 2024 by the International Workplace Group (IWG), thanks to its affordable prices, rich cultural history and stunning landscapes. (Source: Depositphotos)

Not only famous for its magnificent architecture and unique culture, Budapest also possesses a little-known treasure: a giant underground cave system - a place where nature and history, geology and legend intersect.

With a network of more than 200 caves and more than 80 mineral springs, Budapest is worthy of being one of the cities with the most abundant underground geological systems in Europe. From the hot springs that have created the characteristic "spa city" of Hungary, hundreds of caves have been formed and become an exciting destination for tourists who love to explore .

Labyrinth under Buda Castle heritage

The maze-like cave system beneath Buda Castle. (Source: Daily News Hungary)

Hidden under the hill of Buda Castle, the cave system here is a combination of natural limestone caves and wine cellars built 800 years ago. Three levels of caves are connected to each other to form a unique labyrinth: the first level connects to residential wine cellars, the second level is the main cave 12-14m deep, and the third level consists of natural caves that are less accessible to people.

Discovered in the 1930s, the cave system was used as a field hospital during World War II. Today, visitors can visit the “Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum” – a living slice of history underground.

The 3km tour takes visitors through wine cellars, bunkers and even an underground prison. However, some areas, such as the National Archives bunker and the caves under the Vienna Gate, which once housed the National Bank's gold, are currently closed to the public for security reasons.

Tunnel under Gellért Hill

The natural cave under Gellért Hill has changed a lot due to human intervention. (Source: Daily News Hungary)

Beneath Gellért Hill there is also a remarkable tunnel system, although not as famous as the Buda Castle area. Dug in the 1960s and 1970s to supply the mineral water for the Gellért, Rudas and Rác baths, the system is also notable for its railway track for transporting the sauna equipment.

A branch of the tunnel leads to the Saint Iván Cave – nicknamed the “cauliflower cave” for its strange cauliflower-like rock formations. It is a testament to how humans have seamlessly combined nature and urban needs.

Rakosi Bunker

This was a secret project until the late 80s. (Source: Prt Sc/YouTube)

Few people know that beneath the Pest district there exists a large bunker called Rákosi, built in 1952, directly connected to the M2 metro line. Located 39m deep between Kossuth and Szabadság squares, this bunker once had the capacity to accommodate up to 2,200 people with a total area of ​​nearly 4,000m².

During the Cold War, it was a strategic structure – now it is a fascinating part of Budapest’s underground history. Although not open to the public, it is regularly included in historical- military tours.

Kőbánya tunnel system

The Kőbánya underground system was created through limestone mining. (Source: Daily News Hungary)

In the Kőbánya district, the underground tunnel system originated as a limestone quarry. After several collapses, the mine was converted into a wine and beer storage facility. During World War II, it was used as a secret military aircraft factory. Today, a section of the system, which is 33 km long and 10-15 m deep, is still used by the Dreher brewery. Parts of the system are now submerged, making it possible to explore with diving. It is also an ideal filming location due to its large, dark, cinematic atmosphere.

Pálvölgyi Cave

Stalactites in Pálvölgyi Cave, part of Budapest's vast underground cave network. (Source: Just Budapest)

As the longest cave in Budapest with more than 32km of underground passages, Pálvölgyi Cave was discovered in 1904. With a stable year-round temperature of around 11°C, this is an ideal tourist destination for all seasons.

The cave features unique stalactites such as stone curtains, crystal structures and strange rock niches. Visitors can choose from a short 500m tour suitable for families, or an intensive cave climbing journey lasting several hours. In particular, archaeologists have discovered fossils of cave bears and many other ancient animals here, making this place both a natural beauty spot and a valuable archaeological site.

Molnár János hot spring cave system

Only certified cave divers are qualified to explore Molnár János Cave. (Source: Atlas Obscura)

Located in the heart of Buda, Molnár János Cave is the world’s largest flooded cave, part of a system of mineral springs in the Buda area. The water temperature in the cave ranges from 20-23°C, although not boiling like a surface hot spring, it is still considered “warm water” due to the underground geothermal heat.

The source of this water plays an important role in Budapest’s traditional spa system, especially the Lukács baths – a symbol of Hungarian spa culture. Much of the cave is underwater, only explored by professional divers. Geological studies have shown that Molnár János connects to many other underground water channels, forming a complex network under the city. Many sections are still being surveyed, promising to significantly expand our understanding of the region’s geology in the near future.

Far from what appears above ground, underground Budapest is a vibrant, mysterious world, a place that preserves the imprints of history and nature. For tourists who love different experiences, the journey to explore the cave system and underground tunnels here is the ticket to enter the depths of a special capital on the old continent.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hungary-kham-pha-the-gioi-ngam-ky-bi-duoi-long-budapest-315906.html