Both caves have charged the same admission price since 2026 (220/180/110 Kč, roughly €8.80/€7.20/€4.40 — a rough guide only, exchange rates fluctuate), so the choice really comes down to experience rather than cost. Kateřinská Cave wins on scale and speed — the enormous Main Dome (96 × 44 × 20 m), no crawling or stairs, and a shorter tour of around 40 minutes, though it’s closed completely in winter (January, February, December). Balcarka Cave wins on decoration — the richest, most colourful formations in the region, a longer tour of around 60 minutes, and 330 steps that make for a slightly more demanding walk. If you can only pick one, let your children’s ages guide you, along with whether you’re after a “wow” space or “wow” scenery.
QUICK LINKS 📊 Comparison at a glance · 👨👩👧 Which one suits you · ❓ FAQ
Comparison at a glance
| Kateřinská Cave | Balcarka Cave | |
|---|---|---|
| Tour length | approx. 40 minutes | approx. 60 minutes |
| Route length | 580 m | 720 m |
| Difficulty | no crawling, flat route | 330 steps |
| Adult admission | 220 Kč | 220 Kč |
| Child admission | 110 Kč | 110 Kč |
| Winter closure | January, February, December — fully closed | no, but limited opening hours |
| Main highlight | vast Main Dome, remarkable acoustics | the most colourful formations in the region |
Which one suits you
Travelling with small children or a pushchair? Kateřinská Cave — the generous proportions of the Main Dome are safer for toddlers, with no stairs or narrow passages to negotiate.
Want to see the most beautiful formations in the whole region? Balcarka Cave — the Great Dome, almost 70 metres long, is adorned with thousands of straw stalactites and rod-like formations, making it the most visually spectacular cave in the Moravian Karst.
Short on time? Kateřinská Cave — the tour lasts only around 40 minutes. Admission is the same for both caves, so budget doesn’t come into it here. Both pair nicely with the Macocha Abyss, which is just a short distance away.
Visiting in winter? Balcarka Cave is your only option — Kateřinská Cave shuts entirely in January, February and December, whereas Balcarka Cave stays open all winter, albeit with reduced hours.
Fancy a concert underground? Kateřinská Cave — thanks to the exceptional acoustics of the Main Dome, it hosts several musical concerts a year as part of the Magical Sounds of Macocha festival.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fit both caves into one day? Yes, they’re only a few kilometres apart, but factor in driving time and queues at the ticket office — realistically it’s a half-day to full-day outing once you add lunch and travel between sites.
Which is cheaper for a family? Neither — both have had identical admission and family prices since 2026 (620–720 Kč). The difference lies only in tour length and difficulty, not in price.
Is there a discount for visiting both during one stay? Yes — if you show a ticket from another Moravian Karst cave that’s no more than a month old, you’ll get a 20% discount at the ticket office. See our full price list for details.
Part of the series A Week in the Moravian Karst: the Complete 7-Day Itinerary. Full details on both caves in dedicated articles: Kateřinská Cave and Balcarka Cave. Sources: official 2026 Moravian Karst price list (PDF), Czech Caves Administration. Prices verified as of 1 September 2026 according to the official Czech Caves Administration price list — we recommend checking current details at caves.cz before you travel.
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