Moravian Karst at Christmas and New Year 2026: what's open between the holidays

You can head to the karst between Christmas and New Year, and it makes a good day out if you have time off. The caves are closed only on 24, 25 and 26 December and on 1 January. On Sunday 27 December and from Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 December 2026, the Punkva Caves (Punkevní jeskyně), Výpustek and the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves (Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně) are open (the latter with a winter tour using torches). On Monday 28 December they are closed, as the caves don’t operate on Mondays in winter. The Kateřinská Cave (Kateřinská jeskyně) and Balcarka are closed for the whole of December. You can visit the Macocha Abyss (Propast Macocha) free of charge at any time. Book accommodation for New Year’s Eve as early as you can – there isn’t much to be had in the karst. Prices are quoted in Czech crowns (Kč), with an approximate euro conversion (about 25 Kč = €1); for example, the winter Punkva Caves ticket for adults is 350 Kč (approx. €14) – a rough guide only, as exchange rates fluctuate.

QUICK LINKS 📅 Holiday calendar · 🕳️ What’s open · 🎄 Tips for the days between the holidays · 🥂 New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day · 🛏️ Where to stay · ❓ FAQ

Holiday calendar 2026/2027

According to the official price list of the Czech Caves Administration (Správa jeskyní ČR), the caves are open on the stated days, including public holidays, except on 1 January and 24–26 December. In winter, every Monday is also a closing day. For this year’s end of December, that means:

The Caves Administration will publish the 2027 opening hours in a new price list. Before setting off in early January, check them at caves.cz.

What’s open between the holidays

The times shown are the first and last entry, according to the 2026 price list of the Czech Caves Administration:

In winter, tours run only at the times listed, not continuously. You’ll find more on winter operation, prices and parking in our article Moravian Karst in winter.

Tips for a day out between the holidays

1. Buy your Punkva Caves tickets in advance. Whole families are off work between the holidays, and the Punkva Caves are the most popular. We explain how to buy tickets online in our article Tickets and reservations.
2. Combine two caves in one day. The Punkva Caves in the morning, Výpustek in the afternoon. With a Punkva Caves ticket, you get 20% off at Výpustek.
3. The Macocha Abyss under snow. The Upper and Lower Bridges are open free of charge all year round. After a snowfall, it is the loveliest view in the whole karst. Park at Skalní Mlýn, as the car park at Macocha has limited operation in winter.
4. A walk through Pustý žleb. From Sloup to Skalní Mlýn it’s about 8 km along the red waymarked trail, roughly 2–2.5 hours’ walk, mostly downhill. It’s peaceful here in winter, but expect ice on the path and wear sturdy boots. We describe the route in our guide to Pustý žleb.
5. Výpustek with children. The classic tour has no steps. In 2025, a special playful tour for children aged 4 to 10 and an adventure route for adults with head torches also ran here from 27 to 31 December. The Caves Administration announced them in mid-December last year. To find out whether they’ll run again this year, keep an eye on moravsky-kras.caves.cz.
6. Dress for two temperatures. It’s around 7–10 °C in the caves all year round, while it may be freezing outside. Tours finish early in the afternoon and it gets dark at around 4 pm.

You’ll find a full-day plan for a single trip in our article Moravian Karst in one day.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

• On 31 December the caves are open according to the usual winter opening hours. The Caves Administration’s price list gives no shortened opening hours for New Year’s Eve. If you’d like the afternoon free to prepare for the celebrations, go to the cave in the morning.
• On 1 January all the caves are closed. A New Year’s Day walk to Macocha or into Pustý žleb is possible at any time, though – the viewpoints are free and open.
• Fireworks and firecrackers have no place in the karst. The karst is a protected landscape area, and 18 species of bat spend the winter asleep in the caves, where disturbance during hibernation harms them. We summarise the rules of the protected landscape area in our article Rules of the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area.

Where to stay over the holidays

Accommodation in the karst is limited, and the best-rated places sell out first for New Year’s Eve. For a winter stay, places with a spa or pool are a good choice, giving you somewhere to retreat when the weather is dreary:

• Hotel Kras in Jedovnice: indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, restaurant with a terrace overlooking Olšovec pond. → Check availability at Hotel Kras
• OREA Resort Panorama Moravský kras in Blansko: 2 pools, spa, children’s club. → Check availability at OREA Resort Panorama
• Hotel Stará škola in Sloup: spa, restaurant, about 500 m from the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves. → Check availability at Hotel Stará škola
• Statek Samsara in Blansko-Klepačov: sauna, hammam and hot tub, a peaceful retreat for two. → Check availability at Statek Samsara

You’ll find guest ratings and 15 more tips by area in our article Where to stay in the Moravian Karst.

The Booking.com links are affiliate links. If you book accommodation through them, we receive a small commission and you pay nothing extra.

Frequently asked questions

Are the caves in the Moravian Karst open at Christmas? Not on 24, 25 and 26 December. Between the holidays, yes: on Sunday 27 December and from Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 December 2026, the Punkva Caves, Výpustek and the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves are open.

Is it open on New Year’s Eve? Yes, on 31 December the caves are open according to the usual winter opening hours.

Is it open on 1 January? No, on New Year’s Day all the caves run by the Caves Administration are closed.

Which caves are closed in December? The Kateřinská Cave and Balcarka. They reopen in March.

Does the cable car to Macocha run between the holidays? Not in January and February; in December it does, according to the winter timetable. Check the exact times over the holidays at skalnimlyn.cz.

Information based on the official price list of the Czech Caves Administration 2026 (Q3), verified on 11. 10. 2026: “The caves are open on the stated days, including Czech public holidays, except on 1 January and 24–26 December.” Sources: Price list and opening hours of the Moravian Karst caves 2026, Kudy z nudy: winter tours of Výpustek 2025.

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