Bears' Cave
Bears' Cave
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Three corridors: the Bear, the Emil Racovita and the Candles corridor takes us to the Candles, the spaghettis, the Emil Racovita and the Bones halls. The 45 minute visit begins with the Bears corridor where were founded several bear (Ursus Spelaeus) bones that haven't lived on Earth for over 100 000 years. The cave is visited annually by 200 000 visitors.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
86 reviews
Excellent
59
Very good
25
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
off road girl
128 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
Beautiful cave, great place to visit and see. Must see. The place is wonderful and you get a touch of history pre-historic sense over there. The only problem is that the tour guide didn't explain any thing in English only Romanian, nice ppl helped and translated to us. I would have expected from such place to take care of its forners visitors as well and make sure there are translations available.
Written October 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tiberiu_Baranyi
Timisoara, Romania17,327 contributions
May 2023
One of the most known and probably most visited caves in Romania - the Bear's cave in the village of Chiscau.
Discovered accidentally in 1975 when in the area was a stone quarry and they were using explosives for the mining operations - in one of the blasts the opening in the ceiling of the cave was blown.
Fortunately if got sealed for the public and the works of preparing it for visiting have started in 1976 and was open for the public in 1980 - ever since it is opened for visitors and based on what the guide was telling us abut 300000 people are visiting this cave yearly.
There are 3 halls of the cave opened for visiting - the "Hall of Bones" , the "Emil Racovita hall" partially and the "Hall of Candles" - the 4th hall of the cave is a speleological reservation , off limits to the general public.
It is famous for the large number of Cave Bear (a sub species extinct during the last ice age 14-16000 years ago) skeletons - more then 130 different bear skeletons - that were found here - so it is basically a Necropolis, of bears.
The limestone formations are spectacular - definitely worth visiting ... so when you are in the area I recommend you to visit this place.
It is 40 Ron the entry ticket - about 8 Euro - but definitely well worth it.
Also everywhere you near the main building you will find signs that tacking pictures inside the cave is forbidden, but the guides are not really enforcing this rule, they "allow" you to take "a few" pictures.
So, here it is - a must see place when you are visiting the area.
Discovered accidentally in 1975 when in the area was a stone quarry and they were using explosives for the mining operations - in one of the blasts the opening in the ceiling of the cave was blown.
Fortunately if got sealed for the public and the works of preparing it for visiting have started in 1976 and was open for the public in 1980 - ever since it is opened for visitors and based on what the guide was telling us abut 300000 people are visiting this cave yearly.
There are 3 halls of the cave opened for visiting - the "Hall of Bones" , the "Emil Racovita hall" partially and the "Hall of Candles" - the 4th hall of the cave is a speleological reservation , off limits to the general public.
It is famous for the large number of Cave Bear (a sub species extinct during the last ice age 14-16000 years ago) skeletons - more then 130 different bear skeletons - that were found here - so it is basically a Necropolis, of bears.
The limestone formations are spectacular - definitely worth visiting ... so when you are in the area I recommend you to visit this place.
It is 40 Ron the entry ticket - about 8 Euro - but definitely well worth it.
Also everywhere you near the main building you will find signs that tacking pictures inside the cave is forbidden, but the guides are not really enforcing this rule, they "allow" you to take "a few" pictures.
So, here it is - a must see place when you are visiting the area.
Written May 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jazzumbo
Romania2,190 contributions
Jul 2019
I visited this cave for the first time back in the '80s, with my parents. I still remember how impressed I was, as a child, by the majestic beauty of the stalactites and stalagmites.
I visited the cave again in July 2019, with my own children and I was shocked: many stalagmites are attacked by mold, moss and fungus. Some of them became black after being touched by thousands of people every year.
The entrance to the cave is unpalatable ugly and rudimental. It could be a cozy terrace but it's just a sort of communist rural shop selling some poor quality beverages and snacks produced by a local factory.
The current management of the cave is greedy as hell, since they not allowed the cave to rest and breath. The tourists can visit the cave 7 days a week!
The full skeleton of the cave bear located at the end of the last gallery is still impressive, although the skull is getting slightly green due to the moss and fungus...
I visited the cave again in July 2019, with my own children and I was shocked: many stalagmites are attacked by mold, moss and fungus. Some of them became black after being touched by thousands of people every year.
The entrance to the cave is unpalatable ugly and rudimental. It could be a cozy terrace but it's just a sort of communist rural shop selling some poor quality beverages and snacks produced by a local factory.
The current management of the cave is greedy as hell, since they not allowed the cave to rest and breath. The tourists can visit the cave 7 days a week!
The full skeleton of the cave bear located at the end of the last gallery is still impressive, although the skull is getting slightly green due to the moss and fungus...
Written August 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DanaE18
Corfu, Greece18 contributions
Aug 2014
This is the most beautiful cave in Romania and also the best I have ever seen. It is quite big, the complete visit takes 45 minutes. The visit only takes place in organised guided groups about every 15-20 minutes. Parking is 10 minutes away.
Inside the temperature is 10 degrees and the humidity 97% so wear adequate clothes. The walk is on wooden platforms all the way.
You can see inside the usual stalactites and stalagmites but there are a lot of them and they are very beautiful. It is like walking through embroidery. The formations are varied and coloured. In other caves you get disappointed after seeing the pictures, expecting more, but here, you get more than you hope for.
Inside the temperature is 10 degrees and the humidity 97% so wear adequate clothes. The walk is on wooden platforms all the way.
You can see inside the usual stalactites and stalagmites but there are a lot of them and they are very beautiful. It is like walking through embroidery. The formations are varied and coloured. In other caves you get disappointed after seeing the pictures, expecting more, but here, you get more than you hope for.
Written August 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
boyarul
Transylvania173 contributions
Jun 2013 • Family
In the '70s there was a marble quarry, for export in Germany and Hungary. During one working blast in 17 september 1975 a hole was opened and the miner Traian Curta descended there. He came back carrying a bear skull, telling the othre miners and his boses what he saw. A team of speologists experts came and after persuaded the roamnian authoryties arrangements begun. They lasted three years (until 1978) but, however only after another two years (July 14, 1980) the cave entered the tourist circuit, being open to the public.
It's called "Cave Bear" because of the multitude of bones found here, the bones of a species of prehistoric bear (ursus spelaeus) who lived here 15,000 years ago.
It is divided into two sections located on two levels:
- The top (488 m) is open to the public and contains 3 gallery (Gallery "Bear", Gallery "Emil Racoviţă" and gallery "Candles") and three rooms (Hall candles, Spaghetti Hall and the Hall of Bones)
- Lower (521 m) cannot be visited by tourists and is reserved for scientific research.
More information: www.pesteraursilor.net (unofficial site)
It's called "Cave Bear" because of the multitude of bones found here, the bones of a species of prehistoric bear (ursus spelaeus) who lived here 15,000 years ago.
It is divided into two sections located on two levels:
- The top (488 m) is open to the public and contains 3 gallery (Gallery "Bear", Gallery "Emil Racoviţă" and gallery "Candles") and three rooms (Hall candles, Spaghetti Hall and the Hall of Bones)
- Lower (521 m) cannot be visited by tourists and is reserved for scientific research.
More information: www.pesteraursilor.net (unofficial site)
Written June 4, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert
4 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
It's one of the worst places to go as tourist!
1 they don't translate nothing. So you don't understand nothing from the guide, you pay for it!
2 You are not allowed to take pictures. Just where they want.
3 The guide is rushed to finish the tour. I wanted to go to take some more pictures he switched the light off.
4 THE CAVE IT'S NOT THAT BIG.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL BUT NOT WORTH IT
You must vizite Cave MEZIAD!!!
The guide speaks English and and she does not rush anyone. You can take as many pictures you want iven with the guide of you want too.
1 they don't translate nothing. So you don't understand nothing from the guide, you pay for it!
2 You are not allowed to take pictures. Just where they want.
3 The guide is rushed to finish the tour. I wanted to go to take some more pictures he switched the light off.
4 THE CAVE IT'S NOT THAT BIG.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL BUT NOT WORTH IT
You must vizite Cave MEZIAD!!!
The guide speaks English and and she does not rush anyone. You can take as many pictures you want iven with the guide of you want too.
Written July 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justyna C
Toronto, Canada160 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Seriously amazing cave. You buy a ticket then wait for the guide to arrive and take a whole group down. There is no language option and the guide only speaks Romanian but not being able to understand didn't take away from the experience. Don't remember the price but it was absolutely worth the trip. You do have to walk up the hill. The entrance was a bit hidden btw two souvenir stalls. Really really recommend it.
Written July 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carmen u
655 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
It is an impressive cave, the view inside is amazing.
The cave is lighted and is easy to explored.
The open hours are daily between 10:00 - 17:00
The cave is lighted and is easy to explored.
The open hours are daily between 10:00 - 17:00
Written June 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victor A
Dubai, United Arab Emirates12 contributions
Aug 2012 • Family
it is well accessible by car, the road stops 100 meters from the entrance. Also, there is a guide and the place is well arranged for visit. The inside is impressive both as size and beauty of stalagmites. There are also the bears fossils.
Written January 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Davalfher
Tucson, AZ40 contributions
May 2011 • Couples
The story goes that the entrance of this cave collapsed thousand of years ago while 140 bears were hibernating. It was discovered by mine blasting in the 1970's. You will see bear remains through out the tour and until the very end you'll see a fully preserved bear skeleton.
The tour is worth while, although during the tour the guide jump over the fence and play one of the stalacteites as a musical tube with his fingers due to their crystaline and hollow nature, and when I was going to take a picture, he asked me not to because he can get in trouble for doing that... not sure what difference does it make between a picture and all of the tourists telling what he did. Beyond that, the cave is big, conveniently trailed and hand railed all the way. Beatiful and breathtaking.
The road there is tricky (at least from Bucharest) in bad condition, full of potholes that we had to dodge constantly, also there are long unpaved segments. The good news is that, as all of Romania, it was getting improvements by machines and workers we saw next to the road, and also by constructing a fully new road to reach there witnout much winding and pot hole dodging.
The entrance is full of souvenir kiosk vendors, that for US residents is quite affordable.
The view from the entrance deck is breathtaking too.
The tour is worth while, although during the tour the guide jump over the fence and play one of the stalacteites as a musical tube with his fingers due to their crystaline and hollow nature, and when I was going to take a picture, he asked me not to because he can get in trouble for doing that... not sure what difference does it make between a picture and all of the tourists telling what he did. Beyond that, the cave is big, conveniently trailed and hand railed all the way. Beatiful and breathtaking.
The road there is tricky (at least from Bucharest) in bad condition, full of potholes that we had to dodge constantly, also there are long unpaved segments. The good news is that, as all of Romania, it was getting improvements by machines and workers we saw next to the road, and also by constructing a fully new road to reach there witnout much winding and pot hole dodging.
The entrance is full of souvenir kiosk vendors, that for US residents is quite affordable.
The view from the entrance deck is breathtaking too.
Written April 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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