I don’t often travel to Europe. I know that there are beautiful places and fun things to do but the types of adventures I generally seek out involve lost cites, days of trekking, or miles of difficulties to find. I don’t often get that feel from Europe, but I recently agreed to travel to Eastern Europe with a friend who is new to traveling. So, off we headed. I was convinced that I was going to spend two weeks looking at architecture, castles, and fully explored historical sites from behind ropes and fences. I was however, surprised to find that there is an opportunity to have a fun and challenging adventure right in the heart of Budapest, Hungary!
The city of Budapest is built on a very large limestone deposit which is littered with natural springs. With this kind of geological formation there is a very fun benefit: caves! Budapest is littered with caves that are not only abundant but can also range from small walk in caves to large very challenging adventure caves. There are several companies that serve as cave guides to explore these amazing places but one seems to be a cut above the others Caving.hu (and my experience was excellent). You’re not allowed to enter the caves without a guide, so choosing a company to go with is essential.
The adventure began with the typical cave explanation about safety, protecting the cave, and being aware of others in the cave. After the talk gear is given out (coveralls, 
helmets, and lights) and after a brief stop at the rest room we are off. Its a short walk from the meeting point to the entrance which is guarded by a large door. The cave started off like any other cave with a large opening and a short walk, slight scampering, and the traditional small space.
However, after the normal cave attractions came some fun spaces. Smaller squeezes, progressively smaller. Even to the point where not everyone in the group could fit through. The guide expertly assisted those who had issues either negotiate the space or find a way around. Scampering became short climbs up 10-15 foot walls. 
Several times we ascended steep walls, finding new routes and seeking out different ways to find our way down. The guild never wavered from her kind and fun spirit as she expertly guided each one of us through difficult and easy spots alike. She also was full of interesting and entertaining facts about the caves, the area, and Budapest in general. Towards the end of the adventure we began our way back, reversing through some of the areas we had already been in. 
The guide offered us the opportunity to seek our own way back, following behind. As anyone who has been in a cave knows, the way back looks different than the way in. We got lost. But she kindly corrected our path and allowed us to have our own adventure.
Overall the cave wasn’t at the top of the crazy cave adventures I’ve had. However, it was fun. Very fun. Completely appropriate for someone who is interested in caves, looking for adventures, or just looking for something fun to do in Budapest. To do the cave you need to be in relatively good condition. There are some tight spaces and seep climbs and ascents. The cave is also relatively dry so bringing your phone for pictures. I would highly recommend using the same company we did as they did a wonderful job. They offer several different tours (mild to wild), in multiple languages. The adventure tour lasts about 3 hours and there is a bus stop directly in front of the meeting point. The best part of the whole cave experience is that it was a very welcome break from the typical European trip of visiting historic sites, museums, and other interesting but well traveled spots.
