# Cetatea Rădesei Cave

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> A tunnel cave on the Padiș Plateau, with a portal of about 15 m and 260 m of underground route where the Rădeasa stream runs past boulders, roof openings and a narrow canyon. It is crossed on foot, through the water.

**At a glance:** Caves in Bihor County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. The visit takes 1½ – 2 hours. Information verified on 31 October 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** daily open 24 hours — An open-air site with no opening hours and no ticket desk. The cave is crossed only at low water, usually in summer and in dry weather; in torrential rain the narrow sections cannot be passed.
- **Visit duration:** 1½ – 2 hours — the loop from Cabana Vărășoaia
- **With kids:** No — water, chains and rock steps
- **Best season:** June – September — only at low water
- **Address:** Padiș Plateau, on the trail marked with red that starts at Cabana Vărășoaia, on the DJ 763, Bihor County
- **Coordinates:** 46.63019, 22.70806
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pe%C8%99tera_Cetatea_R%C4%83desei
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18538886
- **Categories:** [Caves](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/caves), [National parks and reserves](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/national-parks-and-reserves)

## About Cetatea Rădesei Cave

Cetatea Rădesei Cave, also known as Cetățile Rădesei, is a hydrological bypass: the Rădeasa stream enters beneath a monumental portal about 15 m high and comes out 260 m later in a clearing. It lies in the northern part of the Padiș karst plateau, in the Bihor Mountains, in the commune of Budureasa, within Apuseni Natural Park. The floor of the first hall is covered with large boulders, between which the water squeezes through with a roar, forming rapids and small cascades.

It has no spectacular cave formations: its appeal is the crossing itself. The roof has collapsed in several places and light enters through openings above, so the route alternates between forest light and the darkness of narrow galleries. The cave is in the late stage of its development and will in time turn into a series of natural bridges and eventually into a gorge.

### What you can see

Beyond the portal you reach the Great Hall, lit through four roof chimneys. Next comes a narrow, dark stretch, then the space beneath Window I, a shaft that pierces the limestone, and a tight lightless canyon with erosion potholes that ends in Rădesei Clearing. The underground route drops about 36 m; iron chains are fitted at steps higher than 2 m.

### Good to know

This is not a show cave: there are no tickets, guides or opening hours, and the crossing is made on foot, downstream, through the water, with your own light. It is done only at low water: in torrential summer rain the stream's flow makes it almost impossible to pass the narrow sections. Cetățile Ponorului, another point of interest for hikers, also lies on the Padiș Plateau.

## Don't miss

- The portal of about 15 m through which the Rădeasa stream enters the mountain.
- The Great Hall, lit through four roof chimneys, with a floor of boulders among which the water forms rapids.
- Window I, the shaft that pierces the limestone above the stream.
- The narrow, dark canyon with erosion potholes that ends in Rădesei Clearing.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** the starting point is Cabana Vărășoaia, on the DJ 763, ~4 km (~15 minutes) from Cabana Padiș. From Oradea it is ~108 km (~2 h 20 min), from Beiuș ~43 km (~1 h 10 min), towards the Padiș Plateau. From the chalet walk ~1 km along the forest road, then the trail marked with red climbs through the forest to a clearing and drops to the portal; the full loop takes around 2 hours.

**Public transport:** there is no scheduled service up to the Padiș Plateau.

### Where to park

Leave the car at Cabana Vărășoaia, where the forest road to the cave begins.

### Rules

The cave lies within Apuseni Natural Park: do not disturb the bats and take your rubbish with you. It is crossed at low water, downstream, because climbing up the chains is harder than going down; do not enter at high water or in torrential rain. You need your own light, water-resistant footwear, a helmet with a headlamp and gloves, and a wetsuit for the full crossing. The floor is slippery.

### Facilities

No facilities in the cave · starting point at Cabana Vărășoaia

## Details

- **Part of:** Apuseni Natural Park
- **Visitor route:** 260 m
- **Developed and lit:** No

## Frequently asked questions about Cetatea Rădesei Cave

**What are the opening hours of Cetatea Rădesei Cave?**

Opening hours at Cetatea Rădesei Cave: daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”.

**How long does a visit to Cetatea Rădesei Cave take?**

A visit to Cetatea Rădesei Cave takes about 1½ – 2 hours (the loop from Cabana Vărășoaia).

**Can you visit Cetatea Rădesei Cave with kids?**

No, Cetatea Rădesei Cave is not recommended for visits with children (water, chains and rock steps).

**How do I get to Cetatea Rădesei Cave?**

Cetatea Rădesei Cave is located at Padiș Plateau, on the trail marked with red that starts at Cabana Vărășoaia, on the DJ 763, Bihor County. More under “Getting there”.

**When is the best time to visit Cetatea Rădesei Cave?**

The best season for Cetatea Rădesei Cave: June – September (only at low water).

## Nearby attractions

- [Padiș Plateau](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/padis-plateau) — National parks and reserves · Pietroasa, BH · Free · 7½ – 8 hours · 6 km
  A karst plateau at around 1,200 m in the heart of Apuseni Natural Park, with meadows, sinkholes and spruce forest. Marked trails lead from Cabana Padiș to Cetățile Ponorului, the Galbena Gorge and Groapa de la Barsa.
- [Bohodei Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/bohodei-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Pietroasa, BH · Free · 6 – 6½ hours · 8 km
  A waterfall of about 80 m on the Bohodei stream, below the peak of the same name, regarded as the tallest in the Apuseni Mountains; reached on a demanding loop from Pietroasa with chain-equipped rock sections.
- [Piatra Altarului Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piatra-altarului-cave) — Caves · Răchițele, CJ · 8 km
  A cave in the Bihor Mountains, discovered in 1984, with chambers richly decorated with calcite formations; a class A reserve, padlocked and open only to scientific research.
- [Moara Dracului Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/moara-dracului-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Budureasa, BH · Free · 5½ – 6 hours · 8 km
  A 20–25 m, two-tier waterfall hidden in a narrow valley of giant boulders and spruce on the western slope of the Vlădeasa massif; reached on foot from Stâna de Vale along a marked trail of about 8 km.
- [Focul Viu Ice Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/focul-viu-ice-cave) — Caves · Pietroasa, BH · Free · 8 km
  An ice cave in the forests of the Galbena Valley near Padiș, reached on foot along a marked trail. Around midday, light pours in through a hole in the roof and falls on the ice.
- [Cetățile Ponorului](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cetatile-ponorului) — Caves · Bihor County · Free · 3½ – 4 hours · Top 100 · 10 km
  A karst complex on the Padiș Plateau: three huge sinkholes with walls over 200 m high and a portal 76 m tall where the Cetăților stream vanishes into the mountain. Seen from a marked hiking loop, not a show cave.

## Featured in the guides

- [Apuseni caves: a 2–3 day route through Bihor and Alba](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/apuseni-caves) — 13 caves to visit in the Apuseni Mountains, ~350 km from Oradea to Gârda de Sus: Meziad, Bears' Cave, Padiș, Scărișoara. Order, distances, what is closed.

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Last updated: 31 October 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania