Dâmbovicioara Cave
Dâmbovicioara, Argeș County · Muntenia
About Dâmbovicioara Cave
At a glance: Caves in Dâmbovicioara, Argeș County. The visit takes 30 min. Information verified on 28 September 2026.
Dâmbovicioara Cave opens in the left-hand slope of the Dâmbovicioara valley, about a kilometre north of the village of the same name, on the southern edge of the Piatra Craiului massif. It was carved into the Jurassic limestone by the Dâmbovicioara stream itself, which now flows along another course, leaving the gallery dry. It is 555 m long and essentially a single passage that climbs gently from the entrance, 3–4 m wide and 4–5 m high, until it narrows and becomes hard going.
It is one of the best-known caves in the area and a nature reserve within Piatra Craiului National Park. People have known it for centuries: it appears in a scientific work as early as 1767, and cave bear bones have been found on its floor. For a long time it was visited with no protection at all, by torch and candlelight, and many of its formations were lost; in 2006 the park administration rebuilt the route and the lighting and closed off the side passages where the bats roost.
What you can see
The tourist route follows the first 250 m or so of the gallery, on a metal walkway with a handrail, with low lights that come on as the group passes. Do not expect huge chambers or forests of stalactites: the cave is relatively poor in formations, and its appeal lies in the shape of the passage, with walls and roof sculpted by water, and in the white crusts of calcite left here and there. Local legends tell of a hermit who is said to have made his cell here and of the outlaw brothers Fulga and Budac, who reportedly hid in the cave during the First World War. The Dâmbovicioara Gorge, which you drive through to get here, is worth a stop too.
Good to know
It is 10–12 °C inside all year, so bring a warm layer even in summer. Opening hours and prices are not published on an official website: ask at the tourist information centre in Dâmbovicioara before you set out.
- The main gallery, 3–4 m wide and 4–5 m high, its walls shaped by the stream that carved it.
- The white crusts of calcite left on the walls and roof at the start of the gallery.
- The metal walkway that climbs gently for about 250 m through the lit part of the cave.
- The Dâmbovicioara Gorge, with its tall limestone walls, on the road from Podu Dâmboviței.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the cave is on the Rucăr–Bran corridor. From the DN 73 (E574), in the village of Podu Dâmboviței, ~5 km from Rucăr, take the DJ 730 through the Dâmbovicioara Gorge, ~4 km to Dâmbovicioara village, then another ~1 km on the DC 22 to the cave. From Brașov it is ~55 km (~1h30) on the DN 73 via Bran; from Pitești ~86 km (~2 hours) via Câmpulung and Rucăr; from the Moieciu area ~25 km. The road is paved all the way to the cave.
Public transport: we found no confirmed scheduled service to the cave. In practice you get there by car or on an organised trip; from Podu Dâmboviței, on the DN 73, it is ~5 km on foot through the gorge.
- Where to park
There are a few parking spaces by the roadside right next to the cave and a small car park a little further south; from there a few steps lead up to the entrance. We found no official information on charges. On busy weekends the spaces fill quickly, and coaches usually stay in the village.
- Fees & discounts
Prices are not published on an official website. Recent sources from 2026 give about 15 lei for adults, 5 lei for children and free entry for people with disabilities, payable in cash; check at the ticket desk. The area lies in Piatra Craiului National Park, which charges a visitor fee (10 lei per person, valid for 7 days, free under 14, according to the park's website); it is not clear whether it is asked for at the cave.
- Rules
Entry is in groups of at most 20 people and you stay on the walkway; the side passages are closed so as not to disturb the bats. It is 10–12 °C and damp inside, so bring a jacket and shoes with good grip. Do not touch the formations and do not leave litter: the cave is a nature reserve. The undeveloped section requires a request approved by Dâmbovicioara town hall.
- Facilities
Ticket desk at the entrance (recent sources say cash only) · no café or shop at the cave; bring water and snacks · guesthouses and restaurants in Dâmbovicioara and Podu Dâmboviței · steps from the road up to the entrance
Frequently asked questions about Dâmbovicioara Cave
- How long does a visit to Dâmbovicioara Cave take?
- A visit to Dâmbovicioara Cave takes about 30 min (the tour takes ~20 minutes).
- Can you visit Dâmbovicioara Cave with kids?
- Yes, Dâmbovicioara Cave is suitable for children (no tight passages; 10–12 °C).
- How do I get to Dâmbovicioara Cave?
- Dâmbovicioara Cave is located at DC 22, about 1 km north of Dâmbovicioara village, Dâmbovicioara, Argeș County. By car: the cave is on the Rucăr–Bran corridor. From the DN 73 (E574), in the village of Podu Dâmboviței, ~5 km from Rucăr, take the DJ 730 through the Dâmbovicioara Gorge, ~4 km to Dâmbovicioara village, then another ~1 km on the DC 22 to the cave. From Brașov it is ~55 km (~1h30) on the DN 73 via Bran; from Pitești ~86 km (~2 hours) via Câmpulung and Rucăr; from the Moieciu area ~25 km. The road is paved all the way to the cave. Public transport: we found no confirmed scheduled service to the cave. In practice you get there by car or on an organised trip; from Podu Dâmboviței, on the DN 73, it is ~5 km on foot through the gorge.
- When is the best time to visit Dâmbovicioara Cave?
- The best season for Dâmbovicioara Cave: All year round (busy on summer weekends).
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