The Devil’s Cave is a natural cave located in Pottenstein, 60 km north of Nuremberg.
With the nickname ‘Cave of the Bears’, it used to be a hibernation site for bears approximately 30,000 years ago.
The Teufelshöhle in German translates to the Devil’s Cave in English.
You can reach the cave also by public transport (90 minutes) as a day trip. Below are the 6 things to know about the Pottenstein Devil’s Cave
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1. Parking
The parking facility is huge. We visited on a weekend. It was challenging to find a spot.
At the parking, there is also a clean, open toilet.
A parking ticket costs 2€ and is valid for a maximum of 2.5 hours. The machine only accepts cash.
Remember to place your ticket in your car that is visible from the outside.
2. Opening times
During summer, the cave is open every day from 9 am – 5 pm. In winter, it is open only on Sundays from 11 am – 3 pm.
Additionally, the opening times differ during the holiday season. There is also a possibility to buy your tickets online.
The best time to visit the Devil’s Cave is during summer. The temperature inside the cave (9-11 °C) makes your visit a great day trip.
3. Tickets
A single adult ticket costs 7€ and 4€ for kids (4-15 years). There are additional discounts for groups. Check the official website to know more.
On weekends, the ticket queue can be long and take up to 10-15 minutes. They accept both forms of payment, card, and cash.
Upon successful payment, the staff gives you the ticket and a token number.
He/She also mentions when your guided tour starts. Until then you are free to go around the place.
4. Souvenir
When buying the ticket, there are also some options to buy postcards as souvenirs. On top of the ticket counter, you can find postcards with different numbers on it.
Just mention your desired number and he/she gives you a sweet souvenir. The prices are also displayed on the right side of the ticket counter.
5. Guided tour of the Pottenstein Devil’s Cave
A visit to the Devil’s Cave in Pottenstein is possible only by means of a guided tour. You need a minimum of 8 participants for the tour to start.
The tour guide isn’t authorized to negotiate the prices. Deal them with the staff at the ticket counter.
Don’t forget to wear good shoes and carry a light Jacket.
Our tour group was large (~40 participants), and the main reason was kids who were part of a school group.
The cave tour duration is 45 minutes covering a total of 1.5 km inside.
In total, you cover around 400 steps. You walk down the steps in some parts and climb up in some parts. The route is never straight. The guide always keeps a count of the total tourists.
You are allowed to take photos and videos but smoking is strictly prohibited. The major attraction inside the cave is due to two formations
- Stalactites – a mineral formation hanging from the cave’s ceiling.
- Stalagmites – an upward-growing mold deposit formed from the cave floor. This is due to water precipitation.
Avoid touching them. Throughout the walk, you can see these minerals in various formations. In the winter months, this cave was used to a shelter for winter bears.
All the structures inside are illuminated with atmospheric lighting. They also host a small sound show for about 3-5 minutes. The kids on our tour had a great time.
The tour ends at the back side of the cave. We walked about 300 m to reach the entrance. This path was also beautiful.
6. Restaurant
Adjacent to the ticket counter, there is a dine-in restaurant Terassencafe an der Teufelshöhle. The prices are obviously on the higher side and Google reviews aren’t good either.
Is the Pottenstein Devil’s Cave worth visiting?
If it is your first time visiting a cave, then you will love it. Having already visited the Werfen ice caves, I found the experience to be similar.
Nevertheless, it is worth exploring Devil’s Cave Pottenstein (Teufelshöhle) as a day trip from Nuremberg or from any city in South Germany.
Time of visit: July 2023