Dachstein Giant Ice Caves
Dachstein Giant Ice Caves
4
About
Giant Ice Cave – one of the biggest ice caves in the world - extensive Mammut Cave and Koppenbrüller Cave – still traversed by underground streams – are particularly spectacular. A state-of-the-art cable car provides access to this unique nature experience consisting of caves, informative and enjoyable hiking routes on the karst massif and adventure cave tours.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
252 reviews
Excellent
117
Very good
89
Average
27
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8
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11
lisa
The Netherlands2 contributions
Oct 2021 • Friends
It is really a cave with an icy snow bank cascading through it. Not an ice cave like under a glacier. The snow is white, but they add colored lights and play Star Wars music real loud to make it seem exciting. Total waste of $. Total walking equivalent of 46 flights of steps with lots of stairs and steep walks. Skip it and spend your time outside in the beautiful environment.
Written October 11, 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.
Ronda T
1 contribution
Oct 2022 • Couples
The girl at the ticket window “number two” was very rude and NOT informative. After renting a vehicle and driving two hours; we arrived too late to do both the ice cave and five fingers. She neglected to tell us we still had time to do the ice cave - and/or if we came back the next day we should be there by 1:30. We drove back the next day to find out we still didn’t have time to do both. She refused to give me her name. You could tell by her body language she was happy to have disappointed visitors.
Written October 7, 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.
Ankit S
8 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
There's a good 20 minutes steep climb before you reach the cave. You take a cable car to the top and then 20-25 minutes steep walk to the cave. Inside the cave, it's a 50 minutes walk with multiple stairs. The difficulty level is moderate.
Overall the experience is superb. The guide spoke English and Dutch.
We were two couples and took the last guided tour of the day. Two of us left behind because of the initial 20 minutes walk. We couldn't find this information on the website. If we knew, we could have planned accordingly.
Overall the experience is superb. The guide spoke English and Dutch.
We were two couples and took the last guided tour of the day. Two of us left behind because of the initial 20 minutes walk. We couldn't find this information on the website. If we knew, we could have planned accordingly.
Written July 9, 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.
Marina M
Miami, FL238 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
This place is beyond words. It is absolutely a must see, although not sure the climb/paths are suitable for everyone. In addition, even though it was summer it was freezing cold! Bundle up! Must reserve gondola rides in advance!
Written July 27, 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.
Purnima Jain
Bengaluru, India1,735 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
*) Go to OBB Office and inform them that you want to go to Obertraun Dachsteinseilbahn Talstation and return on the same day, and ask them if there is any Day-pass that you can make use of. You cannot pre-purchase these, so you will have to buy theseon the day of your journey. I got mine at a price of 29 Euros, with complete flexibility for using any train or bus for covering the entire journey.
*) Took the 8.15 AM bus, Bus 150, from Salzburg HBF to Bad Ischl. The views are particularly scenic in this stretch, try to side on the side behind the driver. Bad Ischl is very beautiful.
*) Take a walk from Bad Ischl bus station to its train station which is just a couple of steps away.
*) From there take the train R 3410 to Obertraun Dachsteinhohlen Bahnhof. Step out of the station and take Bus 543 which will leave you at Obertraun Dachsteinseilbahn Talstation.
*) From here you can take the cable car to acess ice cave, Mammut cave, 5fingers, etc.
*) At the bus stop the schedule will be in German and “ruckfahrt” is when it arrives at the stop you’re at while “abfahrt” means when it departs.
*) Keep an eye on other passengers at the station, there are times when the platform for the arrival of the train changes and the annoncement is made only in German.
*) The ice cave is open during the opening times of the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car from May to October.
*) I bought the Dachstein Salzkammergut Ticket - Costs 42.10 Euros per head which includes one ascent & descent by cable car, section I+II, one admission & guided tour in Ice Cave or Mammut Cave)
*) About The Dachstein Visitor Center: A trip to the Ice Caves and 5 Fingers starts with a visit to the Dachstein Visitor Center. It’s here that you’ll buy your tickets for the lift up the mountain and for your Ice Cave tour. You will sign up for your time slot once you reach the 1st level cable car station. They give you a time of the tour and you have to be outside the Ice Cave before that time to take the tour. The Visitor Center and each of the gondola lift stations will have wifi available. Before leaving the Visitor Center make sure to keep track of the time the last bus departs the mountain back to Hallstatt (typically between 3pm-5pm) as you don’t want to have to walk all the way back.
*) The 1st section of the 3 tiered cable car gondola climbs a staggering 2461 feet from the Visitor Center.
*) At the top of the 1st cable car section is the Schönbergalm Lodge which has a restaurant, a museum, and is the jump off point for the cave tours. The 2nd section takes you to the 5 Fingers Lookout, Welterbespirale Lookout, Krippenstein Lodge & Restaurant, the Heilbronn Cross Trail with the Dachstein Shark, and most of the Winter ski runs. The 3rd and final section takes you to the Gjaidalm Lodge which offers great mountain top hiking between Alpine huts and all the way to the Dachstein Glacier. Make sure to pay close attention to the gondola schedules each time you exit at a lift station so you can make to sure be back in time for your desired return down the mountain.
*) About Mammoth Cave: The Mammoth Cave is cool, but most visitors on a tight schedule won’t find it very cool in comparison to the Ice Caves. It can take 25 minutes to walk from the cable car station up to the cave entrance on the opposite side of the Ice Cave. It does not have any ice, it only has rock formations. You will need to take the Dachstein World Heritage cable car along section 1. The walk to the cave from here follows a gravel path. Altitude difference 40 m Walk time 15 mins. Duration of tour approx. 50 minutes. Tour route: 800 m long, 70 m height difference. The closing time for Mammoth Cave is very early, so keep an eye on that if you are planning to do it.
*) About The 5 Fingers Lookout: The 5 Fingers viewing platform offers an adrenaline rush at the highest level. It’s definitely one of the most spectacular viewing platforms in the Alps and reaches out like a 5-fingered hand over a 1300 foot vertical drop. Even more impressive than then drop is that tiny Hallstatt will now be almost 5,000 feet below you!!! The 5 platforms each have a different design, with different exposure to the heights and unique views down over Hallstatt. One of the platforms is made entirely from glass and another enables visitors to gain their own personal view of Hallstatt through a large Baroque picture frame. The 5 Fingers are illuminated until midnight and can be seen easily be seen after dark from Hallstatt. Take the cable car up from the Ice Caves to the Level 2 Station and follow the The Experience Trail directly to 5 Fingers. The hike on the gravel path from the 2nd cable car station to the Five finger outlook point is easily at least a long 1 km and 20-30 mins moderately paced brisk walk one-way. Also it is high altitude and thin air that makes it more strenous. But really beautiful, and well worth the effort! The round trip walk past 5 Fingers to the predominant Pioneer Cross can easily be completed in 20 minutes by most visitors.
*) Cable Car Sections:
Cable Car Section 1 – Valley Station --> Schonbergalm
Cable Car Section 2 –Schonbergalm --> Mountain Station
Cable Car Section 3 – Mountain Station --> Valley Station Gjaid
*) Levels:
1st Level - Ice Cave & Mammoth Cave
2nd Level - 5 Fingers Lookout, Welterbespirale Lookout, Krippenstein Lodge & Restaurant, the Heilbronn Cross Trail with the Dachstein Shark
3rd Level - Dachstein Glacier
*) I would recommend this tour if it's a clear day and you intend to go all the way to the top of the mountain to see the views from the 5 finger lookout and then walk a bit further up to view the glacier.
*) Took the 8.15 AM bus, Bus 150, from Salzburg HBF to Bad Ischl. The views are particularly scenic in this stretch, try to side on the side behind the driver. Bad Ischl is very beautiful.
*) Take a walk from Bad Ischl bus station to its train station which is just a couple of steps away.
*) From there take the train R 3410 to Obertraun Dachsteinhohlen Bahnhof. Step out of the station and take Bus 543 which will leave you at Obertraun Dachsteinseilbahn Talstation.
*) From here you can take the cable car to acess ice cave, Mammut cave, 5fingers, etc.
*) At the bus stop the schedule will be in German and “ruckfahrt” is when it arrives at the stop you’re at while “abfahrt” means when it departs.
*) Keep an eye on other passengers at the station, there are times when the platform for the arrival of the train changes and the annoncement is made only in German.
*) The ice cave is open during the opening times of the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car from May to October.
*) I bought the Dachstein Salzkammergut Ticket - Costs 42.10 Euros per head which includes one ascent & descent by cable car, section I+II, one admission & guided tour in Ice Cave or Mammut Cave)
*) About The Dachstein Visitor Center: A trip to the Ice Caves and 5 Fingers starts with a visit to the Dachstein Visitor Center. It’s here that you’ll buy your tickets for the lift up the mountain and for your Ice Cave tour. You will sign up for your time slot once you reach the 1st level cable car station. They give you a time of the tour and you have to be outside the Ice Cave before that time to take the tour. The Visitor Center and each of the gondola lift stations will have wifi available. Before leaving the Visitor Center make sure to keep track of the time the last bus departs the mountain back to Hallstatt (typically between 3pm-5pm) as you don’t want to have to walk all the way back.
*) The 1st section of the 3 tiered cable car gondola climbs a staggering 2461 feet from the Visitor Center.
*) At the top of the 1st cable car section is the Schönbergalm Lodge which has a restaurant, a museum, and is the jump off point for the cave tours. The 2nd section takes you to the 5 Fingers Lookout, Welterbespirale Lookout, Krippenstein Lodge & Restaurant, the Heilbronn Cross Trail with the Dachstein Shark, and most of the Winter ski runs. The 3rd and final section takes you to the Gjaidalm Lodge which offers great mountain top hiking between Alpine huts and all the way to the Dachstein Glacier. Make sure to pay close attention to the gondola schedules each time you exit at a lift station so you can make to sure be back in time for your desired return down the mountain.
*) About Mammoth Cave: The Mammoth Cave is cool, but most visitors on a tight schedule won’t find it very cool in comparison to the Ice Caves. It can take 25 minutes to walk from the cable car station up to the cave entrance on the opposite side of the Ice Cave. It does not have any ice, it only has rock formations. You will need to take the Dachstein World Heritage cable car along section 1. The walk to the cave from here follows a gravel path. Altitude difference 40 m Walk time 15 mins. Duration of tour approx. 50 minutes. Tour route: 800 m long, 70 m height difference. The closing time for Mammoth Cave is very early, so keep an eye on that if you are planning to do it.
*) About The 5 Fingers Lookout: The 5 Fingers viewing platform offers an adrenaline rush at the highest level. It’s definitely one of the most spectacular viewing platforms in the Alps and reaches out like a 5-fingered hand over a 1300 foot vertical drop. Even more impressive than then drop is that tiny Hallstatt will now be almost 5,000 feet below you!!! The 5 platforms each have a different design, with different exposure to the heights and unique views down over Hallstatt. One of the platforms is made entirely from glass and another enables visitors to gain their own personal view of Hallstatt through a large Baroque picture frame. The 5 Fingers are illuminated until midnight and can be seen easily be seen after dark from Hallstatt. Take the cable car up from the Ice Caves to the Level 2 Station and follow the The Experience Trail directly to 5 Fingers. The hike on the gravel path from the 2nd cable car station to the Five finger outlook point is easily at least a long 1 km and 20-30 mins moderately paced brisk walk one-way. Also it is high altitude and thin air that makes it more strenous. But really beautiful, and well worth the effort! The round trip walk past 5 Fingers to the predominant Pioneer Cross can easily be completed in 20 minutes by most visitors.
*) Cable Car Sections:
Cable Car Section 1 – Valley Station --> Schonbergalm
Cable Car Section 2 –Schonbergalm --> Mountain Station
Cable Car Section 3 – Mountain Station --> Valley Station Gjaid
*) Levels:
1st Level - Ice Cave & Mammoth Cave
2nd Level - 5 Fingers Lookout, Welterbespirale Lookout, Krippenstein Lodge & Restaurant, the Heilbronn Cross Trail with the Dachstein Shark
3rd Level - Dachstein Glacier
*) I would recommend this tour if it's a clear day and you intend to go all the way to the top of the mountain to see the views from the 5 finger lookout and then walk a bit further up to view the glacier.
Written November 4, 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.
chalk_11
London, UK128 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
You get here via the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car, which will also take you to the mammoth cave, 5 fingers, 'shark' and other hiking options (various ticket combinations are on offer). From the cable car exit it is a pretty steep 15 minute walk to the cave entrance (this is a realistic timing if you are in good shape). You need to pick a time for entry at the cable car station before going up the hill :) Entry is by tour only- these are given in both German and English. There is also a free app you can download.
I visited both this cave and also eisriesenwelt. This cave is easier to walk around (lots of steps- but eisriesenwelt has more and is harder going as you do a lot all at once). It is also quicker to visit (both the 'getting to' and the tour itself) . The other key differences are that the dachstein caves are illuminated with electric lights and you can take photos, which in my view enhances the visit. You will see postcards of eisrisenwelt illuminated but what you actually see is not lit in the same way.
Both caves have beautiful ice formations. In my view the formations in Dachstein are more varied and interesting whereas eisriesenwelt (particularly at the start and the ice tunnel towards the end) is greater in scale. Eisrisenwelt as an *experience* is more atmospheric (as it is only lit by the lanterns you carry round plus magnesium strips used at a few locations by the tour guide) and it feels like you've stepped back in time. The eisriesenwelt tour groups are also a bit smaller, though I actually found the dachstein tour better as the logistics made the group feel more cohesive.
If you only have time/money to visit one of the ice caves dachstein is probably better as you can combine it with the other activities (particularly 5 fingers) and it's an easier visit . Eisriesenwelt is for the slightly more adventurous and I wouldn't recommend it for small children- you carry a naked flame and the walking is harder. If you can do both then go for it!
I visited both this cave and also eisriesenwelt. This cave is easier to walk around (lots of steps- but eisriesenwelt has more and is harder going as you do a lot all at once). It is also quicker to visit (both the 'getting to' and the tour itself) . The other key differences are that the dachstein caves are illuminated with electric lights and you can take photos, which in my view enhances the visit. You will see postcards of eisrisenwelt illuminated but what you actually see is not lit in the same way.
Both caves have beautiful ice formations. In my view the formations in Dachstein are more varied and interesting whereas eisriesenwelt (particularly at the start and the ice tunnel towards the end) is greater in scale. Eisrisenwelt as an *experience* is more atmospheric (as it is only lit by the lanterns you carry round plus magnesium strips used at a few locations by the tour guide) and it feels like you've stepped back in time. The eisriesenwelt tour groups are also a bit smaller, though I actually found the dachstein tour better as the logistics made the group feel more cohesive.
If you only have time/money to visit one of the ice caves dachstein is probably better as you can combine it with the other activities (particularly 5 fingers) and it's an easier visit . Eisriesenwelt is for the slightly more adventurous and I wouldn't recommend it for small children- you carry a naked flame and the walking is harder. If you can do both then go for it!
Written September 6, 2015
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.
SummerVagabond
Washington DC, DC167 contributions
I stayed in Hallstatt for a couple of nights in mid-July 2009 and loved it... for me it was a great place to unwind and find peace of mind for a few days. It's a sleepy, picturesque little village on a lake, surrounded by mountains, where everything closes down at dinner time. There aren't a lot of attractions per se; the village itself and its natural surroundings ARE the attraction.
So on a misty, overcast day that threatened rain, I needed something to do indoors, and landed on the Dachstein ice caves. The place is easily reached by bus from the "depot" at the edge of Hallstatt. The bus ride costs 3,40 Euros roundtrip, takes about 20 minutes, and deposits you in front of the Obertraun cable car station, adjacent to which is a separate ticket office where you purchase cable car tickets and/or admission to the ice caves (and other attractions along the cable car route). There are several, potentially confusing combination deals available... it pays to read about them ahead of time online or in a guide book.
Because the view from the top of the cable car line was obscured by clouds, I paid 15 Euros for a combination ticket that allowed entry into just the ice caves, plus a roundtrip on the cable car. (The ice caves are at the first cable car stop above Obertraun. In nice weather, some people pay extra to then continue further up the mountain to catch the view or to check out some additional caves.) When you purchase entry to the ice caves, you are assigned a specific tour time, and it's very important that you allow time both for the cable car ride and the subsequent hike to the entry to the cave!
For the ice cave tour, the cable car deposits you at a "base station" with rest rooms, a gift shop, etc. From there you still have to hike-- and I don't mean walk-- up a long, steep, winding but paved pathway. I'm active and fit, and was already huffing and puffing partway up. It may have been the altitude, but I had to stop at one of the rest points along the way to catch my breath. I was by no means the only in-shape adult who labored along-- only the young kids seemed unphased. I point this out because I saw some folks who seemed not to be in the best of health, plus a woman who appeared to be in her late 70s or early 80s and was walking with a cane. I felt badly for them, because the path looked deceptively short and easy from the bottom, and I suspect they reached "a point of no return" where they felt obligated to keep pushing on for the sake of their companions. The site is NOT handicapped accessible. Leave yourself time to get to the top... Rick Steves in his guidebook estimated the walk to be 10 minutes, but it sure felt like 20-30! (Maybe 10 on the way DOWN...)
Everyone thankfully made it to the top, and what awaited us inside the caves made it all worthwhile. The tour, given in both English and German, lasted maybe 60-75 minutes and wound its way through enormous caves with beautiful, sometimes illuminated ice formations. (Take your photos quickly when the dramatic lighting comes on-- it doesn't stay on for long!) I doubt I'll see scenes quite like that anywhere else in the world. There are a lot of sometimes slick, metal stairs inside the caves, so appropriate footwear would be wise. Also, it should come as no surprise that it's cold inside, so dress appropriately.
Note: Don't confuse the "Giant Ice Caves" (the subject of this review) with the "Mammoth Caves" further up the mountain! Each one has its own admission price, payable at the same ticket window at the Obertraun cable car station.
So on a misty, overcast day that threatened rain, I needed something to do indoors, and landed on the Dachstein ice caves. The place is easily reached by bus from the "depot" at the edge of Hallstatt. The bus ride costs 3,40 Euros roundtrip, takes about 20 minutes, and deposits you in front of the Obertraun cable car station, adjacent to which is a separate ticket office where you purchase cable car tickets and/or admission to the ice caves (and other attractions along the cable car route). There are several, potentially confusing combination deals available... it pays to read about them ahead of time online or in a guide book.
Because the view from the top of the cable car line was obscured by clouds, I paid 15 Euros for a combination ticket that allowed entry into just the ice caves, plus a roundtrip on the cable car. (The ice caves are at the first cable car stop above Obertraun. In nice weather, some people pay extra to then continue further up the mountain to catch the view or to check out some additional caves.) When you purchase entry to the ice caves, you are assigned a specific tour time, and it's very important that you allow time both for the cable car ride and the subsequent hike to the entry to the cave!
For the ice cave tour, the cable car deposits you at a "base station" with rest rooms, a gift shop, etc. From there you still have to hike-- and I don't mean walk-- up a long, steep, winding but paved pathway. I'm active and fit, and was already huffing and puffing partway up. It may have been the altitude, but I had to stop at one of the rest points along the way to catch my breath. I was by no means the only in-shape adult who labored along-- only the young kids seemed unphased. I point this out because I saw some folks who seemed not to be in the best of health, plus a woman who appeared to be in her late 70s or early 80s and was walking with a cane. I felt badly for them, because the path looked deceptively short and easy from the bottom, and I suspect they reached "a point of no return" where they felt obligated to keep pushing on for the sake of their companions. The site is NOT handicapped accessible. Leave yourself time to get to the top... Rick Steves in his guidebook estimated the walk to be 10 minutes, but it sure felt like 20-30! (Maybe 10 on the way DOWN...)
Everyone thankfully made it to the top, and what awaited us inside the caves made it all worthwhile. The tour, given in both English and German, lasted maybe 60-75 minutes and wound its way through enormous caves with beautiful, sometimes illuminated ice formations. (Take your photos quickly when the dramatic lighting comes on-- it doesn't stay on for long!) I doubt I'll see scenes quite like that anywhere else in the world. There are a lot of sometimes slick, metal stairs inside the caves, so appropriate footwear would be wise. Also, it should come as no surprise that it's cold inside, so dress appropriately.
Note: Don't confuse the "Giant Ice Caves" (the subject of this review) with the "Mammoth Caves" further up the mountain! Each one has its own admission price, payable at the same ticket window at the Obertraun cable car station.
Written January 10, 2010
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.
Malkoppie
South Africa1,584 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
We have done normal caves many times, and to be totally honest, we find them rather boring. The Dachstein Ice Caves seemed a little pricey to visit when planning our trip. Of course we didn't want any regrets, so we opted to do them. Yes, it is a pricey excursion up the mountainside, but not one to be missed. You have to do the Five Fingers for the amazing views, so you might as well take out the extra E11.80 for the tour of the Ice Cave. The cable car ride to the Ice Cave and the Five Fingers is phenomenal. Once you have done it, you will realize why it is so expensive. It is really far and really high. A beautiful ride. We paid E41.10 per person to do the ride, the Ice Cave and the Five Fingers. We skipped the Mammut cave.
The biggest problem is planning how much time you need. There were couples going up for the day and I think that makes a lot of sense, but if like us, you are pushed for time, it is very difficult to figure out how long it will take. To start with, you are reliant on when they slot the next tour which you can reasonably catch. We arrived early for the first ride of the day in order to catch the first tour. The first cable car ascent is at 8:40. The first group tour should be at 9:20. Once going up the first stage of the cable car, you reach a station where they slot you into a group. We only started our tour at 10:00. So timing things is a little out of your control.
From the first station you walk along a very steep path to the Ice cave. It was very exhausting because we rushed. We needn't have rushed because we sat outside the cave waiting till 10:00. When I say a stiff walk, I am not joking.
The tour guide was not very energized and entertaining, but the Caves are truly impressive. They are HUGE cavities in the mountain. You climb many steps so all in all, the tour of the caves requires a reasonable amount of mobility. Don't do it if you have a problem walking and climbing stairs. The tour took 50 minutes.
For all the people complaining about the cold, please take note of my photo of our group. Note how they are dressed in the middle of summer in July. ... Layer! Layer! Layer! How difficult is it to understand that you are entering enclosed rooms full of huge blocks of ice. It is basically a very, VERY large freezer that you are stepping into.
From there we rushed off to do Stage 2 of the cable car ride to the top for the Five Fingers lookout. What a spectacular ride! When you step out at the top station, you walk another 25 minutes to get to the Five Fingers lookout, by which time you are so hot (remember the LAYERS!). This walk is very beautiful and we would have loved to take it much slower to enjoy the scenery more. The view from the Five Fingers is magical.
But now it took us another 25 minutes back and another 2 cable cars down. Therefore the whole outing took us from about 8:30 when we parked to 12:30. So about 4 hours is the minimum you need. We really rushed. Ideally I would say allow the day or at least 5 hours. And take water. In fact take a rucksack for all the layers and the water and the snacks. If possible make a day of it.
Parking was free. We did not battle to get a parking in the morning early but when we came back at midday it was full.
The biggest problem is planning how much time you need. There were couples going up for the day and I think that makes a lot of sense, but if like us, you are pushed for time, it is very difficult to figure out how long it will take. To start with, you are reliant on when they slot the next tour which you can reasonably catch. We arrived early for the first ride of the day in order to catch the first tour. The first cable car ascent is at 8:40. The first group tour should be at 9:20. Once going up the first stage of the cable car, you reach a station where they slot you into a group. We only started our tour at 10:00. So timing things is a little out of your control.
From the first station you walk along a very steep path to the Ice cave. It was very exhausting because we rushed. We needn't have rushed because we sat outside the cave waiting till 10:00. When I say a stiff walk, I am not joking.
The tour guide was not very energized and entertaining, but the Caves are truly impressive. They are HUGE cavities in the mountain. You climb many steps so all in all, the tour of the caves requires a reasonable amount of mobility. Don't do it if you have a problem walking and climbing stairs. The tour took 50 minutes.
For all the people complaining about the cold, please take note of my photo of our group. Note how they are dressed in the middle of summer in July. ... Layer! Layer! Layer! How difficult is it to understand that you are entering enclosed rooms full of huge blocks of ice. It is basically a very, VERY large freezer that you are stepping into.
From there we rushed off to do Stage 2 of the cable car ride to the top for the Five Fingers lookout. What a spectacular ride! When you step out at the top station, you walk another 25 minutes to get to the Five Fingers lookout, by which time you are so hot (remember the LAYERS!). This walk is very beautiful and we would have loved to take it much slower to enjoy the scenery more. The view from the Five Fingers is magical.
But now it took us another 25 minutes back and another 2 cable cars down. Therefore the whole outing took us from about 8:30 when we parked to 12:30. So about 4 hours is the minimum you need. We really rushed. Ideally I would say allow the day or at least 5 hours. And take water. In fact take a rucksack for all the layers and the water and the snacks. If possible make a day of it.
Parking was free. We did not battle to get a parking in the morning early but when we came back at midday it was full.
Written July 26, 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.
Sunshinesearcher_10
Grantham, UK189 contributions
Sep 2014 • Couples
My husband and I visited this attraction on our recent trip to Austria. We bought the all inclusive ticket which was 41euros each and covered all the cable car journeys aswell as entry to both the Ice caves and the Mammoth caves. The ice caves were simply stunning and our guide was very informative. Wrap up warm as the temperature once inside drops dramatically and the tour lasts a good 50mins. After this cave we moved onto the Mammoth cave which again was visually amazing and quite overwhelming in size. After this cave we walked back down to the cable car station and had a coffee in the restaurant to warm back up (free Wi-Fi available here) before getting into the next cable car to head higher up to the next atttraction which was the Five Fingers,this is approx 20min walk from the cable car but well worth the walk. Wow what a view! We didnt do the final cable car upwards as we had had enough by then so I cant comment on the summit part.
We caught the 543 bus from Hallstatt at 8.55am and returned on the 16.15 bus so if you are planning this set aside most of a day. Well worth the money and we thoroughly enjoyed it!
We caught the 543 bus from Hallstatt at 8.55am and returned on the 16.15 bus so if you are planning this set aside most of a day. Well worth the money and we thoroughly enjoyed it!
Written September 20, 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.
EnglandJay53
England126 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
The trip starts with a ride up the mountain on a large cable car for which it's necessary to queue and at the terminus there is then a very steep walk for about 15/20 mins to the start of the tour. Before you start on this 'hike' you must call at another ticket office to be given a tour number. You'll be told how long you have before your tour starts and you must make it to the start of the caves for this time. I'm pretty sure ours started quite a bit later than we were told though! The views on the walk are stunning and wild flowers carpet the mountain sides - some of the flora are labelled. There is a large platform with seating outside the cave whilst you wait for your tour, from which the view is wonderful.
The caves were fascinating and very well worth seeing. Our guide was very good, very informative and did the tour in German then English, which obviously made it more interesting for those of us who don't speak German. Again, though, it's necessary to be fairly fit as there are hundreds of steps inside - all going up!
You exit the caves higher than you started, so you have another steep hike - albeit it downhill - back to the cable car.
Do take extra layers for inside the caves; it's cold in there!
The caves were fascinating and very well worth seeing. Our guide was very good, very informative and did the tour in German then English, which obviously made it more interesting for those of us who don't speak German. Again, though, it's necessary to be fairly fit as there are hundreds of steps inside - all going up!
You exit the caves higher than you started, so you have another steep hike - albeit it downhill - back to the cable car.
Do take extra layers for inside the caves; it's cold in there!
Written August 4, 2012
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Carol A
Lago Vista, TX286 contributions
I see you just reviewed the ice caves, but from their website I was under the impression they are closed until May. We are planning a trip to the are mid March and I am wondering if this would be a place to include or not in our trip?
anna
Naxos, Greece5 contributions
Hello,
i would like to know if it is possible to go in one day in salt mines and in ice caves! thanks
Hola me llamo Miriam y escribo desde la Ciudad de México, En verano compartiré una vacaciones en Austria con un hijo y 2 nietas. Uno de los lugares que mas nos han atraído es Ramsau am Dachstein.
Despuesde un viaje mareador 'por el Internet descubrí que debíamos llegar a Obertraun, YYYYYYY?
Vamos manejando queremos visitar el Sky walk, las cuevas de hielo; el Glaciar, nosotros no conocemos la nieve: el puente colgante, el museo de hielo, Las Wilde Wassery la Fábrica Textil
Hay forma de que me ayuden con como llegar a los distintos lugares, como hacer reservaciones en la Gondola y porsupuesto sus sugerencias
Gracias Mil
Miriam Stein
Leanne B
5 contributions
Hi :) we will be visiting the caves and planning on hiking some of the trails this coming October, what kind of jacket do you recommend that we take? A normal winter jacket/rain coat or those thick snow jackets that are lined and insulated from the inside? Thanks
Ambassador816957
1 contribution
I'd like to know why you couldn't take pictures in the cave.
Jasby60
Stanthorpe, Australia37 contributions
I took lots of photos when in the caves but the lighting is quite limited so you need to look at the settings on your camera to set for night shots, using a flash can be annoying for the other people on the tour. When I went into the caves there was a person using a flash and it was very annoying to have constant flashing in your eyes and then having to adjust to the darkness, most modern digital cameras have settings to compensate for the low light environment.
Amit Agarwal
Mumbai, India78 contributions
Hi, I am planning to travel to Hallstatt, 5 fingers and ice caves from Salzburg as a day trip. Is it possible to buy a day pass to cover all means of transport (bus/train) from Salzburg to Hallstat and ice caves and 5 fingers and return.
Phil A
Wallsend, UK104 contributions
Hi, I don't know the answer to your question, however another visitor has given a detailed travelogue. Check out 'Loved the Ice Cave' .. have fun .. its an awesome place to experience :o)
narciskaa
Czech Republic13 contributions
Is it possible to get to the Ice Cave by own car? Where could we park it? And anyone knows exact adress of cave? I just found that it is near to Obertraun. Thanks in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Dachstein Giant Ice Caves
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