Ice Caves in Salzburg

The ice caves are located forty kilometres south of Salzburg.

Every year, thousands of visitors fall under the spell of the Werfen World of Ice, a gigantic labyrinth of caves in the Tennengebirge mountains of Salzburg Province. In subzero temperatures, visitors can admire mighty ice sculptures crafted by forces of nature and untouched by any human hand. The caves were unknown until they were first discovered at the end of the nineteenth century. Then, as news of their splendour spread, increasing numbers of visitors came to admire the beauty of the World of Ice.

Where once the first visitors had to face an arduous and tiring ascent on foot, there is now a cable-car. It takes tourists straight to the entrance and is worth the visit in itself, covering the steepest part of the hillside (from 1,076 to 1,586 metres) in no more than a couple of minutes. During the steepest cable-car ascent in Austria, a breathtaking view down into the valley of the Salzach and across into the alpine panorama of the Hohe Tauern unfolds. Those who prefer the more testing route can tackle the 500 vertical metres between the valley station and top station on foot. The climb takes about an hour and a half.

Opening Hours

The caves and cable-car are open from 1 May to 26 October.
Opening times: 9 am to 5.30 pm (last guided tour) or 6.30 pm (last guided tour in July and August).
The guided tour lasts about one hour and fifteen minutes. A visit will generally take about three to four hours in total.

Admission Fees

The combined ticket includes cable-car trip and entry to caves.
Adults: EUR 17.00
Concessions: EUR 15.00
Children: EUR 8.50

It is strongly recommended that you bring sturdy shoes and warm clothing. Don't forget your hat and gloves either! Even in summer, the temperature is often below freezing. Visitors are provided with a miner's lamp at the entrance to the caves. The tour of the caves involves climbing a total of 134 metres - about the same height as the stairs in a tall building.

This physical effort may be dangerous for the elderly and the infirm. In addition, it should be remembered that parts of the route consist only of steps. Parents are advised to consider whether it is sensible to bring their children on the relatively long walk through the cold caves. These warnings are for your own safety, but they should not obscure the fact that the beautiful ice sculptures are sure to reward the effort of those who enter the caves!

You are allowed to bring dogs to the World of Ice, but this is not recommended because of the many steps inside.

Photography and filming are not permitted in the caves.