Eisriesenwelt

Tourist attraction · Sankt Johann im Pongau

Eisriesenwelt

Tourist attraction · Sankt Johann im Pongau

3

Eishöhlenstraße 30, 5450 Werfen, Austria

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Eisriesenwelt by Photo courtesy of Österreich Werbung / Eisriesenwelt
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Eisriesenwelt by Photo courtesy of Österreich Werbung / Eisriesenwelt
Eisriesenwelt by Photo courtesy of Österreich Werbung / Eisriesenwelt
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Highlights

Eisriesenwelt in Austria is a vast, unlit ice cave with towering frozen sculptures, accessible via scenic hikes and cable cars for adventurous explorers.  

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Eishöhlenstraße 30, 5450 Werfen, Austria Get directions

eisriesenwelt.at
@eisriesenwelt

Information

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Eishöhlenstraße 30, 5450 Werfen, Austria Get directions

+43 6468 5248
eisriesenwelt.at
@eisriesenwelt

Features

crowd lgbtq friendly
assistive hearing loop
parking private lot
crowd family friendly

Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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@afar

"Chill in the Ice Caves at Werfen The largest ice caves in the world lie just 30 miles south of Salzburg in the Eisriesenwelt at Werfen. Only a portion of the more than 20 miles of caves are open to the public on a 75-minute guided tour, but what's available to visit is impressive. Magnificent ice formations, frozen waterfalls, and a smooth, rinklike ice palace can be found in this underground world. Visitors will also see Hymir's Castle , an enormous ice sculpture named for the ice giant of the Edda (the oldest Germanic-mythology saga), and witness layers of time, much like rings on a tree, encased in the glacier (which is actually not a glacier but a massive chunk of accumulated ice)."

Salzburg and Salzburger Land
View Postcard for Eisreisenwelt Trailhead
@afar

"Chill in the Ice Caves at Werfen The largest ice caves in the world lie just 30 miles south of Salzburg in the Eisriesenwelt at Werfen. Only a portion of the more than 20 miles of caves are open to the public on a 75-minute guided tour, but what's available to visit is impressive. Magnificent ice formations, frozen waterfalls, and a smooth, rinklike ice palace can be found in this underground world. Visitors will also see Hymir's Castle , an enormous ice sculpture named for the ice giant of the Edda (the oldest Germanic-mythology saga), and witness layers of time, much like rings on a tree, encased in the glacier (which is actually not a glacier but a massive chunk of accumulated ice)."

Austria's Mind-Blowing Natural Attractions
View Postcard for Eisreisenwelt Trailhead
@afar

"Chill in the Ice Caves at Werfen The largest ice caves in the world lie just 30 miles south of Salzburg in the Eisriesenwelt at Werfen. Only a portion of the more than 20 miles of caves are open to the public on a 75-minute guided tour, but what's available to visit is impressive. Magnificent ice formations, frozen waterfalls, and a smooth, rinklike ice palace can be found in this underground world. Visitors will also see Hymir's Castle , an enormous ice sculpture named for the ice giant of the Edda (the oldest Germanic-mythology saga), and witness layers of time, much like rings on a tree, encased in the glacier (which is actually not a glacier but a massive chunk of accumulated ice)."

The Best Things to Do in Salzburg
View Postcard for Eisreisenwelt Trailhead

Kshitij Agarwal

Google
One of best ice caves experiences in the world. I have visited the caves twice, 7 years apart and can truly say the sculptures inside are changing. The elephant sculpture from 7 years ago now almost looks like a wooly mammoth. There is ample parking around which is not chargeable. It is best to book your slot online before visiting to avoid the rush for entry. Also, please carry good jackets as it is very cold inside the caves. It is best to choose a morning slot so that you have ample time to enjoy. It's a good trek upto the cable car after the entry check point and again from the cable car drop point to the cave, so having good treeking shoes really helps. There is a washroom located near the cave entry and the 1st checkpoint. Before entering the cave they give you a lamp which works on oil to carry inside. The guides are all very amazing. There is a fair steep climb inside the cave which raises your heart rate and helps keep you warm. The fire looking out of the cave to the mountains is just mindblowing.

Daniel Chen

Google
Pre-purchase online tickets is highly recommended. Must arrive during the designated time period. Walking up the steep paths requires some good physical ability. It takes approx. 40-50 minutes to get to the cave entrance. Then another 15-20 minutes wait to get inside the cave and begin the guided tour, which lasts 90min. But once inside, all that wait is 100% worthwhile. Great tour guide, amazing views of the glacier formed over billions of years. A must visit if you are fit and not afraid of height.

Adam Poulin

Google
We had an amazing time. The hike up was not easy for those who are not in good shape. But the views at the top and the ice cave were well worth the effort. This was such a great experience. The staff were wonderful and very knowledgeable. If you have time on your journey, don't miss out on this!

Stephen Spencer

Google
It’s clear these caves would be spectacular if they actually lit them properly, instead of resorting to brief glimpses due to their commitment to “traditional” methods of lighting. For most of the time you’re in near darkness, and then a guide lights a strip of magnesium and for a few seconds you get a sense of just how magnificent these caves would be with proper lighting. Be aware, that just getting here is a major commitment of time, and fitness. It’s a long drive up a steep road, then a long walk uphill from the car park to the first cable car, a steep walk to the next cable car, then a long steep walk to the entrance, and then hundreds more steps once inside the caves. The guides are excellent, and the English language tour was superb, and when we saw the brief glimpses of the ice formations it was spectacular, but please, please, invest in some decent lighting, and show off these caves in the way they deserve.

Z

Google
Impressive and breathtaking and terrifying 😳 😅 views!! Not for the fainthearted and tons of steep steps but all worth it in the end. First you drive up to half the mountain, then you walk up a semi steep walk way,....Then you buy the tickets (we paid €42+ tax per person), then you walk 20mins up another steep walk way and thru a cave tunnel....Then you take the Seilbahn and go up a terrifying 10min drive up, then theres a restaurant, and you gotta keep going for another 20mins to get to the ice caves. Once you get there, you walk up 700 steps and then down another 700 - 60-70minute tour in FREEZING temps up some really tight wooden staircase... as noted above,not for the fainthearted lol

T Sher

Google
Too Magnificient of this nature crafted artworks! The guides are amazing and experience to tell us what is in the ice cave. I feel anyone can come for this experience; just need to manage your pace and let the guide know. Need go be a bit wary of the oil lamp as can easily caught fire with yr clothing. Very Worth it & highly recommended!

James Summerson

Google
Beautiful once you get there, but the multiple climbs up are punishing. Also, make sure one of your pairs gets a lamp or the stairs down become invisible in the dark!

Saradh Tiwari

Google
The caves are natural and has no artificial illumination inside. Your group gets to carry a hand held open flame lamp which makes you feel like an explorer. I do not recommend walking up to the ticket counter as it is too steep. Use a car if possible. After the tickets, you can only walk up to the cable car and then walk again to the cave entrance. You also have to climb around 1400 steps (700 up-down) inside the cave. It’s not that hard of a climb and the steps are wooden with rails all around. The cave is mostly dark but magnesium flares that the guide uses makes the cave glow beautifully aqua and then it feels magical. You’re not allowed to take pictures unless it’s snowing, and we were lucky as it was snowing in mid May 😬

Andrea S.

Yelp
I have come for 25 years. It's beautiful. Every time. I love the lack of electricity, the shapes and shadows. ... They are currently allowing people to take pictures inside the caves and I wish they wouldn't. The light from the phones add a lot of light to the cave. It takes away some of the magic. Despite being told not to the people around me kept stopping to take pics and I kept tripping over them
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Kaori M.

Yelp
This place is definitely amazing. First, short hikes to the cave entrance is already beautiful. All the way down to the town of Werfen and Austrian Alps. So pretty. Then suddenly totally different scenery inside the cave. Such an ice art! I can't describe the color or shape. One of the highlights of my European trip. I visited here at the end of May, so not busy at all.
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Heather D.

Yelp
After spending the day in Salzburg, we made a last minute decision to stop by here and check out this ice cave as it looked really cool online. Super glad we did! Such a great and unique experience you can't get easily or often. How tour guide mentioned he was newer to giving tours, but he was great - funny and engaging. A few pro tips to those considering going: - all tickets come with gondola ride up, down, and the tour. - If you plan to go later in the day, note that the ticket office closes at 3pm - even though the last tour is as 3:45pm. Why? Because it's a HECK OF A HIKE up to the thing. There is a gondola - but it doesn't matter. Still a strenuous 20 min-ish hike at a bit of a steep incline. If you're extremely out of shape - be warned. - please dress warm - for freezing temperature. I'd suggest bringing gloves as you're holding on to cold railings most of the time. - bring a high powered flashlight. They let you use them and it will help greatly with being able to see! My only complaint is why they don't add lighting in the cave. It's just really dark most of the time even with the tour guide lighting little fire cracker light things. Final verdict: Def worth the trip and price!
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Matthew R.

Yelp
I had an awesome time here. I came with my mother, girlfriend, and sister. My 62 year old mother did have some trouble with all the walking but pushed through and really enjoyed it. The ice in the cave is neat and the massiveness of it is impressive, but that's not what made it a 5 star experience for me. You walk around on plywood boards with steep staircases guided by a gas lamp. The cave feels a bit alien and is fairly unmolested. There's not much between you and the ice and you only have a small lantern to guide you, it felt a bit unsafe and scary and exciting. The whole experience felt authentic and personal, a nice change from most tourist attractions. That's why I personally enjoyed it so much. We had lunch at the restaurant by the cable car and it pretty solid though watch out from the aggressive crows. We also had some strudel where you purchase tickets and that was very good as well.
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Albert W.

Yelp
It's pretty amazing that there is vast extent of ice in the caves, but I was a bit let down by all the pictures online and in brochures. It's mostly a large sheet of ice inside the cave. I did not really see the stunning ice formations that the pictures online showed. Also, it was very dark and you are only provided a candle-lit lantern. If you are decently fit (not necessarily athletic), and the weather is decent, I would recommend making the hike and saving 12 Euros. The hike was very scenic and took me 45 minutes. Also pictures are not allowed. I recommend bringing somethere warm to wear for inside the cave!
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Clarice W.

Yelp
The best place to get information for your visit is from the official website. So I will only be giving my personal account here. A trip to Austria would not be complete without a scenic and unique excursion to the mountains. We happened to visit the ice caves on the perfect day, the day before they closed for the winter. Because of the temperature and snowfall during the winter it is too dangerous and too cold to hold tours during this time, so check the website. There is a shuttle that will pick you up, for a small fee (apx. 5.60 EUR) from various parking lots in Werfen and take you up the steep hill to the admissions office and gift shop. The shuttle will also bring you back, just make sure you ask the driver for the times of departure. The reason I docked a star: Now, I may be lazy, but I don't care. From the ticket office you have to walk 20 minutes (which actually takes 40 minutes if you don't hike or are with people who don't hike) to get to a cable car that takes you up the mountain. But from this point you have ANOTHER steep supposed 20 minute hike to the mouth of the cave. And once inside 700 steps in and 700 steps out. See, they say it's a comfortable 20 minute walk on both accounts. I say YEAH RIGHT! I don't see any reason why they don't have a shuttle to take you at least one of those 20 minute walks. They drive cars and tractors up and down that road. And don't forget you have to walk them back as well. OK, So now in the ice cave we had a great tour guide that even had a few good jokes! The tours are announced in German and English. You cannot take pictures or video in the ice cave so it's worth it to get some postcards in the gift shop of naturally formed sculptures such as the polar bear and the elephant. You get cool miner's lanterns to carry and light your way as you walk through the cave and up the steps. It is a physical tour and it is chilly so dress warm, yes, even in summer! How do you think the ice stays frozen?
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Hilary G.

Yelp
Eisriesenwelt is certainly a workout. You have to hike to the entrance of the cave which is steep and once in the ice cave there are many steep stairs to climb. This tour is not for the faint of heart. The tour guides do a good job of leading everyone, but unfortunately there were some really annoying tourists who talked during the tour and would not shut up. We also abandoned the tour bus that drove us due to the lack of a/c and we took the train back to Salzburg. I highly recommend taking the train as it's efficient and cheap. I wish we had had time to tour the Hohenwerfen castle that is very close to the ice caves. The downside of the tour is that it's extremely dark in the caves so it's hard to see.
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Jose C.

Yelp
One of the coolest things we have ever done. It's a bit of a hike but totally worth it. Fritz our guide was great and cute. .