Eisriesenwelt
Tourist attraction · Sankt Johann im Pongau ·

Eisriesenwelt

Tourist attraction · Sankt Johann im Pongau ·

World's largest ice cave, stunning formations, guided tours

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Eisriesenwelt by Photo courtesy of Österreich Werbung / Eisriesenwelt
Eisriesenwelt by Photo courtesy of Österreich Werbung / Eisriesenwelt
Eisriesenwelt by Photo courtesy of Österreich Werbung / Eisriesenwelt
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
Eisriesenwelt by null
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Information

Eishöhlenstraße 30, 5450 Werfen, Austria Get directions

Information

Static Map

Eishöhlenstraße 30, 5450 Werfen, Austria Get directions

+43 6468 5248
eisriesenwelt.at
@eisriesenwelt

Features

restroom
crowd lgbtq friendly
crowd trans safespace
wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance
wheelchair accessible restroom
wheelchair accessible seating
assistive hearing loop

Last updated

Nov 24, 2025

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@afar
25,132 Postcards · 3,700 Cities

"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
Photo courtesy of Österreich Werbung / Eisriesenwelt
Eisreisenwelt Trailhead
@afar
25,132 Postcards · 3,700 Cities

"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
Photo courtesy of Österreich Werbung / Eisriesenwelt
Eisreisenwelt Trailhead
@afar
25,132 Postcards · 3,700 Cities

"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
Photo courtesy of Österreich Werbung / Eisriesenwelt
Eisreisenwelt Trailhead

Colton W.

Google
Excellent trip to do!! We went in October. Was cold but not really bad. A regular jacket etc probably will suffice. Do be prepared for a LOT of uphill walking. You will need to take a shuttle bus (2 pick up points. Google it), it costs around 10 Euros and is CASH ONLY. Bring cash for this! You definitely don’t want to walk to the base site unless you feel like doing an all day hike. Once at the base, you can get tickets to go into the cave (includes the rail cart up to the top). Tickets are like 4 Euros cheaper if bought online. Super easy to buy online. After you leave ticket area, 15-20 mins uphill walk, then take the rail car, then another 15-20 mins uphill and then you are at the cave entrance. Wait here for a guided tour in your language. Lights are provided for the cave. Photos are NOT normally allowed. It seems they let you if it is the slow season. Give this review a like if it helped you! :)

Alexander C.

Google
You should be prepared to enormously steep climb - 1 km before the cable car and 1 km after. Additionally, the staircase with 1400 steps awaits you inside the cave. No warnings in the tourists center about the climbing, which is potentially dangerous or even impossible for not so young people or people with medical problems. The cave itself is quite average one. Positive things: great views outside the cave and on your way to the cave

Shalen R.

Google
We were holidaying in the Bayern area, and just had to experience this. Its somewhat of a 3/4 day experience. The drive there on its own is quite magical already. Tickets where quite easy to get online and you do a check-in at the counter. The short hike up to the cable car is amazing. And then you get to take another hike through tunnels to get to the entrance. The caves themselves is absolutely stunning. Definitely recommend long pants and jackets as it is 0degreesC inside. And be ready to walk a lot of steep steps. The guides are absolutely brilliant and the tour is offered in English and German. Highly recommend the visit. It's more than just the ice cave!

Neil R.

Google
Highly recommended but keep in mind, it’s for hikers. You will need to hike at least 40 minutes climbing and the cave is another 1400 stairs (700 up and 700 down). It’s fantastic journey and great tour but very difficult. The tour uses lanterns and magnesium for light which is great for the vibe but less good for pictures.

Milly K.

Google
It took us around 45 min to get to the cave (from the visitor center it takes 20 min to the cable and then again 20 min to the cave). You must be in a good fit to climb up the trail to the cave. It is expensive (125 euro for 3 adults and 2 kids). The cave itself is very nice but it also includes climbing up 1400 stairs. The surrounding view is exceptional and worth the climb. You should have some cash to tip the guide at the e one of the tour.

Marc

Google
Great place to visit, incredible ice cave with great views and history. Lots of steps inside, physically challenging, but worth every step. Warm clothes required!

Kshitij A.

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.

Maria Marcos P.

Google
100% recommended, very impressive and adventorous. Surrounded by a beautiful nature landscape. Warm clothes needed inside the cave. Jan was our guide and he couldn’t have been nicer, he explained everything perfectly.

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. .