Forty kilometres south of Salzburg, the Tennengebirge mountains hide one of the natural wonders of Europe: the Eisriesenwelt, the Giant Ice World, a limestone cave system more than forty kilometres long, of which the first kilometre or so is coated in ice. Frozen waterfalls, ice walls and delicate crystal formations glitter by the light of the guides’ lamps, and the temperature stays around freezing even in midsummer. Visitors reach it by a short drive from Werfen village, a cable car and a short climb on a mountain path, followed by a guided walk of around an hour on hundreds of steps. Down in the valley, Hohenwerfen Castle sits on a rock above the village. It is a medieval fortress with museum rooms, a falconry display in season and a starring role as the setting of the 1968 film Where Eagles Dare. A day tour from Salzburg connects the cave and the castle, and the ticket link takes you to a private day tour that names both.
How to book
The tour linked here is a private day tour, which means the pace and timing are flexible but the price is shared among your own group rather than across a coach full of strangers. Entrance tickets for the cave and the cable car are normally separate costs paid at the site or arranged by the operator, so check what the tour covers when you book. Because the cave is a natural site, it only opens for part of the year, generally from late spring to autumn, and it is closed in winter, so this is a trip for the warmer months.
What to expect
The cave tour involves around seven hundred steps, some of them steep and exposed, with a final section on wooden stairways inside the ice. It is not suitable for people with heart or breathing conditions, young children in arms or anyone who finds stairs difficult, and the temperature near freezing means hats, gloves and a warm jacket are essential even in summer.
Sturdy shoes with good grip are a must, as paths can be wet or icy. The guides carry lamps and provide commentary in English and German, and you should expect a physical morning.
Making the most of it
Start early, since the cave is one of the most popular day trips in the region and queues build by late morning. After the cave, spend the afternoon at Hohenwerfen Castle, whose courtyards and viewing terraces overlook the valley and whose falconry display is a highlight in season. If you only have limited mobility or travel in winter, consider the Hallein salt mine instead, which runs all year and is easier on the legs, or the Hallstatt trip for a gentler outing.
Good to know
Photography inside the ice cave is limited by the dark and the cold, and phone batteries drain quickly near freezing, so keep a spare power bank in an inside pocket. The guided group moves at a steady pace, and there are chances to catch your breath on the stairways. Pack a small bag only, wear gloves you can take off for photographs and leave good clothes behind, as the paths are damp and dripping.
What to expect
The experience
A private day tour with a cable car and guided walk through the ice cave, then time at Hohenwerfen Castle in the valley.
Best time
Late spring to early autumn, when the cave is open, with an early start to beat the crowds.
How long
A full day from Salzburg and back.
Tips
Wear warm layers, gloves and sturdy shoes, and expect around seven hundred steps inside the cave.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Adventurous travellers who want something very different from the usual old town sights.
- Families
- Fit older children will love it, but the steps and cold make it unsuitable for toddlers and anyone with mobility concerns.
- Couples
- A private tour allows a flexible pace and a memorable day together.
- Pair with
- The Hallein salt mine on another day to compare Salzburg’s two underground worlds.
- Time needed
- A full day.
Good questions
What is the Eisriesenwelt?+
The largest accessible ice cave in the world, in the Tennengebirge near Werfen. The first kilometre or so is covered in ice formations that glitter in lamplight.
When are the Werfen ice caves open?+
Generally from late spring to autumn. The cave is closed in winter, so this is a trip for the warmer months.
How hard is the cave tour?+
Expect around seven hundred steps, some steep, and temperatures near freezing. It is not suitable for people with heart or breathing conditions or serious mobility problems.
What should I wear in the ice cave?+
A warm jacket, hat, gloves and sturdy shoes with good grip, even in midsummer. Paths can be wet or icy.
What else is there to see in Werfen?+
Hohenwerfen Castle, a medieval fortress above the village with museum rooms and a falconry display in season. It was a filming location for Where Eagles Dare.
