Eisriesenwelt

The Eisriesenwelt near Werfen in the Salzburg region is an ice cave in the Tennengebirge, inside the Hochkogel mountain, about 40 km (25 miles) south of Salzburg, and is considered the largest known ice cave on Earth. The cave system is more than 40 km (25 miles) long, and only the first kilometre is open to visitors. The entrance is above 1,600 m (5,250 feet). The Salzburg naturalist Anton Posselt explored the cave in 1879. Even in summer the temperature is around freezing, and the guided tour takes about 75 minutes.

A cable car has covered the steepest part of the old footpath since 1955, from 1,084 to 1,586 m. Allow about 20 minutes each for the walk from the car park to the valley station and from the upper station to the entrance. Inside the cave there are more than 1,400 steps in total, roughly 700 in each direction, and 134 m of climbing. The ice formations are lit with carbide lamps and burning magnesium. Allow at least three hours for the whole trip; a hat, gloves, a warm jacket and sturdy footwear are essential. The cave is open only in the summer half-year: the 2026 season began on May 1 and ends in autumn, usually at the end of October (as of October 2026). Check times and time slots on the Eisriesenwelt website, and book early in high summer.