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Opening times
Caves and cable-car service: daily from 1. May to 26. October. Opening times : 9.00 - 15.30 (last guided tour) or 16.30 (last guided tour in July and August). Tours last 75 minutes. Visitors should allow 3-4 hours for the whole visit.
Preparations for your visit
Heavy shoes and warm clothing are recommended. Even in summer the temperature is usually below freezing. Lamps are handed out at the entrance to the cave, and during the tour additional magnesium lighting highlights the ice sculptures to great effect. The cave itself is a national monument and may only be entered by authorised guides.
Health and Fitness
Visitors have to climb 134 metres, which is equivalent to climbing the stairs in a high block of flats. Each individual must decide for himself whether he is physically capable or not. The beauty and breathtaking dimensions of the cave provide plenty of reward for the effort!
Although the speed of the guided tour is tailored to the group, we advise those with serious walking difficulties or heart circulation problems not to visit the caves.
Dogs
The Eisriesenwelt is open to animals but this is not recommended due to the large number of steps.
Children
Parents must decide themselves whether the relatively long walk and cold temperatures are suitable for young children. Experience has taught us that it is not suitable for many children up to the age of 3-4. If children accompany the group, they should be wearing warm clothing, as well as gloves and a hat.
Photography
Both photography and filming are forbidden, but it should be mentioned here that this is not to increase postcard sales, but is for organisational reasons and an attempt to preserve the original character of the caves. The large number of tourists, especially during the high season with tours every six minutes, require precise planning. This rhythm would be disturbed by the unavoidable delays caused by people looking for the right lense, checking the light conditions, changing films and positioning friends and relatives in the photo. Since nearly everybody has a camera these days the overall experience of your visit would be spoilt by the incessant flashing and the guides themselves would be subjected to permanent flashes. Attempts to allow photography at certain points has unfortunately led to all rules being ignored. We appreciate your understanding for this measure which is unpopular but extremely necessary.
Good weather / Bad weather
The caves are always well worth a visit, even when the weather is nice and warm. Good weather has the advantage of exciting panoramic views of the Salzach valley from the entrance and the change from light to dark is particularly striking when the weather is good.