The time booked on your ticket is your check-in time at the visitor centre.
Daily from early May to 1 November.
Ticket office (visitor centre)
8.30 am – 3.00 pm
Cable car (ascent to the cave)
8.45 am – 3.20 pm
Cave (guided tour)
9.30 am – 3.45 pm
Sturdy footwear and warm clothing are recommended. Even in summer, temperatures inside the cave are usually below 0°C.
You should allow around 3 hours from the time you arrive at the car park until your return. Of course, stopping for a meal or drink will take up additional time.
During the visit to the cave, you will need to climb a total of 134 metres in altitude. This is roughly equivalent to walking up the stairs of a 40-storey high-rise building. Here, too, it is the responsibility of each visitor to decide whether they feel capable of managing the associated physical exertion.
There is no doubt, however, that the beauty of the ice sculptures and the impressive size of the cave more than make up for any effort involved! The pace of the guided tour is tailored to each group of visitors. Nevertheless, people with severe mobility difficulties or cardiovascular conditions are advised against visiting the cave.
Yes, part of the route must be covered on foot, but the steepest section is covered by cable car.
The route from the visitor centre (car park / bus stop) to the cave entrance is divided into three sections:
- Walk to the cable car (approx. 20 minutes):
A gently ascending footpath leads from the visitor centre, partly through a tunnel, to the cable car’s valley station.
- Cable car ride (approx. 3 minutes):
The cable car covers the steepest section, which involves a climb of around 500 metres in altitude, and takes passengers to the mountain station.
- Walk to the cave entrance (approx. 20 minutes):
From the mountain station, a secured panoramic footpath leads up the remaining elevation to the actual cave entrance at 1,641 metres above sea level.
Due to limited capacity, we recommend booking tickets in advance online.
When you purchase an online ticket, your entry time at the visitor centre is set for a 30-minute slot of your choice (for example, between 11.00 and 11.30).
If you buy a ticket on the day or miss your reserved entry time, you will only be able to be allocated any remaining seats. In such cases, you should expect longer waiting times.
An additional benefit: as well as guaranteeing your entry time, booking online offers the cheapest fare compared to buying at the box office.
If you are unable to arrive at the booked time, you can reschedule your ticket at the box office on site, provided there are still seats available at the desired time. If you can provide reasonable proof that you are unable to use the ticket for valid reasons, you may also cancel the ticket and receive a refund of the purchase price (please contact us by email at info@eisriesenwelt.at).
With the online ticket, you reserve a 30-minute time slot. During this time, access is automatically granted upon your arrival at the visitor center. After that, there are no further time checks—neither at the cable car nor at the cave entrance. Take as much time as you need!
Please note that it takes 20 minutes to hike from the parking lot to the cable car and another 20 minutes from the cable car’s upper station to the cave, and there are 1,400 steps to climb inside the cave. For toddlers in a baby carrier, be sure to dress them appropriately so they stay warm enough even during a stay of over an hour at temperatures below 0 degrees! Experience shows that children under 4 years old are often overwhelmed.
Sturdy shoes, a hat, and, if possible, gloves will make the trip more enjoyable for children!
The fact that there is no electricity in the Eisriesenwelt is intentional, to offer you the most authentic cave adventure possible. Just as when the cave system was first discovered, you’ll explore the cave on foot along secured paths, using lamps modeled after those from that era. The carbide lamps and the white light from the cave guides’ magnesium torches lend your visit a unique atmosphere and an unmistakable charm.
TBD - Elektrische Beleuchtung , 6 Stellen …
You are welcome to bring your dog along free of charge. On the cable car, however, you must obtain the consent of the other passengers in the gondola—if they do not give their consent, please simply take the next gondola. Dogs must be kept on a lead throughout the entire premises.
Starting from the village of Werfen, a 5 km long, asphalt access road (toll-free) leads to the Eisriesenwelt car park next to the visitor centre.
Especially in the months of July/August on rainy days, parking spaces can be filled up quickly. In this case, there is a shuttle service from Werfen.
Access via the mountain road to the Eisriesenwelt visitor centre with motorhomes is permitted, but not recommended due to the steep roads and difficult parking situation. Please leave your motorhome in the free car park next to the local shuttle bus stop.
Driving up with caravans is not permitted by the authorities.
The curvy access road is a source of great enthusiasm for all motorcyclists. However, we ask you to take the necessary precautions and considerations into account! A separate motorcycle parking space and a storage facility (lockers) for motorcycle helmets are available at the visitor centre.
At the bus departure point in Werfen, directly on the access road, bicycles can be parked and luggage can be stored. From here, the shuttle bus service (see below) will take you directly to the Eisriesenwelt car park/visitor centre.
Buses (with the exception of extra-long buses with a length of more than 14m) can use the 5 km long and up to 21% steep mountain road almost continuously in two lanes. In some places, when there is a lot of traffic, particular attention must be paid to oncoming traffic. Shortly before the visitor centre, there is a turning point and sufficient bus parking. The journey time is approx. 20 minutes.
There are hiking trails which are signposted from Werfen and Tenneck to the Eisriesenwelt. Going up from the valley to the cable car takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. If the cable car route (exposed mountain climb – only for experienced people!) is to be done on foot, an additional time of around 1.5 hours should be planned to go up.
Note: The footpath from the cable car to the mountain station is a secure alpine trail in an exposed location. No fear of heights and good hiking equipment are required!
The bus with costs from Werfen to the Eisriesenwelt car park/visitor centre is available several times a day.
From Werfen station, the regular bus departs at 08:26, 10:26, 12:26 and 14:26. Outside these times, transfer is offered every 25 minutes from the Gries bus stop (about 5 minutes walk from the train station) - directly on the access road to the Eisriesenwelt. Groups should book in advance.
There are also buses going down from the visitor centre every 25 minutes approx. in the peak season. Pre and off-season 1/hour at 42 minutes past.
The last time to go down is at 17:42. If a tour finishes after this time, we will of course make sure that you get back to the valley safely by bus.
Special information and registrations (especially for groups) also on +43 (0) 6468/5293 or email: eisriesenwelt.linie@aon.at
From the city of Salzburg, various travel companies offer a daily tour of the Eisriesenwelt. Please inform yourself independently about possible offers.
The following providers with detailed information can be found at:
http://www.edelweisstourssalzburg.com
http://www.salzburg-sightseeingtours.at
http://www.panoramatours.com