The Werfen ice caves ‘Eisriesenwelt’ are the largest ice caves in the world, a natural wonder. They are located in a small town ‘Werfen’, 55 km South of Salzburg. The scenic train journey through the Austrian mountains is a pleasure.
Blog Contents
Highlights
- Total length – 42 km into the mountain, but only the first km has the ice formations
- The Ice caves are open to visit only during summer
- Ice caves are also nicknamed as ‘World of Ice giants’
Did you know that there are over 30 caves in Austria that are open to tourists? Yes, the Werfen Ice caves are just one among them.
How to reach Werfen ice caves by public transport?
Most of the visitors take a day trip to Werfen from Salzburg. While booking through travel agents like getyourguide is hassle-free, they can be quite expensive.
I have written a separate blog post on how to reach Werfen ice caves by public transport. The total price including a return trip will cost from ~ 52€ (group of 2) up to 90€ (group of 5).
Opening times
Visitors are allowed only in summer ~ May to October. The dates change every year. So check for the official website before your visit.
Price
There are multiple options
- Ice caves entry + Cable car (both ways) – 35€ ✔️
- Cable car (one way) – 12€
- Cable car (both ways) – 22€
- Ice caves entry – 17€
The economical ticket is the combi ticket that includes both cave entry and cable car. Kids and youth have special discounts.
Buying ticket online
Buy the tickets online, directly from the official website. The combi ticket price is only 32€, 3€ less than buying at the visitor center entrance (35 €). You receive a QR code with details that you present at the entrance.
If you arrive late, there are chances that you have to wait in line during peak season.
Hike to the Ice caves entrance
The hike to the cave entrance can be exhausting if you aren’t a regular hiker. You are already standing at an altitude of over 1050 m at the start. Exploring the largest ice cave in Werfen is divided into 3 parts
- Moderate hike – 20 minutes
- Cable car ride – 3 minutes
- Steep hike – 20 minutes
The first 20 minutes are quite enjoyable as they are more of a leisure walk and you go through some dark tunnels carved through the mountains.
By the time you feel that you need a break, the cable car comes to the rescue. There are a few small huts where you can refresh. In a few minutes, the cable car takes you from 1084 m to 1586 m in 3 minutes. The frequency of the cable car is 15 minutes.
A beer garden and a toilet are included at the top.
Alternatively, some opt for a 90-minute hike instead of the cable car. The route can be quite challenging. Therefore it is recommended to have proper gear if you choose this option
The last 20 minutes are steep and require some energy. Throughout this last leg, there are small benches to have short breaks. We took about 2-3 short breaks (5 minutes) until we reached the cave entrance.
Werfen Ice Caves guided tour
The entrance inside the caves is allowed only by a guided tour. The price is already included in the cave entrance fee. The tour lasts for ~ 70 minutes. There are two options to expereince this underground wonders of Werfen; English and German.
Our group had approximately 25 people. There is no light inside the cave and for every 2 visitors, one traditional lantern is given. The tour guide had a
Photography is generally prohibited due to the fact that people waste time with pictures. If the group is small, then the guide will allow clicking pictures. We were lucky in that case as the guide allowed us.
In the first 45 minutes of the tour, you go through various ice formations and the altitude difference during the hike is ~100m with over 1000 steps to climb. Therefore you don’t feel very cold even though the temperature inside is below 5 °C.
The wooden steps are slippery. Hence take extra precautions while clicking pictures. One person’s mobile slipped and fell deep down. After a few hours, the tour guide discovered.
Ice formations in Werfen Caves
The guide explained how the ice is formed. Every year winds blow hard through the caves leading to the ice formation. It is a natural wonder. In some places, the ice formations are in the shape of a chamber palace, hence called an Ice palace.
Overall it was a wonderful experience to visit the Werfen Ice caves.
Tips to visit the Werfen Ice caves
- Guided tours inside the caves are every half an hour. The frequency for the English tour may change to every one hour if the tourists are fewer.
- During the guided tour, be close to the guide as his voice becomes inaudible after a few meters.
- Have a warm jacket as the temperature is below 5 °C inside the caves.
- Good winter hiking shoes are recommended for a smooth journey.
- Carry enough water and food as there are shops near the cave entrance.
- Try to be at the cave entrance before noon in order to avoid the peak tourists.
- If you are traveling by public transport, plan your cave visit in advance as buses run only once an hour.
Time of my visit: July 2022
Overall experience: 