Werfen Ice Caves Tour from Salzburg

Salzburg, Austria

Visit the largest Ice Caves in the world on this memorable afternoon trip from Salzburg. Your tour meanders south along the picturesque Salzach Valley towards the idyllic village of Werfen, taking in historic monuments, sheer mountain passes and the most imposing castle in middle Europe, Castle Werfen - made famous in the movie "Where Eagles Dare".

To reach the caves, you combine walking (a safe and wonderful way to enjoy the Alps close up) and a cable car. The Eisriesenwelt is the world's largest ice cave.

You will enter this natural wonder with your guide, who will explain the labyrinths of large caverns, mysterious ice figures and give many added tales of adventure, to make your experience unforgettable. There is more to this cave than its echo!

Important Note:
You will need walking shoes, warm clothes and should be prepared for uphill walking. The climb to the ice caves is 134 meters, which is equivalent to climbing the stairs in a high block of apartments. Each individual should decide for themselves whether he or she is physically able to complete the climb. 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.

USD $47.24

Review by: OISIN B	November 2011
This tour I recommend to everyone, the trek up to the cave itself can be tough going but well worth it. The views on the way up are breathe taking and then you enter the cave and witness even more marvels, highly, highly recommended.

Review by: Andrew S	October 2011
Brilliant half day trip! Definitely worth doing this trip! Views from the Alps on the way to the Ice Caves is pretty amazing (about 2km above sea level), and inside the caves is something you need to experience. Be warned though, those looking for amazing photo's to remember your day will be disappointed.... Much like on other day trips from Munich and Salzburg, no photo's are allowed inside the caves. That is really the only negative thing about this trip.

Review by: grandpotato	September 2011
Excellent. However we were not informed we had to pay an extra 17Euro pp for the cable car ride up to the top. Also you cannot take photographs inside of the caves for safety reasons (this is understandable)

Review by: Melinawati S	September 2011
It is wonderful!

Review by: Jocelico	August 2011
The place is amazing and is located almost at the tip of a mountain ; ) Once inside the cave, oil lamps are used to light your way threw the cave. Wonderfull experience. Dress warmly !!!

Review by: Suzanne R	August 2011
When we were seated on the coach, we were advised there would be an additional 17 euro per adult and 9 euro per child for this tour to pay for the cable car and ice cave guide. You start your journey on a coach, with a very interesting guide, the coach takes you half way up the mountains and you walk the rest of the way, which is hard going and you need to be fit. The ice caves themselves have 700 steps up and 700 hundred steps down, so again ,you need to be fit for walking. The Ice cave is an amazing experience, you carry an oil lamp as its dark and very cold inside. the guide was brilliant and the views were out of this world. the only disappointment was the additional fees that were not advertised beforehand as this made the trip 60 euro's more than expected

Review by: Ralph M	May 2011
Pricing information was unclear and we were only informed on the day of the trip that there was an additional 17 EUR pp. payable to cover the entrance fee and cable car use. It rained on the day and was *extremely* cold. If you come from a warm climate, make sure to take waterproof boots, jackets, gloves, a scarf and an umbrella!

Review by: Mark A	May 2011
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TOUR! The Ice Caves are magical to say the least. Very nice tour guide, but it is not for the faint-hearted. There is a lot of hiking and step climbing involved in this tour. But worth it! Highly recommended.

Review by: Manoj P	May 2011
It was an amazing experience.

Review by: Ramnath B	November 2010
Excellant, recommended and a must trip if you visit Salzburg. Tour was conducted well. The feel of being inside the World's biggest Ice caves is itself great. Only disappointment is you cannot click pictures inside the caves.

Review by: Rana E	October 2010
It was a very good experience the tour is amazing the guide was so good. We were lucky because the weather was perfect!

Review by: Anonymous	August 2010
This was an amazing sight to see. You take a bus for 45 min. Then you hike up to the cable car. Then hike again up to the ice caves. Inside you aren't allowed to take pictures so enjoy the amazing view inside. It is pretty cold in there. I had a sweatshirt but that definitely was not enough. Make sure you layer if you only have a sweatshirt. The only thing I was disappointed with was the extra cost and extra time when I arrived. It costs an additional 17 Euros to get in and it really take and hour and a half longer than posted. The guide said that this is explained on the website but I didn't see it anywhere. If you don't have plans after the caves then its fine but I had the Mozart Concert and dinner that night and I would not have made it if I didn't pay for a cab. An additional cost I didn't expect. The caves are a once in a life time opportunity, breathtaking!

Review by: Victoria J	August 2010
Good tour, beautiful ice caves - TAKE WARM CLOTHES including gloves!! Be prepared for hiking and the 1400 stairs! But beware - this price doesnt include the entrance to the caves - thats an additional 17 euro which we were only told on the bus on the way! Basically you are paying for a bus and petrol!

Review by: Tim B	July 2010
The day was very hot and the climb up to the cave was a little hard but getting into the cave and seeing the great formations was WELL worth the time spent getting up there. Our guild was great, speaking very good English and the pub we stopped at had great food and beer. A perfect afternoon!

Review by: Kristen D	May 2010
Although photography was not allowed I was extremely disappointed when I found this out on the way to the tour site - since Viator did not have it listed the caves were amazing. Very neat to see the formations and how large they really are. The walk was long and strenuous for those not in good shape 30 min uphill - cable car - another 30 min uphill - then 700 steps inside the cave going up and another 700 down to get out. Overall it was an interesting trip.

Review by: Anonymous, Saudi Arabia	December 2009
excellent service

Review by: Choon Kit T, Australia	November 2009
Great Guides! Amazing sights. Strongly recommended!

Review by: carrie g, United Kingdom	November 2009
The ice cave was beautiful. It is very dark and you need to keep close together so you can see where you're walking, but the guide lights up certain parts of the cave with a torch, and it just looks amazing. You're technically not allowed to take photos in the cave although we all did! My only criticism is that our guide pressured the group into walking up and down the Alps as quickly as possible due to 'time constraints'. However there is pleanty of time to walk, and it is a much more enjoyable experience if you do just take your time. We walked briskly on the way up and we were knackered despite being young, fairly fit adults. We decided just to take our time on the way back down and it certainly made the difference. The cafe doesn't accept cards, so don't get caught short without some money! I would definately say that it is worth seeing.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	November 2009
Absolutely amazing!!! You must be prepared to hike up trails, walking for 45 minutes, then climbing more,...and even hiking more, then more steps... "Times a million" Not for those with breathing difficulties! Mobility limitation or dislike for hiking-up-trails-steps! The light show, stories, and spectacle though is worth every effort!!! Just do it!

Review by: Carrie G	November 2009
The ice cave was beautiful. It is very dark and you need to keep close together so you can see where you're walking, but the guide lights up certain parts of the cave with a torch, and it just looks amazing. You're technically not allowed to take photos in the cave although we all did! My only criticism is that our guide pressured the group into walking up and down the Alps as quickly as possible due to 'time constraints'. However there is pleanty of time to walk, and it is a much more enjoyable experience if you do just take your time. We walked briskly on the way up and we were knackered despite being young, fairly fit adults. We decided just to take our time on the way back down and it certainly made the difference. The cafe doesn't accept cards, so don't get caught short without some money! I would definately say that it is worth seeing.

Review by: Anonymous, Canada	October 2009
Had a great time very cool to see. If you can try to get to the front of the line with the guide to hear and see everything.

Review by: Wendy V, Australia	October 2009
Heaps of fun, a challenging walk but the rewards were many!

Review by: Geraldine D	August 2009
Lots of exercise but worth doing.

Review by: Anonymous, Canada	July 2009
Awesome.

Review by: Christine C, Australia	July 2009
Fantastic experience and would highly recommend this tour while in Salzburg.

Review by: Naveed B, Ireland	July 2009
Excellent! Guide was excellent. Definitely worth a visit. We really enjoyed it!

Review by: Alec W, Australia	July 2009
Be prepared for a good hike up the hill on the side of the mountain. This is NOT for the slow and elderly who can't walk well. Also, once inside the cave be prepared for another 1400 steps. It was many older people who did manage it, though, so give it a go. The caves are just amazing and they show them in a very natural way. It was an absolutely great trip.

Review by: Malcolm M	July 2009
Fantastic experience and would highly recommend this tour while in Salzburg.

Review by: Howard M	July 2009
I was the only senior citizen on the bus--that should have been a clue for me. Definitely not for senior citizens. All others were in their 20s. My daughter, age 28, absolutely loved it.

Review by: Danielle K	November 2008
I went with my brother 24, mum5 4 & Dad 56 with a sedentary job and smoker. Dad found it challenging and by half-way up the walk wasn't sure he'd make it. But at the entrance to the cave there was enough waiting time for him to get his energy back. There are 2 lots of 15 - 20mins uphill walking not steep but constant with a cable-car ride in between to get to the cave. Inside there are 700 steps up and 700 down, but it didn't feel like it because you don't do them all at once. It's fairly dark and the lamps are not that great, the reflectors were rusted so not as effective. But it was ok, just be careful on steps. The guide makes extra light when you are in special places and that looks fantastic. The cave is vast and impressive, like nothing I've ever seen before so I really enjoyed it. I was worried I might feel claustrophobic but I didn't because it is mostly all large spaces. We enjoyed this tour, even Dad was really glad he did it. If you aren't sure if you're fit enough you can still try, it's all one path to the cave, so if you had to stop you'd just wait on the same that path. Do bring gloves, the railings are metal.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	October 2008
It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Yes, it's cold and a very long walk up, but it's worth every minute up the mountain. The tour guide basically gave us all the info the ice cave guide gave us, but it was still very interesting anyway. Worth the money, but remember the entrance fee is not included in the Viator price.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	September 2008
A great activity. Hard work getting there but it was worth every step!!

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	August 2008
Fun fun fun and cold cold cold!! Extremely physically demanding, but worth every second. Tour company and guides were all excellent.

Review by: Mariette K, South Africa	July 2008
Breathtaking!

Review by: Eyad A	July 2008
Very nice trip but you need to warm up your feet prior going up the mountain.

Review by: Anne Marie D	July 2008
Breathtaking!

Review by: Nicole B, United States of America	October 2007
This was one of the most incredible tours I have ever been on. I want to thank the tour operator for being so well organized and having such enthusiastic tour guides!

Review by: Candace C	October 2007
A unique tour, well worth taking. However, be prepared for some very serious uphill walking in order to reach the mouth of the cave. This is a strenuous tour and I believe it should be better explained in the tour package. Inside the cave you are faced with seven hundred steps up and then seven hundred steps down. Do not forget to bring gloves, the railings inside the cave are icy cold.

Review by: Peter C	October 2007
This trip was unique as it is claimed to be the largest ice cave in the world. It is quite an adventure as they do not have electric lighting so every other person has to carry a carbide lamp. The cave is situated fairly high and up and requires reasonable fitness to cope with the two lots of uphill walking each of about 20 minutes and 700 steps inside the cave. Do not underestimate this as about 6 people on our bus never made it to the cave. As an ex-caver I was surprised at the lack of calcite formations in the cave and would have appreciated a little more information on how the cave was formed.

Review by: Jovana O	August 2007
Make sure you bring tons of warm clothes! Also, the entrance fee is not included in the price, so make sure you bring 15 Euros per person. Otherwise, the tour was completely beautiful and unique. One of my favorites!

Review by: Anonymous	August 2007
It's very strenuous. We weren't prepared for that. But it was amazing once we got inside after hiking 700 steps up half a mountain!

Review by: Keith P	July 2007
This was worth the experience, particularly that cold gust of wind upon entering the cave after a hot climb. The only thing I found a surprise was having to fork out the extra €15 per person on the coach. We would have preferred to pay this at the time of booking. Someone else had to fork out €100 for his party, which could have left him embarrassed. This should be made clearer.

Review by: Anonymous	July 2007
This trip was absolutely worth doing. The tour guide made it fun on the long way to the cave. The cave owner has preserved the area well. A 10-minute walk was followed by a fun cable car up the hill, and a final exhausting 15-minute walk to reach the cave. The view along the way was really beautiful, though. In the cave, it was not so cold as expected, but it was really dark without lamp. A local tour guide took us through the 1-km-long, narrow walkway. It was stunningly beautiful. Too bad the light was too limited to shoot nice photo. Anyway, postcards were available in the souvenir shops. The hot chocolate break after the cold cave on the way back was a very good idea. And there is definitely no complaint about the view from the cafe's balcony.

Review by: KAREN W	July 2007
I have to rate this lower than I normally would for two reasons. The price, not including the entrance fee, was too high for what we saw in the dark cave. And the difficulty of getting to the cave was not stressed enough. I had a difficult time, as did many others, and I saw a few older folks turn back altogether after having paid the tour and entrance fees. The cave itself was nice enough, but the main attraction is the fact that it is so large. It certainly is not the nicest or most awe inspiring. However, the tour was great!