Dachstein Giant Ice Cave

The Dachstein Rieseneishöhle sits at around 1,450 metres in the limestone of the Dachstein above Obertraun, and the ice in it is not a glacier remnant but seasonal: meltwater and rain enter in spring, freeze in chambers that hold cold air trapped from winter, and build formations that grow and shrink year to year - which means the shapes the guides name are not permanent and the overall ice volume has been declining. The show route passes through chambers with names from the Nibelungen saga, lit to bring out the ice walls and floors. The neighbouring Mammuthöhle, a huge non-icy system, and the Koppenbrüllerhöhle river cave are on the same ticket options. Access is by cable car from the valley and a walk from the middle station.

What's there

• Seasonal ice formations - built and lost each year rather than permanent.
• Named ice chambers - the show route through halls named from the Nibelungen.
• A cable car approach - up from Obertraun, then fifteen minutes on foot.
• Neighbouring caves - the Mammuthöhle and the Koppenbrüllerhöhle nearby.

When to go

May to October; the cave is closed in winter. Half a day.

Good to know

It is close to freezing inside - warm clothing is essential in any season. Guided tours only, with a timetable and queues in summer. Ice volume has fallen; older photographs show more.

Nearby

Hallstatt is across the lake; the Five Fingers viewpoint is on the same mountain.

Key facts