Austria · SALT MINE & ICE CAVE TOURS
Overalls, a wooden train and a slide between levels. The 4 below cover the Hallstatt and Berchtesgaden mines and the ice caves at Werfen, with prices, temperatures underground and how many steps each one asks for.
Meet at the Hallein Salt Mine for a 90-minute guided journey through 2,600 years of mining. You’ll wear a white miner’s suit, ride a train, use two wooden slides, cross an underground Austria-Germany border, and raft across a subterranean salt lake. English and German tours are available.
“Tour was excellent! Well organized and the guide was clear and easy to understand. Our children ages 14 and 18 enjoyed it as well. Must do!”
Spend 90 minutes underground at Salzwelten Altaussee, Austria’s largest currently active salt mine. An English or German guide explains medieval mining, modern salt production, and the daring rescue of Nazi-looted art. Expect orange-red salt walls, miners’ slides, a mystical chapel, and a short light-and-music show reflected in cave water.
“Very nice tour of the salt mine, the tour guide was very informative. We were lucky to be on our own and whatever we asked her she was gladfully ready to reply to our questions. Very nice place to visit especially if these things are new to you (since I come from an island without any mines etc) it was a very good knowledge to learn about it all. Highly recommended. The best part of the tour (everything was wonderful, but the highlight that I will never forget) are the slides going down (adrenaline rush) and the final place we visited where we had a light and music show in…”
Spend about eight hours with a private chauffeur-guide in a luxury minivan, visiting Salzwelten Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, Obersalzberg, and the Eagle’s Nest. Guides such as Patrick, Manfred, and Gabby bring local history and mountain lore to life. Hotel pickup, water, and transport are included, but mine and Eagle’s Nest tickets cost extra.
“This tour is led by an amazing father-son team who are both fun and knowledgeable. We were a group of 5 ranging in age from 10-80 so it’s hard to find an activity that pleases all, but this one did! The salt mine was a highlight for the kids, especially riding the slides. The tour of Eagle’s Nest is also worth the trip - the views are amazing. Patrick and Manfred were able to point out and explain so many details along the way, the mountains in the famous Sound of Music scenes. Their personality and expertise really made the day great. I’d go on any tour that they were…”
Travel privately from Salzburg to the Werfen Ice Cave and Golling Waterfall with a guide such as Michael, Carlos, or Luciano. Expect a steep 40-minute approach, a tram ride, and hundreds of cave steps, plus a short waterfall stop. The private SUV, flexible service, and hotel pickup make this a strong choice for families and small groups who can manage the climb.
“Carlos was a fantastic tour guide for our private tour to the ice caves and waterfall! He was personable, genuine, and easy to talk to. The caves and waterfall are both definitely worth seeing and will be something we remember for years to come. My only word of caution is that you should be in good physical health for the ice caves. The entry to the ice caves is 40 minutes of walking uphill, plus another 700 steps up once in the caves, all while at a higher altitude, so this tour is definitely not for everyone. However, for those who can make the trek, it is definitely worth it!”
Pick a hall, a palace or a valley.
