Austria · SALT MINE & ICE CAVE TOURS
Overalls, a wooden train and a slide between levels. The 8 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!”
Travel from Vienna to Hallstatt with private guide Jane or Jenny and a professional driver. Ride the funicular to the Skywalk, eat lunch with Alpine views, explore a 4,000-year-old salt mine, then walk Hallstatt’s historic center. The 12 to 14-hour day includes hotel pickup, transport, water, guide service, and funicular and mine tickets.
“Jenny and her driver (Sorry that I forgot his name) were great, they make a great team. It is a long day but it is worth it, on the drive to Hallstatt Jenny provides you with information about the area and makes the drive go fast. She stays with you for the entire day and is a wealth of knowledge, you can tell she is very passionate and enjoys what she is doing. I would highly recommend this trip with Jenny”
Spend about eight hours with a private English-speaking guide from Salzburg to Hallstatt, stopping at Lake Fuschl, St. Gilgen, Lake Wolfgang, and Gosau. Choose the 5 Fingers viewing platform for mountain views or the Hallstatt Salt Mine and Skywalk. Guides such as Michael and Carlos tailor the day around weather and your interests.
“Michael was the best tour guide! He is incredibly knowledgeable and kind. I learned so much about the history and life In Salzburg, the lakes, and the towns along the way to the 5 fingers platform. Michael was very helpful getting everything I needed to get up the mountain and was there waiting for me when I came back down, totally seamless. The tour of Hallstatt was great, I learned so much—even the best place to take photos. It was the perfect balance of guided sightseeing and solo time to explore at my own pace. I truly enjoyed talking with him and getting to know him. He also gave the…”
You’ll ride from Vienna to Hallstatt with a private English-speaking driver, then explore the town, Skywalk, and salt mine at your own pace. Tickets are not included, so reserve the mine and funicular early. Drivers such as Milo and Peter have earned praise for clear timing and useful local tips, but guide service is informal.
“Our guide/driver, Milo, was excellent. He was engaging during the drive and also provided us recommendations for our visit to Bratislava during our trip. My only recommendation would be to increase the time in Halstatt from 4 hours to 5 hours. With the salt mine tour and a very quick trip to the overlook, we only had about 30-40 minutes to quickly walk through the town. For 6 hours of travel time, an extra hour would allow a little more time to explore town and grab some lunch, especially given how crowded it was. Other than that, I’m very satisfied with the tour and communication with the company prior to…”
Travel privately from Salzburg with an English or German-speaking guide such as Mido, visit the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave and 5 Fingers platform, then enjoy free time in Hallstatt. Expect mountain walking, a cable car, a rope bridge, dramatic views, and admission fees paid separately.
“Great and fun! Kudos to our guide, Mido for the excellent service!”
Pick a hall, a palace or a valley.
