One of the most visited places in Austria has to be Hallstatt, a small town located on the banks of the Hallstätter See. The village is nestled between the Dachstein and Salzkammergut Mountains and is world-famous for its picturesque setting and history.
While many visitors enjoy walking around the town and taking in the views, plenty of exciting activities keep visitors occupied. One such attraction is Five Fingers, an elevated walkway that offers panoramic views of Hallstatt and its surroundings.
Visitors can reach 5 Fingers via a steep hike or take a ride on one of the cable cars running from town up to the summit. Whether you’re looking for breathtaking views or a bit of exercise, 5 Fingers is worth a visit.
The 5 Fingers in Hallstatt are a must-see attraction for tourists visiting Austria because of their unique and picturesque appearance. The metal finger platform is located in the Hallstatt-Dachstein Salzkammergut UNESCO World Heritage mountain region, known for its natural beauty and lakes.
The 5 fingers are located above the town of Hallstatt, which is about 2 hours away from Salzburg by car, and some buses go to Hallstatt from Salzburg. Once you’re in Hallstatt, you can either take a cable car ride or hike up to the fingers. The lift rides (2 of them) take about 11 minutes, and the hike takes several hours, depending on your fitness level.
This might not be a frequent question most travelers ask, but some of us do. When I wanted to research how long it takes to reach 5 Fingers with the lift, there were different times in most travel guides, from 20-45 minutes. Even on the official Dachstein Krippenstein site, there is no information.
So, for those that want to know the time it takes each lift (from the parking lot to the ice and mammoth cave and then to 5 fingers), here it is:
The total time is 11 minutes to reach the 5 Fingers station from the parking lot with the lifts.
Once you’ve reached Berg station, where the Five Fingers platform is located, there are plenty of things to do. You can admire the views of the lake and the mountains, visit the ice and mammoth caves, hike, see the shark monument, and check out the World Heritage site.
The caves are located at the first stopping point to 5 Fingers. Both require a guided tour, which you can quickly sign up for at the cable lift station. The caves are opposite each other, and each requires about a 5 – 10 minute walk.
The guided tours to the caves last about one hour.
Dachstein Mountain at the middle station has two caves – the ice and mammoth caves. How much time and money you have will determine seeing both or just one cave.
If you are short on time, I highly recommend the ice cave tour at Dachstein!
Suppose you want to see the caves near Obertraun, Austria, you will need to take the first lift at Dachstein mountain. There is a “Tickets” booth at the lift station where a worker will tell you the cave tour time for each cave.
You need to return to the Ticket booth to get a time for the second cave. They only give out time for one cave tour at a time because people walk at different speeds and take breaks. So no one will miss a cave tour. Each tourist or group has to visit the Ticket station before going to the second cave.
The Tickets station worker will say it takes 20 minutes to reach the mammoth cave. It doesn’t! I wouldn’t give it more than 5-7 minutes. It’s an easy hike, much easier than the ice cave.
On the other hand, the ice cave will take a bit longer to reach. It’s all uphill from the cable station, so pace yourself.
The tour of the Mammoth cave takes about 50 minutes. I believe the tour guide said it was a steady 3 degrees Celsius inside the cave, and I wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt to keep warm. So, if you get cold quickly, bring a jacket.
The tour guide speaks English, but you should tell him before the tour starts so you can walk behind him and hear what he is saying. Then, when he gets to each cave point, he will speak in German.
They are cool caves to see with lots of stairs, so be prepared.
The price of an adult ticket ranges from 40 to 60 Euros, and the price is about the same whether you visit a cave or not. The All-Inclusive ticket costs 53 Euros and includes visits to both the mammoth and ice caves and the lifts to 5 Fingers and the World Heritage site.
If you want to save money or don’t have a lot of time, the Dachstein Salzkammergut ticket is a good option. It costs 50 euros per adult, and I highly recommend seeing the ice cave if you choose this ticket.
To make the most of your visit to the five fingers in Hallstatt, be sure to spend some time exploring the town of Hallstatt as well. This charming town is located on the shores of Lake Hallstatt and is known for its picturesque homes and buildings. There are also several shops and restaurants in town, so you can grab a bite to eat or pick up some souvenirs.
If you want to cool off on the hot summer days, go for a swim in the lake. Or take a boat ride around Hallstatt, and they even offer drinks and dinner on a boat.
Be sure to book a salt mine tour!
You can also visit the nearby towns of St. Wolfgang and Gosau to explore more of the Salzkammergut region.
Some tips for visiting the 5 fingers in Hallstatt include packing some snacks and water for the hike up, wearing comfortable shoes, and bringing a camera to take plenty of pictures. Also, be sure to check the weather before you go to prepare for any conditions. I would advise you to bring a jacket for the caves as the temperature inside them is low.
