Obertraun

Landsby · Salzkammergut, 🇦🇹 Østerrike

Obertraun is a small village at the southern end of Lake Hallstatt, at the foot of the Dachstein. It is the base for the Dachstein cable car and for two of the largest show caves in the Alps. The area is part of the Hallstatt–Dachstein UNESCO World Heritage region.

It is a quiet place, with a lakeside path and a train station on the lake. In summer and winter it opens onto the high plateau above.

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Beste reisetidspunkt

May to October is best for the cable car, caves and hikes. The caves are open from spring and have guided tours. Winter has skiing and snow on the plateau. Some mountain paths are closed in winter.

Velg en måned

Typisk vær i januar

Dårlig

4° (føles som 0°) · ekstremer -12°–10°
-4° om natten
14 regnværsdager
6 soldager
3 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 1 · lav

Typisk vær i februar

Dårlig

5° (føles som 2°) · ekstremer -12°–13°
-3° om natten
13 regnværsdager
8 soldager
5 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 2 · lav

Typisk vær i mars

Dårlig

9° (føles som 6°) · ekstremer -7°–18°
1° om natten
15 regnværsdager
9 soldager
5 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 3 · moderat

Typisk vær i april

Brukbart

15° (føles som 13°) · ekstremer -2°–23°
5° om natten
15 regnværsdager
8 soldager
6 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 4 · moderat

Typisk vær i mai

Bra

20° (føles som 19°) · ekstremer 4°–27°
9° om natten
20 regnværsdager
5 soldager
6 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 5 · moderat

Typisk vær i juni

Bra

23° (føles som 24°) · ekstremer 8°–30°
13° om natten
21 regnværsdager
8 soldager
7 soltimer per dag
Behagelig luftfuktighet
Stille vind
UV-indeks 6 · høy

Typisk vær i juli

Bra

25° (føles som 26°) · ekstremer 10°–31°
15° om natten
22 regnværsdager
9 soldager
7 soltimer per dag
Fuktig luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 6 · høy

Typisk vær i august

Bra

25° (føles som 26°) · ekstremer 10°–31°
15° om natten
20 regnværsdager
10 soldager
7 soltimer per dag
Fuktig luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 5 · moderat

Typisk vær i september

Bra

20° · ekstremer 5°–27°
11° om natten
16 regnværsdager
10 soldager
6 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 4 · moderat

Typisk vær i oktober

Bra

16° (føles som 15°) · ekstremer 0°–23°
7° om natten
14 regnværsdager
8 soldager
5 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 2 · lav

Typisk vær i november

Dårlig

10° (føles som 7°) · ekstremer -6°–18°
2° om natten
14 regnværsdager
4 soldager
3 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 1 · lav

Typisk vær i desember

Dårlig

5° (føles som 2°) · ekstremer -12°–11°
-2° om natten
15 regnværsdager
4 soldager
3 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 1 · lav

Klimadata: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Hovedseverdigheter

Dachstein Ice CaveThis ice cave is rebuilt every year and showcases nicely lit ice sculptures as well as thick layers of the glacier itself.

Krippenstein

Dachstein Ice CaveA must see of the region. Visiting this fairy-tale like ice cave is a real adventure.

5 Fingers5 Fingers is a free viewing platform in the Dachstein Mountains of Upper Austria, on Mount Krippenstein.

Stairway to NothingnessThe bridge features a construction which is also called "stairway to nothingness". Breathtaking views are guaranteed.

Hallstätter GlacierThe Hallstätter Glacier is the largest glacier in the Dachstein Mountains.

Krippenstein is the upper cable car station, with views, huts and trails.
Dachstein Ice Cave is a huge ice cave with frozen formations, reached on guided tours.
Rieseneishöhle is the entrance to the Giant Ice Cave and the Dachstein Mammoth Cave nearby, with guided tours.
Eispalast is a section of the ice cave system.
5 Fingers is a steel viewing platform over the Hallstatt valley.
Treppe ins Nichts is a glass-floored viewpoint on the Dachstein plateau, known as the stairs into nothing.
Hallstätter Gletscher is a glacier near the high plateau.
Höhlenmuseum explains the history of cave research.
Schloss Grub is a manor house in the village.
Krippensteinkapelle is a small mountain chapel.

Utvalgte lister

Lukáš Nevosád / CC-BY-SA

Obertraun Essentials

Obertraun serves as the primary access point for the Dachstein Krippenstein region and its diverse geological features. This selection includes the world-famous Giant Ice Cave and the extensive Mammoth Cave system, alongside high-altitude viewpoints like the 5 Fingers and the Skywalk. The list also covers the Hallstätter Glacier, the largest in the Dachstein range, and historic landmarks such as the lakeside Schloss Grub and the memorial chapel on Mount Krippenstein.

12 steder

CC BY-SA 4.0

Alpine Peaks & Summits

The Dachstein Mountains in Upper Austria feature a collection of high-altitude limestone summits ranging from the accessible Krippenstein at 2,108 meters to technical peaks exceeding 2,700 meters. This selection includes the Hunerkogel, home to the Dachstein Skywalk, and the Gjaidstein peaks, which offer expansive views across the Hallstätter Glacier. These summits are central to the region's UNESCO World Heritage landscape, providing geological insights into the Northern Limestone Alps.

7 steder

Tigerente / CC BY-SA 4.0

Caves and Underground Wonders

The Dachstein massif houses a diverse network of subterranean systems, from the massive limestone galleries of the Mammut Cave to the frozen sculptures within the Giant Ice Cave. This collection includes the Koppenbrüllerhöhle, an active spring cave in the valley, and high-altitude sites like the Südwandhöhle. These caves offer insight into Alpine geology, featuring over 70 kilometers of explored tunnels, ancient underground riverbeds, and unique ice formations shaped by specific climatic conditions within the mountain.

5 steder

Friedrich Simony / CC BY-SA 3.0

Alpine Huts and Shelters

This collection features essential mountain shelters and alpine huts across the Dachstein plateau and surrounding peaks near Obertraun. These sites, ranging from the expansive 3,000-hectare Gjaidalm pasture to the high-altitude Sarsteinhütte on Hoher Sarstein, provide necessary rest stops for hikers. Many are concentrated around the Krippenstein cable car stations, offering access to the karst landscape, while others serve as remote basepoints for multi-day treks toward the Dachstein glacier.

6 steder

Lucie Krásová / CC-BY-SA

Scenic Viewpoints

The Dachstein massif features several high-altitude viewing platforms accessible via the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car and the Dachstein Glacier lift. These sites include the 5 Fingers, which extends over a 400-meter drop, and the Stairway to Nothingness, a glass-bottomed platform suspended over the mountain face. The Hoher Krippenstein peak serves as a central hub for hikers at 2,108 meters, while the Skywalk provides views across the UNESCO World Heritage region of Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut.

5 steder

Opplevelser verdt å få med seg

Take a guided ice cave tour.
Ride the cable car to the plateau.
Walk to a viewpoint on the plateau.
Cycle or walk the lake path to Hallstatt.
Ski the Dachstein slopes in winter.

Turer og aktiviteter

Obertraun – Kart

Dagsturer

Hallstatt is about 10 minutes away by car or 25 minutes by boat from the station.
Gosau is about 40 minutes away by car.
Bad Ischl is about 35 minutes away by car.
Bad Aussee is about 30 minutes away by car.
Schladming is about 1 hour away by car.

Steder å utforske

Hallstatt is the next village on the lake, and Gosau and Bad Ischl are close by.

Reise dit

By air: Salzburg Airport is about 1 hour 30 minutes away by car.
By train: Obertraun-Dachsteinhöhlen station is on the Salzkammergut line. Trains from Attnang-Puchheim take about 2 hours. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: The road runs from Bad Ischl through Bad Goisern.

Komme seg rundt

The village is small. Local buses run to the cable car base and nearby villages. The lake path leads to Hallstatt.

Kjøring

A car is helpful but not essential. Parking is available at the cable car station. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.

Mat og drikke

Mountain huts serve warm soups, dumplings and cakes. Lake fish and Kaiserschmarrn are common in village inns.

Middag

Wiener SchnitzelA thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon.

TafelspitzBoiled beef in broth, served with roast potatoes and a sauce of apples and horseradish — a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Viennese Goulash Wiener SaftgulaschA rich beef stew slow-cooked with onions and paprika, typically served with a bread dumpling or bread roll.

Småretter og gatemat

KäsekrainerA grilled pork sausage studded with melty cheese, a classic order at Vienna's ubiquitous Würstelstand (sausage stands).

Sausage Stand Snack Würstel vom WürstelstandGrilled or boiled sausages (Bratwurst, Frankfurter, Bosna) served with mustard, bread and a pickle from street kiosks.

Søtsaker og desserter

ApfelstrudelThin pastry rolled around spiced apples, raisins and breadcrumbs, usually served warm with vanilla sauce or cream.

SachertorteA dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, famously served with unsweetened whipped cream.

KaiserschmarrnA fluffy shredded pancake caramelised with sugar and dusted with icing sugar, served with plum or apple compote.

MarillenknödelApricot dumplings wrapped in potato or quark dough, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs — a Wachau and Viennese summer specialty.

Drikke

Viennese Melange Wiener MelangeThe signature Viennese coffee: espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, the centrepiece of coffeehouse culture.

Grüner VeltlinerAustria's flagship crisp, peppery white wine, widely poured in Vienna's Heuriger (wine taverns).

SturmA cloudy, lightly alcoholic partially-fermented grape must, available only for a few weeks in autumn.

Sikkerhet og helse

Obertraun is very safe. Caves are cold, so bring a warm jacket and sturdy shoes. High plateau paths need care in changing weather. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

Historie

The caves were explored in the 19th and 20th centuries and opened to visitors in the early 1900s. The Dachstein cable car opened in 1950. The village lies in a landscape with traces of salt mining and settlement from the Bronze Age, which earned UNESCO status in 1997.