Dachstein Krippenstein - 5 Fingers Viewing Platform

The 5 Fingers Viewpoint, with its 5 Fingers observation platform, is located in Austria on the 2,108-meter-high Krippenstein Mountain, which is part of the Dachstein Mountains and forms its northern edge. It is one of the most famous and popular viewpoints near Hallstatt, and many day visitors come here to enjoy the fantastic mountain views.

Excursion to the 5 Fingers Viewpoint on the Dachstein Krippenstein

During our visit to the beautiful Hallstatt, we also took a trip to the 5 Fingers Viewpoint on the Dachstein Krippenstein. How to get up the mountain, what it costs, and how the hike to the 5 Fingers Viewpoint goes. We’ll tell you all about it below.

Accommodation in Hallstatt – Our Hotel Tip

The Heritage Hotel Hallstatt is located right in the heart of the Old Town and is spread over several historic buildings. These include the House Stocker, which is the oldest house in Hallstatt with over 400 years. The rooms all have a view of Lake Hallstatt and the Old Town.

Delicious Austrian cuisine is offered in Im Kainz, the hotel restaurant. Bar, sauna, winter garden and the individually furnished rooms contribute to a great stay in Hallstatt. More hotels in Hallstatt can be found here.

Dachstein Krippenstein Cable Car

To reach the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car, you must drive from Hallstatt along the Hallstätter Landesstraße, which leads you to Obertraun. Before crossing the Traun River, turn right, then take the second street on the right again. You will now be on the Dachsteinhöhlenstraße, which you follow all the way to the parking lot.

Parking is free on-site, and you can purchase a ticket for the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car at the ticket booth. There are various options available depending on whether you choose the panorama ride, want to visit one of the caves, or book everything together. Prices start at €45 per adult. You can find detailed ticket prices here.

The first ride up the mountain takes place in the morning at 08.40 AM, and additional gondolas depart every 15 minutes. The last descent is either at 05.00 PM or 07.00 PM, depending on the season. It’s worth arriving early so you have plenty of time to spend on the mountain.

1. Giant Ice Cave and Mammoth Cave

At the first stop, the so-called mid-station Schönbergalm, you can get off during the ride on the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car if you want to visit the Giant Ice Cave or the Mammoth Cave. The guided tours through each cave take about one hour.

While the Giant Ice Cave offers highlights such as the Ice Palace, the Great Ice Mountain, or the Gralsburg, as well as an ice bell that shimmers in all colors, the Mammoth Cave is completely ice-free. The deepest point of the Mammoth Cave is at 1,199 meters, and it is one of the largest caves in Europe.

If this topic interests you, you should purchase your ticket in combination with one of these caves to learn a lot about the formation of the caves in the mountain world of the Krippenstein during a guided tour.

2. Krippenstein Mountain Station and Restaurant

At the mid-station Schönbergalm, you must transfer to a new gondola, which will take you to the Krippenstein mountain station. Here you will also find the mountain restaurant, where you can grab a bite to eat, whether it’s a cup of coffee or a delicious lunch.

From here, the hiking trails and the exploration of the Krippenstein on the Dachstein Mountains begin. Signs point the way to the 5 Fingers observation platform, the Welterbeblick (which you can already see from the restaurant), or the Heilbronn circular trail.

3. Welterbeblick

Just a few minutes on foot from the Krippenstein mountain station, which the cable car brought you to, lies the Welterbeblick, also called the World Heritage Viewpoint. Every visitor passes by here because this spot is very easy to reach.

The platform offers a unique view of the Dachstein Mountains with views of the High Dachstein, the Low Dachstein, the Hallstatt Glacier, the High Ochsenkogel, and many more. An information board on-site displays all the peaks of the Dachstein Mountains as well as their elevations. The panoramic viewpoint is also a popular place for photos.

4. World Heritage Spiral

If you follow the hiking trail from the World Heritage Viewpoint to the 5 Fingers viewing platform, you will reach the World Heritage Spiral after just a few more minutes. It is located roughly halfway between the Krippenstein mountain station and the 5 Fingers. It was built as an intermediate stop and a new viewpoint.

You will find several benches where you can rest. But you can also climb the “ship” made of aluminum for free and enjoy an elevated view. From the roof of the World Heritage Spiral, you get a 360-degree panoramic view of the Dachstein Mountains, the Salzkammergut, and Lake Hallstatt.

5. 5 Fingers Viewing Platform

From the World Heritage Spiral, continue another 10 minutes along the well-trodden hiking trail to reach the 5 Fingers Viewpoint. The viewpoint is named as such because the platform is built like 5 fingers stretching out in different directions.

Each finger is nearly 4 meters long and offers different features for visitors. One finger has a glass floor, and another has a frame perfect for a memorable photo. One is slightly shorter in the shape of a diving board to symbolize the freedom of the mountains. The fourth offers a view straight down into the abyss, and the last finger features a free telescope.

The 5 Fingers Viewpoint opened only in 2006 to make the World Heritage region on the Krippenstein more attractive to visitors. Don’t miss this viewpoint, located 400 meters above the mountain drop!

Note: If you are staying in Hallstatt, be sure to look up into the mountains at night, as the 5 Fingers viewing platform is illuminated until midnight.

6. Heilbronn Circular Trail

If you walk to the left from the Krippenstein mountain station, you will reach the Heilbronn Circular Trail. The hiking trail is very easy, with gentle ups and downs. It was created in memory of the students from Heilbronn who died in a snowstorm in 1954.

You should plan about 3 hours for the 11-kilometer Heilbronn Circular Trail. Also remember to bring enough drinks, snacks, and clothing such as a rain jacket, since the weather in high alpine regions can change quickly.

Millions of years ago, the Dachstein was still located on the ocean floor, which is why you can find some fossils along the trail. For this reason, the Dachstein shark was built. Today, it is a highlight and a reminder of the once ancient hunting grounds of the prehistoric shark.

7. Gjaid Alm

From the Krippenstein mountain station, you can take a third section of the cable car to the Krippeneck station. From here, the Gjaid Alm is just a 10-minute walk away. You can also reach it on a two-hour hike from the mountain station.

The Gjaid Alm is the starting point for many hikes on the Krippenstein and also offers accommodations, food, and camping. During winter, it is also a popular meeting point for starting cross-country skiing tours.

Conclusion About Visiting the Dachstein Krippenstein

If you have some time during your visit to Hallstatt, a day trip to Mount Krippenstein is absolutely worth it. The World Heritage Viewpoint and the view from the 5 Fingers viewing platform are outstanding.

Even though the cable car ride is quite expensive, we would absolutely do this trip again. The views are unforgettable, without a doubt. Even though we are known to be beach lovers, the mountains also fascinate us, and we wouldn’t want to miss the Krippenstein.

Dachstein Krippenstein: Tours and tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know the Dachstein Krippenstein and the 5 Fingers Viewpoint in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for the Dachstein Krippenstein and the 5 Fingers Viewpoint.

How to Get to Hallstatt

There are several ways how you can get to Hallstatt. The simplest option is your own car. But the bus or train are other ways of getting to Hallstatt. You can only fly to Salzburg by airplane. See Skyscanner for connections.

You can reach Hallstatt by car either via the A10 from Munich/Salzburg, exiting at Golling, and then via the B166 to Hallstatt. Alternatively, you can take the A1 Autobahn, Salzburg-Vienna route. Here you leave at Regau, then continue via Gmunden to Hallstatt. A navigation system works great here, by the way.

Information about parking in Hallstatt: Unfortunately, parking spaces in Hallstatt can become very scarce. There are several public parking spaces within the town. However, if you do not arrive very early in the morning, it is difficult to find a parking space. Lots of people use parking spaces outside the town on the roadside if they are just day visitors.

The Postbus runs daily from Salzburg main station to Hallstatt. In Bad Ischl you have to change once. The bus stops right in front of the train station, so you can also continue by train.

You can also travel by train, e.g., the western railway. This is a private train that connects Freilassing in Germany or Salzburg with Vienna. You can go to the Attnang-Puchheim station and change to the Salzkammergutbahn. This takes you to Lake Hallstatt, however, to the other side. From here you can take the ferry across the lake to Hallstatt for about 15 minutes. You can find a good overview of the times and prices at our partner Omio.

Tip: If you stay in Salzburg, you can also take a day trip from there to Hallstatt.

What do you think of the 5 Fingers viewing platform? Have you been to Krippenstein? Are you interested in a trip like this? We look forward to your feedback.

Photos: Photo 5 (Giant Ice Cave): joeclaw/shutterstock.com – Photo 10 (World Heritage Spiral): aldorado/shutterstock.com – Photo 14 (Dachstein shark): aldorado/shutterstock.com