Located in the Dachstein mountains, near Hallstatt, the 5 Fingers viewing platform offers an incredible adrenaline rush as you lean over a 400m drop below you. Built in 2006, this platform, as its name suggests, is shaped like a hand with 5 fingers and protrudes from a sheer rock face at an altitude of 2108 meters above sea level. It offers breathtaking views of the Salzkammergut region from above Lake Hallstatt and the Krippenstein Mountain Range. To help you plan the perfect visit, we put together this travel guide on on the 5 Fingers Viewing Platform.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See and Do in the Salzkammergut
Perfect Road Trip Itinerary in the Salzkammergut
Best Things to See and Do in Salzburg
Best Things to See and Do in Hallstatt
Orientation – 5 Fingers Viewing Platform Location
The 5 Fingers Viewing Platform is located within the Dachstein Krippenstein mountain complex, a mere 7 km southeast of Hallstatt, near the town of Obertraun. Specifically, you’ll need to reach the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car base station, from which you can take a cable car (followed by a short walk) to reach the platform.
By Car: From Hallstatt, the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car base station is only a 10-minute drive away. From Salzburg, it’s about a 1h25 drive (85km).
If you need to book a rental vehicle for your travels, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Austria.
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Important: All Austrian motorways (“Autobahn”) and expressways (“S” roads) are subject to tolls. All cars, motorbikes and camper vans must either properly display a toll sticker or have purchased online a digital vignette when they plan to drive onto a motorway or expressway. Vignettes with periods of validity of 10 days, 2 months or 1 year are available from more than 6,000 outlets in Austria and neighbouring countries, and digital vignettes can be purchased from the ASFINAG website. They are not prohibitively expensive — for instance, the 10-day vignette for cars costs €11.50.
Parking: Parking is free if you stay under an hour, but that’s impossible to achieve when visiting the Giant Ice Cave. Full-day parking (6 am – 10 pm) costs € 5 (2024) – there is no hourly parking rate. The car park is rather large so finding a space shouldn’t be a concern.
By Bus: You can reach Hallstatt from Salzburg by bus, but you’ll need to transfer twice and the route will take about 2h15 to complete. Bus 150 to Bad Ischl from Salzburg, then Bus 542 to Hallstatt Gosaumühle, and finally Bus 543 to Hallstatt Lahn. Check the OBB website for timetables and tickets.
From Hallstatt, you need only take bus 543 to reach the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car base station.
By Train: This is the most scenic way to reach Hallstatt from Salzburg, but it isn’t the most time-efficient. The best route follows the side of the lake (Hallstattsee) on the opposite side from Hallstatt to Hallstatt Bahnhst station and takes about 2h30 with a transfer midway (the previous hyperlink will also show various bus & train combo routes). From there, you’ll need to take a short ferry across the lake to Hallstatt. The Stefanie Ferry times its departures with the train arrival times (€ 3,50 (2024); cash only). From there, you’ll have to take bus 543 to reach the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car base station.
By Group Tour: This can be a great option if you don’t want to deal with the transit logistics while benefiting from a time-efficient direct route between Salzburg and Hallstatt.
About the 5 Fingers Viewing Platform
The 5 Fingers viewing platform is a stunning lookout point located near Mount Krippenstein’s summit, just a few km southeast of Hallstatt. It opened in 2006 and offers incredible views of Lake Hallstatt below and the imposing Dachstein Mountains. Although the viewing platform is free to visit, you will still need to pay for the cable car that will get you about a 20-minute walk from the platform (cable car fees and schedule are presented below).
As you might have guessed, the 5 fingers viewing platform is composed of 5 joint metallic structures that mimic a hand and its five fingers. The platform and each of the fingers are built above a 400 m precipice (1,300 ft). Although each of the “fingers” are the same size (they all measure 4 x 1 meters), they each have a unique design. For instance, one of the platforms is made entirely from glass while another lets you see the landscape through a large Baroque picture frame.
Come nightfall, the 5 Fingers are illuminated until midnight and can be seen from Hallstatt and beyond.
Visiting the 5 Fingers Viewing Platform
Once you’ve made it to the base station (Talstation Dachstein), you’ll need to take the cable car up to the second (Krippenstein Bergstation Dachstein) of three mountain stations. You should plan at least 90 minutes to visit the platform, and ideally a bit more. Although the cable car rides are short, they only depart every 15 minutes, and you’ll need to walk about 20 minutes each way from the Krippenstein Bergstation to reach the platform.
You can purchase your tickets for the cable car and Giant Ice Cave tour from the Visitor Center, next to the base station (Talstation Dachstein).
Cable Car Costs and Timetables
Visiting the 5 fingers platform is free. However, to get there you have to pay for your cable car tickets. Adult tickets (that include both the ascent and descent) cost €43.80* (2024). If you plan to also visit the Giant Ice Cave or the Mammut Cave while at Dachstein (more on the caves below), the combined ticket (the Dachstein All in One-Ticket) comes out to €62.30* (or €58.30* if you start after 12 pm). Tickets can be purchased online here in advance for a specific day.
*reduced rates available for children and seniors. Dogs are allowed in the cable car for a fixed daily fee of €10,90 but they are required to wear a muzzle and be on a leash. Dogs are also allowed in the ice cave.
The first cable car ascent is at 8:40 am (from early May until early November. The last ascent to visit the 5 Fingers platform is at 4:30 pm (6:30 pm between late June and early September). However, we don’t recommend taking the last ascent, as you wouldn’t have time to visit the platform and return in time for the last descent unless you ran the entire way.
The last ascent time to reach the other stations is later and varies throughout the summer season. Cable cars run continuously every 15 minutes.
Reaching the 5 Fingers
Once you have arrived at the second station (Bergstation) near the Krippenstein summit, you will have about a 15-to-20-minute walk along the Experience Trail to reach the 5 Fingers viewing platform (there’s easy-to-follow signage). The Experience Trail will pass by several viewpoints and attractions, in addition to the 5 Fingers Viewing Platform.
Along the way, before you make it to the 5 figures viewing platform, you will come across the World Heritage View, a viewpoint that offers stunning panoramic views of the mighty Dachstein glacier.
A few minutes later you will come across an intersection by the Heilbronner Chapel where you can take a side trip towards the World Heritage Spiral ((Welterbespirale) – seen in the background in the below picture), a different viewing area where there are comfortable seats and relaxing loungers to soak in the views. Should you choose to make this detour, know that you can reach the 5 Fingers viewing platform via a direct path from there without having to backtrack via the Experience Trail.
If you keep going straight beyond the Chapel, you’ll start seeing some fabulous views of Lake Hallstatt even before you reach the 5 Fingers viewing platform.
A short distance later you will have finally arrived at the platform. You’ll notice that each “finger” of the metallic hand is slightly different from one another, offering you different perspectives and elements for pictures you can take from the platform.
5 Fingers Viewing Platform Visiting Tips
– As we alluded to earlier, you should plan at least 90 minutes to visit the 5 Fingers viewing platform (including travel to and from the base station).
– If you intend on also visiting the Dachstein Giant Ice Caves (see below), you should add another 2 hours to your planned time at Dachstein Krippenstein.
– If you intend to do some hiking such as along the Heilbronner Circular Trail (see below – start point near the 5 fingers platform), you should add another 3 hours to your time at Dachstein.
– You can easily spend nearly a full day at Dachtein Krippenstein by visiting the 5 Fingers platform, the Giant Ice Cave, and hiking the Heilbronner Circular Trail. There are also two other small caves that you can visit near the Giant Ice Cave, such as the Mammut (Mammoth) Cave described further below.
– Know that it can be quite chilly and windy at the viewing platform compared to at the base mountain. Bringing extra layers would be prudent.
– Know that viewing conditions might be poor during overcast days with low clouds.
– You can enjoy a great meal or spend the night on the mountain at the Krippenstein Lodge & Restaurant, located a short distance from the Bergstation cable car station (the same you exit to visit the 5 Fingers platform). Alternatively, you can stay at the Gjaid-Alm Lodge, located near the third mountain cable car station.
What else can you do at Dachstein Krippenstein?
Visit the Giant Ice Cave
The Dachstein Ice Cave is one of the few places on Earth where tourists can easily access a giant-sized ice cave. The first sections of the Dachstein Ice Cave were discovered in 1910 and tourist access began only 2 years later. The ice in the cave is formed by water seeping in from the Dachstein plateau down into the cave through various small cracks. When outside temperatures are above freezing the caves still contain really cold air, so the penetrating water freezes and forms rather splendid ice shapes. Although some water flow in the summer is warm enough to produce slight melting, it actually balances out the winter growth, enabling a cycle of slight melting with growth that guarantees the survival of this magnificent natural phenomenon.
Contrary to the 5 Fingers Platform, which you can visit at your own pace, the Giant Ice Gave can only be visited as part of a group tour. For more information on this attraction, check our Travel Guide on visiting the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave.
Hiking
There’s a great downhill trail that takes you from the second mountain station (Bergstation) near the 5 Fingers platform to the third mountain station (Station Gjaid), which lies at a lower elevation and in a vast open plateau, known as the Heilbronner Circular Trail.
Distance: 8.9 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: -140 m (downhill)
Start point: Bergstation
AllTrails rating: (4.7, 25 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h30-3h
Access Fees: Free
One of the peculiar attractions along this trail is a large 8 m metal shark sculpture, an unusual alpine sight known as the Dachstein Shark. It was built as a reminder that the Dachstein massif was beneath an ocean millions of years ago. Many fossils fossilized crustaceans and deposits in the rocks from the primordial ocean can still be found here today.
Once you arrive at Station Gjaid you can either return via the cable car or continue to explore one of several trails within the plateau before returning.
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
What to Do Near Dacshtein Krippenstein
Visit Hallstatt
The picture-perfect postcard village of Hallstatt is only a 7km drive away. Although it can get overcrowded at times, it remains nonetheless a must-visit destination in our opinion. Fortunately, early mornings and evenings can be quieter making it more likely that you will enjoy a fun stroll through this historic small town. And even if it does get too crowded, there are activities where you can somewhat escape the crowds, such as visiting the world’s oldest salt mine and spending some time on Hallstatt’s impressive Skydeck. You can also easily combine Hallstatt (early morning) with a visit to Dachstein (late morning and afternoon) within the same day.
For more information and tips on visiting Hallstatt, check out our travel guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Hallstatt. (coming soon)
Visit the charming town of St Wolfgang and the Steepest Cog Railway Train
Located along the shores of Lake Wolfgangsee in the heart of the Salzkammergut, Austria’s beautiful lake district, the small town of St Wolfgang deserves to be discovered. Though many come to town to experience the unique cog train (Austria’s steepest cog railway–the SchafbergBahn) that whisks passengers to the summit of Schafberg Mountain, there’s so much more to experience in St Wolfgang. In particular, it has a beautiful, colorful and lively town center filled with cafés, shops and restaurants, but without the crowds of Hallstatt, and has several beautiful lakeside walking trails.
For more information and tips on visiting St Wolfgang, check out our travel guide on the Best Things to See and Do in St Wolfgang. (coming soon)
Visit the Gosau Lakes Area
The Gosau Lakes (often referred to as Gosauseen) are one of few exceptions in the Salzkammergut: most lakes have roads along at least one of the shores but here there are no such roads, only hiking trails, providing you with a much more serene lakeside experience. There are several options here including just looping around the first lake or a longer out-and-back trail with more elevation gain that takes you past three lakes. The area was definitely one of the most beautiful we visited in the Salzkammergut region, let alone Austria. The lakes are also a popular destination for Via Ferrata amateurs, swimmers, divers and those who want to explore the largest of the three lakes by pedal boat paddle board.
For more information on this attraction, check our Gosau Lakes Hiking Guide.
Planning a Trip to Austria?
You might be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best Things to See and Do in the Salzkammergut
Perfect Road Trip Itinerary in the Salzkammergut
Best Things to See and Do in Salzburg
Best Things to See and Do in Hallstatt
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves Vienna, Salzburg & Tirol
Lonely Planet Austria
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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e-Sim cards
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Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Travel Guide to Travel Guide Austria’s Stunning 5 Fingers Viewing Platform near Hallstatt and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.
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