Ice Palace A Mystical World of Ice
The Dachstein Ice Palace takes you deep into the heart of the Dachstein Glacier. About 6 meters below the eternal ice, the current exhibition “Explore the Glacier” invites you to discover a fascinating world of ice on the Dachstein that uniquely combines nature, art, and knowledge.
Inside the Ice Palace, you’ll discover intricately carved ice sculptures, impressive ice columns, and a sparkling crystal dome. The exhibition offers exciting insights into the world of the glacier and delights visitors of all ages. This makes the Ice Palace an ideal destination for a family outing with children, as well as a popular attraction on the Dachstein when the weather is bad.
Current Exhibition: Explore the Glacier
The Dachstein Ice Palace is a true natural gem. In the current exhibition “Explore the Glacier, ” developed in collaboration with La Strada Graz and the Universalmuseum Joanneum Graz, you’ll follow in the footsteps of Alpine explorer Friedrich Simony. Along the way, you’ll discover the many facets of the glacier .
Friedrich Simony is considered Austria’s first glacier and Ice Age researcher. Of particular significance are his observations of the Hallstatt Glacier, which was known in his day as the “Karls-Eisfeld.” For more than five decades, he documented its evolution through drawings and photographs. This allows us to trace the retreat of an Eastern Alpine glacier with exceptional precision.
At 14 stations in the Ice Palace, you’ll find exciting facts and figures about glacier development. You’ll also gain background knowledge on glaciology and fascinating insights into life in the ice.
And the excitement continues: A new exhibition is already in the works for the winter of 2026/27.
Past Exhibitions at the Ice Palace
Since 2024 , the “Explore the Glacier” exhibition has been delighting visitors at the Dachstein Ice Palace. Until early 2023, the “Up into the Mountains” exhibition transported you into an alpine world of adventure made of ice.
The Ice Palace team, led by Hans Böhmer and Peter Strassegger, collaborated with the team of sculptors led by Michael Bachnetzer to create a varied tour. This resulted in highly detailed ice sculptures, such as a T-bar lift, a summit cross, a climber, and a mountain biker. The “50 Years of Planai-Hochwurzen Lifts” anniversary was also honored with its own station.
Other exhibitions to date have included “Journey Through Styria, ” a “Journey Through History” featuring exhibits on the moon landing and a steam locomotive, and a “Journey Through Europe.” Well-known European landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Eiffel Tower were on display in ice.
More Tips & Important Information
The Dachstein Ice Palace is located just a three-minute walk from the Dachstein mountain station and is accessible only via the suspension bridge.
Temperatures inside the Ice Palace hover around freezing all year round. Therefore, we recommend warm clothing and sturdy shoes, even on sunny summer days.
The current opening status of the Ice Palace is published in the glacier report. Be sure to check the current conditions before your visit.
After your visit to the Dachstein Ice Palace, more highlights await you: Explore the Dachstein Stairway to Heaven or enjoy the view from the Sky Walk.
Dogs are not allowed on the suspension bridge, the Stairway to Nothingness, or inside the Ice Palace.
