• Reserve your time slot in advance - If you want to reach the summit comfortably, then ride up on the gondola. But make sure you reserve your time slot online in advance - times get booked up quickly so be sure to do so or you may not even get a slot for that day!
• Purchase tickets at the Dachstein valley station - Now you've got your time slot reserved, then on the day head to the Dachstein valley station where you then purchase your tickets. I would recommend arriving 30 minutes - 1 hour before your time slot! At the ticket office, you will just have to show the staff you're reservation confirmation. From here you get the cable car up to the summit.

TIP: There's a weather cam which you can view on their website and at the main entrance to the cable car, so you can ensure it's clear at the top before you purchase your reserved tickets at the ticket office onsite.

Note: The road up to the Dachstein valley station has a toll. But if you've got tickets for the cable car then you can use the toll road for FREE. Just remember that your toll ticket must be validated at the Dachstein valley station! And there is plenty of onsite parking available.

Note: Even during the summer months it really is a lot colder up there! We were in shorts when at the base, but be sure to change into jeans, jumper and even a coat.

• Ride the open-top cable car - Now you've got your ticket, it's time to ride the cable car up to the top! Note that there's one cable car that has an open-top, so you can ride up or down in the open air above the main cabin below! This is a popular choice so try and get in the queue early if you want to try it out. 

• Suspension Bridge - Once at the summit - permitting you're not scared of heights - head to the suspension bridge where you can walk 400 meters above the ragged rock edge. 
• Stairway to nothingness - At the end of the suspension bridge you will find the stairway to nothingness! This clear glass platform protrudes out from the mountainside... even I had wobbly legs but the epic photos are worth it!
• Ice Palace - Once you've recovered from that spot of vertigo, enter the cliffside into the ice palace. Here you'll be guided through a series of walkways - all under 6 meters of ice. We visited in July and it was still FREEZING inside here - gloves are highly recommended!
• Skywalk - There's also the skywalk which isn't actually ticketed. So if you don't fancy the suspension bridge and ice palace, you can just get an 'ascent and descent' ticket for the gondola and still enjoy this attraction.
• Warm-up in the restaurant - If the cold has got the better of you, head into the restaurant to enjoy a hot tea or coffee and enjoy the views in the warm.

More information on ticket prices and opening times available online.