Obertraun sits on the southern shore of the Hallstaetter See, directly below the Dachstein glacier and the departure point for the Krippenstein cable car. The 5 Fingers viewing platform and the Dachstein ice caves are the two main attractions, both reached by cable car from Obertraun. This makes the village the practical base for combining lake and mountain in the Salzkammergut. Accommodation is significantly less expensive than in Hallstatt across the water, and the village is quieter. Ferry connections to Hallstatt take about 10 minutes. Bus services connect to Bad Ischl. Plan at least one full mountain day for the caves and platform, plus a half-day for Hallstatt itself.
village
Obertraun
The Dachstein ice caves have been forming for thousands of years inside a mountain that rises directly above the Hallstaetter See. The cable car to access them departs from Obertraun, not from Hallstatt across the water.