Salzwelten Salz­Burg

Austria’s biggest show-mine, Salzwelten Salz­burg pays tribute to the salt that filled Salzburg’s coffers during its princely heyday. Visitors don an Oompa Loompa–style boiler suit to descend to the bowls of the earth and board a rickety train. The tour passes through a maze of claustrophobic passageways, over the border to Germany and down a 27m slide – don’t break, lift your legs and ask the guide to add wax for extra speed! After crossing a salt lake on a wooden raft, a 42m slide brings you to the lowest point (210m underground) and back to good old Austria. Guided tours depart every half an hour. Bus 41 (€1.80, 12 minutes) runs from Hallein train station hourly on weekdays, less often at weekends.