What to do in Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt, Austria is a dreamy lakeside town in the heart of the Salzkammergut district. Hallstatliesng snugly between the imposing mountains and the serene lake.
A calm blue lake mirroring the sky, mountain ranges setting a
picture-perfect background, and pastel lakeside houses lend Austria! Here’s a travel guide to
Austria’s most photogenic town.
Hallstatt’s Long History As a Salt Mining Region
Hallstatt,
Austria is more than just a pretty town. It’s actually considered the oldest still-inhabited village in Europe. Hallstatt – which means “place of salt” – is home to the world’s first salt mine. Thanks to the salt industry, the town quickly progressed and became wealthy. Salt has
always been a valuable commodity, especially in pre-historic times when
it was primarily used to preserve meat.
Hallstatt’s fame derives mostly from its natural beauty, as located
between a lake and mountains (you could even say that it cuddles the
lake), this perfect little town easily became a favourite tourist
destination as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Hallstatt,
Austria, may be a small city – you can walk from end to end in under half an hour – but there’s much to see within the town and in the surrounding area. Spend one day to really see all of Hallstatt’s pretty corners.
Why are tourists so keen to visit Hallstatt?
Every season has a special charm in Hallstatt, Austria
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| Hallstatt, Austria in winter |
Each season in Hallstatt,
Austria has its own charm. Winter has a wonderful sight of radiant white snow
covering the small village and the majestic peaks of the Austrian Alps,
while spring brings a season of blossoms, from the beautiful flowers to
the greenery that grows around this small village.
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| Hallstatt, Austria in Summer |
While summer brings to the village a fun atmosphere and great outdoor
activities, with swimming or a boat tour of the lake, autumn is marked
by a season of beautifully changing leaves from green to yellow to red
and orange. So you can go to Hallstatt in each of these seasons and
see a different magical side.
Even with the increase in the number of tourists in this small village,
it is still relatively undiscovered compared to other travel
destinations, there are not many tourist crowds even in the high season,
compared to those you may find in other European towns at the same time
of the year.
Best things to do in Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt,
Austria is one of the ideal places for a stunning nature vacation. This small town has distinctive tourist attractions, such as ancient
houses, alleys dating back to the sixteenth century, ancient salt
mines, and beautiful churches. In addition to local and international
restaurants, hotels and resorts that provide the best services,
viewing platforms that provide the most beautiful panoramic views, and
suspension bridges that are the focus of attention for many tourists
around the world. In addition to the various museums and galleries,
markets and stores full of wonderful goods and products.
As well as its charming nature, which varies between towering
mountains, spacious green spaces, picturesque lake banks, unique
glacier gardens and amazing waterfalls. There are many hidden
historical and natural treasures, which are waiting for tourists,
coming from different parts of the world, to explore and learn about
them.
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| Hallstatt, Austria |
• Take a perfect photo of Hallstattand, and walk to the north, past the ferry station. When the road bends, look back and you’ll see this
breathtaking view of Hallstatt.
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| Hallstatt, Austria |
• Walking around the market square visiting the little shops along the
lake and peeking into the souvenir shops are great ways to spend the
day.
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| Hallstatt, Austria |
• Take photos of the lake’s ducks and swans, as if the calm blue lake
and mountain ranges reflecting on it are not enough, Lake Hallstatt
has to be inhabited by these gorgeous, photogenic creatures.
• Stop for an early lunch at one of the lakeside restaurants, along
Hallstatt’s boardwalk, you’ll find several restaurants serving
delicious meals that come with an amazing view.
Some restaurants to try: are Seewirt Zauner, Im Kainz and Couisine.
Some restaurants to try: are Seewirt Zauner, Im Kainz and Couisine.
• Continue your stroll along Lake Hallstatt, almost every flower-decked
house along the lake is photogenic.
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| Hallstatt, Austria |
• Take another perfect photo from the south end, Just a few steps past
the Tourist Information Center, another bend on the road leads to
another gorgeous view of the town. You’ll once again see the beautiful
pastel houses you just passed by, and if you’re lucky, a swan or two
will join your shot.
• Hallstatt offers a fun and interesting tour of the historic salt mine
- which they claim is the oldest in the world. Most visitors take the
steep funicular to the top of the mountain, just above Hallstatt.
There is also a steep hiking trail that takes around 40 minutes for
those who feel the strong need for a strenuous hill workout.
At the top is the beautiful Hallstatt High Valley, which offers great views of the city and the lake below. From the funicular station, it takes about 10 minutes to walk along a boardwalk that leads to the historic miner's home (Knappenhaus). These homes also contain a gift shop and a museum that detail the difficult lives of the miners in the 19th century.
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| The Funicular - Hallstatt, Austria |
At the top is the beautiful Hallstatt High Valley, which offers great views of the city and the lake below. From the funicular station, it takes about 10 minutes to walk along a boardwalk that leads to the historic miner's home (Knappenhaus). These homes also contain a gift shop and a museum that detail the difficult lives of the miners in the 19th century.
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| Salt Mine - Hallstatt, Austria |
After dressing up as miners, you can enter the Salt Mine and walk through a long tunnel dug in 1719, then slide onto the miners ’original slides to the next lowest level for a multimedia presentation on the history of the mine, before watching a laser light show on an underground salt lake. You can also watch a show at the Bronze Age Cinema, located 400 meters underground.
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| Skywalk - Hallstatt, Austria |
• See the view from the Skywalk, once you’re up on Salzberg, check out the “World Heritage” views from the Skywalk. It runs within walking distance directly from the Old Town of
Hallstatt below. If you fancy a cup of tea with a view, stop by the Rudolfsturm restaurant.
• Learn about Hallstatt’s “salty” past, now we come to Hallstatt’s star attraction, which I saved for the end. This 7000-year-old salt
mine tells the story of Hallstatt, with fascinating audio-visual
presentations that will take you through the pre-historic era to the
present. You’ll also get to wear overalls and slide down wooden
slides like a legit miner, so it’s a pretty exciting experience.
• End the day at one of the lakeside restaurants. If you have one more
day in Hallstatt, explore the surrounding areas.
Going around Salzkammergut, Austria
If you’re passing by Hallstatt on the way from Vienna to Salzburg, check
out these other great stopovers to add to your road trip.
Dachstein, Austria
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| Dachstein, The 5 fingers |
Hallstatt shares its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with
Dachstein. You’ll find more breathtaking views in Dachstein,
including the glass-bottom 5 Fingers viewing deck and the Dachstein Ice
Cave. It’s also ideal for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer as the mountains are famous for their large glaciers. You’ll also find a
network of caverns and frozen waterfalls – a natural theme park of all amazing landscapes.
Where to eat and drink?
Best restaurants in and around Hallstatt
Eating in Hallstatt is so much more special as the meals come with a
view. Eat outside when the weather is good.
Don’t forget to eat fish, as this is the town’s speciality. For the best
fish dishes, eat at Seewirt Zauner – try their grilled whitefish, which
they catch fresh from Lake Hallstatt.
For yummy Austrian desserts like apple strudles and other pastries,
visit Cafe Bäckerei Konditorei Maislinger. For ice cream visit Gelateria
Giovanni.
If you don’t mind going for a short 10-minute drive out of Hallstatt,
Gasthaus Koppenrast is an amazing restaurant away from the tourist
crowds.
Planning your trip to Hallstatt, Austria
By driving
highly recommend driving to Hallstatt,
Austria. You can get a rental car from Vienna and drive 3 hours to Hallstatt,
or get your car from Salzburg, and it’s just a one-hour drive from
there.
By public transportation
From Vienna
you can catch a train that goes to Hallstatt via Attnang-Puchheim. Get your train tickets from the main train station (Wien-Hauptbanhof) or the west train station (Wien-Westbahnhof). The fastest train would take about 3.5 hours.
Once at Hallstatt station (which is actually in Obertraun, across the
lake from Hallstatt), you have to ride a ferry (Stefanie) into
Hallstatt’s old town. You can get your tickets from the ferry station that’s just beside the train station.
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| Hallstatt, Austria |
From Salzburg, there are two ways to get to Hallstatt, Austria.
By bus:
Go to the bus terminal outside Salzburg’s central train station
(Salzburg-Hauptbanhof) and look for Bus #150 to Bad Ischl. Once in Bad
Ischl, ride a train to Hallstatt, then the ferry to the old town.
By train:
From the Salzburg-Hauptbanhof, ride a train to Attnang-Puchheim, then switch to a train to Hallstatt. Once in Hallstatt station, ride the
ferry to the old town.
Join a day tour
If you’re short on time, join a day tour from Vienna or from Salzburg.
You’ll still get to enjoy the town on a day trip.
Best areas to stay in Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt,
Austria is a wildly popular tourist destination, so if you plan to stay at least a night, make sure to reserve your hotels in advance. If you’re
booking closer to your stay and find that most Hallstatt hotels are
already fully booked, you can also look at accommodations in Obertraun,
which is directly opposite Hallstatt across the lake. It’s a much more relaxed destination with the same amazing views and ambience of the
mountains and the lake.
Recommended hotels in Hallstatt
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| Heritage Hotel Hallstatt |
The Heritage Hotel Hallstatt is among the historic hotels in
Hallstatt and has three separate buildings.
The main hotel has an elevator, facilities for the disabled, a sauna
and a free shuttle service to and from the car park, as well as a
gorgeous view of Lake Hallstatt.
The hotel is 150 meters from the World Heritage Museum Hallstatt,
which is equivalent to a 2-minute walk. The W Airport is located.
Which. Mozart Salzburg is 75.6 km away.
The Heritage rating of one of the most distinguished hotels in
Hallstatt Austria is very good in terms of facilities, location,
staff, cleanliness and comfort.
Grüner Baum, Hallstatt
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| Grüner Baum, Hallstatt |
Top Pick: For the best experience in Hallstatt, stay at a hotel right by the lake. The best hotel among the lakeside options is Seehotel Grüner
Baum. It offers panoramic views of Lake Hallstatt, a historic ambience,
as well as spacious rooms and wonderful staff.
Other highly-rated hotels in Hallstatt include Heritage Hotel
Hallstatt, Gasthof Pension Hirlatz, and Gasthof Bergfried.
Seehotel am Hallstätter See
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| Seehotel am Hallstättersee |
Travellers’ Pick: Seehotel am Hallstätter See is the best lakeside hotel
on the Obertraun side of Lake Hallstatt. You’ll be treated to the same gorgeous mountain and lake views at an excellent price.
W & S Executive Apartments
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| W & S Executive Apartments |
W & S Executive Apartments also has suites in Obertraun, so for big
groups who are really into skiing or hiking, check this out.
For small groups (3-4 adults), check out W & S Executive Apartments. Note that both this and the Gasthof Pension Hirlatz are a few minutes’ scenic walks outside the old town.
Tourist asking about Hallstatt, Austria
What is the best and most suitable place to live in Hallstatt for families?
The area is classified as a protected area under UNESCO Heritage and therefore most of its parts are considered suitable for habitation. The city also has many places worth visiting, such as Lake Hallstatt, the famous salt caves, and the World Heritage Museum. It is also surrounded by mountains with waterfalls flowing directly into the lake.
What is the average cost to stay in a Hallstatt hotel per night?
The cost to stay in a hotel in Hallstatt ranges between $ 125-635 per night. The price doubles during the tourist seasons and varies according to the size of the room and the benefits it offers.
What is the cheapest and highest-rated hotel in Hallstatt Austria?
Both the Hotel Gasthof Grüner Unger and the Guesthouse Herlatz are some of the cheapest and best hotels in Hallstatt. It offers economical prices compared to its level of service, and it has received very good reviews from its guests.
What are the best hotels in Hallstatt Austria for a honeymoon?
The Seehotel Grün yer Baum, the Heritage Hotel Hallstatt and the Hotel Bruegasthof Hallstatt are among the best high-end hotels in Hallstatt Austria. It offers a distinguished level of service and various facilities and services, making it suitable for a honeymoon vacation.
What are the best hotels in Hallstatt Austria with a sea view?
The Hotel Brugasthof Hallstatt and the Heritage Hotel Hallstatt are located directly on Lake Hallstatt.
What is the best-recommended area to live in Hallstatt?
Most Hallstatt hotels are within a distance of Salzburg City Airport, which is the closest airport to the city and, in most cases, up to 90 km away.