The Best Things To Do In Hallstatt, Austria – A Complete Travel Guide

A-24-hours-travel-guide-to-Hallstatt-AustriaOne of the most beautiful places to visit in Austria is the postcard-pretty lakeside village of Hallstatt.

This picturesque village is located along Hallstätter See (Lake Hallstatt). Nestled along the edge of high hills of the Dachstein range, Hallstatt is a must-visit hidden gem of Europe.

During our visit to Austria, we decided to spend one day in Hallstatt.

We chose to stay for 24 hours in Hallstatt to experience the charms of this village in a relaxed way.

Of course, it is certainly possible to explore the old town center on a day trip. However, to explore the region more, a 1-2 day stay in Hallstatt is ideal.

A little bit of history of Hallstatt – a World heritage site

Hallstatt is a charming Austrian village that has an amazing history. In 1997, Hallstatt was listed as a world heritage site.

With the discovery of mountain salt nearly 7000 years ago, one of the earliest settlements in this Upper Austrian region were in Hallstatt.

Hallstatt-view-afternoon

Salt was also called ‘white gold’ at that time as salt mining became the backbone of the village’s economy. The beautiful medieval architecture of Hallstatt reflects the prosperity of the town that had its roots in salt mining.

In fact, the Hallstatt salt mine is still mined even to this day. It is said to be the oldest salt mine in the world!

I had contacted the TI office – Dachstein Salzkammergut prior to our visit. They offered me plenty of suggestions that helped us plan our visit and enjoy it to the fullest.

How to get to Hallstatt

Train-from-salzburg-to-hallstatt

Hallstatt is located in the heart of Austria’s Salzkammergut lake district. It is about 72 km (or 45 miles) by road from Salzburg. It is a very popular day trip destination in Austria from Vienna and Salzburg.

Hallstatt is easy to reach by road or by train. Many people choose to drive to Hallstatt by car or take the bus. The road trip offers scenic views and it is also the quickest way to get to Hallstatt.

However, we took the train from Salzburg to Hallstatt as the journey on these ÖBB trains was covered by our Eurail pass.

We loved taking the train to Hallstatt. The views of the Austrian countryside reminded me of the scenes from Sound of Music. The views became more and more stunning as our train passed along the lakes of Salzkammergut towards Hallstatt.

train-ride-to-austria-lake-district

 

To be more specific, the train journey from Salzburg to Hallstatt involves a train change at Attnang Puchheim. We took the train in the morning from Salzburg and reached Attnang Puchheim in about 45 minutes. At Attnang Puchheim, we transferred to the train going to Hallstatt. The journey from Attnang Puchheim to Hallstatt took about 1 hour 40 minutes.

Arrival at Hallstatt by Stefanie

The Hallstatt train station is located across the lake from the village. Upon arriving at the Hallstatt train station, we walked down to the dock by following the sign that said Schiffstation – Ship to Hallstatt.

The ferry boat, Stefanie transfers visitors between the train station and the Hallstatt Markt dock in about 15 mins. It cost us €2.50 per person to ride the ferry and the tickets for the ferry could be purchased on the ferry itself.

View-from-Stefanie-of-hallstatt-2

The ferry ride on Stefanie offered some of the most spectacular views of Hallstatt. I had seen so many photographs and heard so much about Hallstatt. Yet, as our ferry approached Hallstatt, the views really took my breath away. To see is to believe!

Arrival-at-hallstatt-dock

The ferry timings are well synchronized with the train departures. The first ferry leaves Hallstatt Markt in the morning for the train station at 6:50 am. On the other hand, the last ferry departs from Markt dock for the train station at 6:15 pm.

Our stay at Seehotel Grüner Baum in Hallstatt

There are few hotels in Hallstatt village itself and during the peak tourist season, these get booked out quite early. If you are choosing to stay in Hallstatt, make sure to book a hotel well in advance.

During our trip to Hallstatt, we stayed at Seehotel Grüner Baum – a boutique, lakeside hotel located in the Markt square of Hallstatt.

Our stay at this hotel was a bit of a splurge for us but it was totally worth it. The rooms were spacious with beautiful views and the staff was very courteous. We stayed at this hotel in a room with a lovely view of the Marktplatz.

view-of-hallstatt-markt-square-from-our-hotel-room

Best things to do in Hallstatt in one day

We loved exploring Hallstatt during our summer visit. There is so much to see and do in the region that we know we will be back to explore it even more during a future visit.

Here’s a list of the best things to do in Hallstatt if you are staying in the village for one day. We were able to cover these at a leisurely pace during our visit and enjoyed every minute of it.

Explore Marktplatz – Hallstatt’s Market Square

The beautiful medieval town center of Hallstatt feels like the hub of all the activity, yet has a relaxed feel to it. This town square is located just a short walk from the main dock of Hallstatt.

The square is also the venue for all the traditional festivals that happen around town during the year.

Markt-Square-fountain-and-trinity-column-hallstatt

The Markt square is surrounded by brightly painted homes, cafes and souvenir shops. There are several benches placed around the square where one can relax while soaking in the charming views.

A prominent feature in the middle of the square is its fountain and the Holy Trinity statue. Bright flowers near the entrances of homes and along the windows add to the beauty of this picture-perfect square.

Stop by Gelateria Giovanni for delicious ice cream

We were pleasantly surprised when we found this ice cream shop in the corner of Markt Square. The shop seemed to be quite popular and offered a large variety of ice cream flavors. The delicious, freshly-made ice cream was a treat on the rather warm summer day in Hallstatt.

Discover Lake Hallstatt by taking a romantic boat ride around the lake

One of the most scenic and relaxing ways to enjoy our visit to Hallstatt was by taking a boat ride on Lake Hallstatt. There were a few boat rentals in town along the lakeside promenade and near the ferry dock. Look for the signs Boote (Boats for rent) to find these boat rentals.

We rented an electric boat from the boat rental near the main dock. We rented the boat for an hourly rate of €13 and thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring the lake.

view-of-hallstatt-from-our-boat-ride

The views of the tall wooden lakeside homes of Hallstatt, the steep surrounding hills, and swans dotting the serene lake waters captivated us. It was peaceful and so beautiful!

Electric-boat-ride-hallstatt-lake-2

In addition, there are also boat trips or tours available that start from the Hallstatt Markt dock.

The-Markt-dock-at-hallstatt

Enjoy a delicious, traditional lunch by the lakeside

lunchtime-hallstatt-austriaAfter the boat ride, we decided to stop for lunch at Braugasthof am Hallstattersee. This was certainly one of the best meals we had during our trip to Austria. The hearty traditional Austrian food served here was a great value and delicious.

My husband is a vegetarian and he had ordered an Austrian dish comprising of bread dumplings mixed with potatoes. It was scrumptious!

We loved having our meal here while watching boats, kayaks, and swans glide by.

Due to its popularity, this restaurant can get quite crowded and guests often end up sharing tables. We didn’t mind at all – in fact, this added to the friendly feel of the village itself.

Visit the most photographed viewpoint of Austria

Probably one of the most photographed viewpoints in Austria is located a short walk from the ferry dock in Hallstatt. Standing near the ferry dock facing the lake, this vista point is located towards the left. Walking left from the dock the alley leads visitors to this viewpoint.

Photographs featuring Hallstatt are most frequently taken from this location.

Hallstatt-austria-evening-view-from-viewpoint

There were plenty of visitors during the day when we arrived at his viewpoint. The view was so stunning that we ended up visiting this location twice  – in the afternoon and later in the evening. In the evening, we seemed to have the viewpoint almost all to ourselves.

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One perfect day in the picturesque hidden gem of Austria – Hallstatt. It’s so easy to fall in love with this Austrian village . Check out our recent blog post to know more about the best things to do in Hallstatt in one day – link in bio. Highly recommend a visit to Hallstatt if you plan to travel to Austria! . . . . #hallstatt #austria #europe #travel #travelguide #bestofaustria #soundofmusic #bestofeurope #traveltips #travelgram #traveling #itinerary #offthebeatentrack #coupletravel #destinations #travelblogger #hiddengems #eurotrip #eurail #europeanvacation #daytrip #salzburg #femaletravelbloggers #proudtobeftb #passionpassport #instalike #instatravel #tbt #instafollow #travelgainers

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hallstatt-viewing-point-evening

Enjoy the views of the Hallstatt Lake and the region from Salzbergbahn funicular

Salzbergbahn funicular takes the visitors from the funicular stop in Lahn to the top station from where visitors can enjoy the panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding region. Thereafter, visitors can also choose to proceed to the entrance of Salzwelten for a tour of the salt mines.

funicular-to-hallstatt-salt-mines

Visit the oldest salt mine in the world – Salzwelten Hallstatt

Hallstatt is such a charming place and when visiting Hallstatt, a visit to the salt mines is a must.

The salt mines tend to be closed during the winter months so check before your visit if you plan on visiting around that time. If you choose to visit the salt mines then make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes. One should also dress in layers as it can get quite cold inside the mines.

entrance-to-hallstatt-salt-mine

To avoid the long lines, we had purchased the tickets online from the Salzwelten website. We purchased the combo ticket that included the funicular round trip and the salt mine tour (€34 per adult).

The salt mine tour actually starts at Knappenhaus. This building is located about 15 minutes uphill hike from the top station of the funicular. The tour check-in at the salt mine entrance was very smooth. We wore the salt mine coveralls provided at the check-in over our clothes.

Our salt mine tour guide gave us detailed information at the key stops during the tour. It was very interesting to learn how the salt deposits ended up high in the mountains and the 7000-year old history of salt mining.

inside-the-hallstatt-salt-mine

The huge caverns inside the mountains and the view of the subterranean Salt Lake were stunning. A highlight of the tour was sliding down the two salt miners’ slides.

All the visitors seemed to enjoy sliding down these wooden slides. A ride on the salt mine train at the end of the tour wrapped our 80-minutes long visit to the oldest salt mines in the world.

At the end of the tour, we purchased a souvenir for ourselves – a photograph of us sliding down the salt miners’ slides of Salzweltern Hallstatt.

hallstatt-salt-mine-tour-slide

Explore Hallstatt on foot

Exploring Hallstatt by getting lost in the alleyways and walking along the lakeside promenade was an unforgettable experience for us. We loved taking the leisurely stroll along the promenade and sitting by the lakeside only to have a swan or two, every now and then, glide by us.

We loved exploring the Markt square but besides that, it was also a visual treat to step away from the center and climb up the wooden stairs near the hillside. Some of the most amazing views of Hallstatt can actually be seen from the various vantage points as one climbs these wooden steps.

I also followed the Hallstatt walking tour that was included in the Rick Steves guidebook and it was a perfect way to get acquainted with Hallstatt.

Stop by Muhlbach Falls in Hallstatt

While walking around the main square of Hallstatt, it is easy to see Muhlbach Falls in the background. To get to the falls we had to walk up towards the hillside and climb up the wooden steps.

We were surprised to find that the wooden steps ultimately lead us up to a small car parking next to the road in between two tunnels. Right across the car parking, on the other side of the road, we could clearly see the Muhlbach Falls. Turning around, we were mesmerized by the stunning panoramic view of Hallstatt and the lake.

muhlbach-falls-hallstatt-austria

Visit the Catholic Parish Church and Beinhaus (Bone House)

Towering behind the Markt Square in Hallstatt is the Catholic Church where one can offer prayers in front of its two altars. The historical altar of the church, designed by Leonhard Astl depicts Mary cradling baby Jesus in her arms, flanked by St. Barbara and St. Catherine on the sides.

altar-at-catholic-church-hallstatt-austria

There is a small cemetery around the church where the graves are cared for lovingly by the family members of the deceased. Each grave is adorned with its own blooming mini flower garden.

In the past, since the space in the cemetery was so limited, graves were exhumed. These bones were then moved to the Beinhaus (Bone House) of St. Michael’s Chapel. The last addition to the Bone Chapel was made in 1995 as can be seen by the date on the last skull added there.

hallstatt-bone-chapel

Each skull added to the bone chapel was lovingly painted by family members before being placed inside the chapel. Entry to the Bone Chapel costs about €1.50. Several tourists visit the bone chapel due to its uniqueness. However, as tourists, we must always remember to be respectful when viewing this final resting place of family members of the locals.

Sample the local cuisine with a peaceful, lakeside dinner

While the village can be a bustling center during the day, it takes over a completely new look in the evening. We decided to enjoy a lakeside dinner at Restaurant im Seehotel Gruner Baum. I had reserved tables for us at the Lake Terrace in this restaurant and it was a fantastic experience. There were plenty of traditional vegetarian choices available as well and the soups were delicious. This lakeside dinner was the perfect way to wrap up the lovely day we had spent in Hallstatt.

lakeside-dinner-hallstatt

It truly is so easy to fall in love with lovable Hallstatt. I can’t wait to return and explore the hiking trails in the area as well as visit the Dachstein Glacier Caves during our future visit. After making some beautiful memories in stunning Austria, if you are planning on continuing your journey across Switzerland and Italy, do check out the posts on our blog.

Until then….. Auf Wiedersehen dear Hallstatt!

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