Updated May 2023
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This post is all about incredible things to do in Hallstatt.
13 Incredible Things To Do In Hallstatt
Hallstatt is a picture-perfect village in Austria with only around 800 residents. It's actually part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to the oldest salt mine in the world.Hallstatt is very small and there's not a huge amount to do - it's easy to get everything done in one day. When I visited Hallstatt, I only went for a day trip and managed to get a real sense of the main things to do here, which I'll tell you all about in this blog post.Even though you can see everything in pretty much one day, Hallstatt gets extremely busy so I'd suggest booking an overnight stay so you can enjoy it when all the crowds have left and it's a bit quieter.Hallstatt is only a couple of hours from major cities like Salzburg or Vienna, so if you are around this area, it's definitely worth a visit and can be easily built into any itinerary. Keep reading to find out the 13 things you can do in Hallstatt, along with other important information, for the perfect trip.This post is a comprehensive guide of things to do in Hallstatt, how to get to Hallstatt and accommodation in Hallstatt.
This blog post will cover:
- Where Is Hallstatt?
- 13 Incredible Things To Do In Hallstatt
- How To Get To Hallstatt
- Parking In Hallstatt
- Accommodation In Hallstatt
- Restaurants In Hallstatt
- How Many Days In Hallstatt?
- Is Hallstatt Worth Visiting?
- More Blog Post You'll Love
Where Is Hallstatt?
Hallstatt is a small village in Upper Austria, nestled between Hallstätter See and the surrounding Salzkammergut mountains.
Hallstatt has became an extremely popular travel destination, so much so, that China actually made a replica of the village. It's estimated that Hallstatt receives around 1 million visitors each year.
13 Incredible Things To Do In Hallstatt
Hallstatt Skywalk
Get a panoramic view of Hallstatt, Hallstätter See and the surrounding mountains at the free-floating Skywalk observation platform, which stands 360 meters above the ground.
Either hike up to the Skywalk, which takes around 1 hour, or take the salt mine funicular to the Skywalk, which only takes 5 minutes and for an adult round trip ticket costs €22.
If you are planning on also visiting the salt mines, I would recommend buying the €40 combined ticket, which includes the funicular, a tour of an old grave burial site and a 90-minute tour of the salt mines. It can be purchased here.
Hallstatt Salt Mine
Hallstatt has an incredible 7000-year old history of salt-mining. In fact, Hallstatt has the oldest salt mine in the world and you can take a tour of it! The tour is around 90-minutes and is very interactive with an underground slide and salt-lake boat ride.
The Hallstatt Salt Mine is right next to the Hallstatt Skywalk so you can visit them together. You can either hike up to the Hallstatt Salt Mine and Skywalk, which takes around 1 hour, or take the salt mine funicular to the Hallstatt Salt Mine and Skywalk, which only takes 5 minutes.
If you are hiking up, you can get an adult ticket for just the salt mines and it costs €27 ticket. However, if you want to include a round trip funicular ticket with the salt mine tour, it costs €40. Tickets can be purchased here.
Hallstatt Old Town
Wonder the beautiful streets of Hallstatt's Historic Old Town and get a real feel for this little village has to offer. There are no cars allowed in the old town, which makes for an even more peaceful visit.
The Market Square
The Market Square can be found in Hallstatt's Historic Old Town. You'll know when you get there as the square is surrounded by colourful traditional Austrian houses draped in pretty flowers with the Holy Trinity statue in the middle.
This is a nice place to grab an ice cream and sit and enjoy being in Hallstatt.
Evangelical Church of Hallstatt (aka Hallstatt Lutheran Church)
The Evangelical Church of Hallstatt, which is also known as Hallstatt Lutheran Church with it's tall spire is a staple in just about every picture of Hallstatt. You can't miss it!
It it situated right on the shores of Hallstätter See and right next to the Market Sqaure in Hallstatt. It was built in 1785 as a house of prayer. Surprisingly, it exists in primarly a catholic region because Emperor Joseph II, the ruler of Austria, permitted it.
It has a simple interior, which is contrast to its quite grandeur exterior. It's free to visit.
Catholic Church of Hallstatt
The Catholic Church of Hallstatt is located on a small hill in the centre of Hallstatt's Historic Old Town.
It has a Mountain Cemetery and an Ossuary Chapel, also known as charnel house or bone house, which contains over 1200 skulls and is Europe's largest collection of painted skulls.
It's free to visit the church but there is a small maintenance fee to enter the Ossuary.
The World Heritage Museum Hallstatt
At the World Heritage Museum Hallstatt, you'll discover how Hallstatt came to be and learn about how people lived 7000 years ago when Hallstatt became a salt-mining town.
The museum also contains items discovered in the Hallstatt burial grounds and you'll learn about the Great Fire of 1750, which established the postcard perfect Hallstatt you now see today.
The museum is located right in the centre of Hallstatt's Historic Old Town. An adult ticket to the museum will cost you €10. It's open daily through April to October from 10am-4pm (or 6pm in May-September). In November-March, it's closed Mondays and Tuesday, but only every other day from 11am-3pm.
Hallstatt Viewpoint
To get that picture-perfect view of the village, you'll want to head to the Hallstatt Viewpoint. Click this link to Google maps, which will take you to the exact spot to get this famous picture.
Enjoy the view, it really is stunning!
Hallstätter See
Hallstätter See is the name of the beautiful lake which Hallstatt is situated on. Here's 5 things you can do on Hallstätter See, especially in the summer season:
You can visit Hallstatt's Bathing Island - Just a short walk from Hallstatt is a small artificial bathing island. Perfect for sunbathing and swimming. It's also got a playground to keep children entertained. Click here for the Google Maps link to help you find the bathing island.
Go a walk by the lakefront and try and spot the swans - The swans were brought to Hallstätter See in the 1860s by the Austrian Empress Sisi. See if you can spot any on the lake!
Enjoy a drink or lunch/dinner by the lake - There's lots of restaurants situated on the shores of Hallstätter See, I've mentioned a couple below in the Restaurants in Hallstatt section.
Go Stand Up Paddle-Boarding (SUP) - Bring your own SUP board or rent a SUP board when you get to Hallstatt at one of the many boat rental companies. More info can be found via this link.
Take a boat ride: Hire your own rowing boat, electric boat or swan pedal boat. More info can be found in this link.
TOP TIP: Rent the SUP board or boats later on in the day and head out onto the lake to watch the sunset over Hallstatt and the mountains from a different persceptive.
Dachstein Krippenstein - 5fingers
Another viewing platform over Hallstätter See but offering a different perspective and not for the faint-hearted. This observation desk features five 1-metre fingers which stretch out from the mountain allowing you to appreciate the 400m drop below.
To reach the 5fingers viewpoint, you need to take the Dachstein Krippenstein Cable Car Section 1 and 2.
There are a couple of ticket options: you can buy a Panoramic Ticket which costs €38,90 and includes the cables car up to the 5fingers viewing platform, the world heritage spiral viewing platform and the Dachstein shark.
Another ticket option is an all inclusive ticket which costs €58.40 and includes everything that the panoramic ticket covers, but it also includes a guided tour of both the giant ice cave or the Mammut cave (mentioned below).
This is only an example of two different ticket options. There's actually loads of different ticket options and you can pick the one that suits you best. For more information on tickets, follow this link.
Dachstein Giant Ice Cave Mammut Cave
Escape the Hallstatt crowds by exploring the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave and Mammut Cave, one of the largest karst cave in the world.
Dachstein Giant Ice Cave: You will get a guided 50-minute tour through the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave. On your tour, you will learn how this ice cave was formed and see the incredible ice formations. I was very impressed with this cave.
Mammut Cave: You will get a guided 50-minute tour through the Mammut cave. More than 70km of the cave's passageways has been explored and around 1km of these passageways can be viewed during the tours. You will get an insight into how the cave developed and the work of the researchers. Well worth the visit!
It's worth nothing that the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave and Mammut cave are only open from May through to the start of November.
You can buy a combined cave ticket which includes the Cable Car and Guided Tours of both the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave and Mammut Cave for €51.80. For more information on ticket options, follow this link.
Waldbachstrub Waterfall
If you are looking for something a bit more strenuous, then you could go on a hike to the Waldbachstrub Waterfall.
You can start the hike just outside Parking P2 Hallstatt and it takes around 2-2.5 hours by foot to reach the waterfall (~6km).
Gosausee
If you've ran out of things to do in Hallstatt or want to explore more of the surrounding areas, then you could visit Gosausee. The Gosausee is a series of 3 picturesque lakes which can be reached by cable car.
It only takes 30 minutes to reach Gosausee by car or closer to 40 minutes by taking a bus from Hallstatt Gosaumühle.
The views are out of this world. It's the perfect place to bring a picnic or go hiking.
How To Get To Hallstatt
Salzburg to Hallstatt
Salzburg to Hallstatt Car
Takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to drive from Salzburg to Hallstatt.
Salzburg to Hallstatt Train
The train can take between 2-2.5 hours from Salzburg Hbf to Hallstatt Bahnhof, with 1 change usually in Attnang-Puchheim or Bad-Ischl Bahnhof. To get from Hallstatt Bahnhof to Hallstatt village, you'll need to take a small ferry journey across Hallstätter See.
If booked in advance, you can get an adult single train ticket for as little as £9.00. You can book your ticket through www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Vienna to Hallstatt
Vienna to Hallstatt Car
Takes around 3 hours 20 minutes to drive from Vienna to Hallstatt.
Vienna to Hallstatt Train
The train can take between 3-4 hours from Vienna Hbf to Hallstatt Bahnhof, some are direct whereas other trains have a change, usually in Attnang-Puchheim. To get from Hallstatt Bahnhof to Hallstatt village, you'll need to take a small ferry journey across Hallstätter See.
If booked in advance, you can get an adult single train ticket for as little as £18.00. You can book your ticket through www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Graz to Hallstatt
Graz to Hallstatt Car
Takes around 2 hours 30 minutes to drive from Graz to Hallstatt.
Graz to Hallstatt Train
The train takes 2 hours 46 minutes from Graz Hbf to Hallstatt Bahnhof, with 1 change usually in Stainach-Irdning. To get from Hallstatt Bahnhof to Hallstatt village, you'll need to take a small ferry journey across Hallstätter See.
If booked in advance, you can get an adult single train ticket for as little as £9.00. You can book your ticket through www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Innsbruck to Hallstatt
Innsbruck to Hallstatt Car
Takes around 3 hours to drive from Innsbruck to Hallstatt.
Innsbruck to Hallstatt Train
The train can take between 4-4.5 hours from Innsbruck Hbf to Hallstatt Bahnhof, with two changes, one in Salzburg Hbf and another in Attnang-Puchheim. To get from Hallstatt Bahnhof to Hallstatt village, you'll need to take a small ferry journey across Hallstätter See.
If booked in advance, you can get an adult single train ticket for £22.50. You can book your ticket through www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Munich to Hallstatt
Munich to Hallstatt Car
Takes around 2 hours 50 minutes to drive from Munich to Hallstatt.
Munich to Hallstatt Train
The train can take between 4-4.5 hours from Munich Hbf to Hallstatt Bahnhof, with two changes, one in Salzburg Hbf and another in Attnang-Puchheim. To get from Hallstatt Bahnhof to Hallstatt village, you'll need to take a small ferry journey across Hallstätter See.
If booked in advance, you can get an adult single train ticket for as little as £15.50. You can book your ticket through www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Parking In Hallstatt
There are two car parks to park in (parking P1 Hallstatt and parking P2 Hallstatt), both are in the southern tip of Hallstatt and are a short walk from the historic centre of Hallstatt.
The reason both car parks are located a short distance away is because the historic centre of Hallstatt is not accessible to cars.
Both these car parks are equipped with fully automatic systems. All you need to do is get your parking ticket and find a spot. When you return to the car park, head to the ticket machine and pay by cash or card. It's as simple as that!
Top Tip - Aim to be there before 9am to get a spot as they fill up quickly especially in peak season!
Prices for parking P1 Hallstatt and parking P2 Hallstatt:
15 minutes free
1 hour: 4.00 Euro
2 hours: 7.00 Euro
3-4 hours: 9.50 Euro
5-6 hours: 10.00 Euro
7-12 hours 11.00 Euro
From 13 hours - 24 hours: Day ticket is 16.00 Euro
Lost ticket: 32.00 Euro
Accommodation In Hallstatt
All the options below were chosen with peak season in mind and two people sharing.
Budget (£0-£100 per night)
I couldn't find accommodation in Hallstatt within this price range. Instead all accommodation listed is at least 2 miles from Hallstatt.
Mid (£100-£200 per night)
High-end (£200+ per night)
Restaurants In Hallstatt
- Burgerman The Station (£) - It's a fast food place serving burgers with limited outdoor seating. It's the perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat and not spend a fortune.
- Seecafé Hallstatt (£) - Situated right by the water, this little cafe serves everything from breakfast through to lunch/early dinner options. It's got indoor and outdoor seating, which allows you to appreciate the view.
- Muk´s Schmankerl (£) - Serves up delicious pizzas and gelato. There's only a couple of tables inside so you might have to wait for one.
- Rudolfsturm (££) - The view was this little restaurant is out of this world, you won't want to miss it! It serves up traditional Austrian cuisine.
- Restaurant am See (££) - Serves up meat and fish dishes, traditional Austrian dishes, pasta and side dishes. If the weather permits and you're allowed, I would chose to sit out on the balcony as it's right on the water and the views are amazing.
How Many Days In Hallstatt?
You can see all the main tourist attractions in Hallstatt in one day but it's such a busy little village, that its even more special to stay over and enjoy it when all the crowds have left and it's a bit quieter. So, I would suggest 1-2 nights here to ensure you have a more relaxing visit.
Hallstatt looks absolutely beautiful throughout every season but it's worth noting that during the winter months, the funicular and the salt mines are shut. The best times to visit are March-May and September-November.
During the summer months, Hallstatt gets extremely busy so if you are visiting then, its best to get there early especially if you're driving and want to get a car park space. Also, allows you to do the bulk of your sightseeing before the crowds descend.
Is Hallstatt Worth Visiting?
Yes, it's definitely worth a visit even for just a day. Hallstatt is absolutely beautiful! I would make sure you get there early to avoid the crowds and that you've properly planned your day to get the most out of Hallstatt . Finally, make sure you take some time to just relax and soak in the views!
This post is a comprehensive travel guide to visiting Hallstatt.
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