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Enjoy Alpine Beauty in Hallstatt Austria
Hallstatt Austria is a charming alpine village located between mountains on Lake Hallstatt and is considered to be the oldest still-inhabited village in all of Europe. Less than 1,000 local residents call Hallstatt, Austria home.
A Quick Look at the Beauty of Hallstatt
How to Get to Hallstatt, Austria
By Car
To get from Salzburg to Hallstatt takes about an hour. Guests arriving by car will need to park in one of three parking lots outside of the village, as the village itself is virtually car-free. Guests with rooms booked in the village centre should head to parking area P1. A shuttle bus will transport you and your luggage to and from the hotel and your car can remain in the lot for the duration of your stay.
If you prefer not to drive to Hallstatt, there are multiple ways to get into the center of town.
By Bus or Shuttle
Several companies run bus/shuttle service between Hallstatt and Salzburg, Vienna, Linz and Český Krumlov. For a one-day guided bus tour to Hallstatt from Salzburg, check out this tour. Or if you’re coming from Vienna and want to explore the highlights of Melk, Hallstatt, and Salzburg in a day on a flexible itinerary, you might want to consider this tour. For private transfer services to Hallstatt, we personally recommend CK Shuttle, which offers private and small group car and van transfers to and from Hallstatt from Prague and Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.
By Train
In between Salzburg and Vienna is the Attnang-Puchheim train station. From here, take the train toward Bad Ischl and Obertraun. The Hallstatt stop is south of Bad Ischl and one stop north of Obertraun. The Hallstatt train station is literally a boat dock next to the train tracks. Here a ferry will meet every arriving train and take visitors to Hallstatt village across the lake for a small fee.
For additional information, this article has a lot of super helpful information regarding getting to to Hallstatt by bus or train from Vienna and Salzburg.
By Private Tour
Venture into Austria’s Lake District on a private tour from Salzburg. Journey along the emerald-green Fuschlsee, see the emperor’s summer palace in Bad Ischl, and more.
Hallstatt Austria Hotels
Because of its small size, there are only a handful of Hallstatt hotel located in the center of the village, several of which are located along the lakefront. They don’t come cheap, but it’s worth spending a little extra cash to stay in the heart of one of Europe’s most beautiful villages.
Many visitors just stop by for a few hours as part of a day trip, but we wanted more than just a few hours to explore this charming mountainside retreat, so we booked a night at Hotel Grüner Baum (read our review here). Check current prices for Hotel Grüner Baum.
Hallstatt Weather
We visited Hallstatt Austria in the summertime and were fortunate to have experienced great weather. We only had a brief afternoon shower during one of our 2 days in Hallstatt. Rain is frequent throughout the year in this alpine lakeside village. July is the wettest month and October is the driest. August is the warmest month (average high of 77 degrees Fahrenheit) and January is the coolest (average high of 36 degrees Fahrenheit). Snowfall is quite common in the winter months and can make this beautiful village appear even more dreamlike with a blanket of snow.
Things to Do in Hallstatt Austria
Walk Hallstatt Village
Walking from one end of the village to the other only takes about an hour round-trip. Unless, of course, you stop to take pictures and peruse the shops!
With its charming buildings, cafes, and fountains, the village center is one of the most popular photography spots in Hallstatt. Our hotel, mentioned above, was located in the village center, allowing us to walk right out the front door into this adorable square!
For yet another perspective of this quaint alpine town, we headed for the rooftops! (Click here to see Hallstatt from another vantage point!)
Go For a Boat Ride on Hallstatt Lake
We highly recommend you go for a boat ride on Hallstätter See (Lake Hallstatt), it offers a beautiful new perspective of the village. We rented a boat and spent two hours admiring the village, mountains, and swans! Be your own captain and explore the lake on your own time or join on a guided boat tour. You can’t miss the passenger boats located at the main pier. Note: boat tours do not operate in the winter months.
Shopping and Dining in Hallstatt
Just walk the main street in Hallstatt Austria and you’ll find plenty of shops filled with sweet treats, souvenirs, and handmade goods.
In addition to the handful of restaurants located throughout the village of Hallstatt, most of the hotels have restaurants located inside. Our favorite meal in Hallstatt was definitely eating lakeside at Hotel Grüner Baum‘s restaurant. For a list of other Hallstatt restaurants to consider, check out this article.
Visit the Hallstatt Church
The Hallstatt Evangelical Church sits in the village center. It was originally built as a house of prayer in 1785 and rebuilt in 1863 as the church you now see today.
Hike Throughout the Salzkammergut Region in Austria
During a return visit to Austria, we embarked on an adventurous 3-day Hiking Holiday through the Salzkammergut region, which included a stop in the village of Hallstatt.
It was much more challenging than we were anticipating, as us Americans weren’t quite prepared for the rigor of the trails in the Alps. It was an adventure we won’t soon forget, so if you’re looking for a different kind of holiday, consider a village-to-village hike in Austria.
Ride the Funicular to the Salt Mine
Take a journey on the Hallstatt funicular for aerial views of the village down below. From there you’ll need to walk 15 minutes uphill to reach the entrance of the Hallstatt Salt Mine. Once inside, you’ll walk just over a mile (2 kms) throughout the mine before a mine train brings you back to the entrance. Because the mine is a constant 46 degrees F (8 degrees C), regardless of the time of year you visit, you’ll want to have a jacket with you. For operating hours and current ticket prices, including a ride on the funicular and entrance fees to the salt mines, click here.
Use Your Salzkammergut Card for Discounts
When you stay 3 or more nights at one of numerous hotels in the Salzkammergut region of Austria you’ll get a Salzkammergut Adventure Card (valid from May 1- October 31) or a Salkammergut Winter Card (valid November 1-April 30). This card provides discounts at various local attractions. You can also purchase these cards for a small fee at one of the four local tourist offices (Bad Goisern, Gosau, Obertraun, and Hallstatt Austria) throughout the Salzkammergut region. For more information about the cards and the discounts provided, visit the Salzkammergut tourism page.