Why Hallstatt is not overrated
Machu Piccu in Peru, the Pyramids in Egypt or the Eiffel Tower in Paris – that is what Hallstatt is for Austria. At least, when it comes to the one million visitors per year.
A deep-blue lake and picturesque – Hallstatt is the embodiment of the perfect postcard motive.
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Hallstatt was established in the 16th century by the mine workers. Some of the oldest mines of the world can be found here. Today, many of them can be visited with a guided tour such as the “Salzwelten Hallstatt”.
The rising importance of the industry soon required more people to settle at the shores of the lake. But, as the space was limited, the expansion of the city soon reached the surrounding hillsides. This gives Hallstatt its special appearance.
If you only have limited time, you might wonder how to make the most out of your visit to the world heritage.
Stroll through the city center
It is safe to say, that the easiest and most reasonable way to explore this small city is by foot. The scenic part of the city stretches over 500 meters along the western shore of the “Hallstätter See”.
Start your walking tour at the northern viewpoint, which provides the iconic view of the city and the church – framed by the mountains in the background.
From here you continue southwards to the “Pfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt”. The gothic church as it is seen today was built around 1500. The baroque roof of the tower was added in 1750 after a fire destroyed the tower. Most impressive about this church might be the cemetery, which is right next to the church. As Hallstatt is partly built into the side of the mountain, there is not much open space for a cemetery. Some of the mortal remains are stored at the “Beinhaus” (ossuary), which was built in the 12th century. Today, about 600 skulls and other mortal remains are stored at the ossuary. Most of them date back to the 18th century, but some were added to the ossuary in 20th century. Most of the skulls are artistically painted, which makes them a popular sight.
From here you continue to the town square – the center of Hallstatt. This central meeting place is full of typical Austrian houses, which were painted in many different colors. At the junction of “Oberer Marktplatz” and “Badergraben” you will find the “Dreifaltigkeitssäule” – a richly decorated pillar in the middle of the square.
Bear yourself in the direction of the lake again and continue southwards to the “Seestraße”. Here you will find another viewpoint, which offers a great view of the historic houses directly at the shore of the lake.
The houses wind along the shore in a small strip along the lakeside, before it opens again and spreads out the next small valley. There are no bigger sightseeing spots at the southern part of the city, but you can walk all the way to the “Badeinsel Hallstatt”, where you will find a viewing point, which offers a panoramic view of the old city of Hallstatt.
Boat cruise on the Hallstätter See
I can highly recommend doing the lake cruise to get an even more impressive view of Hallstatt and the surrounding mountains. The ferry takes you all the way to the eastern shore of the lake, past the castle “Grub” and back to the Hallstatt ferry terminal within approximately 1 hour.
You can either board the ferry at the “Markt” or the “Lahn” terminal.
The ferry operates between Mai and September and the round-trip costs 14€ per Person for adults.
More information can be found via the official website.
The peaks and lows of tourism
The small village, which only has about 800 permanented residents went from debts to a high surplus in just a few years, after it gained worldwide recognition via platforms like Instagram. In summertime – the high season – the small city counts about 7.000 visitors per day.
If you plan to visit Hallstatt, be prepared for crowds of tourists, and bring good shoes as you might have to walk several kilometers to get from the parking lot to the city center.
How to get to Hallstatt
By Car – Salzburg to Hallstatt: Follow the 158, starting at the eastern side of Salzburg. The route will follow you through the famous “Salzkammergut” and along the lakes of “Fuschelsee” and “Wolfgangsee”. At “Bad Ischl” you interchange to the 145. Shortly behind the small city of “Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee” you interchange to the 166, which will lead you along the Hallstätter See and all the way to Hallstatt.
Salzburg – Hallstatt: 75 km, 1,5 hours driving time.
Even though the parking lots are far away from the actual sightseeing spots, they are quite expensive. Following an overview of the rates (Status: 2020):
60 Minutes: 4€
120 Minutes: 7 €
3-4 hours: 9€
5-6 hours: 9,5€
7-12 hours: 10€
Daily Rate: 15€
Parking Insider Tip:
If you do not plan to stay longer than 90 minutes, you can check the “Short Term Parking”-lot, which is in the tunnel right next to the Hallstatt Waterfall. This parking lot is small but located directly above the city center and you have a great view over Hallstatt. A small staircase leads you down to the city center and to the town square. Prices for about 90 minutes of parking: 7 €.
By Train – You can also take the train from Salzburg to Hallstatt. This will take about 3 hours and you might have to change several times. Check the oebb.at website for further information. HINT: When arriving to Hallstatt by train, you need to consider, that the train station is located at the eastern shore of the lake, while the city of Hallstatt is located at the western shore. There is a ferry, which takes you to the other side of the lake on a regular basis. Check their official website for more information.
Enhanced Sightseeing Itinerary
If you plan to spend a whole day at Hallstatt, you can enhance your itinerary with following activities:
Salzwelten Hallstatt – Visit the oldest mine of the world and learn more about the history of mining. Website: Salzwelten.at
Salzbergbahn & Hallstatt Skywalk “Welterbeblick” – Change your point of view by taking the “Salzbergbahn” uphill and enjoy the vast view over Hallstatt and the Hallstätter Lake. Salzwelten.at
Dachstein & Ice Cave – Visit the “Dachstein“ mountain top and experience a snowy winter landscape – even in summer. Do not miss the Dachstein Glacier and the Ice Cave. Website: Dachstein.at
Relax at the beach - If you are looking for a cooling experience in summer, you can take advantage of one of the public beaches around the lake.
Lake “Wolfgangsee” – If you are heading into the direction of Salzburg, you can combine your visit to Hallstatt with some afternoon cake and coffee at the Wolfgangsee. Go to the “Weißes Rössl” at the waterfont and enjoy some “Kaiserschmarrn”.
