The Ultimate Hallstatt Guide: 10 Experiences You’ll Love

10 Best Things to Do in Hallstatt

1. Ferry Ride Around Hallstatt Lake

If you are traveling by train to Hallstatt, one of the first things you will have to do is take a ferry across Hallstatt Lake to get to the town since the closest train station is located on the other side of the lake.

And if you are there on the first train from Salzburg, as I did, you will be able to witness some of the calmest and most beautiful moments of Hallstatt that you will ever experience. You will arrive there just in time for the first ferry, and you will have the whole lake to yourself.

I was there in July, the busiest time of the year, and took the train from Salzburg at around 5:12 AM, arriving at the Hallstatt train station at 7:30 AM, in time for the first ferry crossing.

To my surprise, the lake was completely empty, and I had the opportunity to enjoy Hallstatt in peace before it becomes crowded with tourists, which I thought was impossible.

The ferry schedule runs according to the train schedule from/to Vienna and Salzburg, so you should have no trouble catching the ferry in time. They operate from 6:50 AM to 6:15 PM (leaving from Hallstatt) in the summer every day, with the ferry leaving every hour or so.

If you are not traveling by train, you can also rent a kayak in town when you arrive or ferry around the lake and visit other lakeside towns on one of the many ferries that connect the towns together.

All in all, if you are visiting Hallstatt, you should definitely not miss seeing the picturesque town and the surrounding mountains from the lake. It will truly make you appreciate the scale of Hallstatt even more.

Looking for the best things to do in Vienna? Check out:16 Best Things to Do in Vienna

Where to Stay in Hallstatt?

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Hostel Bad Goisern

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Mid-Range

Fenix Hall Boutique Hotel Hallstatt

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I da Mitt

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2. Take the Postcard Photo at Hallstatt Viewpoint

Of course, if you are visiting Hallstatt, you need to get that postcard-perfect photo of the town and the iconic church spire from the Hallstatt Famous Viewpoint just up the road north of the town square.

The viewpoint is extremely popular among tourists, and it can get crowded and loud very fast. So, if you want to enjoy the view and have the place to yourself for a bit, be sure to get there as early as possible.

If you arrive in Hallstatt via the first train from Salzburg or Vienna, you will be able to have the viewpoint to yourself for an hour or two before the first tour group arrives, which is plenty of time to get that perfect photo of yourself and the iconic view.

Sunset is also supposed to be nice here as well, and if you are staying overnight in town, you can also visit the viewpoint at sunset when all the day trippers have already left. All in all, if you are traveling here, visiting this viewpoint is definitely one of the best things to do in Hallstatt.

3. Visit the Ancient Hallstatt Salt Mine ❤️ Must Visit

Hallstatt Salt Mine is probably the highlight of visiting Hallstatt for me. It is one of the best things you can do here, and that's coming from me, who has been to many salt mines around the world before (Potosi, etc.). It was so extremely well-thought-out and presented that it made the whole trip to Hallstatt worth it for me.

If you did not know before, the history of Hallstatt began almost 7,000 years ago during the Neolithic Age. Back then, people were already busy mining for salt here, which makes Hallstatt the oldest salt mine in the world!

They continued to dig deeper into the mountain with the simplest of tools and even constructed the world's first wooden staircases to transport the salt out to the world.

For so many centuries, the "white gold" has brought wealth and prosperity to the towns around the lake and has brought them up to the beautiful places we see today.

Even now, the salt is still being mined for use, and you can tour around these old mine tunnels, learn the history, see how they mined salt back in the day, and in the end, you will be able to gaze upon the actual 3,100-year-old staircase, the oldest in the world.

Despite the already rich history, the presentation and interactive experience of the Salt Mine tour took it to eleven with incredible light and sound shows, 3D video projections, and my favorite part: getting to slide down the 64-meter-long miners' slide that was used back in the day.

There are around 2 slides you can experience during your Salt Mine tour, and at the end of the tour, you will be able to see who slithered down the fastest, which I thought was very cool.

The entire tour can take about 2 hours, and it runs on a time slot schedule on a first-come-first-serve basis, so I highly recommend you get to the salt mine first when it opens or as early as possible.

To get to the Salt Mine, you will have to take the funicular up from the Salt Mine funicular station. From there, you can purchase a ticket for the salt mine tour, as well as explore other tourist attractions up there, such as the Skywalk, which we will discuss next.

For the best deal, I highly recommend you get the combination ticket which includes a roundtrip funicular ride, the salt mine tour, and access to the SkyWalk viewpoint, and costs about 36 EUR per person. The salt mine opens from 9:30 AM to 2:30-4 PM every day depending on the season. You can check the current opening time on their official website.

Since the salt mine tour operates using time slots, and it can take about 2 hours to complete, I highly recommend you do the tour first before checking out other attractions up there.

Leave SkyWalk after you are done with the tour so that you can relax a little and enjoy a nice stroll around the area at your own leisure. Dedicate at least half a day up here. It is definitely one of the best things to do in Hallstatt, so be sure not to miss it.

4. Admire the View of Hallstatt from above at Hallstatt Skywalk

After you are done with the Salt Mine tour, you can then enjoy a stunning view above Hallstatt and the lake from the Hallstatt Skywalk. From up there, you will be able to appreciate just how remote Hallstatt actually is, with all the surrounding mountains.

You will also be able to see the town itself from above, which I think is pretty cool. There is also a café and a restaurant at the SkyWalk where you can indulge yourself while looking at the beautiful scenery of Hallstatt.

5. Check Out the Beautiful Houses Around Hallstatt Town Square

Hallstatt Historic Town Square or Marktplatz is a charming, cobblestone square that serves as the center of the town. The square is marked by the statue of the Holy Trinity and is a popular gathering spot for both locals and visitors.

Surrounded by some of the most beautiful and charming traditional alpine houses, with colorful exteriors and wooden balconies full of beautiful flowers, it is impossible not to feel like you are deep in the Austrian Alps.

During the day in the summer, a traditional open-air market often takes place here, where local farmers and artisans come together to sell their goods, from fresh produce to handmade crafts. The market is a great place to get a taste of local life in Hallstatt and find souvenirs to take home, so be sure to check it out while you are here.

6. Visit Hallstatt Cemetery and Catacomb at Pfarrkirche Maria am Berg

Pfarrkirche Maria am Berg is a Roman Catholic parish church located on the side of the mountain in Hallstatt, which offers a stunning view of the town.

The church was built in the 18th century in the Baroque style and features a grand exterior with a sweeping staircase and a large dome. Inside, the church is adorned with beautiful frescoes, altars, and stained glass windows.

The interior of the church is pretty nice, but the highlight of visiting this church is to check out the Chapel House or Bone House located within the cemetery of the church, which is considered to be some of the smallest catacombs out there.

In the 12th Century, due to limited space in Hallstatt, they decided to start digging under the church and created the catacombs where they bury the dead. Now, the catacombs are home to an unusual collection of over 600 artistically painted skulls, which is quite a sight to behold.

The cemetery and the catacomb are open from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM every day, and the entrance fee is only 1.5 EUR per person, which is an awesome deal. If you are in Hallstatt, be sure to check out the Chapel House.

7. Admire the Beauty of Hallstatt Lutheran Church

One of the most recognizable landmarks in Hallstatt, the Hallstatt Lutheran Church, is the only Lutheran Church you will find here. It serves as a community center for the town and the local people living here.

The church was built in the 18th century and features a grand Baroque-style exterior with a large dome and a sweeping staircase. Inside, the church is adorned with beautiful frescoes, altars, and stained glass windows.

It is located not too far from Hallstatt Town Square, which makes it a great place to stop by and see just how quaint the inside is. So, be sure to check it out while you are there.

8. Dive Deeper into the History of Hallstatt at Welterbemuseum 🏛️ Best Museum

If you want to learn more about the history of Hallstatt and its salt mine past, you can also drop by the Welterbemuseum, a museum dedicated to the history and culture of the town, which is home to a variety of exhibits that will help you understand Hallstatt's rich past.

At the Welterbemuseum, you can learn about the town's history, from its early days as a salt-mining center to its more recent role as a tourist destination. The museum also hosts a variety of educational programs and events, making it a great place to visit for people of all ages. The museum is open from 10 AM to 4 PM every day except Monday and Tuesday, and the entrance fee is around 10 EUR per person.

9. Explore the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave ☀️ Great Day Trip

If you are looking for an adventure in Hallstatt, you definitely have to check out the Dachstein Ice Cave, a natural ice cave located in the Dachstein mountain range. It can be easily reached from Hallstatt with a bus and a cable car ride.

The giant ice cave is known for its stunning natural beauty and a number of impressive ice formations, including ice stalactites and stalagmites. While here, you can spend time hiking around and exploring the ice cave with a guide who will take you through all the rooms and explain the significance of each room and its features.

It is a fun one-hour hike through some of the most interesting cave systems out here. The temperature down in the cave can be as low as -5° in the summer months, so be sure to pack a jacket and wear long trousers.

The guided tour runs every hour and takes about 50 minutes to complete. As soon as you purchase a ticket at the cable car station, inform the clerk that you wish to visit the Big Ice Cave, and they will give you the tour's scheduled time. Walking to the cave from the cable car station does take a while, so make sure to allocate enough time.

To get to the Giant Ice Cave, you will first have to get to Obertraun's cable car station via bus number 542 or 543, which will take you from Hallstatt, Bad Ischl, and Gosau to Obertraun Dachsteinseilbahn, the cable car station up the Dachstein mountain range.

In Hallstatt, the bus leaves from Hallstatt Lahn Bus Stop and it should take about 20 minutes to reach the cable car station. The ride up the mountain should take 20 minutes before reaching Schönbergalm cable car station (section 1), where you have to get off. From there, you will have to hike up to the ice cave, which will take another 15 - 20 minutes.

Once you are done, you can explore more of the Dachstein mountain and visit other tourist attractions like the 5 Fingers, which we will discuss next, or you can just hike around the area. There are a ton of hiking trails here, and you can find the best hikes for you from the official website.

The price for the Giant Ice Cave and a roundtrip cable car ride is 40 EUR per person, or if you want to include every other tourist attraction like the 5 Fingers and the Mammoth Cave, you can buy the Dachstein Salzkammergut ticket which should cost about 50 EUR. You do not have to book the ticket prior to your visit. You can get one right at the cable car station in Obertraun.

10. Be Blown Away by the View from the 5 Fingers

Another awesome place to visit while you are up on Dachstein mountain is the 5 Fingers, a unique, hand-shaped observation platform featuring 5 "fingers" stretching 400 m above the ground where you will be able to have a sweeping panoramic view of the Alps right at your fingertips.

From the Giant Ice Cave cable car station, you have to continue on to the Dachsteinbahn Krippenstein cable car station, or the 2nd section of the cable car, and from there, you can reach the viewing deck via a hiking trail, which should take no more than 20 minutes. It is an easy walk and can easily be done by people of all ages.

The last cable car down the Dachstein mountain from Krippenstein cable car station is between 5 PM to 7 PM depending on the season so be sure to be there on time. Be sure to check out the latest operational time from their official website.

To get to the 5 Fingers, you will have to buy the Dachstein Salzkammergut ticket, which should cost about 50 EUR per person and includes a roundtrip ticket to both the viewing platform and the Ice Cave, as well as entry to all the tourist attractions in between. Basically, an all-in-one ticket for most things here.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with Omio when traveling in Hallstatt, Austria while for trains, Trainline is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Tiqets is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Austria

I hope you found this Austrian travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Austria, here are a selection of articles you might like:

• Looking for a complete itinerary for Austria? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Austria Itinerary.
• If you are visiting Austria, you cannot afford to skip Vienna. This city is jam-packed with beautiful sights and some of the prettiest landmarks in Europe. To help your visit, here are 16 Best Things to Do in Vienna.
• For a complete Vienna itinerary, check out: 3 Days in Vienna Itinerary.
• Popularized by the classic movie, "The Sound of Music," Salzburg is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Europe, with a ton of things to do. Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Salzburg.
• Want to visit Salzburg for 3 days and are looking for the perfect itinerary? Check this out: 3 Days In Salzburg: An Itinerary For First Timers.
• Innsbruck is one of the best places to visit if you want to see the wonderful Austrian Alps up close and personal. Here are the 13 Best Things to Do in Innsbruck.
• One of the best hikes you can do in the Austrian Alps is the Olpererhütte hike, and you can do it all in one day from Innsbruck. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Olpererhütte from Innsbruck.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Austria, visit the Austria Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Western Europe Travel Guide, Central Europe Travel Guide, or Eastern Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.