How to spend one day in Hallstatt Austria

Hallstatt Austria is a UNESCO heritage site located on Lake Hallstatt’s western shore, in Austria’s mountainous Salzkammergut region.

The name Hallstatt means salt settlement, known for its salt mining production since medieval times.

During a visit to Salzburg, we decided to spend one day in Hallstatt. It was only an hour and a half away, so we figured it would be the perfect day trip from Salzburg, and we’re so glad we did.

First of all, the drive to Hallstatt was just amazing. The scenery getting here was breathtaking. Seeing the mountains, the turquoise lakes and all the charming fairytale towns was worth the drive alone.

READ NEXT: Top things to do in Salzburg Austria

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How to get to Hallstatt

Hallstatt is an easy day trip from Salzburg, with just over an hour’s drive away.

You can get here by car, or train, or get on one of the day trip bus tours coming from Salzburg, or other cities in Austria.

I suggest driving into town, the scenery getting here is amazing! Once you make it into town, there are a few parking lots located outside of the village.

Make sure you arrive early (like before 8am), to ensure you get a parking space. It gets pretty crowded later on in the day, and finding parking can get hectic!

We arrived by 8am and even had the town all to ourselves for a while! Click here for the link to the parking website.

If you have more time, I suggest staying in Hallstatt, or in the neighboring towns for a night or two.

It gets quieter once all the bus tours have left for the day, and you get those crowd-free photos. Plus you help out the economy, instead of just driving by to take a photo and leaving.

READ NEXT: Read about our Day trip to Innsbruck Austria here.

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Where to Stay in Hallstatt

We were so happy to find a hotel in Hallstatt since our trip was planned last minute. We lucked out with a hotel across the river from Hallstatt in Obertraun.

The Seehotel am Hallstättersee is located right by the Lake and was the perfect place to stay!

There are lots of lakeside activities, like swimming, kayaking, boat rides, and water slides.

The best part of our stay was the most amazing views of the Lake and mountains from our room.

You can even take a ferry from Obertraun to Hallstatt, which is just a short walk away from the hotel.

Book your hotel in Hallstatt here:

Top things to do in Hallstatt

Take a stroll through the charming town

One of the top things to do in Hallstatt is a stroll through the charming town. Every street and alleyway here is just so beautiful and it feels like walking through a fairytale!

Don’t miss taking the iconic shot of Hallstatt from its most photographed vantage point, which is just so stunning.

You can also explore the historic Market Square. There are a few restaurants and cafes, hotels, and a range of souvenir shops along the square, and it’s the perfect place to people-watch!

Don’t forget to purchase some of Hallstatt’s gourmet salt as a souvenir. It’s what the village is known for, and they’re pretty much sold in every shop in the village.

On your sightseeing tour of Hallstatt, make sure to pay attention to the details. There are so many kooky adornments found throughout the town.

We found plants growing in old boots, and pear trees growing on the facades of the houses, which was so cool!

There is so much to see on your visit to Hallstatt. You just have to remember to look around and pay attention to the details!

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Visit the Hallstatt Salt Mine & Skywalk

One of the main attractions in Hallstatt is a visit to the 7000-year-old Salt mine. The Hallstatt salt mine is a huge part of Hallstatt’s history.

Take a ride up the Salzbergbahn panorama funicular and visit the oldest Salt Mine in the world

Once you make it up, visit the free-floating Skywalk with its “World Heritage View”, 360 meters above the ground. You get the most amazing panoramic views of Hallstatt and the valley below!

• Salt Mine Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm from April 1- Sept. 25, 2022 (9:30am-2:30pm in the spring & winter)
• Funicular Hours: 9am-4:30pm (till 6pm on April 1-Sept. 25, 2022)
• Tickets: 36€ adults / 18€ kids 4-15
• 73€ family ticket (2 adults & 1 child- 15€ additional child)
• 3€ audio guide.
• *Be aware that children under 4 are not allowed to visit the mine!
• Purchase tickets here
• Location: Salzwelten Hallstatt Salzbergstraße 21 4830 Hallstatt | Österreich

Visit the Churches in Hallstatt

On your stroll around Hallstatt, you will notice a few churches in this small town. One, in particular, is the Ascension of our Lady. This Catholic Church was built around 1181 and is nestled in the mountains of Hallstatt.

The short climb up the steps leads you to the most amazing views of the town, and some interesting pieces of history located on the grounds of the church and its cemetery.

The Charnel House of Bones

The Charnel house of bones existed since the 12th century and is located on the grounds of the Ascension of our Lady church.

It contains 1200 skulls, 610 of them are painted and arranged according to family name and date of death.

Since the graveyards were small with no room to extend, they were opened after 10-20 years and cleaned.

The skulls are painted with a flower motif as a sign of love, this tradition started in 1720. It was a very interesting piece of history, yet creepy at the same time.

Take a boat ride on the Hallstatersee

Take a boat ride on the Lake, and see Hallstatt from a different point of view. You can rent electric boats, paddle boats, or go on a ferry boat ride across the river.

Boat rentals are on a first come first served basis, and lines can get long, especially later on in the day!

We rented an electric boat just so we can admire this beautiful town and the mountains from a different perspective. Make sure to have some cash handy for boat rentals.

Where to eat in Hallstatt 

Hallstatt has a great selection of restaurants and cafes. During our visit, we enjoyed the local cuisine at the Brauhaus. We enjoyed the Duck and Wiener Schnitzel, and the lakeside views were amazing!

Café Derbl was the perfect spot for people-watching at the Market Square while enjoying some coffee and dessert.

We also enjoyed ice cream at Eis-Giovanni Filiale Hallstatt located in the central Market Square. They had a great selection of sweets which was much needed after a long day of sightseeing. 

Our dream trip to Hallstatt Austria was so amazing! Since it’s such a small town, you can easily spend a few hours exploring, but it was nice to spend a couple of days to experience it without the crowds.

The town gets quieter after all the day-trippers have left, and you have the whole town to yourself.

Merely strolling the streets and finding cute little nooks and charming alleyways was the best itinerary for the day!

READ NEXT: Guide to the Salzburg Sound of Music Tour

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