Pack your bags! Whether you stay for a night or a week, Hallstatt is where you need to be! In the village of Salzkammergut, a region in Austria, nestled between the Dachstein mountains and the beautiful Hallstätter See, lies Hallstatt. This picturesque village is worth a thousand words. You don’t have to walk far to get a good picture of this salt mine town. Everywhere you look, you are graced with beauty. We went to Hallstatt just for a day on our way back from Salzburg. It was a must-see that had been added to the bucket list ever since I caught glimpse of this quaint little lake-side village on Google. You will see what I mean after looking at some of these breath-taking photos. It doesn’t matter when you visit, summer, fall, winter, spring it is ALWAYS gorgeous. You can’t go wrong planning a trip to Hallstatt.
How to get there:
We arrived by car, although you can take the train or a bus into town as well. To check the timetables for the train or bus to Hallstatt you can visit here. If you are taking the train into town, it will drop you on the other side of the lake which will cause you to take the ferry across. Find information about the ferry here. The bus will drop you right in the center of town! We drove from Salzburg to Hallstatt, a quick one-hour drive, putting us there early enough to explore the village. Once you are in the town, you can easily walk anywhere you want to go by foot.
What to do:
Skywalk:
If you are looking for a something to get your blood pumping and snap some breath-taking pictures, take a ride up to the Skywalk. You can reach the Skywalk using the funicular railway up the ‘Salzberg’ (salt mountain). The railway is hard to miss. Stretching 383 meters straight up the side of the mountain, this safe, three-minute ascend in a cable car gives you access to panoramic views over Hallstatt. Don’t forget to stop and take a break at Rudolph’s Tower and Restaurant at the top of the railway, after walking out on the skywalk!
Opening hours and prices:
The cable car is open from April 9th to Sept 25th
2nd of November 2015 to 9th April 2016 closed!
9th April to 25th September 2016: 9:00 – 18:00
26th September to 6th November 2016: 9:00 – 16:30
7th November to 27th November 2016: 9:00 – 16:00
Ascent and decent run constantly!
Cost: Round trip, 13€ for Adults, 7.50€ for children
For more information on the Skywalk you can visit here.
Salt Mines:
Salzwelten is said to be the oldest salt mine in the world! At the top of the funicular railway, you can begin your tour of the 7000-year-old salt mine. There are several tours available to reveal how Hallstatt came to be. Once in the mine there are many things to do. From contact with old salt blocks, to seeing the “man in salt”, a miner’s body who was discovered in 1734 and whose body was perfectly preserved in salt, to sliding down the old salt miners chute. Rain or shine, you are able to visit the salt mines. It makes for a perfect break from the hot summer sun!
Opening hours and prices:
From 2nd of November 2015 to 9th April 2016 closed
9th April to 25th September 2016: 9.00 – 18.00
26th September to 06th November 2016: 9.00 to 16.30
7th November to 27th November 2016: 9.00 to 16.00
Cost: Salt Mine tour + funicular ride, 26€ for Adults, 13€ for children
For more information on the Salt Mines click here.
Visit Old Town: Just like the salt mines, the town is 7,000 years old as well! After your salt mine tour ends, ride the cable car down, walk into the town and live like a local! The town, located on the water front, is boasting with many shops, restaurants and postcard photo ops! Don’t forget to visit the swans in the lake!
Outdoor Activities:
For adventure seekers only! There are many outdoor activities available in Hallstatt. From hiking, to mountain bike trails, to boat rentals on the lake and even rock climbing! If you’re feeling extra brave, you can even hike one hour to the top of the mountain for your salt mine tour from the village of Hallstatt. There are many other options for hiking trails in and around Hallstatt. Click the link below to find them!
For more information on outdoor activities you can click here!
Hallstatt is a place for the young and old, a place to relax or a place to be active. Hallstatt has made its way to the top of our “favorites” list and is a place we will surely visit again before we depart.
Hallstatt is would be a wonderful day trip if you win the StationedinGermany.com Vacation giveaway as well. The drive through the Austrian countryside from Bad Füssing to Hallstatt would be worth the trip alone!
Have you been to Hallstatt? What did you do there? Share your comments and breath-taking pictures below!
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