Hallstatt

Visiting Hallstatt, the Most Beautiful Village in Austria

Hallstatt, Austria is that picturesque, fairytale village that periodically shows up as your screensaver. It is a magical place to visit. Located in the district of Gmunden, just about an hour and fifteen minutes drive from Salzburg, it is a very do-able day trip or stop whilst road tripping through Austria.

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What makes Hallstatt so postcard perfect is the 16th century alpine homes that sit above its glimmering namesake lake, enveloped in Austria’s Salzkammergut mountains. It is the most scenic view in any season.

Above photo: Hallstatt, Austria

I visited Hallstatt during one of my Christmas Market trips, although I wasn’t there for Hallstatt’s market, which only occurs on one weekend each year. Between a couple days of Christmas Market revelry in Salzburg and the glamorous sites and shopping of Vienna, a lifelong friend and I decided this was our opportunity to finally see this dreamy little village and the UNESCO World Heritage region of Hallstatt Dachstein Salzkammergut.

Although it is possible to get to Hallstatt via train, we decided to rent a car in Salzburg to drive across Austria. This afforded us shorter travel times and flexibility to set our own schedule. It was an easy drive and quite fun to drive into the mountains!

Above photos: Views driving from Salzburg to Hallstatt

There is no tourist parking in Hallstatt. However, the parking lots just outside of the village are a very close walk. If you come in on the train, you can catch the ferry across the lake. But, for those arriving by car, you’ll have an even easier commute — just a 15 minute walk to the main square.

Above photo: Kalvarienbergkirche sits above one of the main parking areas for Hallstatt visitors

From the moment we arrived, we had our cameras out. There is charm and beauty in every direction. Our arrival around 4 pm in the afternoon coincided with the exodus of day trippers and tour buses. We stopped off at the Maislinger Cafe for lattes and biscotti while the town emptied out.

Above photo: Panorama of Lake Hallstatt from the Ferry Terminal

As we continued towards our hotel, the day light disappeared. The starry Christmas decorations and the moonlight over the lake created a glowy blue mystique. I can’t describe it. It was surreal.

Above photos: Evening in Hallstatt

Where to stay in Hallstatt

If you are able to spend the night in Hallstatt, I highly recommend it. For one, you’ll be able to explore the area with fewer crowds in the evening and early morning. This alone is pretty compelling. It is also an opportunity to see the views in different light. The night sky vs. the morning sun offer completely different ambiance.

There are a handful of small hotels and bed-and-breakfast options in Hallstatt. We stayed at the Heritage Hotel Hallstatt located lakeside in the center of town. Once we checked-in and dropped off our bags, we were able to walk throughout the town center and up into some of the the higher areas.

Where to eat in Hallstatt

Our dinner plans were at Seehotel Grüner Baum, which also has an adjoining hotel. I had traditional Austrian goulash and it was amazing. If you visit during the summer or during the day, you will also be treated to lake views.

Above photos: Seehotel Grüner Baum Restaurant

What to do in Hallstatt

Market Square

The main square in Hallstatt is lined with cafes, restaurants, and houses. It is a very pretty place to walk through and is also the location for many festive events throughout the year. When we visited, the annual Krampus tradition was taking place with a few people dressed up as the folkloric creature and banging on drums. It wasn’t the ordeal we witnessed at the Hellbrunner Christmas Market in Salzburg, but it clearly showed this tradition is still strong everywhere in Austria.

Above photo: Hallstatt Market Square

Evangelical Church of Hallstatt

The little white church just steps from Hallstatt Market Square is the Christ Church Evangelical Parish. You can step inside and see the neo-gothic architecture and collections of this 160 year old landmark. Originally a house of prayer and later built into a church, it is as central to the history of Hallstatt as it is a visual hallmark in every postcard-like photograph.

Above photo: Interior of the Evangelical Church of Hallstatt

Catholic Church of Hallstatt

The Catholic Church is nestled into the moutainside with a cemetery and ossuary on the grounds surrounding it. We visited this site in the evening and it was the most peaceful and contemplative place. The church history goes back over 500 years and has some pretty interesting art theft drama in the mix.

Above photos: Night views of Hallstatt taken from the Catholic Church Cemetery

Above photo: The Catholic Church of Hallstatt situated above alpine homes

See All the Views

Of course, the main thing to do in Hallstatt is explore the town on foot and see all the views. We walked along the lake, up into the mountainside, and down every little path we could find.

Above photos: Early morning views in Hallstatt

We followed Gosaumühlstraße to the main observation point for the best photos of Hallstatt. If you bee line there, it is maybe a 5-minute walk. We were in no rush and enjoyed a very leisurely stroll.

Above photos: Postcard views of Hallstatt

The residents of Hallstatt seemed to keep to themselves. We didn’t experience anything unfriendly, but with so many tourists all over the place, I’m sure the locals just do their best to keep living their lives. We absolutely loved the way every front door was decorated with wreaths and gingerbread trim.

Above photos: Street views in Hallstatt

Hallstatt Skywalk Welterbeblick Aussichtsplattform

An absolute must when visiting Hallstatt is to take the funicular railway up Salt Mountain (Hallstatt Salzburg). The funicular serves both the World Heritage Skywalk and the Salt Mine.

Above photos: Hallstatt funicular railway (left) and path to the World Heritage Skywalk (right)

The viewing platform hovers 350 meters above Hallstatt and offers breathtaking panoramic views over Lake Hallstatt against the gorgeous mountain backdrop.

Above photos: Hallstatt World Heritage View & Skywalk

If you are traveling with kids, you may want to consider taking a tour of the salt mine (Salzwelten). It is the oldest salt mine in the world. Although we skipped the tour, we did stop in the store and purchased a bunch of different salts to take back home.

Additional photos of Hallstatt