Is Hallstatt Worth Visiting? My Thoughts on Hallstatt

I visited Hallstatt on a rainy day in August, during a one month long road trip around Europe. I didn’t know if Hallstatt was worth a visit before getting there. I’ve heard many things about how beautiful but also how touristy it is. Whilst driving through Austria, getting lost due to a GPS error, I started noticing road signs leading towards Hallstatt. That led to curiosity followed by the decision to see for myself, so I could find out what is all the fuss about with this village. Is Hallstatt worth visiting?

In this article I will tell you all about my experience visiting Hallstatt and what I thought of the place. I was lucky to visit on a rainy day as there were less people around, I imagine the number of tourists on a sunny day is much higher.

Is Hallstatt Worth Visiting? 

Nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of the Salzkammergut region of Austria, Hallstatt seems like a dream when seen in photographs. But is the village as beautiful in reality as it is in postcards? And is Hallstatt worth visiting? What is it that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors here, each summer?

I spent a full day in Hallstatt, exploring every corner of the village and discovering its charm. And I’m not going to lie, Hallstatt is as beautiful in reality as it is in photos. Even if during my visit the weather was rainy, the village still felt magical.

How to Get to Hallstatt

Getting to Hallstatt is not the easiest without having a car. Even so, it’s quite a drive from Vienna. From Salzburg, the drive is very picturesque, crossing the romantic road of Austria, through the Alps.

I highly recommend choosing public transport rather than driving, because parking is very limited in Hallstatt. If you don’t arrive first thing in the morning, you won’t find a free spot. The cost of parking the car in Hallstatt is also very dear, at 3 euros per hour. 

If you are doing a road trip around Austria, as I did, it’s best to choose a hotel outside of Hallstatt and then cycle there. I based myself 15 kilometres away from Hallstatt, in St Agatha village at the Landhotel Agathawirth, which offered free bikes to their guests. I cycled to Hallstatt on the beautiful bike path along the Hallstätter See, and then crossed over to Hallstatt by ferry. It is totally fine to take the bike on the ferry.

From Vienna:

Travelling from Vienna to Hallstatt typically takes approximately three and a half hours to four hours, whether you opt for driving or taking the train. If you choose the train option, you’ll need to make a change at Attnang-Puchheim and then board the local Rex train that heads to Hallstatt.

Alternatively, an appealing option is to join a guided tour from Vienna. These tours provide private transportation with no need for transfers along the way, and allow you plenty of time to visit Hallstatt by yourself. Click here to check out such a tour on Get Your Guide, which is highly positively reviewed.

From Salzburg:

Travelling to Hallstatt from Salzburg follows the same route as from Vienna, but from the opposite direction. You’ll need to make your way to Attnang-Puchheim and then transfer to the local Rex train.

Keep in mind that the train station in Hallstatt is located on the opposite side of the lake. To reach the village, you’ll need to take a ferry. Fortunately, the ferry schedule is synchronised with the train arrivals and departures. A ticket from the train station to Hallstatt costs 3 euros per person.

Alternatively, if you prefer a hassle-free experience, you can opt for a guided tour from Salzburg. These tours provide private transportation, ensuring a comfortable journey. For more information, click here.

Hallstatt and Overtourism

One important question that I asked myself before visiting Hallstatt was how crowded this small village would be. I don’t like crowds at all and I avoid travelling during high season because of it. This time however I had no choice. I drove to my home country to attend my best friend’s wedding and, as it is a 2000 miles one way journey, I decided to make a road trip out of it, spending an entire month exploring Europe. Most places I visited during that month were outside of the touristic path, except for Hallstatt.

Hallstatt has been struggling with being ‘over visited’ with tourism for years now. Whilst the village was a popular destination before the Frozen movie was launched, after, the number of tourists more than doubled. This is because it was rumoured that Hallstatt was the inspiration for the setting for Frozen. The local council has tried to limit the number of buses allowed per day in Hallstatt, and, more recently, they tried to block the famous photo spot from where you can take that iconic image of the village. It is believed that over one million tourists come to Hallstatt every year – and as you can imagine, for a village of just over 700 residents, that’s a lot!

I thought of how I could minimise my footprint, as a tourist visiting during the peak season. So I went there by bike rather than by car. I cycled 15 kilometres on this gorgeous bike path alongside the lake, climbing through the forest, and then back down by the railway. I also contributed to the local economy by having lunch in the village, buying some locally produced salt, paying to see some of the museums and attractions in the village, and using the local ferry to cross from one side to another of the lake.

8 Amazing Reasons to Visit Hallstatt

It’s a Fairytale Village

Getting off the ferry and stepping into Hallstatt, you will think you’ve just arrived into a fairytale. Hallstatt’s allure lies in its idyllic location on the shores of Hallstätter See, framed by the picturesque 16th-century Alpine architecture adorned with cheerful, vibrant-coloured houses. The narrow streets and passageways invite you to explore, while towering mountains provide a majestic backdrop, almost as if they emerge from behind the buildings. The water element doesn’t miss, with a small river rushing behind a row of houses, underneath the old mill in the village, and waterfalls dropping sharply from the mountain slopes.

To appreciate the beauty of Hallstatt, I let myself get lost on the winding paths in the village. Every turn revealed something new, and, for a village of only 700 inhabitants, there was plenty to discover. I spent hours walking around Hallstatt, photographing it from every angle, whilst embracing the here and now moment. It was so beautiful!

Hallstatt is so much more than that iconic photo of the church tower reflecting in the calm water of the lake. If you want to discover more hidden corners, you can book a photoshoot with one of the locals, who will follow you to the most iconic places of the village and snap charming photos of you. You can click here to book this experience.

It Has a Fascinating History

The rich history of Hallstatt stretches back over an astonishing 7,000 years, when the mountains surrounding the village first witnessed the presence of prehistoric communities. It is a testament to the enduring human connection to this land. Intriguingly, between 1,000 and 500 BC, more than 4,000 individuals found their final resting place in the Alpine field outside the mine, leaving behind an extraordinary archaeological legacy.

In 1846, Johann Georg Ramsauer, the master miner of the Salzwelten Mine at that time, made a groundbreaking discovery. He stumbled upon the first burial site, setting in motion a chain of incessant archaeological expeditions that continue to this day. The initial findings from these expeditions can be admired at the Natural History Museum in Vienna. However, as you ascend from the funicular towards the mine, you embark on a remarkable journey that allows you to immerse yourself in their captivating story.

Along this path, a modest yet captivating one-room museum awaits halfway. Inside, you will encounter two graves—one representing an ordinary burial and the other a cremation. Sadly, many visitors pass by this gem without venturing inside, overlooking the opportunity to delve into the fascinating customs and traditions of our ancestors. This was is a missed opportunity to unravel the mysteries of the past and gain a deeper understanding of the habits and rituals that shaped their lives.

You Can Visit an Active Salt Mine

I don’t know how many people venture outside of the centre of Hallstatt, to discover the incredible Salzwelten Mine. I had no idea about its existence before getting into Hallstatt and whilst locking up my bike, my eyes were drawn to a poster advertising it.

I bought my ticket on the spot, and had to wait around half an hour or so to get it. You can book the ticket online as well, which comes with a skip the line benefit for the funicular going up to the mine.

You can only enter the mine with a guided tour, which runs every half an hour, on a first come first served basis. These engaging tours are conducted in both Austrian and English languages, ensuring a comprehensive experience for all visitors.

Upon arrival, my group will be ushered into a designated room where we were provided with protective clothing to be worn over our outfits. To enhance convenience and security, the mine offers ample lockers free of charge where you can safely store backpacks or purses. As the mine is primarily a salt environment, it is advisable not to bring personal belongings inside to avoid potential dirt or damage.

The visit inside the mine lasts for 90 minutes and includes some amazing interactive elements such as engaging videos, intricate holograms, and multimedia narratives that seamlessly blend to transport you through the rich history and intriguing tales of the mine. I found the water projections especially fascinating. 

And Slide Down on the Longest Underground Toboggan

If you are a thrill seeker, you must know about the two exhilarating fun slides that add an element of adrenaline to the tour. They are so much fun! At the beginning I was a bit scared to slide down, but after seeing so many people me doing it, I decided I will face my fears and go for it. And it felt so exhilarating!

The slides connect different levels of the mine and were used as shortcuts back in the day. The longest of them stretches an impressive 64 metres, securing its prestigious title as the world’s longest underground slide. As I glided down I felt a thrilling rush, captured so well on my face by the camera at the bottom of the slide, which also recorded the speed I was coming down at – 23.2 km/h. I did fork out the 6 euros for the photo, at the end of the tour, as a reminder of that feeling everytime I look at it. 

See the Oldest Staircase in Europe

I certainly didn’t expect to see the oldest staircase in Europe, when I visited Hallstatt. Imagine my surprise when, just before exiting the salt mine, we sat down to watch a movie about the first inhabitants of the area who discovered the mine and started to extract salt. At the end of the presentation, the screen turned off and, behind it, the original staircase was illuminated. Yes, the staircase is still in the mine, and the move was just a holographic projection over it. 

There’s a Sky Walk

Situated an astonishing 350 metres above the village, the Hallstatt Skywalk is a glass walkway over the cliffs. This triangular suspended platform not only offers panoramic vistas of Hallstatt but also showcases the magnificent expanse of the Dachstein Salzkammergut area. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have stopped and admired the view before my ascent to the mine, as my return journey was accompanied by torrential rain clouds obscuring the entire landscape.

Adjacent to the skywalk stands Rudolf’s Tower, a mediaeval defensive structure dating back to the 13th century. Today, it has been transformed into an Alpine restaurant, inviting its guests to indulge in a delightful traditional Austrian lunch. Having savoured an Alpine lunch of Kasespatzle  in St. Gilgen the previous day, I imagined how great it would be to dine here as well. However, the relentless downpour led me to make the practical decision of cycling back to my hotel before sunset, where I could enjoy dinner in the comfort of the onsite indoors restaurant.

The Ossuary in Hallstatt is Unique

The Catholic Parish Church in the upper part of Hallstatt hides an incredible treasure: the ossuary. You may think it’s just an ossuary and it couldn’t be any different than other bigger European ones – but you would be wrong.

Firstly, the church is a very peaceful place, with a small cemetery that looks more like a beautiful garden than a resting place. It overlooks the water, transcending the typical notion of a final resting place.

The ossuary is homed by a small chapel, adjacent to the church. What sets it apart is the intricate painting of flowers, wreaths, crosses, names, and dates upon the skulls. Although it may sound unconventional, this practice has deep roots in the ancient traditions of Alpine Mountain villages. Due to the limited space in these small cemeteries, when capacity was exhausted, bodies were exhumed and transferred to the ossuary. The painted skulls served as a means of identification. Sadly, many of these chapels fell victim to destruction, leaving only a handful still intact. Hallstatt’s ossuary, fortunately, stands as one of the best-preserved examples.

The Dachstein Cable Car Has an Open Rooftop Platform

A cable car with an open rooftop? To me, as I’m terrified of heights, that’s a nightmare. To others, it may be an incredible adrenaline pumping experience.

To reach the top of Dachstein you need to embark on a journey on three different cable cars. Whilst the first two are normal gondolas, the third one is a little bit different. Step aboard a fully glass-enclosed cabin, granting you uninterrupted vistas of the snow covered peaks. Ascend a staggering 1000 metres in a mere 6 minutes, as the breathtaking scenery unfolds before you. If you are craving an extra thrill, venture onto the open-air balcony atop the gondola, a daring perch for the adventurous souls among us.

So, is Hallstatt Worth Visiting?

A big yes, visiting Hallstatt is definitely worth it. However, keep in mind that it is a destination that is struggling with over tourism. If you can plan your visit to Hallstatt out of season rather than in summer, do it. Try to contribute to the local economy of the village by visiting the museums in town, by having lunch or dinner in town, and by shopping locally. If you can, spend a night in one of the bed and breakfasts in the village. Consider the way you are getting to Hallstatt as well – the train is much more sustainable than the bus. If you are on a road trip, consider staying at a nearby hotel and cycle to Hallstatt, as I did, rather than drive there.

For more articles about this region of Austria, check out the following recommendations:

• Visiting Hallstatt by Bike
• Traditional Austrian Christmas Foods
• The Best Things to Do in St Gilgen
• How to Spend One Day in Salzburg

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