Hallstatt is the fairytale alpine town of Austria, a picture postcard destination that you can’t help but be utterly charmed by. Imagine stepping off the train to stunning mountain scenery, rows of pretty chocolate box houses, an endless expanse of water and crisp blue skies? This is Hallstatt -and it should be on your bucket list!
A friend brought this magical place to my attention and I couldn’t of been happier with the choice and our four night stay towards the end of summer – the perfect amount of time to explore. Intrigued?
Here are the things you don’t want to miss in Hallstatt, including our favourite hotel Seehotel Gruner Baum where every room has a view!
WHAT TO EXPERIENCE IN HALLSTATT
Hallstatt opens up with an abundance of activities at this time of year – from waterfalls to e-biking, here’s what to experience to make the most of your stay!
WANDER HALLSTATT’S FAIRYTALE VILLAGE
One thing to know is that Hallstatt village is tiny and in summer there’s a lot of day trippers from Salzburg. It can get busy in the afternoons, but before 10am and after 6pm the whole place is peaceful and almost deserted – even in August. We spent this time wandering around the charming cobbled streets, exploring the cafes, cute craft shops and viewpoints – you can really take some epic pictures.
There’s lots of good viewpoints in town and they were all easy to find, my favourite and the most iconic is the postcard view of the sweeping town and lake just past Lutheran Church with the mountains in the background and in the square; the colourful houses with flower decorated windows – there’s really no bad view!
Loved loved loved the original artists crafts and sampling all the local schnapps in the little boutiques and gift shops!
Staying in Salzburg? If you just want to see epic alpine scenery, the highlights of Hallstatt and the skywalk view then consider this half-day tour to Hallstatt from Salzburg
LUNCH WITH A STUNNING VIEW
We were lucky enough to be staying in one of the best spots for lunch – right on the terrace of our hotel Seehotel Gruner Baum directly overlooking the lake with different seating spots and cosy white sofas.
The traditional food in Austria is very hearty with a few staples being wiener schnitzel with red cabbage and apple strudel, which I recommend trying at least once – it’s the real deal! I sampled quite a few things off the menu at Gruenerbaum and everything was high end stuff and tasty!
THE GONDOLA & THE SKYWALK
One of the most obvious things to do is ride the cable car to see even more dramatic landscape! It really helps you gain perspective of the epic alpine surrounds and tiny heritage town below. We were lucky to have a clear day to walk across the Skywalk then sat in awe with a coffee from Rudolfsturm Restaurant. We spent an hour here before taking the scenic walking path back to the centre of Hallstatt town – this is something I really recommend doing!
LAKE HALLSTATT BY ELECTRIC BOAT
One of the advantages of travelling to Hallstatt in the summertime is being able to get out on to the water! We hired a little red electric boat for the afternoon and zipped around the lake exploring the furthest houses and restaurants that are not walkable from the heritage town. You feel like a world away, the lake is so beautifully serene – and it’s so big that hardly any other boats crossed our path!
Motorboats are not allowed in Hallstatt to keep the piece and tranquil ambience.
WALKING & WATERFALLS
Hiking trails are plentiful in Hallstatt, you can choose from an incredible 93 options from the town alone – that’s a lot of hours! We were drawn to the Echern Valley Waterfall Trail, a signposted 4.5-mile trek through forestland, which weaves through all the peaceful scenic spots and a stream of icy blue water from the falls.
Its was a nice easy going walk and provided a bit of shade from the 30 plus degree heat we were experiencing at the end of August. In the afternoon the paths were so quiet – in contrast to the busy town with all the day-trippers!
ELECTRIC BIKE SELF-GUIDED TOUR
This was my first experience of an electric bike and it was so much fun! We set off early to explore the surrounding area without any real plan (or trainers) and thought we would amble around the lake, but this quickly escalated into steep hills and rugged forest pathways!
For the most part we followed cycle signposts and also ventured off the beaten path chasing streams, which was probably meant for mountain bikes and ended up in a village that closely resembled scenes from the sound of music – I suspect like most of the region, we were so far out of Halstatt we took a train back!
Sometimes unplanned is best, this day was full of laughter and treasured memories!
WHERE TO STAY IN HALLSTATT
Hallstatt is one of the most picturesque places to stay – what better view is there than of the mountains and lake or mountains and chocolate box towns? It’s a difficult choice! But faced with this decision we chose the town as very little time was spent actually at the hotel! In summer there’s lots to see and do in the day, but we did take advantage of lunch and drinks on the lakeside terrace at our fabulous hotel.
THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN HALLSTATT
SEEHOTEL GRUNER BAUM | A lovely waterfront 4 star hotel with large rooms that are both traditional and modern. There’s lots of space in this hotel including uninterrupted lake view terraces, sauna and a popular on-site restaurant to name a few! This was my top pick for location and you just cant beat those views, I stopped for four nights with a friend and really enjoyed the experience!
GASTHOF PENSION HIRLATZ | Housed in a very attractive building just a 20 minute walk from the town, where you can relax in the Finnish log cabin sauna and in summer cool off in the outdoor pool! The rooms have balconies and are traditionally decorated, but without the fuss!
HALLSTATT HIDEAWAY | The Hideaway is the ultimate luxurious retreat in Hallstatt, complete with a spa and spectacular lake views. All the rooms are fully equipped with nespresso’s and fluffy bathrobes and they are furnished beautifully – it’s one of the few hotels with modern décor. Why not add a night or two at the end of your stay?
SEEWIRT ZAUNER | This hotels sits somewhere between modern and traditional. Situated above the market town with a restaurant, balconies and very pretty outlook, it’s a good choice if you have a mid-range budget and want to be in the heart of the town.
HALLSTATT TRAVEL GUIDE | THE ESSENTIALS
HOW TO GET TO HALLSTATT
Salzburg is the closest airport to Hallstatt and shortest connection. Several scenic trains run to and from the main station of Salzburg to Hallstatt every day – taking 2 hours then you come to the coolest little station and ferry ride that brings you across the lake to Hallstatt Heritage Town.
WHEN TO VISIT HALLSTATT
Hallstatt is in the middle of alpine country, meaning the winters are fit for skiing and the summers water sports and hiking! So it really depends on what camp you fall into here, but I can wholeheartedly recommend the end of August when the landscape is green and the weather warm – plus you can sunbath along the lake for relaxation. Late June to August is the peak, however September can be subject to heavy down pours!
HOW LONG TO STAY IN HALLSTATT
One thing to know is that Hallstatt occupies a tiny place on the lake! In theory you can see the sights in a day; go on a hike, hire a bike, ride the cable car and have a long lunch! However, I spent four days exploring and relaxing in the summer months and did not get bored! So if this is your sort of thing, stay for a few days, choose a nice lake view hotel and enjoy everything Hallstatt has to offer!
DISCOVER MORE BEAUTIFUL EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS
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Have you thought about visiting Hallstatt? Please leave a comment below if you have any questions on this beautiful Austrian destination!
Booking a trip soon? Here’s my go to list of resources for booking everything from flights to accommodation, tours and more:
- Booking.com for the best hotel rates
- Airbnb find the best apartments
- Get Your Guide for great day trips
- Holiday Extras for airport lounges, hotels & parking deals
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