Lookout

This viewpoint offers the famous view of Hallstatt that you’ll recognise from postcards and social media. Hallstätter See, the Protestant church, the harbour, the historic houses and the surrounding mountains all fit into a single shot. You’ll find it on maps under the names Classic Village Viewpoint, Panoramic Viewpoint, Fotopoint Hallstatt. It’s about a 5-minute walk from Marktplatz, and admission is free. [btn "Find accommodation in…

Church, Cemetery

The Hallstatt ossuary can be found in St Michael’s Chapel next to the Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. A single small room houses 1,200 human skulls, 610 of which are adorned with paintings, names or dates. The ossuary itself will take you about 10 minutes to explore; allow 30–45 minutes for the whole site, including the church, the cemetery and the view. [btn "Find accommodation in Hallstatt" https://www.booking.com/city…

Church

The slender tower of the Protestant church is the main feature of the classic view of Hallstatt. The church stands right by the lake between the harbour and the Marktplatz, so you’ll pass it anyway whilst strolling through the town centre. The interior is simple and a tour takes about 10 minutes. Admission is free. [btn "Find accommodation in Hallstatt" https://www.booking.com/city/at/hallstatt.html?aid=2380460&label=p-hallstatt-evangelicky…

Square

Marktplatz is the main landmark in the historic centre of Hallstatt. You can walk across the square itself in a minute, but in the surrounding area you’ll find a Protestant church, a jetty, a museum, an ossuary and the path to the main photo spot. Set aside about an hour for a quick stroll through the centre. You could easily spend a whole morning here visiting the ossuary, both churches or the museum. What can you see at Marktplatz? This…

Lookout

5 Fingers is the main viewing point on the Krippenstein. Five narrow metal platforms jut out over a 400-metre-deep precipice, offering views of Hallstatt, Lake Hallstatt, Obertraun and the surrounding mountains. Each platform measures 4 × 1 metre and admission is free. You only pay for the cable car. How did I find it here? A lot! The 5 Fingers may well be one of the most touristy viewpoints in the whole of Austria, but those views! They’re…

Lookout

Skywalk Hallstatt, also known as Welterbeblick, is a 12-metre-long viewing platform on the slopes of the Salzberg. It is situated approximately 360 metres above the rooftops of Hallstatt and offers views of the historic centre, Lake Hallstatt, Obertraun and the surrounding peaks. The viewing platform itself is a short stop. Allow approximately 15 to 30 minutes for taking photographs and enjoying the view. It therefore makes more sense to…

Mine

The Salzwelten are the main attraction at Salzberg, just above the centre of Hallstatt. A tour of the world’s oldest known salt mine will take you through the history of salt mining, which dates back some 7,000 years in Hallstatt. It is certainly not a traditional museum with display cases. During the tour, you’ll walk through historic tunnels, slide down miners’ chutes, see an underground salt lake and the oldest surviving wooden staircase in…

Lake

Lake Hallstatt is the region’s natural highlight, making the famous town of Hallstatt and the surrounding hills stand out. You can take a cruise on the lake, go for a swim at one of the beaches in warm weather, or set off on a cycle ride or a walk along its shores. [btn "View hotels near Lake Hallstatt" https://www.booking.com/city/at/hallstatt.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-hallstatt-see] My tips for boat trips If you’re arriving by train,…

Mountain

Dachstein Krippenstein is a mountain resort above Obertraun featuring caves, viewing points and walking trails at an altitude of around 2,100 metres. You can plan your trip as a short excursion to enjoy the views, a half-day visit to one of the caves, or a full-day programme combining the caves with a hike to the summit. In the end, I opted for a visit to the caves, a short walk around the summit and a visit to the famous 5 Fingers viewpoint. …

Cave

If you want to choose just one of the two caves near the Schönbergalm intermediate station, I’d recommend the Ice Cave. I’ve been on both tours and I liked this one much better. The most interesting features are the illuminated ice walls and formations, which you won’t see anywhere else in the region. [imageFill 237056,237057,237052] The tour also includes a suspension bridge over a deep chasm, the skeletal remains of a cave bear, and fairly…

Lake

Gosausee was our first stop after arriving in the Hallstatt area. We didn’t arrive until the afternoon; the weather wasn’t on our side and the cable car had stopped running. Even so, the short walk around the lake had its charm. The rolling clouds between the mountains and the lake looked truly majestic! [btn "Book a hotel in Gosau" https://www.booking.com/city/at/gosau.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-hallstatt-gosausee] Right next to the car…

Cave

Mammoth Cave got its name from the enormous size of its passages, not from any mammoth finds. It is precisely the size of the underground spaces that is its main attraction. I visited it after the Ice Cave and, to be honest, I wasn’t really that impressed by it. There are no ice formations here, and a large part of the tour consists of bare rock passages complemented by light installations. If you have plenty of time or you’re really into…

Lookout, Road

We stumbled upon Loser quite by chance. We were relaxing on the grassy beach by Lake Altaussee when I spotted a gondola lift heading high up into the mountains. Looking at the map, I realised that the toll road, the Loser Panoramastraße, also leads up there. [btn "View accommodation near Loser" https://www.booking.com/city/at/altaussee.html?label=p-hallstatt-loser-btn] During the day, the road is closed to cars and transport is provided by…

Restaurant, Fortress

The Rudolfsturm stands directly above the Skywalk viewing platform and now houses a restaurant with a large terrace. From there, you can enjoy views of Lake Hallstatt and the mountains on the opposite side of the lake. The return cable car ride to the ‘ 29 eur ’ isn’t really worth it just for the Rudolfsturm itself. It’s a good place to stop off when visiting the Skywalk or the Salzwelten, or as a reward after a walk up from the centre of…

Waterfall, Valley

Waldbachstrub is a series of waterfalls at the end of the Echerntal valley and the main attraction of the local circular walking route. The route begins on the southern outskirts of Hallstatt and continues along a mountain stream deep amongst the woods and rock faces. The trail is usually much less crowded than the centre of Hallstatt. As well as the main waterfalls, you’ll also see the smaller Schleierfall and, on the longer route, the…

Museum

The Hallstatt Museum showcases 7,000 years of the village’s history, from prehistoric salt mining through the Hallstatt culture to more recent history. The exhibition features archaeological finds, models and multimedia elements. The captions are in German and English. [btn "Find accommodation in Hallstatt" https://www.booking.com/city/at/hallstatt.html?label=p-hallstatt-museum-btn] Is the museum worth a visit? The museum is well worth a…