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…

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…

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…

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. …

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…

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…

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,…