An Epic Travel Guide and Itinerary for Hallstatt, Austria

Planning a visit to Hallstatt, a gorgeous mountain town in Austria? Keep reading for the perfect Hallstatt itinerary!

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This post was written by guest contributor Jenson from Nomadic Inscriptions

Chances are that you are like me and have never heard of Hallstatt, a gorgeous little town in Austria’s mountainous Salzkammergut region.

When Lisa started talking about going to this hamlet I didn’t think much of it. Having come from Alberta, I had grown up with the Rocky Mountains. This caused me to foolishly overlook going to mountainous regions in other places. After a small amount of time in Hallstatt though, I will not be doing that again. When a mountainous adventure beckons, I shall throw on my toque and flannel to once again be a wild Canadian mountain man.

Enough about me though – you came here for an itinerary for this small, lovely Austrian town. That, or curiosity about what Hallstatt is like. So, here’s a perfect itinerary for Hallstatt and the surrounding area.

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The Perfect Hallstatt Itinerary: Top Travel Tips

Whether this trip is a small stop in the middle of a larger trip in Austria or other spots in Europe, or you are going to Austria just to visit this area, there are some things you should keep in mind before you go.

The Best Time to Visit Hallstatt

Based on the weather patterns in the region, there are only two seasons I would wholeheartedly recommend going to Hallstatt.

The first is in the summer. You will get a good amount of sunny days, but keep in mind up here it can go from sunny to rainy or vice versa quite quickly. The days will be longer. giving you more time to enjoy the locale and scenery. The warmer weather will make your packing job a bit easier and the hikes a little less chilly.

The other time of year I would recommend is in the depths of winter. Here, you replace the chance of rain with a chance of snow. Chances are you will miss the crowds that you would encounter in the summer, and the landscape with a glittering sheen of snow is just breathtaking. Just make sure to pack for the cold! I would personally avoid visiting Hallstatt in the spring or fall as chances are it will mainly be windy and rainy, but hey, you do you.

Hallstatt Itinerary: Getting To and Around Hallstatt

This is a tricky one. Austria’s public transportation is absolutely top-notch. Both Austrians and Germans are incredibly punctual, so 98% of the time if a bus or train says it will be somewhere at a certain time, it will be there.

The crappy part? If you’re late, you are probably S.O.L. and you will be stuck waiting for the next one. Not to mention, to get to the actual bus stops in some areas you will be doing a lot of walking.

In the areas near Hallstatt, that can be disastrous, so I would highly advise renting a car for this excursion. There are a few places in Salzburg where you can rent a car starting at 25 euros a day. While this can give you added parking fees or the odd shuttle if you have to park out of town, it will save you significantly on taxis or additional hotel fees if you miss the last bus. It can also help with finding a more affordable place to stay.

Where to Stay when Visiting Hallstatt

While there are quite a few places to stay both within the town of Hallstatt and in the little town on the other side of the lake, they tend to be quite expensive. I touch a bit about these two things in my post “6 Absolute Musts for Travelling to Hallstatt and Area”.

My personal recommendation is to find a place to stay in Bad Goisern or one of the other surrounding villages. The prices there tend to be drastically cheaper whether you’re in a hotel or an vacation rental. We stayed in the quaint Sofias Apartments in Bad Goisern, which I highly recommend. They offer free WiFi, which is perfect if you’re working remotely while traveling. Another way to save a bit of money on your accommodations is to choose a hostel rather than a hotel. There are several options in and around Hallstatt, some of which are among the best hostels in Europe.

If you’d prefer to stay in the heart of Hallstatt, check out some of Hallstatt’s vacation rentals or Hallstatt hotels on Booking.com.

Day 1 in Hallstatt: Arrival

Assuming that you will be coming in from Vienna, Munich, or Salzburg, chances are that you will be arriving in town around early to late afternoon.

After checking in, the first place you should go is the tourist information booth. I highly recommend doing so whenever you go to a new place. These booths are full of information about the events and stuff going on in town. That way, you can plan around any of these you may want to attend.

On your first evening in Hallstatt, take some time to get acquainted with the area. Go a stroll through the town, and hurry over to St. Michael’s Chapel, the smaller of the two churches. There is a small cemetery that supposedly hosts an ossuary with the largest collection of skulls in Europe, and you’re able to get right up and personal with them for about 2€ a person.

They give you a little history about who the skulls are from and which ones are creepy It’s an odd mixture of cool and creepy.

After taking a look at the skulls, you may want to have a gander at the inside of one of the two churches. Maybe both if you feel like praying that your skull doesn’t end up on display someday. In all seriousness though, I would recommend it as both are quite beautiful.

If you are starting to feel a tad hungry, feel free to eat literally anywhere in town. Everything I tried was delicious, and there is a variety of restaurants ranging from traditional German or Austrian to Italian. In the surrounding towns, there are also some Asian, Syrian, and other options if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous. You can check out TripAdvisor to find reviews on some of Hallstatt’s best restaurants.

Depending on what time it is, you can either do a bit of shopping at this point, look around, start getting your party on, or participate in any ongoing events that interest you. I would personally retire around 10 or 11 as tomorrow will be a long day. If you’re feeling inclined, grab a few beers and some groceries from the supermarket, drink one or two while watching boats go by before heading home, maybe drink a bit more, then pack it in for the night.

Hallstatt Itinerary – Day 2: A Full Day in Hallstatt

On day 2 in Hallstatt, wake up around 7:30 AM for breakfast.

By waking up this early you have the availability to take your time getting ready or rush. Up to you. Obviously these times are rough guidelines instead of exacts.

If you picked up groceries last night, you can make a light breakfast and, if you so desire, a packed lunch to save some money. If you didn’t, there are some bakeries around for a light bite and coffee. Your accommodations may also offer some breakfast options. I would definitely recommend trying to get into town before 9 to beat some of the crowds.

Hallstatt Skywalk

Once you get into town, take the cable car up to the Hallstatt Skywalk (€10 one-way or €18 round-trip; click here for more details on prices).

There are two options to get up to the Skywalk: either a long hike up that will take a couple of hours or the cable car. I’d recommend taking the cable car up and then walking down later. The cable car is a 3-5 minute ride up the mountain that feels like an absolute death trap… I mean adventure.

The view on the way up is aboslultely beautiful.

At the top, you can either go right to the Skywalk or left towards the Hallstatt Salt Mine. If you arrived and got in line early enough, you can completely skip the crowds at the Skywalk. This is definitely worth it as the crowds here later in the day can lead to waiting in lines for up to 2 hours.

Smack dab in the middle of a World Heritage Site, suspended in the air, you get an amazing view of both Hallstatt and neighboring Obertraun, the mountains, and the lake from the Skywalk. Depending on the time of day, you can even watch paragliders sail across the valley.

Hallstatt Salt Mine

After enjoying the amazing view from the Skywalk, head on the path up to the Hallstatt Salt Mine and get ready for a tour of the mine.

On the way up to the salt mine, there are little stops along the way that tell a bit of the history of the area – from the history of the Celts and the graves that were found in these mountains to the founding of the salt mines.

If you want to go off the path, there are signs in the forest showing different things that were found in the ground over time. You can take your time reading the different markers up the hill. However, I would highly recommend getting to the salt mine by 9:30 AM for the tour. If you miss it, you will be waiting a couple of hours for the next one.

The tour is a 2-3 hour tour through an ancient salt mine that has active parts still going and supplies the world with salt to this day. Tickets for the salt mine tour are €24; you can also get a combo salt mine tour + cable car round-trip ticket for €34. Click here for more pricing information.

Hungry yet? Grab lunch at Restaurant Rudolfsturm, right by the Skywalk. It’s a good idea to stop by in the morning before visiting the Skywalk to make a reservation for lunch. Otherwise, the wait around lunchtime might be pretty long.

After lunch, head back down to Hallstatt from the Skywalk. At the top, there are two routes going down. One is significantly more dangerous than the other. Do not risk taking the steeper route unless you have proper hiking shoes.

Both routes are incredibly stunning. The less steep of the two routes has some breathtaking views including a waterfall a bit off the beaten path. The only downside is that at the bottom, your shins will be the embodiment of Edvard Munch’s most famous painting, The Scream.

Free Time in Hallstatt

After your visit to the Hallstatt Salt Mine and Skywalk, spend some time seeing the rest of what Hallstatt has to offer. You could walk around town, do some shopping, or maybe go paragliding if you’re into that.

You’re on vacation! Chances are you know what you would like to do better than I, so take some time to do whatever you want to during your visit to Hallstatt. Maybe take a free walking tour if you haven’t already. Check out the Schnapps store, or the store with everything made entirely of wood. There are tons of options, so make sure to carve out some free time in your Hallstatt itinerary to check out the spots you’re interested in.

This evening, find a nice restaurant in town to have dinner and drinks. Enjoy a good meal and conversation with your travel mates or new friends you’ve met while exploring (or yourself if you’re traveling solo!). After dinner, check out some of the events that might be going on during a visit or just enjoy a night out on the town.

Day 3 in Hallstatt: Departure Day

Yesterday was a pretty big day, and today might be too, depending on how much time you have left in your Hallstatt itinerary. Either make breakfast and/or lunch with the leftover groceries or pack them up and head to somewhere for breakfast. After filling up your stomach, head into town for a bit more exploring.

Cable Car and Ice Cave Tour at Dachstein

Yesterday we checked out the salt mines; while the temperature inside the mines was a bit cool, it was nothing compared to the ice cave. Wear something warmer (maybe even layers) or you will be cold.

Ride another cable car to the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave, where you can take a guided tour and enjoy a colorful light and sound show. You can also take a tour of Mammut Cave and Koppenbrüller Cave – click here for all ticket options and prices.

Enjoy the colorful light and sound show at the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave after taking a cable car (looks more like a gondola to me, but hey semantics)

After exploring the caves, grab some lunch at Dachstein Lodge. What else can I say about eating here guys? It’s food – it tastes good and your body needs it to survive. Do something about it and eat!

Take a Boat Ride around Lake Hallstatt

After you’re all full from lunch, either take a guided boat tour or rent a boat from some locals to ride around on Lake Hallstatt for a couple hours.

There are 2 options for boat rides in Hallstatt. You can take a guided boat ride that goes around the lake or to the other side driven by someone else for 10-15€ per person or you can search some of the smaller alleys in town. If you choose to do the latter, you very well might find some locals wanting to rent out their boats for both longer and cheaper. This way, you can take your time on the lake. Make sure to wear sunscreen, as that reflected light can give wicked sunburns.

After your boat ride, give yourself some more free time to explore Hallstatt as you wish. You could check out that museum you have probably passed a couple dozen times while walking around town, stick around for any events going on, or just head back to your accommodation for some relaxing.

Have an extra day in your Hallstatt itinerary?

If you have time for another full day in your Hallstatt itinerary, you can get out and explore the area surrounding the town.

If you have an extra day, use it as a chance to sleep in a bit. This is a good itinerary day to put in between Day 2 and your departure day. It will allow you to recover a bit from the previous travel and prepare for the next full day of exploring.

Drive out to Gößl (approximately 45 minutes from Hallstatt)

Even if you just went on this drive without making any stops, it would be worth it. You have 45 minutes of gorgeous mountainous views, all while going through small towns and villages along the way. If you decided to forego all the other plans here in this itinerary and just drove through the mountains, I wouldn’t blame you. However, I don’t think you’ll want to miss out on Toplitzsee.

When you arrive, park by the Gößl lake, pick your walking route up to Toplitzsee, and start walking. Depending on the route you take, this can take between 15 minutes to a couple of hours.

If it’s raining, some of the paths up to Toplitzsee will take longer than others, but they are all stunning. There is just something incredible about looking up at the surrounding trees and seeing how their height compares to the surrounding cliff. It creates an amazing sense of awe and wonder as you see the pure beauty of nature. Try to make it to Toplitzsee by noon. 

When you get to Toplitzsee, you will notice a gorgeous view, a hut on the lake, and a small cabin with a restaurant called Fischerhutte am Toplitzsee. If it is sunny, sitting outside is the way to go. With a breathtaking view as you eat, how can you go wrong?

If it is pouring rain, the inside is super cozy. Either way, you should go in the front door to learn about the treasure that the Nazis dumped into the lake. The fish options are all locally sourced and brought out of the lake that day. If you aren’t big on fish, they have an absolutely delicious deer dish that is to die for.

Go for a Hike

After lunch, go for a hike around Toplitzsee. Long or short doesn’t matter, but take some time to really appreciate nature and the earth we’ve been given. Hopefully, it will give you a newfound respect for nature and a drive to do your part to ensure this planet lasts for future generations.

Drive to Bad Aussee

Enjoy another phenomenal drive over to the small town of Bad Aussee. When you arrive, find a place to park. Chances are you will have to pay about 5-10€ for parking.

First things first, as always, get yourself to that tourist information booth to see if there is anything special going on during your visit that you’d like to do. After that, take some time to explore the city. Make sure to do some shopping here as there are a lot of traditional shops – it’s the perfect place to shop for that authentic lederhosen or a dirndl that you were searching for!

After a bit of exploring and shopping, enjoy some traditional Austrian cuisine. There are a lot of traditional places for you to eat in this quaint little town, where you can try Austrian favorites like schnitzel or sauerkraut.

We found that the real gem here in Bad Aussee was the ice cream. After you finish up your meal, find a spot to grab some of this delicious ice cream, which they call Eis (Ice). You definitely will not regret it.

After dinner and ice cream, check out some of the events going on during your visit. If you’d rather, you can always just relax and enjoy your evening then head back to your accommodations for a good night’s sleep.

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There are dozens of things to do in Hallstatt and the surrounding area. While 3 or 4 days in Hallstatt isn’t enough time to do everything, this Hallstatt itinerary is a perfect introduction to a gorgeous town. From salt mines to ice caves, paragliding to boating, delicious food to Nazi treasure and hikes, there is something in Hallstatt for everyone.

Do keep in mind that all times and price estimates are based on the time we spent here. They are rough prices that may or may not fluctuate based on the season and year. The times are based on the use of a car rather than public transportation. If you are traveling on a budget, then avoid the expensive guided tours and eating each meal out at sit-down restaurants.

So, whether you follow this itinerary to a T or just use it as a rough guideline on what to do, just enjoy your trip to Hallstatt. It’s truly an amazing place to visit!

Have you been to Hallstatt? If we missed anything amazing in the town, please let us know in the comments down below!

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