Hallstatt

Things to Do in Hallstatt

Hallstatt packs a lot into a very small footprint, from a 7,000-year mining story, a mountain viewpoint, a lake to a chapel full of painted skulls. Here are the best things to do in Hallstatt, plus a few options for tours and tickets if you prefer to have the logistics handled.

1. Salzwelten Hallstatt Salt Mine

This is the world's oldest salt mine, and the guided underground tour is the headline experience. You ride a funicular up the mountain, then walk into the tunnels with a guide, race down the wooden miners' slides, cross an underground salt lake and ride a mine train back out. The tour also includes the Bronze Age Cinema, about 400 metres underground, which is built around Europe's oldest wooden staircase (around 2,800 years old). Hallstatt salt mine tickets can be booked online, and some Hallstatt tours from Salzburg or Vienna bundle the entry with transport.

2. Hallstatt Skywalk

The Hallstatt Skywalk (also called the "Welterbeblick" or World Heritage View) is a 12-metre platform that juts out over the mountainside. From here you look straight down on the village, Lake Hallstatt and the surrounding peaks. It sits at the top of the same funicular line as the salt mine, so most visitors do both on one trip.

3. Hallstatt High Valley

Above the village, the High Valley holds the prehistoric burial grounds that gave the Hallstatt culture its name, including a walk-through burial chamber with information panels. Two places to eat are open up here: the traditional Rudolfsturm restaurant and the newer "Weitblick 7000" bistro at the mountain station.

4. Lake Hallstatt

Seeing the village from the water is the best way to get the postcard view without crowds in your frame. The panoramic boat tour runs about 50 minutes and operates through the autumn season. The lake ferry between the train station and the village also runs year-round, so even a simple crossing counts as a scenic ride.

5. Bone House (Beinhaus)

Next to the Catholic parish church, St. Michael's Chapel holds around 1,200 skulls, of which 610 are hand-painted with flowers, ivy and names. Because the cemetery was tiny, graves were reused and the skulls were cleaned, painted and stored here. The last skull was added in 1995. It is a small space and a quick visit, but one of the most memorable stops in town.

6. Hallstatt World Heritage Museum

The Welterbemuseum Hallstatt on Seestraße shows archaeological finds from the salt mine and the Iron Age cemetery, with interactive touchscreens and guided tours. It is a good rainy-day option and gives useful context before or after your mine tour.

7. Waldbachstrub Waterfall

Paths lead inland from the village into the Echern Valley, where you will find the Echern Valley Glacier Garden and the Waldbachstrub Waterfall. It is a calm contrast to the lakefront and a good choice if the main street feels busy.

Popular Attractions Near Hallstatt

Dachstein Krippenstein and the 5fingers Platform (Obertraun)

Buses 543 and 544 run hourly from the Hallstatt Lahn bus terminal and reach the Krippenstein cable car valley station in Obertraun in about 10 minutes. Cable cars lead up to the 5fingers viewing platform, the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave and the Mammut Cave.

Altaussee Salt Mine

Austria's largest active salt mine offers guided tours in the neighbouring Altaussee area. It is a good second salt-mine visit if you want to compare it with Hallstatt.

St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgang

If you are travelling from Salzburg on bus 150, the route passes St. Gilgen, a lakeside village that makes an easy stop on the way to or from Hallstatt.

Salzburg

Salzburg is under a 90-minute drive away, which is why Hallstatt is such a popular day trip from the city.

Tips for Visiting Hallstatt

• Entry to the salt mine is by registration, so book a time slot ahead rather than turning up. Children must be 4 or older.
• Bring a warm layer even in summer. The mine stays at roughly 8°C, and sturdy shoes help on the wet, uneven floors.
• Public transport is the easiest way to arrive. Car parks fill up, and the salt mine operator itself recommends public transport because of heavy traffic.
• If you hold a Salzkammergut Card or SalzburgLand Card, ask about discounts on the salt mine and funicular.
• Pair Hallstatt with Obertraun in the same day: the Krippenstein cable cars are only a 10-minute bus ride away.