Visit Hallstatt: A UNESCO World Heritage Gem in Austria

Last updated on July 20th, 2023 at 06:10 pm

The first time I saw a picture of Hallstatt, Austria I knew that I needed to go there. It looked so serene nestled between the mountains and the lake. All I wanted was to be in the middle of that beautiful scene and thus my dream of traveling to Austria was born. In this post, I will cover my favorite things to do in this beautiful village. I hope that it will inspire you to visit Hallstatt as well!

***Disclaimer: please remember to check all entry requirements for Austria as well as any activities you wish to participate in before booking any part of your trip.

A Few Reflections

Reflecting back on my visit, I would absolutely recommend a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hallstatt to anyone who is considering a trip to Austria. This a one of the most picturesque villages I have seen in all of my travels through the alpine regions of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and northern Italy. It sits serenely on the Hallstatter See. Not only is it extremely photogenic, it contains a fascinating history that dates back to the 1000’s BC and there are many fun and unique things to do here.

How to get to Hallstatt:

Nearest Airport: Salzburg Airport

From Salzburg: It’s about 1 hr by car or 3.5 hrs by public transport.

From Vienna: It’s about 3.5 hours by car or 4 hrs by train.

Parking in Hallstatt:

If you are driving to Hallstatt, I highly recommend arriving as early in the day as possible. The parking just outside of the village is limited and the area itself is a pedestrian zone, so no cars are allowed. There are a few parking options and we personally parked in P2. It was a bit pricey in my opinion, but convenient and 100% worth being able to visit the village.

Things to do When You Visit Hallstatt:

1. Walk around the Old Town and Market Square

This village is so idyllic it is so fun to walk around and peek in all the little shops. There are so many unique things for sale, especially products featuring salt from the area. You will definitely want to take lots of pictures while you are here because this village is just so photogenic!

2. Visit the Welterbemuseum

The Welterbemuseum is a small, but very informative historical museum. My husband and I both enjoyed the displays and learning more about the history of the area. There are many ways to explore the history at this museum. There are video animations, holographic representations, 3D presentations, and life-like dioramas.

3. Admire the Waldbachstrub Waterfall

This is the perfect option if the weather is nice and you are looking for something more nature-oriented. The hike to Waldbachstrub Waterfall is fairly easy and flat. Altogether, it’s a beautiful hike that takes about 1-1.5 hours round trip.

4. Visit Salzwelten, the oldest salt mine in the world

Full disclaimer: we did not actually visit Salzwelten. But, that is only because we had just visited the Berchtesgaden Salzbergwerk mine just a few days prior. (We had such a great time, but we didn’t want to repeat a similar experience.) The salt mine in Hallstatt has great reviews online and I would say that if you in the area, you should definitely visit this one! You can also buy the ticket for the Sky Walk (a wonderful spot that overlooks the area) at the salt mines.

Things to Explore Nearby:

– Visit the Ice Caves

The Dachstein Caves are also a big attraction in the Hallstatt region. Again, we didn’t go to this particular attraction because we had just gone to something similar, the Eisriesenwelt (largest ice cave in the world) in Werfen, Austria (about 1 hour away from Hallstatt by car). Again, we were not wanting to repeat a similar experience, I did do some research on the Dachstein Caves and I will do a brief comparison below, just in case you are trying to decide which cave would be better for your personal visit. ****Please note that both of these ice caves are only open during the summer months.

A Comparison of Dachstein vs. Eisriesenwelt

1. Dachstein Cave

The Dachstein Cave is only about 10 minutes from Hallstatt and it is open to children and adults of all ages. On their website, you can get information on how to arrive by bus, car, or taxi. Based on the reviews and research I have done, the Dachstein Ice Cave is a fun experience with special lighting and roaring bears, sure to please the whole family.

One advantage of this cave is that it is a lot more accessible than many other ice caves. There is a cable car which takes you up most of the way, and you will only have about a 15-20 minute hike to the entrance. Another advantage of this cave is that photography is allowed, so if you are looking for some unique photo shots, this might be the better choice for you. In the same area, you can also visit the Mammut Cave and the 5 Fingers Overlook. If you are looking to do all three sites in one day, it is recommended that you plan 6 hours for your visit.

2. Eiseriesenwelt

In comparison, our experience at the Eisriesenwelt was less show and more and focus on admiring the naturalness of the cave. They don’t utilize any modern lamps or lighting, and instead we were given lamps with an exposed flame to light our way. In addition, the ice sculptures were illuminated by the tour guide who burned magnesium ribbons behind them. This is the traditional way that people explored the caves when it first became a tourist attraction back in the 1920s and it is continued to this day.

Please note that the Eisriesenwelt is open to families with children 12 years of age and older. The trek up to the ice cave involves two very steep walking sections (about 15-20 min each) as well as a gondola ride (you must add the gondola ticket when buying your ice cave tickets). Please note that Wefen is about 1 hr by car or 3.5 hrs by public transportation from Hallstatt.

Some things to consider when visiting any ice cave (whether here or elsewhere):

With any cave or ice cave experience, there will be lots of stairs and steep areas involved. Please consider whether or not your travel party is up for this.
Even if it is summer outside, it will be cold in the ice cave, so be sure to wear closed toe shoes and have a good jacket on you.

– Spend a few days in the beautiful city of Salzburg, Austria (just over an hour away by car).

Salzburg is one of our favorite cities in Europe for good reason. You can learn about all the best things to do by visiting my post Fantastic Things to do on Your Vacation to Salzburg. Some of our favorites from the list include: a visit to Hellbrunn Palace and its incredible trick fountains, attend a concert at Mirabell Palace, tour the Hohensalzburg Fortress, and visit Mozart’s Birthplace.

Additionally, you can learn how we saved a lot of money by getting the Salzburg Card in my post How to Use the Salzburg Card to Save Money.

– Visit beautiful Werfen, Austria (about one hour away by car).

There is more to do here than just the Eisriesenwelt cave! You can tour the Hohenwefen Castle and also go on an interactive sound of music walk which leads up to the location where the picnic was filmed for the original Sound of Music film.

– Visit the picturesque village of Gmunden, Austria (about one hour away by car).

In Conclusion

I hope I have been able to provide you with a comprehensive list full of great things to do when you visit Hallstatt, Austria. I would love to hear your thoughts and favorite things to do in the comments below! 🙂

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine