The village that preserves time and silence
Between the rugged slopes of the Dachstein massif and the crystal-clear Lake Hallstatt lies a place that seems to have been forgotten by time: Hallstatt. The small village in the heart of the Salzkammergut is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the most beautiful villages in the world.
Hardly any other place combines history, nature and culture in such an impressive way.
Strolling through the narrow streets of the old town, you can hear the sound of the lake, the ringing of church bells and the faint echo of past centuries. Towering above the town is the Skywalkdeep in the mountain, the Salt Worlds tell of 7,000 years of history, and the beauty of Hallstatt is reflected in the stillness of the water on the shore.
Hallstatt is more than just a destination – it is a feeling. A place where past and present flow into each other and every glance gives you a piece of peace.
In this guide we show you the top 10 things you have to experience in Hallstatt – from world-famous sights to quiet moments you’ll never forget.
1st Lake Hallstatt - The place where silence shines
Lake Hallstatt is the soul of the village – quiet, deep and almost magically peaceful. Nestled between the rock faces of the Dachstein massif and the roofs of the old town, it lies there like a mirror in which the sky and mountains meet.
When a fine mist hovers over the water in the morning and the sun slowly illuminates the church spire, Hallstatt awakens in a moment full of peace.
A walk along the shore is one of the most beautiful experiences of all. The path leads from the old town to the quarter Lahnpast jetties, old wooden houses and small resting places that invite you to pause for a moment.
Particularly famous is the viewpoint Hallstatt viewpoint – from here you can see the iconic panorama that can be found on postcards, calendars and travel guides all over the world.
If you really want to feel Hallstatt, you should go out on the water. Silently glides a Rowing boat or e-boat over the smooth surface, the village gets smaller, the mountains get closer. A Round trip with the Hallstatt boat trip shows the old town from a new perspective – peaceful, perfect and timelessly beautiful.
Prices (approx.):
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Ferry Hallstatt – train station: 4 € one way / 8 € return
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Boat tour: from 10 € per person
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E-boat rental: from 20 € / 30 minutes
Our tip:
Come early in the morning or just before sunset. When the light lies softly over the lake and the mountains glow in the water, Hallstatt shows its true magic – quiet, golden and unforgettable.
2nd Skywalk Hallstatt - The floating view over the World Heritage Site
Far above the roofs of the village, on the rock face of the Salzberg, hovers one of the most impressive viewpoints in Austria: the Skywalk Hallstatt. At around 360 meters high the platform seems to float between the sky and the lake.
If you go out, you stand above the abyss – and look out over a panorama that can hardly be put into words: the glistening water, the pointed church towers, the mountains of the Dachstein massif.
Even the way up is part of the experience. With the Salt Mountain Railway you can glide from the hustle and bustle of the old town up into the tranquillity of the mountains in just a few minutes. At the top, a short walk through the forest takes you to the platform.
The first step out is always the same – a moment of amazement when Hallstatt suddenly lies tiny beneath you, as if it were a painting made of stone and light.
The spectacle changes depending on the time of day: in the morning there is mist over the lake, at midday the water sparkles and in the evening the sky turns golden over the peaks. No photo can capture this moment – you have to experience it to understand it.
Prices (approx.):
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Combined ticket (Salzbergbahn + Skywalk): 24 € adults / 12 € children (4-15 years)
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On foot: free of charge – ascent approx. 45 minutes from the old town
Our tip:
Come early in the morning or just before sunset. Then it is quiet on the mountain, the light is soft and Hallstatt lies at your feet.
If you wish, you can combine your visit with a guided tour of the salt mines – the entrance is just a few steps away.
3rd Salzwelten Hallstatt - Where history lives underground
Just a few steps away from the Skywalk, a gate opens into the depths – the entrance to the Salt Worlds Hallstattthe oldest accessible salt mine in the world. Here, high above the lake, a journey through 7,000 years of human history begins.
A place where “white gold” once determined life – and where the silence of the earth whispers stories that no museum can tell.
Even the ride on the Salt Mountain Railway is an experience in itself. In just a few minutes, you leave the hustle and bustle of the old town and glide up into the tranquillity of the mountains. From the mountain station, a short path leads through the forest – and then the tunnel entrance opens up: cool, mysterious, awe-inspiring.
Inside, a world of darkness, light and sound is revealed. Subterranean lakes, shimmering salt crystals and old wooden slides tell of the hard work of the miners who extracted the valuable salt here thousands of years ago.
One highlight is the oldest wooden staircase in Europeover 3,000 years old and amazingly well preserved – a silent testimony to craftsmanship and life in the depths.
Modern light installations and projections bring the past to life without disturbing its tranquillity. At the end of the tour, you step outside again – the light is dazzling, the lake glistens in the distance and you can feel how closely Hallstatt is interwoven with its history.
Prices (approx.):
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Combined ticket (Salzbergbahn + Salzwelten): 43 € adults / 21 € children (4-15 years)
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Duration of the tour: about 90 minutes
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Starting point: Mountain station of the Salzbergbahn – right next to the Skywalk
Our tip:
Start the day with a visit to the Salt Worlds when it is still quiet in the mountain. Afterwards, the light, the lake and the view of the world you have just come from await you at the top of the Skywalk – history and the present, united in one place.
4. old town & market square - the heart of Hallstatt
If you walk through Hallstatt, you can feel it immediately – the heart of the Salzkammergut beats here. Between the lake and the rock face, the Old Towna network of narrow alleyways, winding staircases and centuries-old houses whose facades glow in pastel colors.
Flowers adorn balconies, fountains babble softly, and there is an almost unreal sense of calm.
In the center of the old town is the market squarethe lively heart of the village. Framed by colorful facades and shady arcades, it is both a meeting place and a stage. In the morning it smells of coffee and pastries, at lunchtime the cafés are filled with voices from all over the world, and in the evening the warm light of the houses is reflected in the still waters of the lake.
Everyday life and history merge here – in a way that makes Hallstatt unique.
Follow the narrow steps above the square to the Parish Church of the Assumptiontwhich rises high above the village. One of Austria’s most famous views opens up from the terrace: the roofs of Hallstatt, the lake and the mountains that frame everything.
Right next to it is the small cemetery with the silent ossuarywhere tradition and transience speak a language all of their own.
Our tip:
Come in the early morning or towards evening, when the day tourists have left. Then Hallstatt belongs to itself again – the alleyways become quiet, the light softens and the market square transforms into a small, peaceful stage of color, water and history.
5th Ossuary of Hallstatt - Where transience finds peace
Just a few steps above the old town, next to the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Marylies one of the quietest places in Austria: the ossuary of Hallstatt. Between colorful flowers, old grave crosses and the view of the lake, a piece of village history rests here – quiet, honest and deeply touching.
Because the cemetery was small and there was a lack of space, old graves had to be closed after a while. The bones of the deceased were carefully recovered, cleaned and stored in the ossuary – not out of irreverence, but out of respect.
Many skulls were then carefully paintedlabeled with names, dates of life and fine ornaments. Roses stand for love, oak leaves for strength, ivy for eternity.
Today, around 1,200 skullsof which about 600 of which are artistically painted. Each one tells a life, a fate, a memory. And although the ossuary may seem unfamiliar at first glance, there is no hint of fear inside – only silence, humility and a feeling of deep connection.
Our tip:
Visit the ossuary early in the morning or late in the afternoon. When the cemetery is quiet and the light falls through the windows of the church, a special peace spreads over this place.
From the terrace of the church, the view of the lake opens up – clear, peaceful and so quiet that you understand why Hallstatt is more than just a beautiful place: it is a place that stays.
6th Dachstein Ice Caves & 5 Fingers - Above the clouds of Hallstatt
If you want to see Hallstatt from above, you have to go up to the Dachstein Krippenstein. Where the air is cooler and the sky is closer, a world of ice, stone and light begins.
In the Dachstein Ice Caves reveal the silent power of nature – a cathedral of frozen waterfalls, sparkling formations and millennia-old layers of snow and rock.
The cable car from Obertraun takes you up to this other world in just a few minutes. Even during the ride, the view expands – Lake Hallstatt below like liquid silver, the peaks of the Dachstein massif above. At the entrance to the caves, you are greeted by cold, pure air.
With every step into the darkness, the ice comes to life: Light and shadow dance on the walls, and nature tells stories that are older than any city.
After the tour, the cable car takes you a little higher – to the viewing platform 5 Fingerswhich juts out spectacularly over the abyss. Five glass footbridges, shaped like a hand, hover above the valley. Here you stand 400 meters above Lake Hallstatt, which glistens in the sun while the wind caresses the rocks.
For a moment, the world seems to stand still – and you realize why this view is considered one of the most beautiful in the Alps.
Prices (approx.):
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Combined ticket (cable car + ice caves): 45 € adults / 25 € children
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5 Fingers viewing platform: free of charge (with cable car ticket)
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Guided tour of the ice caves: approx. 50 minutes
Our tip:
Choose a clear day – then the view extends from the 5 Fingers far into the Salzkammergut. Combine the excursion with a walk along the Dachstein Krippenstein Trail or the World Heritage Spiral and end the day down by the lake in Hallstatt. Vastness above, silence below – experience the beauty of this region.
7th boat trip on Lake Hallstatt - When stillness becomes movement
At the end of a day in Hallstatt, the path leads back to the water – to where it all began. The Lake Hallstatt is not just the backdrop, but the heart of the place. A boat trip here is like a meditation in motion: the gentle rocking, the quiet gliding over reflective water, the panorama of mountains, sky and history.
You can choose between various options at the small jetty in the center. The classic Ferry connects the old town with the train station and offers the most beautiful view of Hallstatt for just a few euros. A one-way ticket costs around 4 €, the return trip 8 €.
If you want to see more, take the Lake Hallstatt boat trip – it offers leisurely round trips in the direction of Obertraun, Steeg or for breastfeeding Undersea (from 12-25 € per person).
For a little more peace and quiet, you can buy an e-boat or rowing boat (from 10-20 €) and glide across the lake yourself. After just a few minutes, the village lies quietly behind you, the mountains are reflected in the water and the lake seems endless.
Especially in the late afternoon, when the light casts golden reflections over the water, Hallstatt is transformed into a picture you will never forget.
Our tip:
Come early in the morning or just before sunset. Then the lake lies there almost silently and the light lends Hallstatt a magical calm. If you take the ferry to the train station, you will experience the famous “postcard view” of the village – one of the most beautiful moments of a visit to Hallstatt.
8th Hiking & nature around Hallstatt - between water, forest and rock
Just a few minutes outside the old town, a world begins that hardly anyone expects – quiet, green and almost untouched. If you really want to experience Hallstatt, you should go out: into the woods, along the streams, up to the viewpoints where the lake spreads out like a silent mirror beneath the mountains.
Here, between water, forest and rock, Hallstatt shows its most original face.
An ideal starting point is the Echerntalwegan easy walk through the Valley of Artists. The path follows the clear Mühlbach stream, past old mills, wooden bridges and moss-covered rocks.
After about an hour you will reach the Waldgraben waterfallwhere the foaming water plunges into the depths – a place where time seems to stand still. If you walk on, you reach the Glacier Gardenwhere ancient rock formations and smooth, round stones tell of the power of the last ice age.
For more experienced hikers, an excursion to the Dachstein Krippensteinhigh above the lake. The cable car takes you to an altitude of over 2,000 meters, where you are greeted by wide plateaus, clear mountain air and a view that stretches far beyond the Salzkammergut.
On the Heilbronn circular hiking trail or the path to the 5 Fingers fog, sun and rock alternate in a silent spectacle – a landscape that gives the term “freedom” a new face.
Our tip:
Start early in the morning when there is fog over the lake and the valley is still asleep. The Echerntalweg is perfect for leisurely walks, the Krippenstein for unforgettable panoramic hikes. Both show you Hallstatt as only a few experience it – peaceful, wild and infinitely beautiful.
9th World Heritage Museum Hallstatt - Time travel into the heart of history
Between lake and rock, in the middle of the old town, stands a house that preserves more than just objects – it preserves memories. The Hallstatt World Heritage Museum tells the story of a place that has been shaped by salt for thousands of years – and thus the history of an entire culture.
When you enter the museum, you leave the present. Hallstatt’s past unfolds like a living movie in the quiet rooms: bronze tools, artfully crafted burial objects, jewelry from the early days of salt mining.
Every find, every artifact is a silent greeting from a time when Hallstatt became the center of an entire epoch – the legendary Hallstatt culturewhich lives on in archaeology and history to this day.
Modern multimedia installations and lovingly curated exhibition spaces illuminate this history without disturbing its silence. You can hear the crunching of tools, the dripping of water – and outside, behind the windows, the gentle sound of the lake.
For a moment, it seems as if Hallstatt itself is speaking to its visitors.
Prices (approx.):
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Admission to the Hallstatt World Heritage Museum: 10 € adults / 5 € children (6-15 years)
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Combined ticket (museum + salt mine): approx. 47 € adults / 24 € children
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Opening hours: daily 10:00-16:00 (varies slightly depending on the season )
Our tip:
Visit the museum in the afternoon, when the light falls through the windows and bathes the exhibition rooms in a warm glow. Afterwards, it’s worth taking a short walk to the lakeside promenade – where history, water and the present merge.
10th Culinary delights - The taste of Hallstatt
Visitors to Hallstatt not only experience history and nature – but also taste. Between the old wooden houses and the glistening lake are small restaurants, cafés and inns that bring the Salzkammergut lifestyle to your plate.
Here you can taste what the landscape is all about: clear water, clean air, honest craftsmanship.
On the lakeshore, traditional inns tempt you with freshly caught Hallstatt char or troutfried until golden brown and seasoned with herbs from the region. It goes well with a glass of white wine from the Wachau or a cool, amber-colored beer from the region – both as clear as the lake itself.
For those who like it sweeter, the small cafés in the old town offer heavenly apple strudel, Kaiserschmarrn or curd cheese strudel – Recipes that have been handed down for generations.
The moments when the day draws to a close are particularly beautiful: on a terrace right by the water, while the sun slowly disappears behind the mountains. The light becomes soft, the conversations quieter, and Hallstatt shows once again what it really is – not a place to hurry, but to linger.
Our tip:
Try the Hallstatt char or a dessert in the Café Derbl – directly on the market square with a view of the church and the lake. If you are looking for regional products, the small Salt Shop Here you will find handmade salt, fragrant soaps and small souvenirs from Hallstatt.
Conclusion - Hallstatt touches more than the eye
Hallstatt is not a place that you simply visit – it is a place that you experienced. Between lake and mountains, past and present, silence and sound, an atmosphere is created here that you will never forget.
Every path, every view and every moment tells a piece of the story of this unique place: the sparkle of the lake in the morning, the golden light on the skywalk, the whispering in the salt mountain, the gentle ringing of the church over the water.
Whether you walk through the old town stroll deep into the salt mines Whether you descend or go out by boat – Hallstatt reveals itself in small moments. It is not a place for haste, but for slowing down. For silence. For memories that last.
Our tip at the end
Hallstatt deserves time – and the best experiences happen when you take it.
Our private Hallstatt tours from Salzburg combine the most beautiful highlights – from the Skywalk to the salt mine to the boat trip – with comfort, tranquillity and personal guidance. No crowds, no stress – just you, Hallstatt and the moment.
To our Hallstatt tours.
Or read next: Top 5 things you must do in Hallstatt