As someone who has been to the fairytale village nearly 15 times during our three-year expat journey, we know a thing or two about this town. We have seen it in every season. We celebrated Eric’s birthday in one of the mountainside guesthouses. We paraglided high above it. And it is the first stop we take all of our friends and family when they visit.

In this guide, we cover everything you need to know to have the perfect trip to Hallstatt. And because we have been here in every season, this post will feature some of the prettiest pics from them all.

36-Hour Hallstatt Itinerary

Day 1

9:00 AM - Park at the P1 garage

Address: Salinenpl. 4, 4830 Hallstatt
Hours: 24hrs
Price: €16/day
Book Here

9:30 AM - Take the funicular cable car up the mountain

Address: Salzwelten Hallstatt, Salzbergstraße 21, 4830 Hallstatt, Österreich
Hours: 9 AM - 4:30 PM
Price: €22 (For Adults / up and down)
Book Here

10:00 AM - Explore the oldest and longest salt mine in the world – The Hallstatt Salt Mine. This salt mine has a 7,000-year history and there is evidence of people living and mining salt as far as 5,000 B.C.

Pack Mama tips: From the top of the mountain funicular, you have to walk 15 more minutes to the mine entrance. Get there first thing in the morning, otherwise, you will be waiting a long time to start the tour. Everyone has to put on oversized miner clothes to protect their normal clothes from getting ruined. Lastly, the tour lasts about 90 minutes, but you can assume that your visit will take at least 2 ½ hours in total.

Towards the end of the tour, you get to see the oldest staircase in the world and take part in sliding down two “miner slides”. The 2nd slide is a 60-meter-long slide and you really pick up speed.

12:30 PM - After the tour, walk the 15 minutes back down the hill and you reach the bridge which takes you to the free-floating skywalk 360 meters above the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hallstatt. Admire the panoramic view from the free-floating skywalk 360 meters above the town.

1:00 PM - Enjoy coffee, cake, and the views at the Rudolfsturm

*Hot cocoa and a slice of Sachertorte cake at the Rudolfsturm*

2:00 PM - Go back to the car and grab your bags and check into The Hallstatt Hideaway - awarded by National Geographic Travellers Luxury Collection 2008 - 1 of only 179 Hotels worldwide. The Austrian empress Maria Theresa built the house in 1740 and was renovated in 2014.

2:30 PM - Walk through the old town admiring all the homes built into the mountain.

As you approach the old town square, look up to your left for a glimpse of the Hallstatt Waterfall

3:00 PM -Take the stairs up to the Catholic Church of Hallstatt for a great view of the city

Then checkout the charnel house.

Address: Hallstatt Charnel Housr, Friedhof 164, 4830 Hallstatt
Hours:
November - April / Wednesday - Sunday / 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
May - September / Monday - Sunday / 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
October / Monday - Sunday / 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Price: €2 (adults)

There are 1200 human skulls in this house. 610 of these are hand-painted, marked with the death date, and arranged according to individual family groups.

*Skulls inside the* charnel house via dachstein.salzkammergut.at

3:30 PM - Post up at “Postcard Point”

Address: Gosaumühlstraße 67, 4830 Hallstatt

4:00 PM - Head back to the hotel to relax

6:00 PM - Dinner at Seehotel Grüner Baum

Address: Marktpl. 104, 4830 Hallstatt
Click here to make a reservation

*A dinner table at Seehotel Grüner Baum via* *@FindUsLost*

8:00 PM - Relish in the fact that all the tourists are gone and you can enjoy this fairytale town in peace

Day 2

7:30 AM - Watch the sunrise and enjoy a delicious breakfast provided by the hotel

*Breakfast spread at Hallstatt Hideaway*

10:00 AM - Head over to Obertraun for a Tandem paragliding excursion off the Dachstein Krippenstein with Sky Club Austria

Parking Address: Dachsteinhöhlenstraße 1, 4831 Obertraun
Duration: 2 hours
Price: Starts at €180
Book Here

1:00 PM: After you’ve safely touched down, head back up the cable car to check out the Dachstein Ice Cave

Price: There are various ticket price options. Check out the official website for the latest prices
Starting point: Middle station Schönbergalm (section 1)
Walking time to the Cave: approx. 15 to 20 minutes. The walk is an easy-moderate uphill hike.
Duration of the guided cave tour: 50 minutes
Cave Temperature: -2 °C (26,6 °F)

3:00 PM: Check out the other side of Hallstatt at Obertraun Park. From here you can also partake in boating activities or enjoy the playground if you’re traveling with little ones or young ones at heart.

Parking Address: Obertraun Strandbad, 4831 Obertraun

Towered by the Dachstein glacier, Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited village, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hallstatt is a town of 800 people and a million tourists known for its production of salt.
1. Slide down the Hallstatt salt mine – The oldest salt mine in the world
2. Look over Hallstatt from the Skywalk
3. Pose in front of Postcard Point
4. Step inside the Catholic Parish Church
5. SUP across the Hallstätter See
6. Hike the Echern Valley Trail
7. Be mesmerised inside the Bone House where painted skulls and bones are displayed in a traditional manner
8. Wander through the charming streets of Hallstatt's Old Town
9. Shop for local crafts, gifts, and souvenirs, including handcrafted items and artistic creations
10. Take a short hike to the Hallstatt Waterfall
11. Hallstatt Museum: Discover the history and culture of the region at the Hallstatt Museum, which houses artifacts from the Hallstatt period and provides insights into the village's past
12. Dachstein Ice Cave: Explore the impressive ice formations and natural beauty of the Dachstein Ice Cave
13. Visit the Parish Church
14. Enjoy one of the round-trip Navia themed cruises
  1. Wine and cheese cruise
  2. Breakfast on the lake cruise
Hallstatt Hideaway - Click to Book
Seehotel Grüner Baum - Click to Book
Boutiquehotel Strand Hallstatt - Click to Book
1. Postcard Point
2. The Parish Church
3. The Sky Walk
4. The Hallstatt Ferry
5. Marktplatz (The Main Square of Hallstatt)
1. Hallstatt is a NO DRONE town.
2. Try to get there before 10 AM otherwise, you will have a hard time finding a parking spot.
3. Please remember when visiting, be a quality tourist. Don’t just come looking for the Instagram-worthy selfie. Help out local artists by purchasing a handmade ornament. Immerse yourself in this fairytale town by eating traditional cuisine at a local restaurant or booking a tour. While you can walk through the town in an hour–stay longer and stay in one of the many luxurious accommodations in town.
From Salzburg:
🚌 2 Hours 15 minutes by Bus
🚆 2.5 hours by train + ferry
🚗 1 hour and 15 minutes by car
️👥 Book a Guided Tour from Salzburg
From Vienna:
🚆 4 hours by train
🚗 3 hours by car from Vienna
️👥 Book a Guided Tour from Vienna
I always recommend renting a car to explore the smaller Austrian villages. However, if you are coming from Vienna it is best to take the train to Hallstatt, but if you are coming from Salzburg you should use the bus. If you wish for a leisurely trip without much planning or thinking, take a tour!

We hope you enjoy your time in Hallstatt and let us know how it goes in the comments below or on Instagram.

Everything You Need To Know About Hallstatt

36-Hour Hallstatt Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

The History

Things to Do

Accommodation

Instagram Worthy Spots

Tourist Tips

Transportation

How to Save Money on Your Next Booking.com Hotel

Five Magical Christmas Markets in Austria