A World Heritage-listed site, Hallstatt is a notable fishing village that showcases quaint Austrian living. Sitting on the shores of the Hallstatter Sea, the village is home to a budding market square and Romanesque church tower and is surrounded by the Dachstein mountain range.
Things to do in Hallstatt
In the center of town sits the market square, bustling with restaurants, cafes, bars and souvenir shops in addition to year-round outdoor concerts and food stalls. Pay a visit to the Romanesque tower inside the Our Lady Church, before dining lakeside at Restaurant im Seehotel Gruner Baum.
Hallstatter Sea is a spectacular mountain lake that provides an array of watersports. You can enjoy fishing off the dock, swimming in the summertime and traditional Salzkammergut boat excursions. Alternatively, there are multiple hiking and bike trails surrounding the water's edge.
There’s plenty of hiking routes in and around the remote village, which is surrounded by towering mountains. Take a day trip up Dachstein Mountain to the Dachstein Skywalk exhibit. The glass floor of the Skywalk gives you a bird's-eye view of the surrounding forest and Hallstatt in the distance.
Getting there
Take the three-hour train from Salzburg or Vienna or fly into Graz Airport, only a four-hour drive away. Between May and October, cars are banned from the town center, so the best way to explore is on foot.