Hallstatt (Austria)
Hallstatt in short
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Height: 511 metres
Hallstatt is located in the Trauntal valley, on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt, at an altitude of 511 metres. This picturesque village is world-famous and is labelled by many as 'the most beautiful village in Austria'. It is the archaeological heart of the UNESCO Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut region, as well as a lovely destination for a winter holiday. Hallstatt has a central location between the Dachstein West and Dachstein Krippenstein ski resorts - both easily accessible by the free ski bus.
Hallstatt: a world-famous holiday destination
Hallstatt's history goes back thousands of years. For centuries, it has attracted visitors because of its salt mines. Salt is still mined there today. An interesting fact is that until the 1960s, Hallstatt was only accessible by boat, so tourism only boomed after the construction of the motorway. Less than 1,000 people live in the village, but more than half a million visit it yearly. Hallstatt is as you imagine a typical mountain village: picturesque, with a church, historic buildings, narrow streets and a lakeside location with mountains in the background. There are plenty of cosy bars, restaurants and cafés.
Skiing in two ski areas: Dachstein West and Dachstein Krippenstein
Hallstatt has a central location between the Dachstein West and Dachstein Krippenstein ski resorts. The free ski bus can take you to the valley station of the Dachstein Krippensteinbahn in less than 10 minutes. This cable car provides access to 12 km of pistes and 30 km of freeride variants. Moreover, you can ski one of the longest valley runs in Austria. In a bit less than half an hour from Hallstatt, you can reach the Hornspitz-Express valley station in Gosau, providing access to more than 50 km of slopes of the Dachstein West ski area. You can ski there and in 5 other ski areas with the same ski pass - so in total, you can reach more than 160 kilometres of slopes!
Winter hiking in Hallstatt
The UNESCO holiday region of Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut is really asking to be discovered. Covered under a thick layer of snow, the landscape becomes even more beautiful. From Hallstatt, you can go on several winter and snowshoe hikes. To discover the village, you can take an approximately 1 km walk from the centre to Hallstatt Lahn and enjoy the most beautiful views. If you want to admire Hallstatt from above, plan a trip to Salzberg. Take the orange cable car up to the Wintermärchen Skywalk platform and enjoy panoramic views of the village, the mountains and the lake.
Cross-country skiing in Hallstatt
If you want to go cross-country skiing during your winter holiday in Hallstatt, you can head to Obertraun (20 km of trails), the Gosau valley (50 km of trails) or Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee (+/- 10 km of trails). There are routes of different levels for both classic and skating techniques. You can also arrange to take lessons.
Cultural activities
Be sure to swap a day in the snow for an afternoon or full day of cultural activities. Stroll through the narrow streets and enjoy the beautiful views. Hallstatt is incredibly photogenic! Another thing you should't miss is a visit to the Salzwelten of Hallstatt. In this salt mine, you will learn all about more than 7000 years of mining history. Don't leave without a jar of Hallstatt salt! Other great excursion tips for winter are visits to Salzkammergut Nature Museum and the market square. Moreover, check out the archaeological excavations.
Getting to Hallstatt
Hallstatt is approximately a 1350 km drive from London. Before crossing the Austrian border, make sure you purchase an Austrian vignette. Salzburg airport is 78 km away. Hallstatt doesn't have a train station, but you can catch a train either in Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee or Obertraun.
Photo gallery of Hallstatt
