Best places to visit in Hallstatt
To list all of the places to visit in Hallstatt would be impossible.
Hallstatt enjoys a special fame in the world of music as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This rich musical heritage is reflected in attractions such as the museum in his family home, various festivals showcasing his music, and even the melodies that ring out daily on the glockenspiel. Several of Hallstatt's attractions were filming sites for The Sound of Music, and these are a particular draw for tourists.
Find out all the things to do and the best places to visit while on vacation in this beautiful corner of Austria with our list of the top attractions in Hallstatt.
The Hallstätter See, a spectacular mountain lake in Austria's Salzkammergut region, lies at the northern foot of the mighty Dachstein mountain range.
Some eight-and-a-half kilometers long and between one to two kilometers wide, the lake is up to 125 meters deep and is surrounded by steep, wooded slopes that give it a fjord-like character. Of the lovely villages that dot its shoreline, the most popular are Obertraun; Steeg; and Hallstatt, with its old church and market square.
The little market village of Hallstatt, one of the most attractive places to visit in the Salzkammergut, is idyllically positioned on the southwest shore of the Hallstätter See.
Taking its name from the nearby salt mine, the village clusters around its charming Marktplatz, surrounded by traditional houses, their balconies draped in flowers. Shops and terraced cafés line the square, and a highlight is the elegant Holy Trinity statue.
One of the most famous views of the old village is from the popular Photo Point in the Römisches district, just a short walk away from Marktplatz. In the center of town is the 19th-century Evangelical Church of Hallstatt, its tall, slender spire a lakeside landmark.
Really a number of excellent attractions in one, Hallstatt Salt Mine (Salzwelten Hallstatt) lies high above the town on the 1,030-meter-tall Salzburg (Salt Mountain). The star attraction, however, is the 7,000-year-old salt mine itself.
It's accessible by cable car or a three-minute journey aboard the funicular railway. Highlights include the story of the preserved corpse found here in 1734, known as the "Man in Salt," along with fascinating displays of ancient (and modern) mining methods. A new attraction here is the Salt Manufacture, which offers tours and a glimpse at how gourmet salt products are made.
Be sure to seize the opportunity to visit the Subterranean Salt Lake. Kids of all ages will want to whizz down the 64-meter-long Mega-slide, Europe's longest wooden slide (all of it underground).
The Dachstein Mountains, and in particular Dachstein Salzkammergut, are a must-visit during a sightseeing trip to Austria. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, it consists of a series of mighty peaks ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 meters in height, the highest being the 2,995-meter Hoher Dachstein.
Popular in winter for skiing and in summer for hiking, the mountains are famous for their large (yet shrinking) glaciers, including the Grosse-Gosau and the Hallstätter glaciers. A number of cable cars ascend to the upper reaches, most giving access to Alpine hiking trails.
All of them lead to spectacular views, often from viewing platforms. The most dramatic of these is the Five Fingers, a series of five long, meter-wide platforms that spread like a hand hovering in mid-air over a 122-meter drop.
Each platform is a different design and offers a different perspective: one is entirely of glass and another one frames the views through an oversized Baroque picture frame. Sign boards on the trail detail the local geology and nature.
Whether you're looking for places to visit in Hallstatt for one day or things to do in several days, you'll have plenty of choices in this wonderfull place.
Top places to visit in Hallstatt you have to see to experience the best of Hallstatt’s tourism. So pack your bags and grab your passport because you’re going to want to book a flight to Hallstatt... price from 179.99 EUR
