Hallstatt

This free Hallstatt travel guide has all you need to know about visiting one of Austria’s most beautiful places. 

Hallstatt is more than just a pretty place. Renowned for its views and natural beauty, Hallstatt is also a world-heritage location, thanks to a connection with salt mining that probably goes back 7,000 years. 

This beautiful world-heritage lakeside town, which supposedly inspired the Frozen town in Arendelle, has been described as "overrun" by tourism. That's not correct. 

The secret to enjoying the best of Hallstatt is to stay at least a couple of nights. This provides a chance to appreciate the town’s crisp mornings and the evening peace after the day tours leave the town. Travellers can recognise its real significance as a historical site with a crucial story in Austria's prehistoric and medieval past. The views speak for themselves. 

Anyone can go shopping and admire the quaint buildings. But keen visitors should at least stroll through the historical museum, visit the fascinating medieval upper church and its graveyard, and tour the salt mine and its prehistoric remains. Take time to walk the town's narrow streets, climb its steps and look at its memorials. Float on the lake or dive deep into Hallstatt's unique culture in the town's museum. These are the essence of Hallstatt. 

Visitors can also see a special place where the excavated bones of townspeople were decorated and placed on display. They can discover the code behind their painted symbols. There are other fascinating churches. 

Doing that alone offers plenty of opportunities to admire the fjord-like landscape. Hallstatt has some of the most amazing views in Austria. 

Hallstatt’s prehistoric Celtic culture gave way to a medieval mining operation that provided important revenue to the Austrian state and underwrote the wealth of the power centre that became the Holy Roman empire. 

The Romans had also settled in Hallstatt and built a villa with a bath house that can be visited free today. 

The highlights of the mines include the oldest wooden stairs in Europe. Visitors can discover the amazing network of tunnels and caves that were worked for many centuries. 

On the other side of the stunning lake Hallstätter See, visitors can use cable cars to explore the extraordinary Dachstein ice cave networks, the Dachstein Rieseneishöhle and Dachstein Mammuthöhle. 

Archaeology, geology, ancient culture, architecture, religious piety and beautiful views – Hallstatt has it all. The town is also the jumping-off point for hikers and winter sports that provide an unforgettable experience. 

Use this free guide to find out more about affordable accommodation and food offers and get all the tips about transport to, from and around Hallstatt and its neighbour Obertraun. 

Hallstatt is also the jumping-off point for hikers and winter sports and visits to extraordinary ice caves that provide an unforgettable experience.

Download the free Hallstatt travel guide from Raven Travel Guides Europe.