I had completely changed our trip plans because of a Pinterest picture of Hallstatt, Austria.
My whirlwind road trip through four countries in four days wasn’t supposed to extend that far east. But one picture made me completely change our itinerary. Visiting this stunning mountain-side village was completely worth it.
Those extra kilometres to Hallstatt and Salzburg were the highlight of my road trip. With over half a million people visiting the site each day, this village is no secret.
Hallstatt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (one more for my list) and is older than dust. Seriously, the salt mine, in which Hallstatt was built around, was being used as far back as the 2nd millennium BC. The mine helped the town prosper, which is why it is so damn beautiful.
The charming village is home to only 1,000 people, which thrive off the money that tourism provides. Hallstatt sits right beside a lake and scales the mountain as if it is part of the natural landscape.
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Take in the view of Hallstatt
The best way to see Hallstatt is by foot, simply because cars are not allowed in the town centre. Check out the old wooden houses the moss-covered roofs and the stunning architecture of the old town.
The best view of Hallstatt can be found 150 metres north of the village. Just keep following the shore of the lake, and you’ll find it for those stellar views.
For a tiny town, there is so much to do. Unfortunately, a lot of it is not open in the winter. We missed going up the funicular to the salt mine, seeing the painted skulls at St. Micheal’s bone house, and going on a boat tour for the best views of the village.
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The best things to do is just get lost in the village’s small roads and just stare opening at the picturesque buildings.
Visiting Hallstatt isn’t cheap. My first look at places to stay rang up over $100 Canadian, which was out of my price range. Instead, I stayed in Salzburg and came to Hallstatt as a day trip.
For food, I gobbled up the most delicious schnitzel from a market vendor for only 4 euro.
Seeing Hallstatt on a budget is doable!
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Getting here
While up until the 19th century, Hallstatt was only accessible by boat and by mountain trail, there are now more ways to reach this charming village.
Getting here by car is simple. Use a road map or a GPS and just type in Hallstatt. You’ll need a road toll sticker, which costs about 8.90 euros and is valid for 10 days. There is plenty of inexpensive parking around the town.
The village’s website has excellent instructions on getting to Hallstatt by train and bus. You can find more information on getting to Hallstatt here.
If you don’t have a lot of time, Hallstatt is a great day trip and well worth the effort getting there.
Have you been to Hallstatt? If not, why would you want to go?
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