Visit A World of Salt in Hallstatt, Austria

Join me as I travel with my family to visit Hallstatt, Austria. Travel from Salzburg, Austria, to explore the lakeside village, historic salt mine, and small-town Austrian culture.

Getting There

From Salzburg, the town of Hallstatt, Austria is easily reachable by train, bus or car. Hallstatt is around one hour distance via car, and between two to three hours by bus or train. From Salzburg, take the 158 towards Fuschl. At Bad Ischl, take the 145 towards Bad Goisern, then follow the 166 towards Hallstatt. Parking is very limited within the village. Alternatively you can travel by train or train/bus from Salzburg to Hallstatt. By train, take a regional train (RJ547) to Attnang-Puchheim Train Station, then switch to a regional train to Hallstatt (R70). You also have the option to take bus 150 from the Salzburg train station to Bad Ischl. From there, you can catch the regional train (R70) to Hallstatt. Keep in mind that the Hallstatt train station is across the lake from the village. You will need to take a ferry across to reach the town.

Exploring the Town

The town of Hallstatt is nestled on the shore of the Hallstätter See, sitting between the massive mountains of Dachstein Massif. This picturesque village is most widely known for its production of salt, which dates back to prehistoric times.

Due to the limited space for cemeteries in Hallstatt, the townspeople over time would exhume and remove bones, placing them into an ossuary. Today, you can visit the Hallstatt Ossuary, located in St. Michae’s Chapel. The Ossuary houses 1200 human skulls, many of which have been hand painted with family names and dates of death. The Ossuary is generally open Wednesday – Sunday, but check the Ossuary website for current hours and entry fees.

The town square is of course the heart of many Austrian villages and the same is true for Hallstatt, whose town square dates back to the 14th century. At the center of the town square sits both a fountain and the Trinity Column, a monument that commemorates the victims of the Great Plague. This central spot is a great meeting location for locals and tourists alike. Circling the town square are colorful buildings housing cafes, restaurants, and clothing shops. Anchoring one end of the town square is the Seehotel Grüner Baum, a 4-star hotel situated directly on the lake.

While you are in Hallstatt, you should check out the Hallstatt Museum. This museum houses impressive finds from the salt mines, tools and weapons from the Iron Age, and an extensive collection on Roman artefacts. The museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday November through March, which shorter winter hours. It is open daily April through October. Check out the museum’s website for current hours and entry fees.

Visiting the Salt Mines

No visit to Hallstatt is complete without a tour of the world’s oldest working salt mine (Salzwelten). This salt mine has been producing for 7,000 years! A breathtaking ride up a funicular takes you to the top of the mountain. Funicular access can be reached via Salzburgstrasse 21, Hallstatt. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the salt mines. Adult tickets cost € 43 and child tickets are € 21, both include round trip with the funicular. Tickets are available for a ride on the funicular without a tour of the salt mine as well as a tour of the mine without riding the funicular for those who are adventurous hikers! Check out the Salzwelten website for the most up-to-date pricing.

The salt mine tour starts at the ‘Knappenhaus’, which is about a 15 minute walk from the top funicular station. Everyone going through the mine tour will don a salt worker coverall, which you will be thankful for – it can get cold in the mine! Your tour includes the mine, a subterranean salt lake, a ride on a mine train and a tour of a grave site. The highlight for our family were the two miner’s slides you get to slide down.

Outside the mine, the Skywalk lookout platform offers sweeping views of the lake, valley and town of Hallstatt below. Many tourists travel to the region for this view alone. If you have a fear of heights, this may not be the place for you, but the views are amazing!

Overtourism

Once a tucked away town in the mountains of Austria, that was only accessible by boat until 1890, Hallstatt has become a must-see destination for many tourists. Hallstatt was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, which led to an increase in tourism. The advent of social medial further increased tourism as images of the idyllic village quickly spread around the world. Rumored to have been the model Disney’s movie Frozen’s Arendelle village further skyrocketed tourism, especially from several Asian countries. The quiet village of less than 800 permanent residents found themselves faced with upwards of 10,000 tourists daily. In more recent years, there has been backlash from locals and practices put in place to attempt to stem the overrun of tourism.

How can you be a responsible tourist? First, when you visit Hallstatt, Austria, don’t treat the town as simply as a brief stop for an Instagram photo opportunity. There are many wonderful things in and around the village to see in addition to the picturesque surroundings. Second, try to come during the off season. This may not be possible for every tourist but visiting during less busy seasons lightens the impact on locals. Third, stay locally during your visit. Staying in a hotel, bed and breakfast or pension, eating at local establishments, shopping in the grocery stores and shoppes keeps more of your tourist dollars in the local economy. The other upside to staying locally is that the day tourists leave by late afternoon/early evening, and this is the most enjoyable time to really appreciate the beauty of the village without the hordes of people!