What is Hallstatt?
When I first came to Austria, Hallstatt was the first place that locals recommended to me, saying, “You should definitely go!”
It is no exaggeration to call Hallstatt one of the most famous tourist destinations in Austria, and it is often described as “the most beautiful lakeside town in the world.” In 1997, the “Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape” was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The kingdom of Arendelle in Disney’s Frozen is officially said to have been inspired by Norway, but because its townscape closely resembles Hallstatt, the Austrian town is sometimes unofficially considered to be one of its inspirations.
Hallstatt has an incredibly long history and flourished through salt mining as far back as prehistoric times. Numerous archaeological remains dating from the Iron Age, around 800–400 BC, have been discovered in the surrounding area. This period became so well known archaeologically that it is now referred to as the “Hallstatt culture.” The area is also historically important in European history, and the salt mine remains one of Hallstatt’s biggest tourist attractions today.
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How to Get to Hallstatt
From the Graz area, Hallstatt can be reached by train + bus or train + boat.
By Bus
If you take the bus, get off at Obertraun Dachsteinhöhlen station and then take ÖBB bus routes 543 or 544 to Hallstatt Lahn.
When I used this route, the fare was around €9 for two adults.
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By Boat
If you take the boat, get off at Hallstatt station.
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As soon as you leave the station platform, you will find the boat pier, from where you can cross the lake to reach the town.
The fare is €4 per person, and there is no separate child fare.
The boats generally operate according to the arrival times of trains from the Salzburg direction, so if you are coming from Graz, you may have to wait a little longer.
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On the other hand, the bus was very comfortable because there were relatively few passengers. Since neither option is particularly expensive, I recommend choosing whichever fits your itinerary better.
The Lakeside Townscape
I got off the bus at Hallstatt Lahn and started exploring on foot.
As soon as you get off the bus, you are greeted by a beautiful view of Lake Hallstatt. Beyond the lake, you can see the Evangelische Pfarrkirche Hallstatt (Protestant Church), one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks. It is exactly the kind of scenery that makes you think, “I’m finally in Hallstatt!”
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Sightseeing boats also operate from around Lahn, offering cruises around the lake. Note that the ferry from Hallstatt station arrives at a pier near the center of town, around Marktplatz, so its arrival point is different from Lahn.
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Walk toward the church and continue north, and you will eventually reach the area around Marktplatz.
This is the heart of Hallstatt’s tourist area, with souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafés lining the streets. It can get quite busy with tourists.
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There is also a Catholic church in this area. Its exterior is impressive, while the interior is relatively simple and has a peaceful atmosphere.
The area is also home to many traditional wooden houses, which create an atmosphere that once again reminds you of Arendelle.
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Continue walking north and you will reach Hallstatt’s iconic viewpoint, which is featured in guidebooks and posters so often that it has become one of the town’s most recognizable views.
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As the most popular photo spot in town, this area was full of tourists taking pictures.
Hiking Up the Mountain
Along the lakeside road, you will find several narrow paths and steep roads leading up toward the mountains.
Along the way, you will find the Beinhaus, or Bone House (ossuary).
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According to Chikyu no Arukikata, a Japanese travel guidebook, the ossuary contains numerous decorated skulls. However, I thought, “This place looks like it might be a little cursed…” and decided to skip it this time (lol).
Continue farther uphill and you will eventually reach hiking trails toward Salzberg.
I did not hike all the way to the salt mine, but the views from higher up are known to be spectacular.
This time, I only walked as far as the area near the beginning of the hiking trail, but even from there I could look down over the lake and town, and the view was more than satisfying.
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If you have the energy, I definitely recommend hiking all the way up to the salt mine.
Hallstatt’s Famous Salt Mine
When it comes to Hallstatt’s biggest tourist attraction, the salt mine, Salzwelten Hallstatt, is probably the first place that comes to mind.
However, when I visited, it was closed due to redevelopment work that had been ongoing since last autumn.
It was originally announced that operations would resume in summer 2026, but as of the end of July, no reopening date had been announced. I also heard locally that it might not reopen until around September.
If visiting the salt mine is one of your main reasons for coming to Hallstatt, I recommend checking its operating status in advance.
Overtourism in Hallstatt
Hallstatt is famous around the world for its beautiful scenery, but it is also well known for the problem of overtourism.
Whenever I told locals that I had visited Hallstatt, the first thing they asked was, “How crowded was it?”
Indeed, the lakeside road can be extremely busy with tourists.
However, this road is not a pedestrian promenade but a road used by local residents.
Local drivers are used to the crowds and sometimes drive through the narrow gaps between tourists at surprisingly high speeds, so visitors also need to be careful not to block the road.
You will also see “Private” signs and fences around many houses, making it clear that residents are very concerned about people entering their private property.
In fact, in 2023, residents temporarily blocked roads to protest against the influx of tourist buses, and the incident made international news.
Hallstatt is also a place where people actually live.
Because it is such a world-famous tourist destination, I felt that it is important for visitors to explore quietly and remain considerate of the daily lives of local residents.
Food
Hallstatt is one of the most expensive tourist destinations in Austria when it comes to prices.
At one bakery I came across, even ordinary bread was being sold for around €7.
Even at supermarkets, rock salt from nearby Bad Ischl, which costs around €1 in Graz, was priced at about €3. It really made me feel the “tourist destination premium.”
This time, I had lunch at a pizzeria called Bella Milano.
Pizzas cost around €9–15, which is relatively affordable by Hallstatt standards.
And, as you might expect in Austria, the pizzas are quite large. For Japanese travelers in particular, one pizza is about the right amount to share between two people.
If you share one between two people, the cost comes to around €6–8 per person, making it a good option if you want to keep your food budget under control.
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Bonus Tip: Bad Aussee Could Be a Convenient Place to Stay
I noticed something while taking the ÖBB train back: a surprisingly large number of tourists were getting on and off at Bad Aussee station.
At first I thought, “Are that many people really getting off here?” But after looking into it, I found that Bad Aussee is a hub town in the Salzkammergut region and also offers good access to Hallstatt.
Accommodation in Hallstatt is among the most expensive in Austria, and hotels can often be fully booked well in advance. For this reason, I assume that many travelers choose to stay in Bad Aussee, where there are relatively more accommodation options, and visit Hallstatt as a day trip.
Judging from the number of people getting on and off the train, I also got the impression that many travelers were using Bad Aussee in this way.
If you cannot find accommodation in Hallstatt or simply want to reduce your lodging costs, consider using Bad Aussee as your base.
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Conclusion
Hallstatt truly deserves its UNESCO World Heritage status. The scenery created by the lake, mountains, and historic townscape is absolutely spectacular.
At the same time, visiting in person makes it clear that Hallstatt also faces the challenge of overtourism. I believe that each visitor doing their part to follow local etiquette and respect the town can help preserve this beautiful place for future generations.
Hallstatt is easily accessible as a day trip from Graz, but if you have enough time, I also recommend staying overnight and experiencing the quieter side of Hallstatt in the early morning and evening. The mist over the lake in the morning and the scenery at sunset offer a completely different atmosphere from the daytime.
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