Most people will recognise the beautiful Alpine village of Hallstatt for its famous picturesque viewpoint, and that is indeed one of the main attractions of this small village in Austria. But there are a few other things to do in Hallstatt (though admittedly, not a lot), including exploring the oldest salt mine in the world and walking through the eerie bone chapel. So let’s explore what to see in Hallstatt, the respectful etiquette to follow, and neighbouring towns to visit.
There are still residents in Hallstatt, and it’s really important to be mindful of our noise level and general behaviour, especially at the famous viewpoint. In fact, you will see multiple signs there asking people to keep their voices down.
Also, refrain from taking photos of people and private residences without permission.
One of the places to visit in Hallstatt is the famous viewpoint. You will see it marked on Google Maps as “Aussichtspunkt Hallstatt” or “panoramic viewpoint”. This is THE spot for the iconic postcard view of Hallstatt, but bear in mind that if you go during the day, especially during warmer months, it will be very crowded.
The main city square is very small but cute, with lots of little shops, restaurants, accommodation, and cute houses.
For an eerie but somehow picturesque adventure, head to the ossuary Charnel House (the Bone Chapel or Beinhaus in German) to see human skulls beautifully decorated with flowers and inscriptions.
The tradition of painting the skulls started around the 1700s to honour and preserve the stories of the people from the community.
Visiting the Hallstatt Salt Mine (Salzwelten Hallstatt) is not only a cultural and historical activity (it’s the oldest salt mine in the world), but also super fun, as you can also glide down the tunnels. The entire visit, which includes a guided tour, 2 km walking underground, and panoramic views from the bridge, lasts about 3 hours.
Insider tip: The temperature inside the mines is around 8° Celsius year-round (46° F), so wear layers and warm clothes. Also, wear sturdy shoes as it can get slippery.
The Skywalk offers panoramic views of Hallstaff at 360 m above the village. You can reach it by hiking or taking the Salzbergbahn funicular. The Skywalk is free, but the funicular has a fee.
Personally, I skipped this because I didn’t find it worthwhile. You can get panoramic views of Hallstatt just by walking up the stairs towards restaurants and accommodations on the hill in the town area.
Important update: Both the funicular and salt mines will be closed from September 2025 to June 2026 for renovations.
This viewpoint is located on Mount Krippenstein near Hallstatt, and offers spectacular views of the whole area, including Lake Hallstatt, the Dachstein Mountains, and the Salzkammergut region.
It’s called “Five Fingers” because the platform stretches out into 5 “fingers”.
Hallstatt is a small lakeside village in the Salzkammergut region of Austria, about 70 km (43 miles) and 1.5 hrs from Salzburg by car, or 280 km (174 miles) and 3 hours from Vienna by car.
Honestly, while the viewpoint and the village are most definitely beautiful and picturesque, if you’re just going on a day trip to see the viewpoint, and you’re coming from far away, it might not be worth the journey. There are plenty of picturesque villages all over the world.
But if you’re doing a bit of slow travel and want to explore the area and surrounding villages, do some nature-related activities, then you must absolutely visit Hallstatt.
If you’re not driving, you can take the train from Vienna and then either take the bus from Bad Goisern or a boat from Obertraun to Hallstatt.
Take the train from Salzburg and then the boat, or take the 150 bus from Salzburg to Bad Ischl and then another bus (Bus 542 or 543) to Hallstatt.
It’s feasible as it’s about a 3-hour drive one way, but it will be a very long day, and not worth the trouble in my opinion. I recommend staying overnight in Hallstatt for a less crowded and overwhelming experience.
This depends on what you want to do and see. If you just want to see the town and some surrounding regions, the best time to go is in late autumn or early winter to avoid crowds. But if you want outdoor adventures like hiking, biking, or lake-related activities, then early summer, before the crowds arrive, is a good time to visit Hallstatt.
To just visit Hallstatt, you don’t need more than 1 hour. If you want to do activities like the Salt Mines tour, or visit the surrounding area, or do some hiking, you might want to stay for at least 1 night and spend a couple of days.
