Discover Hallstatt Trip 2026

The picturesque houses cling tightly together between the steep mountainside and the turquoise waters of Lake Hallstatt, a postcard scene that brings hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world to the tiny village of just about 800 residents each year.

Salt mining in Hallstatt has been documented for over 7,000 years, which is why the mine is considered the oldest still-operating salt mine in the world, and visitors can descend deep into the historic tunnels on a mine railway ride and a slide.

The observation platform, jutting far out over the void at the end of the salt mine tour, offers a spectacular view over the village, the lake and the surrounding mountains of the Salzkammergut, a popular and slightly dizzying photo spot.

The small Karner chapel holds over 600 artfully painted skulls, which have been kept here for centuries due to the limited space in the tiny cemetery, an unusual but fascinating local tradition.

From Salzburg, Hallstatt can be reached by train plus a short ferry crossing across the lake in about 1.5 hours. The nearest railway station, Hallstatt, is on the opposite shore of the lake, from where a ferry crosses directly to the village.

The picturesque houses cling tightly together between the steep mountainside and the turquoise waters of Lake Hallstatt, a postcard scene that brings hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world to the tiny village of just about 800 residents each year.

Salt mining in Hallstatt has been documented for over 7,000 years, which is why the mine is considered the oldest still-operating salt mine in the world, and visitors can descend deep into the historic tunnels on a mine railway ride and a slide.

The observation platform, jutting far out over the void at the end of the salt mine tour, offers a spectacular view over the village, the lake and the surrounding mountains of the Salzkammergut, a popular and slightly dizzying photo spot.