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Hallstatt is an absolutely stunning lakeside Austrian town. This tiny town has absolutely exploded in popularity and will be busy no matter what time of year you visit! Hallstatt is super small and can easily be explored in one day or as a day trip. My recommendation would be to stay overnight so you get the evening and morning to explore when the daytrippers are gone! This is what I did, and found it to be the perfect amount of time!
If you are doing a day trip get there early (like as early as you can) or plan on staying past late afternoon to enjoy a less crowded Hallstatt. Keep reading for my ultimate 1 day in Hallstatt itinerary.
In This Article
- Getting to Hallstatt
- How to Spend 1 Day in Hallstatt
- Early Morning: Hallstatt’s Iconic Viewpoint
- Late Morning: Exploring “Downtown” Hallstatt
- Early Afternoon: Hallstatt Skywalk & Lunch with a View
- Afternoon: Hallstätter Wasserfall & Maria am Berg Church Viewpoint
- Where to Stay in Hallstatt
- Best Places to Get Dinner in Hallstatt
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Need more Hallstatt planning info? See my full Hallstatt Travel Guide here.
Getting to Hallstatt
By Car
Car is one of the most convenient ways to reach Hallstatt (given you get there early enough to get parking.) There are four main parking areas in Hallstat.
Parking areas 1 & 2 are right next to the Old Town area. Parking areas 3 & 4 are about a 15 minute walk from Old Town Hallstatt. These areas do fill up quickly during peak summer season, so aim to get there early or come late afternoon!
Driving time from Salzburg is an hour and a half. Vienna is a 3 and a half hour drive.
Train & Boat
The nearest major city to Hallstatt is Salzburg, and you’ll likely need to take the train through Salzburg no matter where you’re coming from. It’s a little over 2 hours from Salzburg to Hallstatt, then you’ll need to take the ferry across the lake (the train is on the other side of the lake from Hallstatt.)
It’s not super easy to get to Hallstatt by train, but this is the best route From Salzburg HB take the train 45 minutes to Attnang-Puchheim, from Attnang-Puchheim it’s 1 hour 30 minutes to Hallstatt.
From the Hallstatt station you need to take the ferry (it’s timed witht the train times) across the lake to Hallstatt, it only takes about 10 minutes, although boarding the boat takes time!
The ferry is cash only, tickets can be bought on board. It was less than 5euro when I visited!
Train, Boat & Bus
One other way to get there from Salzburg is to take the bus from Salzburg –> Bad Ischl Bahnhof, where you’ll then grab the train to Hallstatt. The ferry situation is the same as described above from the train to downtown Hallstatt!
1 Day in Hallstatt Itinerary
Head to the Iconic Hallstatt Viewpoint
If you’ve seen pictures of Hallstatt before they’re from this iconic spot. You’ll find it here on the map, or you can just follow the crowds. I recommend heading straight there as early as possible to try to beat the crowds!
Try to be quiet, clean and respectful – the viewpoint is right in front of a few residences, and the people who live there are very vocal about the overtourism and how it’s impacting their life in Hallstatt!
If you decide to stay overnight, you get to come back here a second morning bonus views! And you can get here extra early if it’s only a short walk! This is what I did
Explore the Charming Downtown
From the iconic viewpoint, head down the main road to the main town square. Hallstatt is tiny, so exploring the cute Marktplatz area doesn’t take long, but it’s a can’t miss and a perfect place for casual exploring. This area is also better in the morning, as it can get very congested.
Take the Funicular to Hallstatt Skywalk
As the town starts to get more crowded head to one of the best spots for panoramic views awat from downtown. I recommend taking the funicular up to thr Hallstatt skywalk (or hike, which takes about an hour) From the top you’ll have views of the lake and mountains surrounding Hallstatt
The funicular is quick and costs about $25 per person round trip.
Lunch with a View
While you’re up at the Skywalk try Rudolfsturm. Rudolfsturm has some of the best panoramic views over Hallstatt, the lake and the mountains beyond. This spot has decent food but is worth it for the views alone!
They also serve mostly traditional Austrian food like schnitzel, goulash, streudel, etc!
See the Hallstätter Wasserfall
After you make your way back down the funicular check out the Hallstätter Wasserfall. Visbile from most of Old Town Hallstatt, check out the picturesque Hallstätter Wasserfall (waterfall) this epic cascade just adds to the overall fairytale vibe in Hallstatt.
Visit the Panoramic Viewspoint at Pfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt (Maria am Berg Church)
For another great view of Hallstatt head to the Pfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt (Maria am Berg Church) this was one of my favorite views, and it’s only about a 5 minute walk from Hallstatt Old Town
Where to Stay in Hallstatt
If you do decide to stay overnight (highly recommend) there are a few great spots in Hallstatt I recommend!
Heritage Hotel
I absolutely loved this cozy hotel. It’s locatef right next to the ferry station with stunning views over the lake and Hallstatt. They also had a delicious on-site restaurant, which was easy to get a table at as a guest (food options at night in Hallstatt winter were limited!)
Boutiquehotel Strand Hallstatt – Adults only
This boutique hotel is modern, upscale, has a private beach, parking & more. It’s about a 10 minute walk from the most popular sites in Hallstatt, making it convenient, but also a bit removed from the crowds.
Seehotel Grüner Baum
Another great spot right near the ferry stop, Seehotel Grüner Baum has unreal views, an amazing restaurant with one of the best terraces in Hallstatt. This spot is super convenient, and I highly recommend!
Best Places to Get Dinner in Hallstatt
If you do decide to stay overnight and you’ll be in Hallstatt for dinner, here are some spots I recommend!
Heritage Hotel Restaurant Seeauer
I stayed at the Heritage Hotel and ate at this restaurant twice. The food was delicious both meals, I loved the schnitzel! I’m surpried the reviews are so low, although I guess that’s because of how many people they had to turn away when I was there!
Zum Bader Gastwirtschaft
One of the most popular spots in Hallstatt, this is a classic Austrian restaurants and one of the best places to grab dinner in Hallstatt.
Seehotel Grüner Baum
For a meal with a view closer to Old Town Hallstatt, I highly recommend the terrace at Seehotel Grüner Baum. Their terrace has some of the best views in Hallstatt. Their menu features fresh fish, pastas and more!
Planning an Austrian Adventure?
Austria is one of the countires that surprised me most in Europe, I think it’s so underrated, and loved exploring. Here is some of my other Austria travel planning guides and itineraries to help you plan the perfect trip!
