Have you ever - been to Hallstatt

I was there this summer and It is one of my dream destinations! If you are in Austria, don't forget to take a trip down to visit Hallstatt, the most picturesque lakeside village in Austria. It is the exact same picture that I came across online that drew me into this place. It is not just an attraction for many now but it is also home to close to a thousands residents that live there. Hallstatt is just one of the lovely villages that dot the shoreline of the lake (Hallstatter See), and  you will come across Obertraun and Steeg surrounding the lake with stunning scenery which are also worth visiting if you have extra time.

Train Station

This small town is accessible from Vienna or Salzburg by train. If you arrive in Hallstatt by train, the train station is across the lake from the town, which is at Obertraun. To get into town, you will either have to take a ferry or a bus from here. 

Bus Ticket

Bus Timetable from Obertraun

 A single bus ride costs about €2.10 and it should takes about 10 minutes to get to town. Please take note that buses come by each station every one or two hours and the timetable is updated every once in a while so it is advisable to obtain the latest timetable either from your hotel or the local tourist centre in town.

Ship Station

Ship/boat Timetable from Obertraun

If you decide to take a ship or boat to town, you can take it from the designated station shown (1) and (2) across the train station in Obertraun and it costs slightly more than buses but you definitely get to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake. 

And when you are in town, this is what it looks like. 

Entrance of the village

If the pictures don't do it justice, I don't know what will. A walk throughout the village should take you somewhere between a half day to a full day to explore. Stop by the bone house, churches and some photo points to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Hallstatt. If you are spending longer time here, you can even visit the Hallstatt salt mine (walking distance from town) and Dachstein Skywalk (a bus is necessary or other modes of transport from town). 

One of the highlights of summer in Hallstatt is that you get to rent boats like this to admire the lake from water. It is recommended to rent an electric boat as it is easier to navigate and they have different prices for different kind of boats that cost somewhere between €16 to €20 per hour. What you need to pay depends on how long you take the boat out so grab a bottle of beer from the supermarket right outside the village and just sit back and relax as long as you want. 

Bräu-Gasthof Hallstatt 

Dining in Hallstatt is slightly above the average price but Bräu-Gasthof Hallstatt offers quality food at reasonable price so do give it a try and also you get to enjoy your meal right next to the lake here during summer! I mean, why not? There are many restaurants in town that offer both traditions Austrian food and some International food so there is something for everyone here and most of them specialised in fish so do yourself a favour and try them out!

Seehotel am Hallstattersee

A little review for the hotel I stayed in Obertraun - Seehotel am Hallstattersee. A very lovely hotel with amazing view from the room balcony. The hotel is just by the lake and it is close to the train station and there is a bus stop just 2 minutes walk away from it. There is also a swimming pool and some games such as table tennis and badminton provided by the hotel. The room usually comes with continental breakfast which is pretty decent. The only downside is that it seems to be a little overpriced (paid about €130 a room for one night) for that level of facilities that you get. But unless you can find better deals, it is not a bad place to spend a night or two here. 

Before I sign off, a little tip to honour the residents in Hallstatt. As aforementioned, Hallstatt is a functioning village with close to a thousand of residents living here so it is important to follow the rules stated to treat them with respects. Simple things like you know no trespassing on private residential houses and minimal nuisances will be very much appreciated. 

I guess that's about it. I hope you guys enjoy Hallstatt as much as I did!

I bet you look even nicer during winter!