We’ve all seen the famous photos of Hallstatt, the lake glistening with a towering church and timber houses surrounding the lake. Leading up to our trip to Austria, I was online reading varying opinions of whether this iconic Alpine village on Lake Hallstatt in Austria was worth a visit. We had planned our trip over a long weekend in October, months prior to moving, based on its drivable proximity to our future home in Stuttgart, Germany. As the dates crept closer to our departure for Austria, the excitement started to build. Still, a tiny hint of worry that this weekend might not entirely turn out as I had envisioned, and I would be left feeling a sense of disappointment sat in the back of my mind.

*Blue hour before sunrise in Hallstatt, Austria. Photographed with the Sony A1 + 24-70mm f2.8*

Hallstatt has only 780 residents year-round, in contrast to an estimated 3 million visitors coming through a year thanks to social media and the village’s rumored inspiration for the movie Frozen. This tiny village has origins dating back 7,000 years to prehistoric times when inhabitants started removing salt from the salt mines. For a town with under 1,000 residents, it is rich in history and was named a UNESCO World Cultural Site in 1997.

Our drive to Austria was met with rain and dark skies, but as we got closer to Hallstatt, I rode with my window down to match my jaw, which was securely dropped to my lap. All around us were lush mountains bathed in a kaleidoscope of autumn colors, cows grazing, and timber homes that looked like they sprang from paintings. In addition, there was a light, low-lying fog that added to the incredible scene before our eyes. We hadn’t even arrived in Hallstatt, and I was awestruck.

Upon spotting a flowing stream on the side of the road near a turnout point, we pulled over, and I immediately jumped out with my camera and began taking photos. Before me was a sadly locked old wooden pedestrian bridge, crossing over the flowing water to the opposite side where the mountain towered over with more hues of red, orange, and yellow amidst the trees. After ten minutes of quickly snapping as many photos as possible (with a waiting spouse and children in the car), I returned, rejuvenated from the short break, and excited to arrive at our accommodations.

*Photographed this stunning scene just off the side of the road in Austria, twenty minutes outside of Hallstatt*

Though we were there to visit Hallstatt, we opted to stay in Obertraun, which was a quick ten-minute drive to Hallstatt. From our accommodations, you could also hop on the boat tour or, if so inclined, walk the roughly forty-five minutes around the lake into Hallstatt. The Obertraun Dachsteinhöhlen train station was a quick two-minute walk as well.

When we finally arrived and checked into our lodge, it was later in the afternoon. Our kids were eager to get outside and stretch their legs, so we threw on their rain gear and walked to the lake, Strandbad Obertraun/Gemeinde Obertraun. This location is fantastic, and there is so much for kids to do. Playground, trampoline, skate park, and the resort itself has indoor pools. After getting their fulfillment of watching ducks and bouncing endlessly up and down, we enjoyed dinner at the lodge restaurant before returning to our lodge for the evening.

The next morning, I sprang out of bed, eager to start the day with a photo walk around Hallstatt before the crowds arrived. I was greeted with a crisp fall morning, perfectly placed fog among the clouds, and very few other people walking around; it was bliss. I parked in parking Lot P2 and walked fifteen minutes towards the scenic lookout point where I wanted to start (though I took several photos along the way). After a brief detour due to construction along the main walking path, I finally arrived at the scenic lookout. You can put “Panoramic Lookout Point” and it comes up in Google Maps. As you make your way through the Markplatz walking north, you will see signs for it, you can’t miss it.

*Just after parking the car I stumbled across this scene*

By this time, about twenty other people were there, all vying for the best viewpoints and snapping their photos. I spent about ten minutes here before deciding to move on and enjoy a slow walk back through the village before more people arrived.

If you want the best travel photos without fighting the crowds, my advice will always be to get there first thing in the morning. After walking for thirty minutes camera in hand, I made my way back to our lodge for a quick shower and to get the kids ready for the day.

Our next stop that morning was the Hallstatt Skywalk, so back to P2, we went. When we parked around 9:30, there were roughly 60 spaces left in this large lot. Because the town is so tiny, there is limited parking, and the later in the day you arrive, the less likely you are to find parking close to the town. We walked over and were able to purchase tickets for the funicular and, within twenty minutes, were on our way to the top! You can also buy tickets for the Salt Mine tour from this location. We did not do the tour this time since our children are only three and two years old.

*Fall views around the Hallstatt funicular*

The views as we ascended were once again breathtaking, with vibrant fall colors all around us and rolling fog off to the side of the mountain despite the sunny day. Once at the top, there were a few waves of people coming and going, but overall, it was relatively quiet. After getting our photos and taking in the views, we headed back to explore the town.

As the clock ticked closer to lunchtime, we noticed hoards of people arriving via tour buses. We were still able to enjoy walking around and browsing shops without long waits or feeling like we were being lost in a sea of people, so we counted that as a win. After selecting a pair of wood toys from a local vendor and securing our magnets for the trip, we grabbed some pastries and returned to our lodge across the lake.

The afternoon was spent allowing the kids to rest and then outside for hours of play in the beautiful sunshine. Though we could have squeezed in a boat ride or another activity, we enjoyed letting the kids have their time to play and do whatever they wanted. We picked up pizzas for dinner and sipped wine from the porch to end our day. Sometimes, doing less during a trip gives you so much more.

So, is Hallstatt worth visiting? Yes, absolutely. My caveat is that if you loathe crowds, visit in the off-season, such as fall or winter. Even when it was raining and foggy, the town was just as stunning. Images and words can certainly inspire you, but nothing beats experiencing this magical town in person. Is Hallstatt, Austria, on your bucket list?

Accommodations: Dormio Resorts & Hotels (3 stars)

I would rate this place higher based on the location and amenities, but our lodge was quite dirty and even had a ripped sofa cushion. It was obvious it had not been deep cleaned in a long time. If we were staying longer I would have requested a room change or for it to be cleaned but we just dealt with it and let them know upon check out.

Top Things to Do:

Salt Mine tour
Hike the Alps
View Hallstatt from the Skywalk
Visit the bone house
Boat tour on Lake Hallstatt
Early morning photo walk to the panoramic lookout point and through the village

Is Hallstatt Worth Visiting?

Burg Eltz

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