Hallstatt
A lakeside village below the Dachstein, with a salt mine that has been worked since prehistoric times.
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Hallstatt is a small town in Upper Austria's Salzkammergut region, on the southwestern shore of Hallstätter See, below the Dachstein mountains. Houses are squeezed between the water and steep slopes, and some stand partly on piles over the lake. The town is part of the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
Salt is why people have worked here for so long. Salt has been produced in the area since prehistoric times, and the Hallstatt culture of the early Iron Age takes its name from the town. The salt mine is described as the world's oldest working salt mine, and a guided tour inside takes about 70 minutes. Tour buses bring day visitors and arrive only in assigned slots between 8:00 and 17:00. A night in town lets you see the village outside those hours. Spring is short, and the rainiest months are June to August.
Hallstatt in five
- Stay the night or arrive before 9amTour buses arrive from late morning. Early and late in the day the lanes are quiet and the light on the lake is best.
- Take the ferry from the stationHallstatt station is on the other shore. A small ferry timed to the trains crosses to the village in about 10 minutes.
- Ride up to the salt mineA funicular climbs to the Salzwelten mine and the skywalk above the village. Mine tours run from spring to autumn; check dates before you go.
- Respect the homesHouses sit right on the paths, and residents ask visitors to keep to public lanes and keep noise down. Do not fly drones over the village.
- Treat Hallstatt as one stop in a lake regionThe village sits in the Dachstein Salzkammergut region of Upper Austria. With more than two nights, compare the other lake regions before you book a bed here.The Salzkammergut
Need to know
- Airport
- Salzburg (SZG), about 1.5 hours by car
- Getting there
- Train to Hallstatt station plus ferry, or bus via Bad Ischl
- Getting around
- On foot; the village is car-free for visitors
- Best base
- The village itself, or Obertraun at the lake's south end
- Time needed
- 1 day, or 2 with the Dachstein
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow16 rainy days10 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-9°Snow, quietJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- -1°
- Low
- -9°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 10
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, quiet
- FebruarySnow13 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh2°Low-7°Cold, quietFebruarySnow
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -7°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchSnow15 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh5°Low-5°Thaw, mine closedMarchSnow
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw, mine closed
- AprilRain15 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh9°Low-1°Mine reopensAprilRain
Good
- High
- 9°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Mine reopens
- MayRain20 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low3°Green, fewer busesMayRain
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 165 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, fewer buses
- JuneRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh19°Low8°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 147 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Long days
- JulyRain20 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh19°Low9°Warm, very busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 179 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, very busy
- AugustRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh20°Low9°Warm, very busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 186 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, very busy
- SeptemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh16°Low6°Clear, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, calmer
- OctoberRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh11°Low2°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain12 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh5°Low-3°Gray, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 106 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Gray, quiet
- DecemberSnow14 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh1°Low-6°Snow, lightsDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 9
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, lights
Average daily high and low in Hallstatt, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Hallstatt
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
3
- Feels like
- 1°
- Humidity
- 99%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 15%
Hallstatt
01:04 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today4°0°15%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 4°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Wed8°1°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu11°4°0%Thursday: Clear. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°0°0%Friday: Fog. High 9°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat7°0°0%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun9°0°5%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 5%.
Updated 09:58 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Coming up
Every year
- JanMozart WeekSalzburg, a day trip
- Mar–AprSalzburg Easter FestivalSalzburg, a day trip
- Jul–AugSalzburg FestivalSalzburg, a day trip
- SepArs ElectronicaLinz, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Dachstein cavesabout 15 minutes by bus to ObertraunCable car from Obertraun to the ice cave and the Five Fingers platform; open roughly May to October.
- Bad Ischlabout 30 minutes by trainThe old imperial spa town, with the Kaiservilla and cafés.
- Salzburgabout 2–2.5 hours by bus or trainThe baroque city and its fortress, for a long day or an onward night.Read the guide
Before you go to Hallstatt
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Rules for Hallstatt, checked
- Austria is in the Schengen Area. Check entry rules on the Austrian Foreign Ministry site (bmeia.gv.at) before you travel.Source
- Tour buses need an assigned arrival slot from the Hallstatt tourist office and must stay at least 2.5 hours. Check the current slot rules before you book a bus.
- Do not drop cigarettes outdoors. A 2018 forest fire started by a discarded cigarette closed the climbing path, the funicular and the salt mine.
Plan around Hallstatt
Cities, Alps, rail and entry rules
Read the guideThe SalzkammergutSeven lake regions around the village
Read the guideSalzburgBaroque city, the usual gateway to Hallstatt
Read the guideViennaLong rail leg east, plan a transfer day
Read the guideRail pass or ticketsIs a Eurail pass worth it in Austria
Read the guideTransport in EuropeTrains, buses and booking ahead
Read the guideHallstatt FAQ
Is Hallstatt worth visiting with the crowds?
Yes, if you avoid late morning to mid afternoon. Stay the night or come on the first train and the village is calm.
Can I drive to Hallstatt?
Visitors park in the paid lots at the village edge; the center is closed to visitor cars. The train and ferry avoid the parking lines in summer.
Can I visit Hallstatt from Vienna in a day?
It is a long day of about 3.5–4 hours each way by train. Salzburg is the better base for a day trip.
How much time do you need in Hallstatt?
A day is enough for the village, the lake and the salt mine. Add a second day if you want the Dachstein caves or an unhurried morning before the buses arrive.
What is the best time of year to visit Hallstatt?
May, June, September and October balance open lifts with thinner crowds. July and August are the busiest, and winter is quiet but some mine and cave tours do not run.