Hallstatt, Austrias most fairytale-like lake town

Located between Salzburg and Graz, Hallstatt is a small lake town of impeccable beauty and breathtaking views. Even the ride on the train there is beautiful and rich in greenery and lakes.

The first thing you need to do once you get off the train is to take the small boat and go across the lake, to the Old Town. Also, you can rent a boat, or go on a boat tour around the lake.

The Old Town of Hallstatt is traditional and cozy. It makes you feel at home. While you are browsing there you can hear the waterfall and the birds singing.

Someone might think that there are not a lot of things to do in Hallstatt, which is completely wrong. Apart from boat renting, you should go on a hike on SkyWalk. The Skywalk Hallstatt with the world heritage view is located up on the mountain, around 350 meters above the town center and Lake Hallstatt. To get there, if you're not that athletic, like me, you can go by a funicular or otherwise brace yourself because it is a two-hour hike! However, once you get there you can understand it was worth it!

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Nearby the SkyWalk, are the Salt Mines of Hallstatt ( Salzwelten Hallstatt), which are the oldest salt mines in the world! They date back 7000 years and they are still active. There, you will go on the most two-hour tour you have ever been on! It is an interactive experience, accompanied and extenuated by the means of modern technology which teaches you the entire salt cycle throughout the time. Just the thought of you walking on the same paths as the miners did 7000 years ago gives you chills (the temperature might give you chills also 😂). To give you a taste of the tour, I will insert some footage of it, but I cannot express how fascinating it was unless you see it with your own eyes. And like our tour guide said, do not go far from the group because if you get lost the only thing down there is salt for you! I recommend it to anyone of any age because even if you think you're too old the slides in the mines (one of them is the biggest wooden slide in Europe) will make you feel like a kid again. Bonus: on the end, you will go on a small train ride along with the rest of the group!

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Furthermore, you can also visit the Ice Cave. The Ice Cave, which was found in 1910, is amazing not only because of its massive frozen waterfalls and beautiful ice formations but also because of the magnitude of some of the granite tunnels. Even in the summer, the cool and fascinating 1-hour tour will require a jacket. Your guide will explain the cave's history, important characteristics, and many fascinating facts about how the gorgeous ice sculptures are formed naturally. The cave's entrance, in addition to the tour, provides spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

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To go back to get the boat in order to get to the train station, you will browse through the Old Town and Market Square which is the physical and literal heart of the town, as it is located in the heart of Old Town Hallstatt. The colorful buildings that surround the square that served as the marketplace in early Hallstatt are difficult not to be captivated by. Grab a cup of coffee or ice cream and settle on a seat to people-watch or see the Holy Trinity fountain in the square's center. Around the area, there are a variety of fantastic restaurants and stores, as well as the yearly Christmas market, Krampus run, and typical outdoor summer concerts.

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