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Hallstatt and the surrounding villages is a place absolutely drenched with culture. Its history is so rich and deeply rooted that there is a chance that you could literally dig some up if you knew where to look. Between the gorgeous views and some local legends, Hallstatt and the surrounding villages and likes are an absolute must see at some point. Here are 6 things you will need when visiting this area:
6. Raincoats are an Absolute Must-Have.
This area of Austria is absolutely notorious for having sudden, rapid weather changes. It is quite common for it to start raining out of nowhere and it rains a lot. So if you don’t bring a raincoat you might get wet. They aren’t something I normally pack but even I brought one here.
5. Bring Cash
Although a lot of places will take debit or credit cards, most places will set a minimum amount you have to spend to use it. Tied in with the fact that there are some places where only cash is accepted, it truly is easier to just carry cash on you.
I recommend around 100€ minimum per day here. There’s not much worse than when you find a beautiful bar or restaurant overlooking the lake, but you can’t order anything because they only take cash. So remember: In most places in Europe, especially in small villages, cash is key.
4. Wear a Good Pair of Shoes
Whether you are planning on hiking one of the numerous trails throughout the valleys or you are just walking around the villages, having the right shoes is incredibly important. It doesn’t matter if you are there for only a day or if you are there for a whole week. Chances are that you are going to spend a minimum of 9 or 10 hours on your feet per day.
Even if you’re not really a hiker, there are small little trails within the little villages that you just shouldn’t miss. There is a zig-zagged path cut into the side of the mountain in Hallstatt that you can take from the Skywalk down to the town that boasts breathtaking views all the way down. It even has a small detour to a little waterfall that you can almost reach out and touch. We absolutely loved it, but you definitely need comfortable shoes with a little bit of grip or your feet will be crying by the end of the day. I know mine were.
3. Bring a Water Bottle
Buying a water bottle in Hallstatt can be expensive. In the surrounding villages it’ll be hard to find, if not impossible. Buying multiple one-time-use bottles will absolutely destroy your wallet in these areas. Not to mention it’s bad for the environment! It’s places such as this that make you develop a love for nature and taking care of our environment.
It’s easy enough to fill up water bottles as there are spouts around villages, towns, and cities in Europe that are meant for you to drink or refill your water bottles. Although it’s true that you could probably buy a disposable plastic bottle and refill it, that may be a tad difficult as I have found most of the spouts are fairly large. Roughly just under the diameter of the neck of the average water bottle is one of the most common that I have seen.
2. Find a Place to Stay Outside of Hallstatt
Although it may be tempting to get a room right in the middle of “downtown” Hallstatt I would highly recommend against this. Although it may be convenient and absolutely gorgeous in this quaint, small town, the cons will probably outweigh the conveniences. First and foremost, the price of a room in the town itself will most likely be significantly higher than in the surrounding areas. During my research, I noted in some cases comparable situations could be up to 10x the price. Second, as a tourist town, Hallstatt can get decently loud at night. There’s nothing like a couple of drunk jerks outside your window at 03:00 yelling out in search of each other because they are so drunk they can’t see 3 feet ahead of them.
The surrounding area has a bunch of small towns and villages as well as a small city all within a relatively short distance, Within them, there are a lot of cute little hotels and locally-owned apartments and houses for short term rent in gorgeous, quiet places. It is fairly easy to find a really nice place for cheaper than you could right in Hallstatt. So don’t limit your search to just one place.
1. Take a Car So You Can Explore
While it is possible to get around this area using a bus it is incredibly inconvenient. If you miss a bus you could end up having to wait around for half an hour, an hour, or be stranded until the next day depending on where you are and at what time. It also limits where you can go and what you can see. With that being said, even though the transport system in Austria is top-notch, this is not a route I would recommend going down.
You can easily rent a car from Salzburg for as cheap as 24 Euros per day. Having a car will make your experience here so much nicer and 100x easier. You don’t have to worry about any bus schedules, it makes staying at a place in another village or town that much easier, and you can visit the other towns and lakes so much easier. Want to learn a bit about some of the local legends? Go up to Lake Toplitz for lunch or dinner and ask about the lost Nazi gold in the area. Want a city-esque feel with a mountain backdrop? Spend an afternoon in Bad Aussee or just grab a coffee. The mountains are yours to discover! Just be careful of Austrian drivers.
In Conclusion:
Hallstatt and the Surrounding areas are an absolutely amazing place to go for a weekend, or even as a day trip. Whether it’s your honeymoon or you just need some time away, these mountain villages are an absolute must-see. When there though keep these 6 things in mind:
6. Raincoats are an Absolute Must-Have.
2. Find a place to stay outside of Hallstatt.
1. Take a Car So You Can Explore.
What’s your favourite thing about this region of Austria? Or what is something we may have overlooked? Tell us down below!
