Hallstatt: A Great Day Trip from Salzburg

No trip to Salzburg would be complete without taking a day trip to Hallstatt. This lovely village set at the edge of a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. It has a long and fascinating history and is well worth spending some time getting to know it.

Salty History

This picturesque little village started out nearly 7000 years ago when it was discovered that there was precious salt to be mined in the area. It was the start of a long and profitable relationship with the land, so much so that a period of history is named after the area - the Hallstatt period (800-400 BCE). This is due to the fact that there was so many archaeological finds uncovered because of such early and sustained human activity. The Romans colonised the area about 2000 years ago, and were there until the 5th century. Hallstatt then saw somewhat of a decline until the Habsburgs arrived and productive mining started up again at the end of the 14th century. There was another dip in the villagers’ fortunes with the Catholic counter-reformation in the mid 17th century, and it was not until 1800, when tourism began in the area that its fortunes started to alter. Since then, Hallstatt has never looked back.

Spectacular Views

This lovely site is well worth the trip if you're staying in Salzburg, and you can get there easiest by either car or public transport. Choosing to travel by bus or rail does mean a ferry ride, but this is an exciting part of the trip in itself. A visit to Rudolfsturm Tower is highly recommended when you visit Hallstatt. The tower was built in the late 1200s and was, until 1954, the mine operator’s accommodation. Today it serves as a restaurant and you can sample some excellent coffee and local cuisine in spectacular surroundings. You'll need to take a cable car ride to get to the tower, and the views of the village and mountains along the way are outstanding.

Fantastic Slides

You can also take a salt mine funicular railway to the upper valley, where you can visit a renowned prehistoric burial ground. Once here, you can venture inside the old salt mines and have a go on the old wooden slides - reminiscent of Enid Blyton’s slide in The Far-Away Tree. The miners used the slides when they needed to get from one level to the next, and this is an unforgettable and unique experience to enjoy - well worth the day trip on its own!

Getting to Salzburg

You can get to Salzburg by air or rail from point in Europe. Once you arrive, the shared or private Salzburg airport transportation will get you quickly and conveniently to your accommodation. The beauty of this is that you can book online before you leave on your journey and relax knowing that when you arrive there will be no pushing to try to find a taxi or a local bus. Instead, your Salzburg airport transportation driver will meet you and get you on the road as quickly as possible so you can begin your Austrian adventure.