A Guide to Visiting Hallstatt in Winter
The tiny town of Hallstatt — perched at the edge of a mountainous lake — is one of my favorite destinations in Austria.
It’s certainly no hidden gem, as it’s one of the most popular tourist sites in the entire country. But it’s well worth a trip, particularly if you can make time to stay overnight and experience the calm of the town in the early mornings and in the evenings, without floods of day trippers.
And, having now visited Hallstatt in several different seasons, I can attest that there’s a special magic over Hallstatt in the winter. Perhaps the locals don’t agree — when I visited Hallstatt in winter, I had a taxi driver skeptically ask me “What’s in Hallstatt at this time of year?”
If you ask me: there’s plenty. Between the charming Christmas market, the picturesque views made all the more gorgeous with a blanket of snow, the winter sports, and more, Hallstatt has so much to offer in the winter.
From what to do to where to stay to what to pack and more, here’s what to know about visiting Hallstatt in winter.
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Things to Do in Hallstatt in Winter
Here are some of the best things to do while visiting Hallstatt in the winter months.
Visit the Christmas Market
It’s a common recommendation while visiting central European destinations in the winter: visit the Christmas markets, of course.
But Hallstatt’s Christmas market is unusual. While most cities’ Christmas markets operate every day for most of December (and perhaps beyond), Hallstatt’s market occurs on just one day each year: December 8.
So if you’d like to visit Hallstatt’s Christmas market, it will take some careful planning. But if you manage to be in Hallstatt on December 8, you’ll be rewarded with a cozy, charming little market that’s far more local than markets you’ll typically find in larger cities.
From knitwear to jewelry to woodwork to cookies and more, Hallstatt’s market is filled with handmade local items. For food, fish rule the day (no surprise for a lakeside towns), but there are plenty of options for people who aren’t wild about fish. And of course, like any good Christmas market, there’s mulled wine. It’s delightful!
Attend a Nearby Krampuslauf
While you’re already in the area for Hallstatt’s Christmas market on December 8, why not experience the flip side of Austria’s Christmas celebrations? That is: Krampus.
If you’re unfamiliar with Krampus (as I was before I planned a trip to Austria in December!), buckle up. Krampus is, essentially, the dark counterpart to St. Nicholas. While St. Nick gives gifts and extends kindness, Krampus (a horned, hooved creature) hits kids with sticks (seriously).
Despite all of this (or perhaps because of it?), Krampus folklore is an integral part of Christmas for many Alpine communities. In fact, in some places in Austria (and beyond), people gather to dress as Krampus and throw a parade — a Krampuslauf — where the participants prowl through the streets, looking for people to punish and scare (but like, in a consensual way).
Luckily, Hallstatt’s neighboring town, Bad Goisern, has a great Krampuslauf. I went to see the Bad Goisern Krampuslauf during my last visit to Hallstatt, and boy was it a wild experience. Loud metal music, spooky red lighting, smoke machines, floats, and dozens (hundreds??) of people parading through the streets dressed up as Krampus, giving high fives to young kids and swatting at teens (and also me!) with the branches they were carrying.
An authentic Krampuslauf, like the one in Bad Goisern, is a really fascinating cultural experience that I highly recommend you prioritize if it fits with your schedule!
Bad Goisern’s Krampus Parade always takes place on the evening of December 7, so it’s easy to experience both the Krampuslauf and Hallstatt’s Christmas market: just arrive in Hallstatt by the afternoon of December 7, take a taxi to Bad Goisern for the parade, then sleep in Hallstatt that night before experiencing the Christmas market on the following day. (That’s exactly what I did!)
Hallstatt itself also holds a much smaller children’s Krampus Run on December 4, so if you’re visiting Hallstatt a bit too early to catch the Bad Goisern event, perhaps you can see Hallstatt’s version instead!
Tour the Salt Mine
Believe it or not, the residents of Hallstatt have been mining for salt for more than 7000 years!
Today, you can tour a historic salt mine in the mountain above the town — though to be clear, it’s not so much “see salt mining operations” as it is “learn about the history of salt mining.” You’ll ride a tiny train through some tunnels, glide down huge wooden slides (outfitted in special gear!), see the oldest known staircase in Europe, and more.
Be aware that the salt mine typically closes for a month during the winter (often in January), so be sure to check the schedule before planning on a visit.
To reach the salt mine, you can either hike up the mountain or ride a funicular that will zip you up to the level of the mine in a short, scenic ride. Then, follow the path alongside the mountain (away from the funicular stop) for about 10-15 minutes.
Admire the Views from the Skywalk
Whether or not you visit the salt mine during your trip to Hallstatt, I recommend taking the funicular up the mountain to check out the views from the Skywalk — a triangular viewing platform that juts out over the side of the mountain. From there, you’ll have fantastic views of the town from above, as well as the surrounding area of the lake.
Learn About Hallstatt’s History
If you’re looking to get out of the cold while visiting Hallstatt in winter, consider going to the World Heritage Museum. There, you’ll learn about the history of Hallstatt (and the surrounding area) going back millennia.
Truth be told, I haven’t yet experienced Hallstatt’s World Heritage Museum, but my friend did when we went to Hallstatt in winter, and she reported that it was worth a visit!
Visit the Ossuary
Hallstatt has two famous churches — a Protestant one just beside the ferry station, and a Catholic one perched a bit above it on the side of the mountain.
Besides its picturesque location, the Catholic church is best-known for one thing: its ossuary. In a small chapel next to the church, the ossuary houses hundreds of elaborately painted skulls and other bones.
This is because the beautiful cemetery at the church, like pretty much every other location in Hallstatt, is quite small. As a result, going back for centuries, people have only been buried in the cemetery for a short period of time (these days, it’s 10 years) before their bodies are relocated so space can be made for new arrivals.
The ossuary, then, holds the bones of people who were formerly interred in the cemetery but had to be moved after a certain period of time. You’ll notice that the decoration on many of the skulls includes the person’s name, so they are still identifiable even though they no longer possess a tombstone.
Find the Best Views of Town
I’ve already told you about one of the most spectacular views of Hallstatt — the view from the Skywalk — but there are other picturesque spots to be found, of course.
The best-known view of Hallstatt can be found along the side of the road here. If you’ve seen one photo of Hallstatt, I’d bet it was snapped at this spot.
This spot can get extremely crowded with day trippers during much of the day, but if you stay overnight in Hallstatt, you can avoid the crowds by going early in the morning. During my last visit to Hallstatt, I stayed for three nights and on two of the mornings, I got up early to be at the photo spot by sunrise. (Don’t be too impressed — sunrise was at 8 am.) On both occasions, there were a few other early birds at the spot, but it was reasonably quiet and uncrowded.
Some of my other favorite views of Hallstatt can be found at the southern end of town (the view from there is pictured at the very top of this post!) and from the hillside above the main part of town.
Dachstein Krippenstein
Just across the lake from Hallstatt is Dachstein Krippenstein, an alpine area with plenty of fantastic winter activities, including:
- Skiing (downhill and cross-country)
- Snoeshowing
- Paragliding
- Ice climbing
- Ice caves
Where to Stay in Hallstatt
While it’s possible to visit Hallstatt as a day trip from Salzburg or even Vienna (I’ve done it from Salzburg), I do recommend staying overnight. That way, you can enjoy the town in the quiet of the early morning and the evening, without the crowds of day trippers!
When my friend and I visited Hallstatt in the winter, we stayed at Weisses Lamm, which we loved. We were given what has to be the best room in the place — a large, top-floor room with a balcony that has views of the town’s two famous steeples.
Views from inside our room (left) and the room’s balcony (right)
Weisses Lamm also had a really good breakfast (included in the price of the room) and was within very easy walking distance of everything in Hallstatt, including the ferry station. I would happily stay at Weisses Lamm again, and have no qualms recommending it to other visitors!
For other lodging options in Hallstatt, consider the following:
BUDGET | To be honest, “budget” doesn’t really exist in Hallstatt, but Pension Hallberg gets exceptional reviews without costing an arm and a leg.
COMFORT | With its location right beside the ferry station, Heritage Hotel Hallstatt is maybe the most conveniently located lodging option in the entire town.
LUXURY | Polreich Bed & Breakfast has beautifully minimalist rooms with incredible views of the lake and the town.
Winter Weather in Hallstatt
Though climate change is making Hallstatt warmer (just like pretty much everywhere else), it’s still safe to say that you can expect to experience cold weather while visiting Hallstatt in winter.
Specifically, temperatures between 20 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit are common, with some even colder stretches here and there (particularly at night).
Hallstatt also gets significant amounts of snow some years. During my own winter visit to Hallstatt, in early December, it flurried a bit overnight, leaving a gorgeous blanket of fresh snow over the town.
What to Pack for Visiting Hallstatt in Winter
Given the typical Hallstatt winter weather, you’ll need to be prepared for (1) cold and (2) snow. Here are some things I strongly recommend that you pack for visiting Hallstatt in winter:
Boots. While traveling in Europe, I typically like to pack comfy sneakers for long days of walking around, but they won’t cut it for snow in Hallstatt. Instead (or at least in addition to), bring a pair of boots. They don’t necessarily have to be super intense — I spent a month visiting Christmas markets in Europe (including in Hallstatt) in the Nisolo Go-to City Hiker Boots, which are warm and comfy but also style-forward. Sadly, those are now discontinued, but you can find a similar style here.
Merino wool socks. Inside those boots should be some warm, comfy socks. I recommend merino wool, which retains heat but not smelliness.
Warm coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. Perhaps this goes without saying, but you should bring a warm winter coat, a cozy scarf, a hat, and some gloves. Trust me, you’ll want them all!
Thermals. You won’t regret bringing thermal layers to wear under your sweaters and pants. Great options include thermal tops and leggings, which you can find in sets like this.
Final Thoughts
Hallstatt is a delight year-round, but it feels extra magical on those snowy winter days. I loved waking up to a fresh coat of snow and enjoying the warm glow of Christmas lights throughout the town. Winter is a special time to visit this special little town!
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