Hallstatt in Winter: Things to do in Hallstatt and Full Winter Guide

Headed to Austria soon and looking for all the fun things to do in Hallstatt in the winter? Grab your snow boots and keep on reading – this Hallstatt winter guide will have you bundling up and getting ready to explore in no time!

Imagine glittering ice crystals hanging from rustic wooden cottages. A tranquil (yet freezing) lake with swans peacefully floating by. Snow-covered alpine peaks and frosty trees above the charming cobblestone streets. The scent of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine filling the crisp winter air. Sounds like a winter wonderland dream, am I right?!

This fairytale town nestled in the Austrian Alps is all that and more. It’s practically a living Christmas village, and we couldn’t get enough (until our noses and toes were frozen, haha)! Simply magic.

Ever since I first saw a photo of Hallstatt in winter (what feels like forever ago), I instantly added it to my never-ending bucket list. And not to sound cliche and all, but it lived up to the hype, big time! This historical village dates back more than 7,000 years, and was given a (well-deserved) spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. Can you blame them?! I mean, just look at it!

It wasn’t the snowy winter wonderland we had hoped for (no snow for us in the village!), but it was still pretty spectacular. I mean, it is Hallstatt afterall!

Visiting Hallstatt in the Winter Logistics

Where is Hallstatt, Austria?

For starters, Hallstatt is a charming village tucked away in Austria‘s Salzkammergut region, a land of crystal-clear lakes, lush forests, and mountain vistas. It’s nestled between the sparkling waters of Lake Hallstatt and the towering peaks of the Dachstein Alps – so you can bet this area is absolutely epic.

Hallstatt is located in the heart of Upper Austria, about 75 kilometers southeast of Salzburg, ~80km from Linz, ~200 km from Munich, ~220km from Innsbruck, and ~300 km from Vienna.

Hallstatt isn’t far from other stunning lakes, like Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee) and Lake Mondsee, and nearby towns and villages including Bad Ischl and St. Wolfgang. So… if you’ve got a few extra days, you could totally add those on, haha.

How to Get to Hallstatt

Since Hallstatt is near a few major cities in Austria and Germany (namely Salzburg, Munich, and Vienna), getting there is pretty easy!

Note that if you decide to take the train to Hallstatt (regardless of where you’re coming from), you’ll end up at Hallstatt Bahnhst, which is on the other side of the lake from the actual town. Once you make it here, plan to take a 10 minute ferry ride over to the town of Hallstatt (check the schedule there). It runs 365 days a year (yes, even in the dead of winter), and is even called Stefanie – how cute is that?!

So that means if you’re headed outta Hallstatt via train, the only way to get to Hallstatt train station is by ferry boat. Just putting that out there so you can plan properly. OR you can take the bus or a short taxi to Obertraun and then take the train one stop to Hallstatt station, but taking the ferry is way simpler.

I was all confused about the stations and such at first so hope this helps:

Hallstatt Lahn = Bus station
Hallstatt Bahnhst = Train station (on other side of lake)
Hallstatt Markt = Stefanie ferry stop in the village

From Salzburg

Since Salzburg’s oh so close, most people head to Hallstatt from here!

Option 1: Train

Take the train from Salzburg to Attnang-Puchheim (about 1 hour), then transfer to a regional train bound for Hallstatt (another 2 hours or so). You’ll then need to hop on the Stefanie ferry to reach the village. ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen) is the national railway company of Austria which operates the majority of the country’s train services (and where you can buy your tickets).

Option 2: Bus

Hop on bus 150 from Salzburg to Bad Ischl (about 1 ½ hours), then transfer to bus 541/542 or a train to Hallstatt. Expect the journey to take around 2 ½ to 3 hours or so.

Option 3: Drive

If you feel comfortable driving in possibly snowy weather, driving is definitely an option! It only takes about an hour and a half to get between Salzburg and Hallstatt (and is less than 80km), but remember – Hallstatt is a mostly car-free village! Plus, the roads are super narrow for cars.

Because of this, you’ll need to park in a designated parking lot outside of town (unless your hotel has a private lot) and either walk or take a shuttle into the center. Check out one of the P1 or P2 car parks on the south end of town. Find all the parking info you need here.

Past — ALWAYS check the road conditions and winter weather forecasts before heading out!

Even though we grew up in New York (with lots of experience on icy roads), we haven’t driven in snow for over 10 years (besides the occasional jaunt to Yosemite in winter and during our frigid winter trip to Banff). We opted for public transit, haha.

From Vienna

Directions from Vienna to Hallstatt are almost the same as from Salzburg (both train and bus), it’ll just take longer (since Vienna’s much further away, haha). Google Maps is your best friend.

Driving from Vienna will take about 3 ½ to 4 ½ hours depending on traffic and weather conditions of course.

From Munich

The most efficient way to get to Hallstatt from Munich is to take a train from Munich to Salzburg (about 1.5 hours), and then follow the train or bus route from Salzburg to Hallstatt as described above. Remember, if you take the train you’ll get to take the Stefanie ferry across the lake!

You can also drive from Munich to Hallstatt, which will take ~2 ½ to 3 ½ hours.

From Cesky Krumlov

This is where we came from, and of course it was the most difficult, haha! Despite being only ~120 miles apart, there’s not much transport between the two. I guess it kinda makes sense considering both Cesky Krumlov and Hallstatt are smaller towns (but still are both pretty popular…).

We had a hard time finding public transportation (I swear, we couldn’t find anything that made logical sense), so ended up booking an over-priced private shuttle company (because of the holidays) that took about 3 hours door to door.

We used the company Bean Shuttle, but there’s also CK Shuttle as well. Make sure to look out the window towards the end of the drive – the views of the nearby lakes are STUNNING.

If you’re up for a longer and (way) more complicated journey, you can take a bus to Linz, followed by two trains to Hallstatt, and then finally the ferry (which I learned about after we got home, haha). That doesn’t sound like fun with luggage, especially in the winter. Headed to Hallstatt from Cesky Krumlov? Just take the shuttle, haha.

Weather in Hallstatt in Winter

There’s no other way to put it, but winter in Hallstatt is cold y’all! Out of our entire European winter trip (we spent a little over 2 weeks hopping around London, Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Bruges, and Hallstatt), it was here in Hallstatt where we really felt the cold in our bones. Temps often dip below freezing, sidewalks turn icy, and there’s lots of chilly winds.

Basically, just make sure you come prepared. And on that note, the weather changes constantly here – we had sun and snow and windchill and light rain all in the same day. Just know it’s gonna be gorgeous no matter what.

December: Expect average highs around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F), with some snow in the village and even more so in the nearby mountains. And you bet Hallstatt is all decorated for the festive Christmas season – with tons of lights and holiday spirit!

January: This is the coldest month in Hallstatt, with highs around 2°C (36°F) and lows around -5°C (23°F). Heavy snowfall is common, so perfect if you’re hoping for a true winter wonderland! And plus, the village sees way less crowds after the busy holiday season, so you’ll get some true peace and quiet.

February: Temps are slightly warmer, with highs around 4°C (39°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F). There’s still loads of snow, but also plenty of clear, crisp days (meaning stunning views of the snow-capped peaks!).

March: This is a transition month, with highs around 8°C (46°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F). Don’t expect much snow (especially later in the month), and you may even see some early signs of spring. If you’re looking for a true Hallstatt winter experience, I’d stick with December to February.

Note that a lot of hotels close from January 8 through the end of February. This is considered low low season, and a lot of local staff even leave the country (our waiter was headed off to Brazil for 2 months, and the lady working at our hotel was visiting her son in London for a bit).

If you’re planning to visit then, just be prepared for some restaurants and businesses to be closed. Enough will be open, but if there’s a specific hotel/restaurant you have in mind, double check it’ll be open before planning your trip!

For reference, we visited for New Year’s Eve (just how the dates worked out for us), and while there wasn’t much snow on the ground in the village, mornings were definitely beyond frigid and the ground got super icy overnight.

What to Pack for Winter in Hallstatt

Visiting Hallstatt in the winter isn’t for the faint of heart – that is unless you know how to bundle up properly! You’ll need to dress in layers and be prepared for extreme winter conditions. The weather is no joke here (think below freezing temps with a windchill — making it feel even colder).

How to dress: Wear multiple layers on both top and bottom. HOWEVER, not all layers are created equal. You’ll want to layer up on breathable fabrics and waterproof bottoms. I learned that it’s actually the space between the layers that adds warmth (I don’t actually understand all that, but science schmience, am I right?).

Here’s my winter weather recommendations for what to pack for Hallstatt in the winter:

Warm Winter Coat: For those frigid winter days, you’ll really wanna invest in an insulated parka. I’ve got my eye on this North Face parka (I currently wear one from 10+ years ago – it’s about time for a new jacket). Looking for one a bit less expensive? This one’s crazy popular on social media, and with the length and sherpa-lined hood, I can totally see why. However note that it’s only water resistant, not waterproof, so not the best choice for those crazy snowy days.

Packable Puffer Jacket: I wear this one – it’s lightweight and water resistant, plus comes in a bunch of fun colors and the pockets are super deep (perfect for storing your phone). It packs down to almost nothing in the little included pouch – perfect for travel!

Fleece Zip-Up: On those absolutely frigid days when you need a little something between your sweater and warm winter coat, a fleece zip-up (like this Columbia full-zip) will come in handy. There’s a reason it’s got 45k positive reviews!

Base Layers: I’ve been wearing heat tech long sleeve tees ever since I went to Banff in winter a few years back, and they’ve saved me from those frigid temps! They’re super lightweight and perfect to wear under a sweater, and leave you feeling dry and warm without the bulk!

Fleece-lined leggings: I used to layer two pairs of regular leggings, but now that fleece-lined leggings are a thing, I only wear those! They’re just as comfy as regular leggings, but keep your legs staying warm and toasty. I’ve worn these pairs a few times and they’ve been great, and come in a bunch of fun colors! If you’re looking for something to wear under jeans or snow pants, these come highly recommended (although too thin to wear on their own; more like a base layer).

Chapstick: Cold and dry air make your lips susceptible to chapping super easily. Ugh, the worst! I’m low-key obsessed with this cocoa butter swivel stick – it makes your lips so super soft and it smells a tad like chocolate! My favorite! It also works wonders on dry, chapped skin. You’ll wanna reapply multiple times throughout the day.

Power Bank: Batteries die out faster in the cold, so come prepared with a power bank to recharge your stuff on the go. This compact power bank gives up to 10 full charges! I always throw this tiny one in my bag also, just in case, as a backup. My phone is my life-line (especially when traveling solo), so I like to be extra prepared!

Beanies: I’ve got this fleece-lined beanie (pom pom included) in a few colors, and always bring a thick headband along too for when I want to put my hair up.

Warm Gloves: I like to take a few pairs of gloves with me – loving these wool-blend mittens and this pair that’s super lightweight and waterproof (good enough to go skiing in). Trust me, cheapie cotton gloves just ain’t good enough.

Scarves: I tend to bring a few, since they’re so easy to accessorize with! This blanket scarf is one of my faves (a great neutral option that matches everything), and chunky-knit infinity scarves are oh so cozy!

Waterproof Snow Boots: Gotta keep your feet warm and dry and comfy on the cobblestoned streets! And THESE Sorel waterproof boots are easily the best ones out there – they’re 100% waterproof, seam-sealed, and actually look pretty cute (unlike most snow boots out there). I practically lived in them 2 weeks straight and got zero blisters!

Polarized sunglasses: Since the sun reflects off the snow, you’ll need some polarized sunglasses – I’ve been wearing these exact ones for years and I just love ‘em!

Where to Stay in Hallstatt

In Hallstatt Village Itself

Here in Hallstatt, there’s no large resorts, and you definitely won’t find any chain hotels! Most inns are quite simple (more like cozy guesthouses), but you’ll find a few luxury spots over here as well (including where we stayed, haha).

And since the town is so small, basically anywhere you pick will be walking distance to Hallstatt’s main attractions.

Boutique Hotel Strand (adults only): This is where we stayed, and I 100% recommend it! The entire space is super modern, rooms have heated floors (perfect for chilly evenings during winter in Hallstatt), panoramic lake views straight from our balcony, and a little kitchenette which we used for coffee and tea multiple times a day.

There’s only 10 rooms and it’s completely adult only (which we LOVED — so peaceful and calm). Note that Boutique Hotel Strand is a bit further from town, only about a 15 minute walk or so, but felt especially long in the freezing cold weather, haha. Just something to keep in mind.

Other spots we were contemplating were Pension Leopoldine (right near the main square), Heritage Hotel Hallstatt (beautifully restored with historic architecture), and Seehotel Gruner Baum (with lakeside dining). Check out Weisses Lamm and Gasthof Bergfried (with traditional Austrian style) if you’re looking for more budget options.

Across the Lake in Obertraun

While there’s plenty of hotels in Hallstatt, since many are quite small, it’s possible that all will be booked up – especially if you book late. Which can definitely happen in Hallstatt in winter, most likely around Christmas.

If you find yourself in this situation, check out Obertraun, a village in a different area on the lake a short distance away from Hallstatt (not far from the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car, actually). Check out Dormio Resort Obertraun, B&B Simmer, and Haus Salzkammergut.

How to Get around Hallstatt in Winter

Walk: Since Hallstatt is a small village, you can really walk to almost everything you’ll wanna see (like the market square, Hallstatt Museum, and the lakeside promenade) on foot. Many areas are pedestrian only, so you won’t see many cars (especially since the streets are narrow). Always be extra careful of icy paths and wear grippy footwear to avoid slipping! This is winter in Hallstatt we’re talking about!

Bus 543/544: If you’re headed to the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car (more on that later), you’ll wanna take the 543 and 544 bus between the two.

Day Trips to Hallstatt

If all you have time for is a day in Hallstatt, it’s possible to visit from nearby cities (Salzburg, Vienna, Linz, and/or Munich). BUT you’ll be rushing around A LOT and it’ll be hard to take in the dreamy atmosphere of the village.

Plus, midday is when it’s most crowded (yes, even during winter in Hallstatt), so you’ll be wandering the town with all the other tourists.

With this being said, I highly encourage you to at least spend one night in Hallstatt. Over tourism is a huge problem here, and by staying a night and eating a few meals there, you’ll at least be contributing to the local economy. By visiting for only a day (either on a guided day trip or driving yourself), you’re not exactly pumping much money into the local economy.

I don’t say this to deter you from visiting as a day trip, but to remind you to shop local, eat at restaurants in the village (make a reservation in advance), and promise to stay longer next time.

Check out these popular day trip options from nearby spots:

Other FAQs and Info about Hallstatt in the Winter

How long to spend in Hallstatt? We felt 2 full days in Hallstatt during the winter was absolutely perfect. I’d dedicate one day to wandering around town and heading up the Hallstatt skywalk, then the next to the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car.

Day trip vs. Overnight: If you’ve got the time, I HIGHLY recommend staying overnight. A few hours simply isn’t enough to take in the charming atmosphere, plus by being in town early morning and late at night, you’ll be able to wander without all the daytrippers.

Language: The official language in Hallstatt (like elsewhere in Austria) is German, although the local dialect differs a bit from standard German. Most people working in the tourism industry speak a decent amount of English so you shouldn’t have any language barriers.

Currency: The local currency over here is the Euro, but cards are widely accepted (except surprisingly at most restaurants, haha).

Are there ATMS in town? Yup, and you’ll most definitely need euro since all restaurants only take cash.

Days will be relatively short, with approximately 8-10 hours or so of daylight during the winter. In early-January when we visited, the sun rose around 7:45 am and set just before 4:30 pm, giving us about 8.5 hours to fill up our days with all the Hallstatt winter activities we could handle. Also, because of the mountains, there’s not a ton of sunlight – the tall peaks block the sun for a good portion of the day!

The area is VERY touristy. Not that I was super surprised or anything, but the entire town is practically powered by tourism. Even a lot of tourism workers aren’t even from Hallstatt, haha.

Are there any winter sports or activities in Hallstatt? Not in Hallstatt itself, but there’s some excellent ski resorts (for skiing and snowboarding) nearby, including Dachstein and Bad Aussee.

Does the lake freeze in the winter? Nope, and thankfully not because Stefanie the ferry still needs to run in order to take train passengers to town!

Christmas in Hallstatt: Ohhh – what a magical time! Expect twinkling lights, snow-covered Alps, and mulled wine at the Christmas markets. Note that the markets are only held select dates (and before Christmas), so if those are high on your winter Hallstatt bucket list, you’ll need to come beforehand.

New Year’s Eve in Hallstatt is a quieter, more relaxed affair compared to the celebrations in bigger Austrian cities. The village doesn’t have large-scale public events, but there’s some fireworks in the main square and many visitors/locals celebrate in cozy restaurants and guesthouses, enjoying traditional Austrian meals. We were cold (don’t judge, we’re soft after living in California for over a decade), so had a lovely (super-lowkey) night in watching the fireworks from our balcony overlooking the lake.

A note on restaurants in Hallstatt

If you’re not staying at a hotel with a restaurant… you may wanna change your plans, haha. There’s only a handful of actual restaurants/cafes in Hallstatt that are not attached/associated with hotels, and they get busy. Like, busy busy. Hotel restaurants give high priority to those staying at their hotel, which makes sense.

Unfortunately, our hotel wasn’t associated with any, and we thankfully found a family restaurant where we ate at both nights. Yes, the same one – good thing the food was really good!

On that note, make dinner reservations in advance. Remember that all the restaurants are cash only. And thankfully there’s a supermarket in town if you’re really in a pinch and need food, haha.

A note on over tourism in Hallstatt

I couldn’t publish an entire winter in Hallstatt guide without touching upon over-tourism in the region. Unfortunately, like other places around the world (I see you Venice, Cinque Terre, Barcelona, etc), Hallstatt gets beyond packed and packed with tourists. And I get it – Hallstatt is beyond stunning.

In prime summer months, Hallstatt gets as many as 10,000 tourists a day versus the 750-800 local residents. How insane is that?! The residents hate it and I totally see why. It won’t be as crazy crowded during the winter in Hallstatt, but it was still pretty busy over the holidays when we visited.

So please oh please, if you’re visiting (either as a day trip or even overnight), do your absolute best to respect both the residents and the environment. This means keeping your noise level to a minimum (especially in early morning and at night), being careful to properly dispose of your trash, and staying on marked paths to avoid damaging natural areas. Basically, be a good human being.

Things to Do in Hallstatt in Winter

Yes, even in freezing cold Hallstatt winter there’s still tons of things to do in this tiny town.

However, going in the dead of winter means you won’t be able to rent a boat to paddle around the lake, and the Dachstein Ice Caves will be closed. But don’t fret, there’s still lots of things to do in Hallstatt in the winter. Just save some time for cozying up in cafes and sipping on mulled wine and hot chocolate of course!

Viewpoints in Hallstatt

If you’re looking for that postcard view you see on all your socials, head to “Panoramic Viewpoint” on Google Maps. This is the classic view of Hallstatt (the town! the lake! the church!), and unsurprisingly, the spot everyone wants to see (us included of course). So much natural beauty it’s unbelievable.

It does get very crowded (understandably so), so aim to get there early in the morning if you can. We visited a little after sunrise and had the place almost to ourselves for a bit. Just know you can go whenever you’d like since there’s no barrier, but it WILL get busy, busy later on (although never as crowded as during summer, haha).

Remember that locals live here – keep your voices down and be respectful.

Other popular viewpoints are near Seecafe Hallstatt (you get a different perspective across town), in front of Heritage Hotel Hallstatt (near the ferry stop), and at a spot called “Hallstatt viewpoint & church”, which gives you great views of the church, haha. Oh, and of course the Hallstatt Skywalk (more on that below). But you can really just wander around and I promise you’ll find plenty of spots for photos.

Wander Hallstatt Town

You can’t visit Hallstatt in the winter (or anytime, really!) without exploring the cute streets with their quaint houses and traditional shops. Head out in the morning and you’ll find it oh so peaceful and charming – we loved taking a walk on the winding streets and admiring the colorful buildings. Think steeply pitched roofs, wooden balconies with flower boxes, and pastel-colored facades.

As you wander, look out for the little staircases – and go up! You’ll escape the crowds, and find a whole slew of cozy little paths with rustic charm. And of course more views – there’s literally no bad angle of town (I swear, every corner is picture perfect). It’s from up here you’ll undoubtedly see Evangelische Pfarrkirche, one of the most iconic landmarks in town (with its tall bell tower and all).

There’s also the World Heritage Museum of Hallstatt (which showcases the town’s rich history through archaeological finds, interactive displays, and multimedia presentations) and The Bone House (Beinhaus) which is renowned for its collection of over 1,200 skulls. I wasn’t particularly interested in seeing all the bones, but you do you of course!

Stroll Marketplatz

As you’re wandering town, you’ll come across Marketplatz, the main square of Hallstatt.

Since we were visiting around the holidays, there were roasted chestnuts for sale, food stalls selling local sausages and other traditional dishes, and a nativity scene. I especially loved photographing the traditional, colorful 16th-century houses, a beautiful blend of traditional Alpine and Austrian styles. So much character and history!

This is also where you’ll find the Christmas markets in Hallstatt – with traditional music played by the tower musicians and the life-size wooden nativity display. Plus traditional food and drink, mugs full of mulled wine and punch, and plenty of traditional crafts and great christmas tree decorations. The markets are typically held only one day per year (early December), so we unfortunately missed them by a few weeks!

Hang by the lake

Hallstatt is perched right on Hallstatter See, and the fact that it’s surrounded by towering mountains makes it oh so picturesque. Since our hotel was ~15 minutes from town, we ended up walking by the lake a whole slew of times. And of course taking way too many photos, haha.

Don’t leave without saying hello to the resident swans! They definitely add a touch of grace and magic to Hallstatt, especially in winter. While they’re friendly and (mostly) accustomed to visitors, please don’t feed them – doing so can disrupt their natural diet and behavior. We love wildlife over here so just leave them be and admire them from afar.

Dachstein Krippenstein Cable Car

Dachstein Krippenstein is a popular mountain area in the Dachstein region of Austria, only a few minutes away from Hallstatt. Expect snowy panoramic views of the Dachstein mountains and the surrounding landscape – all easily accessed via cable car!

Hardly anything I read about winter in Hallstatt (or even Hallstatt in general) mentioned Dachstein Krippenstein. Why?! I have no clue — it was by far the best thing we did in Hallstatt, haha. It didn’t hurt that we had nearly perfect conditions and were desperately wishing for some snow. Find the official website here with cable car schedules and pricing.

The Krippenstein cable car takes visitors from the valley up to the mountain area. And once you make it up the cable car, there’s plenty to keep you busy. We opted to do some winter hiking on the Five Fingers snowshoe trail, but there’s also skiing and panoramic views.

The cable car makes three stops on its way up the mountain:

Stop 1: giant ice cave (closed in winter)
Stop 2: skiing and trails to Five Fingers and Dachstein Shark
Stop 3: panoramic views and longer hiking trails

At stop 2, there’s three signposted and groomed snowshoe winter hiking trails.

Trail No. 1: World Heritage Spiral (easy, ~30 minutes round trip)
Trail No. 2: Five Fingers (easy, ~1 hour round trip)
Trail No. 3: Dachstein Shark (easy to moderate, ~2.5 roundtrip)

As noted above, we chose to hike to Five Fingers. We actually passed by the World Heritage spiral (Welterbespirale) on our walk to the Five Fingers, which we weren’t expecting!

And wow oh wow, our entire walk was absolutely GORGEOUS. We were so high up in the Austrian Alps and snowshoeing right on the mountain – views were outta this world. I could’ve cried, it was so gorgeous. DO NOT MISS THIS ON YOUR WINTER TRIP TO HALLSTATT.

Note that we actually walked to Five Fingers without snowshoes and were totally fine in snow boots (it was kinda slippery though…), but you can rent snowshoes as part of your cable car ticket if you’d like.

How to get here: From Hallstatt, take the 543 bus (Obertraun Dachsteinseilbahn) from Hallstatt Lahn, the place where the main bus and supermarket are found. Bus tickets are inexpensive, less than €3 pp each way, and the drive takes about 15 minutes. Plan to take the 544 bus route back.

Give yourself at least half a day on the mountain, and longer if you wanna ski/walk all the way to the Dachstein shark.

Hallstatt Skywalk

If you don’t have time to head to Dachstein Krippenstein (sad face), at least head up the funicular to the Hallstatt Skywalk. This alpine viewing platform is one of my favorite things we did during our time in Hallstatt during winter – I mean, the views!!!

We had to wait a bit for the clouds to clear, but when they did, OMFG! The views were absolutely incredible – but it was a tad anxiety-inducing walking out over the lake (and man was it slippery)!

If it’s not too chilly out, you can have an authentic Austrian meal (or some hot cocoa) at Restaurant Rudolfsturm. Schnitzel and goulash, anyone?! It’s the only restaurant available at the Hallstatt Skywalk, so expect prices to be a bit inflated.

Note that the funicular to Hallstatt Skywalk is closed on holidays and a few weeks in January. Double check the official website for opening hours. While you can actually walk up in about 45 minutes if the funicular isn’t working, I doubt you’ll wanna do that if you’re visiting Hallstatt in winter like we were. Plus, I’m not even sure if the path is open since I doubt it’s very safe once its covered in snow and ice.

Salt Mine (Salzwelten Hallstatt)

From the skywalk you can walk to Hallstatt’s historic Salt Mine (known as Salzwelten Hallstatt), which is actually one of the oldest in the world with a history that stretches back over 7,000 years.

And once inside, you’ll be guided through a series of tunnels, learn about the ancient methods of salt extraction, and even head down a wooden slide that whisks you deeper into the mine, just like the old-school miners did. You also get to don sexy white salt suits, so there’s that! Plus a visit to an underground salt lake.

This is one of the most popular things to do in town, but if you’re visiting Hallstatt in winter, there’ll definitely be way fewer crowds. We actually decided to skip it because we were unfortunately super short on time (we were headed to Bruges next!), but checked out the gift shop of course, haha.

What to Eat in Hallstatt During the Winter

In general, Austrian cuisine is all about hearty, comforting dishes – just what you need to tackle the cold. Don’t leave Hallstatt without trying a few of these:

Austrian Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel): A classic Austrian dessert – a warm, flaky pastry filled with spiced apples, raisins, and sometimes nuts is oh so perfect for a winter treat. Ask for a dusting of powdered sugar and a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla sauce.

Wiener Schnitzel: This iconic Austrian dish is a must-try (and what we ate every night for dinner, haha). It’s a breaded and fried veal (or pork) cutlet, typically served with a side of potato salad, lingonberry jam, and a wedge of lemon. Super hearty and perfect for the cold.

Käsespätzle: Austria’s version of mac and cheese (!!!), with soft egg noodles (spätzle) mixed with melted cheese and topped with crispy onions. Rich and comforting!

Goulash: A thick, flavorful stew made with beef, potatoes, and paprika, and it’s super filling and super popular in the region. It’s often served with dumplings or crusty bread to soak up the savory sauce.

Schaumrollen: My new favorite thing from Austria — it’s basically a cone of puff pastry filled with meringue. We stopped by Rührwerk Hallstatt Ofenfrische Schaumrollen a few too many times because I couldn’t get enough of them, haha. Beware, they’re very sweet!

Zirbenschnaps: Not a dish, but a drink! Zirbenschnaps are schnapps made from pinecones, and is a local specialty in Hallstatt. It’s a warming drink with a distinct piney flavor.

Chestnuts and Mulled Wine (Glühwein): If you visit around the Christmas season like we were, definitely enjoy some roasted chestnuts and plenty of mulled wine (sweet and spiced) from one of the local Christmas markets or stalls.

Example Hallstatt Winter Itinerary

With two full days in Hallstatt during the winter, here’s how I would structure my days:

Day 1: Viewpoints around Hallstatt in the early AM, Hallstatt skywalk (plus optional salt mine), wander around town, walk along lake (swans!)
Day 2: Cable car to Dachstein Krippenstein, snowshoe to either the Five Fingers or Dachstein Shark, wander around town

Hope that helps you plan the ultimate trip to Hallstatt in the winter! Are you headed off to Austria anytime soon?!