Oldie but a goldie, Hallstatt

It’s me back again with another tasty post. This time it’s big. Last Tuesday we left our new home Graz to go adventure in other parts of Austria. In the evening we took a train to Salzburg and stayed at a nice Airbnb apartment that served as our headquarters for out visit. Before entering deeper into Salzburg, on Wednesday we headed to small town called Hallstatt. Hallstatt is hailed as the oldest town in Austria and the most beautiful. Boy they were not wrong.

The train ride to Hallstatt was already such a joy as the train chucked along different valleys among the snow topped alps. The weather was also perfect. There was not a cloud in the sky, and it was close to summer temperatures in the sunlight, in the shadow it still was cold so that is why the winter cloaks were handy. 

Sights from the train

 

Once we got to the lake where Hallstatt is, we had to cross it with a small ferry to get to the small town. I am not great with words to describe how something is peaceful or beautiful, but Hallstatt was a joy to be in and to experience. The little town is nestled among the steep mountains and a clear water mountain lake. I told Anne when we were there that this would be a nice place to retire when the time comes. I usually don’t think about something like that, but I felt at ease and calm there. And you could spend years staring at the mountain cliffs and forests and just pondering the meaning of life. 

One of the main attractions in Hallstatt is an old salt mine turned into a museum. Unfortunately, with it being winter here it was not open yet, but that didn’t bother us. It was just more fun to be outside anyways. There were not major spots of attraction in the town, a few old churches, cafes and souvenir shops. The biggest thing there was 350 meters above the city. Hallstatt is already around 500 meters from sea level and on top of it is a viewpoint named Skywalk, and WAU the views from up there, just jaw dropping. Only negative about it, I have to say that the locals know how to cash in on the tourists as the funicular to the top costs almost 20 euros per person. The view tho was worth it. I am not good with heights, so I did not dare too far into the platform as many of the other tourists there, but still even without going to the ledge I really enjoyed it. I think that is about enough of me gushing about the place. Go ahead and look at the many many pictures and add Hallstatt to your plan if you are ever intending to visit Austria.

View of Hallstatt from the train station across the lake

Pretty little town

Pleasure just chillin and looking around

Pretty little church right at the shore of the lake

Funicular train track taking people up the hill

Sights from the top were magnificent

Panorama Anne made from the top

There was not a ton of other tourists around, but some

I'm not good with heights, but i dared to go to the edge for a picture

Still pretty after the sun sets behind the mountains

Church were free and pretty on the inside

Fresh Alpine water

Not a bad view to enjoy some refreshments

Found someone else spending their winter in Austria

Getting dark and getting ready to head back to Salzburg