Rick Steves' Europe: Hallstatt, Austria

When Austrians want to enjoy the great outdoors, they head for a region of forested slopes, beckoning trails—and great fishing

  • By Rick Steves
  • Smithsonian.com, May 01, 2010
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Swan Hallstatter See Austria Hallstatt Austria Plaette boat Hallstaetter See Lake Marktplatz Hallstatt Austria Hallstatt Austria map
Swan Hallstatter See Austria

(Pegaz / Alamy)


The town of Hallstatt—one of Europe’s oldest, going back centuries before Christ—is Salzkammergut’s pride: an alpine Oz.

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Comments (2)

I, too, agree with Rick Steve's. The trip into and from Hallstatt is gorgeous. The area is so serene, and the people are so warm and friendly. When I took my sister and brothero-in-law there two years ago, the were enamored with it all. The proximity to Salzburg and the music and culture it has to offer make this a tremendous place to go. I found out about this place from Frau Brochsner, who lives in Wals, Osterreich. Take the time to go there. There is good cheap lodgin in Eugendorf, too. If you want culture, natural beauty, good cuisine, etc., be sure to come here.

Hallstatt is my favorite village in all of Europe! There is much there for being so small -- a beautiful lake with buildings hanging out over it; bones from the ages in a small chapel, complete with decorated skulls; a salt mine and an ice cave to tour; fantastic fish dinners; an archaelogical dig downstairs in a store -- and a friendly, happy people who invite you in. I now own a painting by Ruth Bader Barr of the town that is much like the village photo -- and it greets me every morning to take me back to a wonderful experience!

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