City cards: the Austrian Hallstatt as a magnet for tourists

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Tourism

Despite its expensiveness, Austria attracts tourists from all over the world like a magnet. It is not surprising, because in such a small area could fit a surprising nature, exquisite architecture and a stormy life. This time UNIAN.Tourism will tell about the small town of Hallstatt, perhaps, a tourist spot Austria.

The same photo Hallstatt, for which go here every year nearly one million tourists / Photo Marina.

Last summer I was able to be held in Austria a week and a half, and during that time I tried to get the most diverse tourist experiences. Now it’s time to share received on a private experience knowledge. Moreover, now is the time to start planning your summer adventure. And, believe me, Austria is not only expensive ski resorts, where to go in the winter season. In summer, this mountainous country is also able to give incredible emotions and bright impressions.

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So, we have already talked about all the delights of travel in Austria by train, and reminisced about one of the biggest music festivals of the country – FM4 Frequency Festival. Now came the turn to the tiny town of Hallstatt in Upper Austria – a Paradise in the middle of the rocks on the shore of the lake, which is almost the most popular tourist destination in the country.

Why is everyone so eager to get to Hallstatt
The train ride to Hallstatt as if preparing to meet a beautiful /

Requests for places in Austria Google regularly gives the same picture of a small Gothic Cathedral on the background of mountains and lake in the tiny municipality of Hallstatt (Hallstatt). This place really looks magical, but because of the crowds of tourists from all over the world come here daily for one photo. Even on Google maps specially marked classic photo point – from that perspective it turns out to do the frame with a recognizable Lutheran Church Lutheran Church Hallstatt.

Lutheran Church in Hallstatt (Hallstatt Lutheran Church) / Photo Marina.

Of course, I’m part of his tour of of Austria decided to look back: to walk so to walk. I didn’t plan for a long time to drive into Hallstatt, rather selecting it as a staging point “for show” on the way from Graz to Salzburg. Still the direct train was not and would have to do somewhere along the way the transplant.

Hallstatt is a small China

Hallstatt is tiny, with a population of 778 people visited annually 700-900 thousand tourists. But because a quiet and cozy this Paradise is just for the picture. It is worth to go ashore, you are immediately picks up the endless stream of tourists.

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It has everything: tourists from German-speaking countries and visitors from neighboring Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, and always visible to tourists from the former Soviet Union, as well as guests from quite distant America and Australia.

But most of the tourists from China and other Asian countries, noisy groups running from one photo point to another with a huge suitcase at the ready and under umbrellas. The Chinese are so fond of Hallstatt, in 2012 even built his full-scale copy, which aroused the righteous anger of the Austrians.

Not everyone in Hallstatt welcome visitors / Photo Marina.

Nevertheless, a copy of Hallstatt in China does not discourage their desire to visit the original. Daily city stormed the trains of tourist buses in the foreseeable future, the local authorities still decided to fight. The town is deservedly included in 1997 in the world heritage list of UNESCO, in our days fell victim to the so-called overtourism, when a tourist site just can’t cope with the flow of tourists. But because already in the autumn of 2020 tour buses can drive to Hallstatt only by special arrangement with local tour operators in limited quantities and only in a certain period of time.

In General, if you expected to safely enjoy this picturesque place, you have nothing. At least if you go there during the day and under public transport timetables, and even in the top season. Although if you examine the availability in local hotels – top-season there all year round. And still – early in the morning or late in the evening, when the city did not drive trains and tourist buses may be given a chance to enjoy this Paradise.

Paradise Hallstatt in the Austrian mountains / Photo Marina.

However, despite such public interest, it is unlikely that many of the guests of the town as well as much interested in its history. But actually she is quite rich.

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Let’s start with the fact that this settlement with its surroundings gave the name to the whole ancient culture – the Hallstatt relating to 400-900 years before our era. It is in the vicinity Allstarscape burial ground, located near Hallstatt, there are large deposits of salt, which has been developed already in the early iron age. For centuries, the salt trade was the main activity in this area, in our days the palm was too much tourism.

Hallstatt is a town that lives primarily from tourism, and, obviously, the local has long been resigned to this state of Affairs. It seems that all the local population are employed in industries related to the reception of guests – transportation, accommodation, meals, excursions, Souvenirs, shops.

Market square in Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

Just got a boat and once you get to the Central market square Hallstatt Marktplatz, where along the promenade there are a lot of restaurants, cafes, shops, souvenir shops and other points useful to tourists. So that hunger will not die, no information will remain.

Personally, I recommend a look in a small shop, cafe Fischerei Ausseerland, where you can eat incredibly tasty fish sandwiches or buy fish products with them as a souvenir. For example, I tried a wonderful sandwich with smoked salmon with pumpkin seeds and grated horseradish.

Snack Fischerei in the Ausseerland in Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

By the way, fish in Hallstatt serves quite a lot, because fishing here is a popular fishery. However, prices for fish products in the town considerable, given that they are focused solely on tourists.

How to get to Hallstatt by yourself

Austria is predominantly a mountainous country, but because the road is often quite specific. After all, overcoming a fairly small distance in fact it takes much more time because the transport it takes a lot of dodging.

The train ride to Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

Many tourists reach Hallstatt as part of organised tour groups on buses – whether it’s a tour from the category of “crossing Europe”, whether the tour is designed to Hallstatt from other Austrian cities.

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Part of the travelers get here by cars, and this is perhaps one of the most advantageous options. Indeed, in this case you can choose the best time to visit the town, when there is not so many tourists, successfully slipped between the arrival of public transport in the city. But, alas, available this method is not for everyone. Despite the fact that take vehicles on hire in Europe, a tourist from another country is not easy.

We also consider the option of independent travel to Hallstatt by train, which you can reach most of the cities of Austria. For example, with one change – from Graz, Salzburg, Linz. In this case, the ticket will cost about 9 Euro when booking in advance, and the road will take about 2 hours. If you drive from Vienna or Innsbruck on the way to one end will take about 4 hours, the ticket will cost from 19 euros and will have to do a minimum of 2 changes. Well, if you go to Hallstatt from small towns inside Upper Austria, on the road will take no more than half an hour and the ticket costs about 5 euros.

In Upper Austria the rocky mountains alternate with lush forests, / Photos Marina.

Better to buy tickets in advance on the website of the Austrian Railways. First, for two months, the tickets are cheaper closer to the date. Second, during a special influx of tourists all tickets can simply snap up. Thirdly, not all smaller stations Austria have the cash or even terminals ticket (as controllers in cars have always).

Usually the train station Hallstatt with its only one way fully loaded with tourists, but take the train anyway, quite real. Though sometimes come across tourists who are just running to take the train by storm.

The Hallstatt station is always the hype / Photo Marina.

I was driving from Graz, and to get to Hallstatt, I needed to do a transplant. And here I was waiting for the first “surprise”. Contrary to popular belief, that there is in Europe all of them on schedule, just as these punctual countries like Austria or Germany, with the trains is quite often not working. At the same time, usually when searching for a ticket from point A to point B the program calculates you the best option of a transplant, sometimes leaving you on the dock for 10-15 minutes. Quite often everything goes smoothly, however, the experience of independent travel in these countries have taught me that better to make clearance for a transplant more – half an hour, buying two separate tickets.

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In the case of Hallstatt I decided to take a risk, by agreeing to the proposed site of the Austrian Railways trains in 5 minutes in the tiny town of Steinach (Stainach-Irdning Bahnhof). I had hoped for Austrian punctuality. And on the local railway station just two ways, and therefore, logically, 5 minutes is should be enough to jump from one train to another.

Stuck in stanage for a couple of hours so his fun doesn’t work, and won’t get very far / Photo Marina.

But in the end I’m stuck here for an hour and a half in 35-degree heat under the blazing sun. Due to some sudden overlap in the schedule of movement of trains in the country our was 20 minutes late, and, of course, a transplant was ignored. As a rule, in Austria, the trains pass through the station quite often, but it still applies to the bigger cities.

From the positive moments – in case you are late for a transplant through no fault of the passenger, and because of the delay of the previous train following the same route, you can sit on the old ticket. Anyway, to get to the final destination, the chances are quite high, but don’t always have the time or desire to hang around somewhere at the station an extra hour or two when waiting in front of so many adventures.

Station Steinach on the way to Hallstatt is often used for transplant / Photo Marina.

And still itself Steinach pretty cute. Right on top of railway tracks with amazing views of snow-white salt mountains. Even in summer it looks like they are in the snow. However, two hours in this town to do absolutely nothing, he seemed to have died. At the local train station on the day of my trip had never worked dispatch, no cafe, no shop. The only slot machine with drinks and snacks and gave us hope.

Steinach is a town is quite small and almost deserted / Photo Marina.

Also right at the railway station there is a map with the tourist routes in the mountains. However, it is appropriate, if you come to the Stein for the day and more. For a couple of hours here in the mountain does not fall.

Tourist route through the mountains near Steinach hanging directly at the station / Photo Marina.

I tried to take a little walk into town, but half an hour I saw only a few people, and those with a high probability were passengers stuck here for a transplant. No cafe or shop near the station I also found. And only corn fields around, as if hit in the scenery for the film “children of the corn”.

In the mountains near Steinach should go, but here you need to go longer / Photo Marina.

In the end, prokonessos hour around the neighborhood with a camera and bought hemp tea machine from Switzerland, I successfully got on the next passing through a city train and ended up in Hallstatt, at least and hour and a half late. More on the way from Hallstatt to Stainach I could not restrain delight – mountains, forests, rivers, old buildings. Yes, Austria is just made for travel by train.

Water crossing to Hallstatt

To take the train to Hallstatt is only half the story, the town still needs to get. In fact the train station Hallstatt Bahnhof belongs to the municipality of Obertraun (Obertraun), which is located across lake Hallstatt. While Hallstatt still need to sail on a special boat.

The Hallstatt station across the lake / Photo Marina.

It should be noted that the schedule of this ship is clearly adapted to the movement of trains through the local station. Moreover, if the train a little late, the boat waits patiently for passengers. To go from the railway station to the pier just 80 metres away in a straight line, because the team clearly sees, when comes the train, and when passengers “end”. Navigate here very easy, just go where all go.

To get to Hallstatt, first you need to swim across lake Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

Basically, the boat transports tourists exactly, and most people just buy the ticket “there-back” when landing on the Board. At the beginning of 2019 is the single ticket 3 euros. If you buy immediately and reverse – it will not be bound by time to return.

Fit on this boat about a hundred people, and in a way it is only 5 minutes. The trip flies by in an instant, especially for it people take photos of the amazing views of the mountains from almost all sides surrounding the lake.

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By the way, is not the only “water” route across the lake. Here you can also order two “loop” trip South for 50 minutes for 12 euros and North on 80 minutes for 15 euros. For those who want to swim all the routes – there is a wholesale offer. Daily ticket for 22 euros you can use all the local water routes for an unlimited number of times during the day. Local ferry allowed passengers with bicycles, however, for your “transportation” will have to pay from 2.7 to 5.5 euros.

In Hallstatt are several water tours / Photo Marina.

In addition to daily routes, the local ferry station periodically offers thematic trips. You can even order a wedding ceremony. All the information about the local ferry station can be found at the link available and English version.

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If you believe Google maps of Obertraun to Hallstatt you can also walk around the mountain – about 6 miles. However, given the characteristics of the local mountainous, forested landscape, it’s better not to rely on this option if you are not among the connoisseur of the area – there is a risk to get lost in the woods and eventually get to your destination. Yeah and who knows how many will have to go really.

Where to stay in Hallstatt

Although Hallstatt is a very popular place among tourists to stay overnight directly to him is almost impossible. The fact is that due to its location in a remote mountainous area between the cliffs and the lake, available land for construction is almost there, and all the available plots have long been occupied by residential buildings, objects for the sustenance of the commune and the tourist objects.

In Hallstatt very dense buildings due to the lack of suitable land / Photo Marina.

Moreover, vacant land in Hallstatt so little that at one time there even was no place to bury people. And the way out of local found quite original. Every 20-30 years the bones of the dead were pulled from the earth, cleaned, bleached and painted – the data about the name, profession and date of death of its “owner”, as well as patterns of flowers, oak leaves and branches of ivy. After that, the remains were put on public display in the chapel of the main parish Church of the assumption of the virgin (Pfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt). Well, the place of the dead buried new.

In Hallstatt so little land that there is almost nowhere to bury people / Photos Marina.

The tradition began in the 16th century and lasted until the 1980-ies, while the townspeople are not “switched” for the cremation. Last exhibited in the chapel of the skull dates from 1981. However, locals still have the right to insert in his will the wish to put their bones in the chapel closer to the ancestors, after all, so in Hallstatt buried for generations.

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Not difficult to guess that accommodation for tourists in the town is not particularly built, but because the options are not so much. So, at the end of March on popular services for booking accommodation in the town available a total of 17 proposals of accommodation, the cheapest of which costs about 3 thousand hryvnia per night and most expensive – more than 12 thousand hryvnia. As a rule, apartments or houses for 1-3 persons. Yes, the proposal is not cheap. But if you really want to Wake up in the morning overlooking the picturesque Hallstatt or to give someone special a journey, it’s worth it.

Narrow streets in Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

However, if you travel to Hallstatt in the summer, and even if, it is possible to stay overnight in a tent in the vicinity of the commune. Would be a little extreme, but for free. And how romantic!

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If you want to live in the camp but more or less civilized and orderly, for these purposes in Hallstatt a Campinplatz Klausner-Höll Hallstatt in. It is located just a kilometre from the city centre and is open from 15 April to 15 October. It’s not exactly wild camping, as it is situated around a private household with apartments, restaurant and a guest house. But because the hotel has access to all the minimum benefits of civilization – toilets, shower, Laundry, kitchen with refrigerator and microwave, Internet, cable TV, small shop, bar, relaxation areas and more.

But, of course, all this is not free – daily input rate to go camping for one adult will cost 11,20 euros, the installation of the tent is 6€, Parking for car at night – from 6 EUR, part of additional paid services, there are package deals for a few nights with a certain set of services from 60 euros for two. Given the hype – a place in the camp must be booked in advance. All information about the living conditions in the camp, tariffs and contacts for booking are available here.

Hallstatt is annually visited by nearly one million tourists / Photo Marina.

Those who are not determined to live in the camp, but not willing much to spend, so do not despair. Because in small towns about 10 kilometers from Hallstatt available more than two hundred offers, including at very affordable prices.

For example, in the municipality of bad Goisern (Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee) 9 kilometers from Hallstatt quite possible to book a place in the dormitory room for 600 hryvnia per night. This town significantly more Hallstatt (home to almost 7.5 thousand people), and therefore the infrastructure is more developed. Drive from bad Goisern to Hallstatt is only 10-15 minutes by train and costs about 4,5 euros.

The town of bad Goisern popular place for overnight stays on the way to Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

In addition, you can stay in the municipality of Obertraun (Obertraun), which is on the other side of lake Hallstatt, less than 4 kilometers from the ferry terminal. Or in the municipality of Gosau (Gosau) , 13 kilometers from Hallstatt, on the same side. Every hour from Gosau to Hallstatt bus 542, a journey time of about 15 minutes.

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Also in this area a lot for rent separate apartments and guest houses for the price of 2 thousand hryvnias that can accommodate a couple, family or small company. However, given the popularity of the area, places worth caring about in advance, because even at the end of March most of the more or less best deals already booked. Proposals for the summer the situation is even worse.

View of Traunkirchen 40 km from Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

Another alternative to Hallstatt – municipality of Traunkirchen (Traunkirchen) 40 kilometers away, which can be easily reached by train without a transplant. Traunkirchen is approximately two times more Hallstatt, and housing prices here start from about 1600 UAH per day for one person. However, with free sites the situation is quite complicated. Well, the beauty of the place is not inferior to Hallstatt, except that less hyped. In fact Traunkirchen is also located at the foot of the rocks on the shore of a huge lake Traun. So, if you have time and inspiration, you can cover for the trip both places.

What to do in Hallstatt

We’ve already figured out how to get to Hallstatt and where it is possible to stop for the night, now it’s finally time to find out what there is to see and do. No wonder this town attracts so many tourists.

Picturesque Hallstatt (Hallstatt) / Photo Marina.

To start with, Hallstatt have a pretty informative website for tourists with an English version where you can get absolutely all necessary information about relevant events in the municipality; local attractions; find housing; find local restaurants; book a guided tour of Hallstatt and surrounding areas; to obtain a tourist card, which will help to save money, and so on. There’s even a list of points with free wi-fi! In addition, the site has links to the websites of neighboring municipalities, where you can stay – bad Goisern, Gosau, Obertraun and the guest house Im Salzkammergut.

The road to the point for the “classic photo” Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

Given the size of Hallstatt and local problems with the ground, it becomes clear that the entertainment here is not much. Mainly visitors to the town walking through the narrow streets, take pictures, look into local churches and museums, boating, swimming in the lake, go to mountains, go for a leisurely bike ride and, of course, eat.

Church of the assumption of the virgin Mary in Allstate (Pfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt) / Photo Marina.

It should be noted that with the limited territorial resources of Hallstatt is trying to diversify the leisure of their guests. In the winter, for example, offer to go skiing, go on a torchlight tour or dog sledding.

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In the summer especially popular skiing on the lake – as in the group tour boats and rental boat, boat or catamaran. Prices start from 8 Euro for half an hour, depending on vehicle categories. Renting of water transport in Hallstatt is open from 1 April to 30 September, and its base is located in the center of town on promenade Auf der Seestraße. All information about water transport rental Allstate can be found on the link. By the way, there are contacts where you can pre-book yourself craft. It can help you, if you go to Hallstatt in the top season.

Boat station in Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

Also in the summer you can climb to the observation deck on the mountain Welterbeblick Salzberg, offering stunning views. Along the way you can drop by at the local salt mine – the oldest in the world.

Hallstattian lake / Photo by Marina Grigorenko

If suddenly on the day of your arrival in Hallstatt will be rainy weather, do not despair. Then you can look at the local Museum Welterbemuseum Das von Hallstatt, the vault of bones Beinhaus Hallstatt, local forge Schauschmiede in Bad Aussee, at the archaeological site Archäologische Ausgrabungen in Hallstatt, and, of course, in the local Church – Pfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt and Hallstatt Lutheran Church. Read more about what to do in Hallstatt in rainy weather, you can find the link.

Center Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

For lovers of active holidays in Hallstatt and its surroundings are also many options for leisure activities: Hiking, Biking, climbing, rafting, paragliding, skiing, horseback riding and more. You can rent all the necessary equipment. You can learn more at the link.

In Hallstatt very popular boating on the lake / Photo Marina.

If you can hit the town for some local holiday – you can still participate in the festivities. For example, for almost 400 years during the summer there are boat parade Fronleichnams Seeprozession, in 2019, it falls on June 20. On this day the water comes down a lot of wooden boats decorated with flowers. The festival is associated with the Catholic Feast of the Body and blood of Christ, who decided to arrange a solemn procession with the blessed sacrament around the Church or on city streets. And because Allstate problems with the land, the local procession in 1623, moved to the water.

Hallstattian swans on the lake in Hallstatt / Photo Marina.

***

By far, Hallstatt – fun is not cheap, especially if you go there for a few days. But perhaps this is one of those hyped places in Europe where it really should go at least once in life – at least for a couple of hours, at least for a few days, as time allows, and budget. In any case, fabulous memories guaranteed. Here I am now, going through photos from Hallstatt for publication, thinking: how nice it would be to go back.

Marina Grigorenko

City cards: the Austrian Hallstatt as a magnet for tourists

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