Tips for Hallstatt
Activities in Hallstatt
Boating trips with electric boats and rowboats.
One of the boat rentals is located at the Seestraße on the way to the center, another one near the catholic church at the dock (open from may to the end of october).
Hiking to the Waldbachstrub Waterfalls.
Walk to the end of the valley behind the loft. You can’t miss it. Check out the signs.
If this trip felt too short, you can continue to the Salzberg over the “Gangsteig” and from there back to Hallstatt. Or you take the funicular back to the valley. There are two paths, one over the serpentines down the Salzberg (the path left of the funicular station) or you pass “Hell” (the way left from the steps to Rudolfsturm – which is more spectacular).
Hiking in the area
Obertraun – Five Fingers.
Take the Dachstein Funicular (Cable Car) from Obertraun to the summit (Krippenstein). From there a path leads to the Five Fingers. The viewing platform provides a sensational view above the area.
There are many paths and walkways starting from the Krippenstein, including a high alpine path to the Dachstein summit (We recommend to spend the night in the mountain cabin “Simonyhütte”.
Altaussee – Hiking around the lake. Start at the church (left lakeside). You get to the lake meadow where you find the „Jagdhaus Seewiese” which provides excellent dining and drinking. On the way back via the other side of the lake you get to one of my favourite restaurants, the „Strandcafe” with its very nice patrons Kathi and Peter Beuchel. Food and drinks are excellent, too.
Foto: Rudi Knoll
Gosau – Lake Gosau. Drive to the end of Gosau where you reach the lake. Here you enjoy a wonderful view of the Gosau Dachstein glacier. You can hike around Lake Gossau or continue to the rear lake of Gosau. This lake can only be reached on foot. Near the lake Gosau you also find the cable car station from where you can take a ride to the „Zwieselalm” a vast hiking area.
On the Plassen. A tour from Hallstatt to the Plassen can be described as an alpine day trip. This mountain is behind the Salzberg. So starting from Hallstatt you pass the Salzberg and then continue to the Plassen.
Information about the climbing routes
For beginners I can only recommend the climbing route in Gosau, directly at the Lake Gosau (see image).
More climbing routes for advanced climbers are directly in Hallstatt and the surrounding ares (the Seewand-route is only recommended for strong and skilled persons. The Sissi-climbing-route should also be tried only by experienced climbers.
Equipment can be rented at „Janu – Sport 2000″ in Hallstatt.
There are two companies that let you book organised climbing tours:
Laserer alpin OG in Gosau
Outdoor Leadership (Heli Putz) in Bad Goisern, also for Tandem-Paragliding from the Krippenstein.
Biking
There are two bike rental shops:
Bikes for you
4822 Bad Goisern, Gschwandt 62, Tel +43 699 11370313
Seecafe Obertraun
4831 Obertraun 301, Tel +43 650 6177165
More about mountain-biking in the region:
Mountainbiken im Salzkammergut
Montainbike-Touren
Winter Sports
Rent ski and skiing-boots at „Janu – Sport 2000“. You find it right near the funicular station in Obertraun.
Take the funicular from Obertraun to the Krippenstein to reach the starting point of a 11 km long slope. It is also a great place for snow-shoe walking.
The Krippenstein is also well known for its free ride areas.
You can find more places for skiing in Gosau (Dachstein West) and Altaussee (Loser).
Bad Weather
Visit the salt mines on the Salzbergwerk in Hallstatt or in Altaussee (different themes are on display).
Visit the ice caves or Mammoth caves in Obertraun. Take the Dachsteinbahn funicular from Obertraun to the middle station “Schönbergalm”.
Visit the thermal bath in Bad Ischl
or the Narzissenbad in Bad Aussee
Restaurants
Unfortunately I really cannot recommend any restaurants in the Hallstatt village.
Instead I would recommend to visit the „Koppenrast“ in Obertraun and the „Steegwirt” in Steg, also the „Seerauzn“ while making a biking or hiking tour around the Hallstatt lake.
And of course the already mentioned places at the Altausseersee: „Jagdhaus-Seewiese“ und „Strandcafe“.
You should make a reservation in advance.