1 Magical Day in Hallstatt: How To Avoid The Crowds

In terms of getting to Hallstatt, you have a flurry of transportation options: rental car, shuttle bus, tour provider and public transportation. Of these, however, if you want to avoid the crowds, the best option is to go the route that most tourists don’t take and rent a car.

To max out your time in town, I recommend leaving the night before from nearby Salzburg (1.5 hours away) or Vienna (3 hours away). Most visitors arrive on large buses around mid-morning each day, so by arriving at night, you’ll not only avoid parking and traffic difficulties, but also have a few hours in the evening and morning to explore without the usual crowds.

Worried about parking?

Hallstatt is a car-free village, but has a few visitor lots located just outside the center of town. They’re relatively easy to spot from the main road, and, if you’re planning a stay in the city center, luxury hotels like Seehotel Grüner Baum offer complimentary shuttle service from the main car park.

Located in the middle of the village’s main square and just off of the lake, Seehotel Grüner Baum offers the most central location in all of Hallstatt – the perfect spot for anyone looking to make the most of their time.

With historic architecture, spacious rooms, scenic lake views and responsive customer service, the hotel is a luxurious locale for anyone wanting to quickly escape the modern crowds in the city center.

And, if you’re driving to Hallstatt, the hotel offers guests complimentary door-to-door service. Simply park your rental car at the P1 car park and enjoy an easy pick-up and drop-off so you won’t have to fight your way through any lingering crowds with a heavy suitcase or backpack.

avoiding the crowds in hallstatt, austria

Early Morning: Explore the main square and famous viewpoint

After exploring the sleepy village, walk a little further down the path by the lake until you arrive at the famous viewpoint. Because it’s literally a viewpoint, it’s not too difficult to get photos without others in them or without waiting too long to nab a spot. That said, this is still definitely a place you want to get to before the inevitable crowds come, so you can max your time exploring instead of waiting for your chance at a photo.

One of the most unique activities Hallstatt offers is a self-driven boat ride on the lake. It also happens to be the perfect way to keep Hallstatt’s Disney-esque magic alive as the inevitable hoards of tour buses arrive for the day.

While most of these daytrippers head straight to the Instagram-famous viewpoint, crowding the main square and charming streets along the way, head toward the lake so you can bask in all the glorious space and peaceful views.

avoiding the crowds in hallstatt, austria

After Lunch: Take the Funicular to Hallstatt’s Skywalk

At this time of day, it is almost quite impossible to explore Hallstatt without bumping into other tourists, but there are still a few spots to see that are less crowded than others. My recommendation is the Hallstatt Skywalk “Welterbeblick” Aussichtsplattform.

Located on the mountain directly above the town, the Skywalk looks out on the village and lake below. Because of it’s triangular shape and advantageous location, it’s easy to enjoy another spectacular, but less crowded view of the town and even nab some more photos without anyone else in your picture.

To get there, you’ll need to pay to ride the Hallstatt funicular up the mountain. The fee for the ride is relatively small though and definitely worth it. Also, at the top? The entrance to the salt mines and an area with picnic tables, in case you have any leftover snacks or treats you want to enjoy from the view above town.

avoiding the crowds in hallstatt, austria

Late Afternoon: Visit the Bone Church

While other tourists pack up for the day, head over St. Michael’s Chapel, home to Hallstatt’s Charnel Bone House. Here, you’ll pass through a picturesque and surprisingly un-macabre cemetery overlooking the lake. The graves here are covered with the most beautiful outcrops of flowers that poignantly demonstrate how life after death can spring.

Moving behind the main chapel and further onto the grounds, you’ll find the famous Bone House. Historically, when the existing graves from the front of the chapel needed to be reused for new burials, the previous occupant’s skull or bones would then be transferred to their final resting place at Charnel House. And so, in order to preserve the identities of those being moved, local families began painting their loved ones’ skulls with intricate floral designs.

Now, the Bone House is not just a final resting place but also a beautiful display of the village’s history and culture.

avoiding the crowds in hallstatt, austria

Evening: Dinner and a Peaceful Stroll Through Town

End your day with a peaceful stroll through town, visiting any shops that you might have missed during the early morning hours.

For dinner, you can’t go wrong with the lakeview restaurant at Seehotel Gruner Baum. I recommend reserving a table in advance as the restaurant is fairly popular! You can do this upon check-in at the hotel or early the morning of.

if you forget or are unable to make a reservation there, Gasthof Simony Hotel and Restaurant just next door has wonderful traditional Austrian dishes and the same lake view to boot!