Versão em português aqui.
When I started blogging, one of my biggest problems was becoming a real discoverer. Far beyond the ordinary path, I realized there are so many beautiful places to explore out there, I guess one life will not be enough (lol).
One of the places I put high on my bucket list was the picture-perfect village of Hallstatt, in the middle of Austria, about 1 hour driving south from Salzburg. Last year, on a Christmas and NYE trip, we had the chance to visit this real gem and now I share everything with you.
First of all, it’s important to mention that Hallstatt has become so famous on Instagram that it’s not difficult to see lots and lots of tourists walking around with their professional cameras, something really weird for such a small village. So, maybe you can be disappointed, but unless you go there in low season, get ready to share your space with many others, the same Instagram effect that happens in Santorini.
We decided to sleep for an overnight in the village and enjoy it better, from sunset to sunrise. You need to leave your car outside the city centre – for pedestrians only. But don’t worry, there are some easy-to-find parkings and vans that take you to the center, in case you don’t want to go walking, although it is very close. There are some beautiful and cozy places to stay, such as Seehotel Gruener Baum, Heritage Hotel and Hallstatt Hideaway, but don’t expect a luxury stay.
The village is really picturesque and our jaw dropped as soon as we started driving the scenic road along the lakes towards Hallstatt coming from Salzburg, a region called Salzkammergut. Once there, the best you can do is enjoy your time without haste and walk slowly through the beautiful narrow streets.
Hallstatt is a historic village known for its salt production and that is why it has developed as an important Austrian village in the past centuries. Declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, it is perched at the foot of high mountains and bathed by a stunning lake, it is not so difficult to understand why people fall in love with this village, is it?
