Get the appSign inSign up
Trip ideas  /  Europe  /  Austria  /  Hallstatt, Upper Austria  /  2-day itinerary
Archie
Rest & Recharge
Hallstatt, Upper Austria: 2 days in Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut lakesPhoto: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Rest & Recharge ExhaleNature & Wild BreatheTrip idea · Hallstatt, Upper Austria

2 days in Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut lakes

The 5-day plan, rearranged for 2 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.

2 daysAnyoneLate September6 places
Copy this plan to your own trips, then change anything you like.
Hallstatt
Photo: J. Patrick Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Hallstatt
Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
How many days?Pick yours and the plan rearranges.
Rearranged from the 5 day plan. See it as written

Best time to go

June and September to October are the most comfortable months for walking around.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Arrival day

Before Day 1. The lakes reward a slow arrival, so keep the first evening quiet.Details
Getting here
Many visitors fly into Salzburg and go on by train or bus toward the lake district. Connections change with the season, so check the timetable ahead and allow extra time for the last stretch.
Hallstatt and its boat
Hallstatt sits on the far shore of its lake from the train stop, and a small boat meets the trains. Check ahead on when it runs, and carry only the luggage you can manage on a short, cobbled walk.
Car or no car
A car makes Days 4 and 5 easy, but parking in Hallstatt itself is limited, so many visitors leave the car outside the village. Buses and boats link much of the district, so check ahead if you travel without one.
First evening
Walk the lake path once the day visitors have gone, and have an early dinner. Day 1 starts with the lakeside lane and the market square, which are quietest in the morning.

Day 1. Hallstatt and Obertraun and the Dachstein

5 stops · 7.9 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Hallstatt Lakeside Lane

    The narrow lane along the water, with wooden houses leaning over the shore and swans below. Hallstatt is small and people live here, so keep your voice low and walk early.

    Go when Early morning, before the day visitors, or in the evening after they have gone.

    Local tip People live in these houses. Keep your voice low, do not step onto private terraces and please do not fly a drone.

    About 7 min walk0.6 km
  2. 2
    MorningWorth the time

    Hallstatt Skywalk

    A viewing platform high above the village, looking down over the roofs to the whole lake. The funicular and the walk both run to a season, so check ahead before you go.

    Go when Morning, on a clear day, before the haze builds.

    Local tip Check ahead on the funicular and the walk up. On a cloudy day, wait a day if you can. The view is the whole point.

  3. Lunch

    Lake fish lunch

    Reinanke is the whitefish of the Salzkammergut lakes, usually served simply with potatoes and herbs. A light lunch beside the water.

    Local tip Ask whether the fish is from the lake. In the district, it often is.

    Lake fish lunch
    Photo: Vesekskiy, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 8 min walk0.7 km
  4. 3
    MorningWorth a short stop

    Hallstatt Market Square

    The little square at the heart of the village, with pastel houses, a fountain and a view down to the lake. In high season it is crowded at midday, so come early or late.

    Go when Morning, then leave before midday.

    Local tip In high season the square is crowded at midday. Look at the houses, then step down a side lane and you will have it almost to yourself.

    Hallstatt Market Square, Hallstatt: houses near body of water and mountain
    Photo by Pamela Chávez on Unsplash
    About 10 min walk0.8 km
  5. 4
    MiddayWorth the time

    Hallstatt Salt Mine

    One of the very old salt mines of Europe, in the mountain above the village, with the history of the people who worked it. Check ahead on tours and tickets, and bring a warm layer for the cool underground.

    Go when Midday, when you want something out of the weather.

    Local tip Check ahead on tours and tickets. It is cool and damp inside, so bring a warm layer even in summer.

    About 16 min by car or transit5.9 km
  6. 5
    MiddayWorth the time

    Krippenstein

    A high plateau in the Dachstein mountains with wide views, short paths and a mountain hut. Bring layers, because it is much colder than the lake, and check ahead on the snow.

    Go when Midday, with a hot drink at the hut.

    Local tip It can be snowy or windy when the valley is warm. Wear sturdy shoes and keep to the marked paths.

  7. Dinner

    A quiet lakeside dinner

    A simple supper near the water: soup, grilled fish or dumplings, and a view of the lake going dark.

    Local tip Book ahead in the busy months, because the villages are small.

If it rains. Hallstatt Salt Mine is covered, so keep it. Move Hallstatt Lakeside Lane, Hallstatt Skywalk, Hallstatt Market Square and Krippenstein to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. Gosau

1 stop · 14.6 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Travel from KrippensteinAbout 30 min by car or transit14.6 km
    Where Day 1 ended.
  2. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Gosausee

    A mountain lake below the Dachstein, with a path around the shore. On a still, clear morning the rock face shows in the water. Check ahead on the road and the parking.

    Go when Morning, when the lake is still.

    Local tip Walk the shore path at an easy pace. The mirror view needs still air, so check the weather the night before.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. The way out of the mountains is the slow part, so give it room.Details
Last morning
Take breakfast slowly with the lake in view and leave the village before the day visitors arrive. Pack the night before, because the lanes are steep and paved with stones.
Back to Salzburg
Buses and trains run back toward Salzburg, but not all day and not every day of the week. Check the timetable the evening before and choose an earlier connection for a flight.
Bags and the boat
If your train leaves from across the water, allow time for the boat and the walk to the stop. Missing one link here can cost an hour or more.
A few spare hours
Sit on a bench by the water, buy something small and sweet for the road and start out with the light behind you.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Hallstatt?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, June and September to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Hallstatt. This plan is built for late September, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Hallstatt, planned for late September. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 7.9 kilometers between its stops, and 7.9 kilometers in all across 2 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Keep exploring

Nearby trips

More like this

More Rest & Recharge trips ›More trips in Austria ›

More guides to Hallstatt

Other guides with a page about Hallstatt. Each one opens in a new tab.

Photo: Vesekskiy, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo by Pamela Chávez on Unsplash

Make this plan yours

Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.

A trip idea · Updated October 2026

Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.