History · Hallstatt · Austria
6 historic sites to see in Hallstatt
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tigerente, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine, Beinhaus (Charnel House) and Catholic Parish Church of the Assumption. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 7–10 hours across 2 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 7–10 hours
- Areas
- Lahn and Hallstatt Markt
Historic sites in Hallstatt
Historic site · Lahn
1.Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine
Guided tours lead through tunnels in miners' clothing, down two long wooden miners' slides and past an illuminated underground salt lake, and explain the 'man in salt', a prehistoric miner's body found preserved in 1734.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
- Active
Religious site · Hallstatt Markt
2.Beinhaus (Charnel House)
Michael's Chapel beside the Catholic parish church, hundreds of skulls are stacked on shelves, many painted with names, dates and garlands of flowers. The custom developed because the steep churchyard had no room, so bones were exhumed after some years to make space.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Religious site · Hallstatt Markt
3.Catholic Parish Church of the Assumption
The churchyard and Beinhaus are alongside.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Art
- Architecture
- Views
Landmark · Hallstatt Markt
4.Marktplatz
It was rebuilt after a fire in 1750 destroyed much of the village, and cafés and shops face onto it.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- History
Museum · Hallstatt Markt
5.Museum Hallstatt
The village museum traces 7,000 years of salt mining and the Iron Age Hallstatt culture, with finds from the prehistoric cemetery in the high valley, including bronze vessels, jewellery and weapons, and displays on village life.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Nature · Hallstatt Markt
6.Soleleitungsweg (brine pipeline trail)
The section from Hallstatt towards Bad Goisern is a level, scenic walk past waterfalls and the Gosauzwang aqueduct bridge.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Views
- History
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Lahn | Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine | Half a day |
| Hallstatt Markt | Beinhaus (Charnel House), Catholic Parish Church of the Assumption, Marktplatz, Museum Hallstatt and Soleleitungsweg (brine pipeline trail) | 20 minutes + 30 minutes + 20 minutes + 1 hour + 2–4 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 3 free, 2 low cost, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine. The longest visit is Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine: Tours run on timed departures and fill up in summer; reserving online ahead is wise.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Lahn and Hallstatt Markt): Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine → Beinhaus (Charnel House) → Catholic Parish Church of the Assumption, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Hallstatt Markt): Marktplatz → Museum Hallstatt → Soleleitungsweg (brine pipeline trail), at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 4°C (39°F), about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds. Winter scenery and skiing at nearby Krippenstein and Dachstein West; fewer visitors in the village.
- January: highs of 2°C (36°F), about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and often snowy, with the village in shadow for much of the day; atmospheric and relatively quiet, though some attractions close.
- November: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds. Grey and quiet, with many seasonal attractions closed; the quietest time to see the village.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Hallstatt Markt — The historic centre around the market square, church spires and lakeside houses
- Lahn — The southern end of the village with the bus stop, ferry pier and salt-mine funicular
More of Hallstatt
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Hallstatt?
Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine. The salt mine in the Hallstatt high valley is reached by the Salzbergbahn funicular from Lahn.
+Which of these are free in Hallstatt?
Catholic Parish Church of the Assumption, Marktplatz and Soleleitungsweg (brine pipeline trail).