Even if it rains, go! Austrian fairy tale village is definitely worth going to 🩷
#EuropeanTravel #AustrianTravel #Hallstatt
You'll regret not going here! While traveling in Austria, Salzburg and Vienna were both great, but the best place to visit was Hallstatt, which I visited on the same day.
Hallstatt is a small town located in the Austrian Alps and is a beautiful lakeside town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
💜 Take a bus from Central Station to Bad Ischl
I bought a ticket from Salzburg Central Station to Obertraun Hallstatt. They sell a ticket that allows you to take a bus from Central Station to Bad Ischl, transfer to OBB at Bad Ischl, and go to Hallstatt. Since it was a day trip, I bought a round-trip ticket.
Since I had some time to spare, I waited for the bus at the station cafe while drinking orange juice. The amount was small, not even half full, but the strong orange flavor was good.
I went to the F stop on time for the bus and was surprised to see so many people lining up. It was a free seat, but I was too complacent. Fortunately, I got a seat first!
Take POST BUS 150 and the bus trip to Bad Ischl begins. It takes about two hours to get to Bad Ischl. The scenery outside the window is really pretty the whole way. I didn't realize how much time had passed while looking at the wide green meadows, various cows leisurely grazing, and other unique scenery.
🩷 Take OBB from Bad Ischl to Hallstatt
I arrived at a small station in Bad Ischl. The station surrounded by mountains feels similar to a rural station in our country. The sky is also clear, so it's really pretty.
Take the OBB train and it takes about 20 minutes to the station to Hallstatt. I continue the scenery I enjoyed on the bus on the OBB train. Thanks to the large windows, it feels like watching it on a wide TV. :)
The scenery changes from the meadow to the lake. The fog settles and the scenery covered with white clouds is a different atmosphere from the scenery I saw on the way to Bad Ischl. It's just pretty no matter where you look.
💜 Take the ferry to Hallstatt Village
Once you arrive at Hallstatt, you need to find a dock. You can take the ferry to enter Hallstatt Village. It's fun to use various transportation methods in one day, such as buses, trains, and ferries.
I followed where people were going and arrived at the ferry dock. When you don't know where to go, if you go to a crowded place, most people will come out. :)
I paid in cash and bought a round-trip ticket. Don't lose your ticket. That way, you can catch the ferry back. As you get closer to the village, the outline of the beautiful Hallstatt village that I had only seen in pictures becomes clearer.
Contrary to the forecast, I was grateful for the gift-like weather. The sky was blue, the green mountains were refreshing, and the calm lake that held the sky and mountains in its shape was so beautiful that I couldn't help but see it. The scenery surrounded by Lake Hallstatt that I saw from the ferry was so beautiful that I couldn't stop looking at it!
🩷 History of Hallstatt Village
If Cesky Krumlov was the fairy tale village of the Czech Republic, wouldn't Hallstatt be the fairy tale village of Austria? The cute fairy tale-like village of Hallstatt has a history of about 7,000 years.
Hallstatt used to be a salt mine. You can take a funicular to tour the inside of the mine. If you want to look into Hallstatt's deeper history, there is also a salt mine tour, so consider it!
💜 Market Square
Market Square, where pastel-colored buildings such as cafes, restaurants, and shops are gathered, is a place you pass by many times because the town is small. They say there is a Christmas market in the winter.
In the center of this square is a statue of the Holy Trinity, which has a sad history. It is said that it was erected in the center of Market Square as a ward off evil after a fire in the 1700s.
🩷 Hallstatt Viewpoint
The outskirts, where wooden houses around the lakeside are located, have a different atmosphere from the town center. Because it is a lake town, the scenery is artistic wherever you walk.
When you pass this place, you will see the Hallstatt Observatory. It is different from the Skywalk Observatory. It is actually a regular road, but I think it is called the Observatory because it is a photo spot where you can take pictures of the beautiful scenery that you often see on computer wallpapers. When I went, the Lutheran Church, a landmark of Hallstatt, was under construction, but it must be finished now.
💜 Photo Spots Everywhere You Walk
Many people go up to the Skywalk Observatory to properly appreciate the Hallstatt scenery. From about 350m high, you can see the entire Hallstatt village surrounded by the Alps and Lake Hallstatt at a glance.
You can enjoy the beautiful scenery anywhere in Hallstatt village even if you do not go to the Skywalk Observatory. I go wherever my feet lead me and go to places that people do not go to rather than famous landmarks. I like to see pretty scenery in that quietness. It is a variable of travel and a joy to me.
🩷 View Restaurant Broigasthof
I was so captivated by the charm of Hallstatt village that I didn't even realize I was hungry and wandered around excitedly until I finally arrived at the Market Square for lunch.
I really like Broigasthof, a restaurant where you can dine while looking at the vast Hallstatt Lake at an outdoor table. Not only was the food delicious, but I also wanted to enjoy Hallstatt with my eyes while eating.
I sat at an outdoor table with a cute red checkered tablecloth and ordered turkey salad, schnitzel, and two glasses of beer. Maybe because the view was fantastic, everything tasted delicious. The feeling of eating on the lake was an indescribable happiness. I remembered this moment that will become a memory and ate it.
The weather in Hallstatt is truly as unpredictable as a fairy tale. The sparkling sky suddenly turned into a scary day with heavy rain and wind. As the raindrops got heavier, the staff came and offered to show us to a seat inside the restaurant. Since I was almost done eating, I asked for the bill, opened my umbrella, and finished the rest of my food.
Rain on a trip is troublesome, but sometimes it remains as a joy like now. I have an episode worth remembering on a rainy day.
💜 Happy Ending Fairy Tale Trip
I decided to go back to Salzburg before it rained more. Before leaving, I came to the famous salt mine town of Hallstatt, so I bought salt as recommended by the staff. One is for a gift.
I went to the dock to catch the ferry, but the calm lake was shaking and getting angry. Can I go out of the town? I wondered if I was the only one who thought it was serious, but the ferry departed without any problems and I was able to safely step on land.
I got off at Bad Ischl on the OBB and waited for the bus to Salzburg Central Station. It got quite cold in the afternoon, so I waited inside the bus stop and when I came out, there were a lot of people waiting in line. Be sure to come early and wait in line. I ended up waiting for over an hour.
🩷 Long-lasting aftertaste, Hallstatt that you must visit
I had a lot of concerns about whether or not to go to Hallstatt until the morning of my departure because rain was forecasted throughout my trip to Salzburg. It rained, but I thought it was a good decision to go despite the variables.
It was a day trip, so half of the trip was spent on travel time, but I dare say that Hallstatt is a trip that you will never regret and will remember for a long time, more than making up for the disadvantages. Whether it rains or snows, definitely go to Hallstatt!