Europe / Austria
Places to go. A little room to wander.
THE SHORTLIST
Hallstatt
Find out more about one of the oldest known European cultures at Hallstatt, which shaped the Iron & Bronze ages of middle Europe from 1200 to 450 BC, and up to its discovery in the 1800s.
Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate
Hallstatt
"Bone House" in English. Due to the extremely limited space in the cemetery, burials are only temporary. After 10-15 years the grave is opened and the bones are removed and bleached in the sun. Then they are stacked in the Beinhaus. It's not as gruesome as it sounds. Skulls are often decorated with painted flowers and the family name. This practice was stopped in the 1970s with the approval of cremation by the Catholic Church. You will see that those who remain buried all have recent dates of death.
Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate
Hallstatt
At the lake bank side uninterrupted by houses, the spot is high enough to capture all of the above in one picture.
Allow about 60 minutes · planning estimate
Hallstatt
Located at an island accessible with a wooden bridge. While the view of the village center might not be as good due to its distance, the spot is perfect to see the mountains. And best of all, it's usually quiet.
Allow about 60 minutes · planning estimate
Hallstatt
Get into the oldest salt mine in the world that formed the Hallstatt settlement and culture dating back to 7,000 years ago. To reach the mine, use the funicular from 360 m up to , where you will find yourself adjacent to Rudolfsturm, which originally functions as the fortification of the cave and offers a view of the mountains. A further 2-km hike will take you to the salt cave at 828 m above sea level, which can only be visited with a tour starting from the bottom.
Allow about 90 minutes · planning estimate
A note before you go. Start with Hallstatt Museum, then decide whether Ossuary deserves a separate visit rather than rushing both. The suggested days are an editable grouping, not a timed tour. Visit allowances exclude transfers, meals and queues; confirm the exact entrance and current visiting arrangements for Salzwelten before setting off.
Reference material retrieved 2026-10-19. Suggested days and time allowances are editorial starting points. Check the linked visitor information for opening hours, access, and reservations.
BEFORE YOU SET OFF
The center of Hallstatt is for foot traffic and buses only. A walk from one side of town to the other would normally take only half an hour.
Hallstatt Museum and Ossuary are about 0.2 km apart in a straight line. Use the route link to compare the actual streets or transport connections before putting both in the same morning; the measurement is not a walking distance or a transfer estimate.
A LITTLE STRUCTURE. ROOM FOR DISCOVERY.
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This city guide includes selected, abridged material by Wikivoyage contributors, adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. The adapted guide text is available under the same license; photographs and website design retain their separate terms. Selected and abridged reference descriptions; operational prices and timetables omitted. Elsewhere added the shortlist, geographic grouping and planning notes.
Reference material retrieved 2026-10-19. It is community-edited background, not firsthand reporting or a live opening-hours service.
KEEP EXPLORING