This is why Hallstatt must be in bucket list for every traveler!

Why is Hallstatt so special that it should be part of the bucket list for every traveler? Well to answer this one must visit and experience by yourself. But I hope my experience in this post can give you a fair insight.

Hallstatt is nestled between the Hallstätter See lake and the steep slopes of the Dachstein mountains, making it one of the most picturesque and photographed villages of Europe. This fairy-tale village is lined up with cute looking colorful houses at the edge of the gorgeous lake, It was hard to believe that this place is real. One can choose to just stroll across the tranquil lake of Hallstatter see or choose to visit one of the mountain tops surrounding the lake for some adventure - alpine climbing, hiking, or just sit and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Dachstein valley from one of the many view points, one can also visit the magical underworld through the caves.

One of the most photographed view of Hallstatt

Hallstatt village

Hallstatter See Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe. Like many other lakes of Austria, Hallstatter See lake has remarkable water quality. The clarity of the water is incredible and so transparent that the bottom of the lake is visible throughout the lake. Perhaps this unusual serenity makes it an unforgettable scene in our memory.

Crystal clear waters of the Hallstatter See lake

Hallstatter See, Gosaumühle

To reach to the mountain tops, one can take the cable car from the valley stations at Hallstatt and Obertraun. A short ride from Hallstatt village, on the other side of the lake is Obertraun. 

Dachstein Krippenstein:

The valley station from Obertraun lifts to the mountain stations at two levels Schönbergalm and Krippenstein. The first ascend lifts from 609 m to 1350 m at the Mittelstation Schönbergalm and the second cable car lifts to Krippenstein at 2100 m.

At the Middle station Schönbergalm (section I) are the two of the popular caves of Dachstein. Both are unique in nature and each requiring a 15-20 mins hike from the mid-station. Don't forget to register for the guided cave tours at the ticket counter in Schönbergalm station.

A 20 mins hike from Schönbergalm takes you to the magical world of Dachstein Giant Ice Cave, a breathtaking adventure through the rock and ice, played with light and sound. The most thrilling chunk of the 50 mins guided tour happened to be at the end, while crossing the rope bridge above a 30 m deep abyss inside the cave. Be prepared to be thrilled and chilled, with -2 °C temperature inside the cave.

Ice formations inside the Dachstein Giant ice cave

Not far from the Schönbergalm is another natural wonderland, the Mammut cave. Its was a 15 mins scenic hike with glimpses of the valley below. Unlike the Ice cave, the temperature here is above freezing, around +3 °C. It is named as mammut due to its gigantic scale and is one of the largest karst caves in the world. There are over 70 km of passageways that have been explored inside the cave, out of which only 1 km is open for the guided tour.

Beautiful valley views on the way to Mammut cave

Pathway inside the Mammut cave

The second mountain station at Krippenstein offers two panoramic hiking trails with 360 degree views of the Dachstein mountains.

Resting bench to sit back and relax

A short walk of less than five minutes from Krippenstein station leads to one of the most breathtaking views of the alps, the World Heritage view of the Dachstein Glacier including the highest peak of the region Hoher Dachstein 2996 m.

World Heritage view of the Dachstein Glacier

Further down, the 5fingers trail is an easy hike of about 20 mins to reach the viewing platform standing over a 400 m drop. The view from the platform is simply spectacular of the Hallstätter see lake and the surrounding hills.

Heilbronn Chapel on the way to 5fingers

Panoramic view of the Hallstatter see and Dachstein mountains from 5fingers view point

The longer trail towards the Dachstein shark takes about 30 min, unlike the 5fingers the part to experience is the trail itself, passing by the fossilized rocks.

The last few surviving snow caps of the Dachstein mountains during late summer

Valley view through the Dachstein shark trail

Amazing views of the hills from the Dachstein shark trail

The shark structure marking the end of the Dachstein shark trail, the view point is at the mouth of the shark which can be reached from inside through steps

All these natural and cultural features of the Hallstatt-Dachstein region led to be designated as UNESCO World heritage site.