• Visit the salt caves. Hallstatt Salt Worlds[3] will take you into the more than 250 year old salt mines to explore its underground beauty.
• Do an outing by boat. Take a tour on the Lake of Hallstatt with Hallstättersee-Schifffahrt Hemetsberger. Tel 6134/8228, [4]
• Hiking. There are many hiking trails in the mountains behind Hallstatt and throughout the Salzkammergut area. Ask at the Tourist Information office for a good hiking map as it can be easy to get lost in the rapidly changing alpine weather.
• Rock climbing.
• Children. There is a very nice lakeside playground about 500m south of town with free WC, swimming, sunbathing, and the best views of town you'll see without going on a boat.
• Ice Caves. In a town over, there are caves with ice waterfalls, lakes and ponds streaming through the limestone. Be sure to bring a jacket or sweater.

• Cultural Heritage Museum. A small but interesting museum displaying 7000 years of Hallstatt history.
• Beinhaus. "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 70's with the approval of cremation by the catholic church - you will see that those who remain buried all have recent dates of death.
• See the town. Simply enjoy the peace and quiet of the town. Have lunch in a cafe next to the lake and feed the swans. Window shop.

• By Train. From the main line between Salzburg and Vienna, get off at Attnang-Puchheim. Take a train from here towards Bad Ischl and Obertraun. The Hallstatt station is south of Bad Ischl and one stop north of Obertraun; it is on the east bank of the Hallstättersee (Hallstatt Lake) and consist of just a boat dock next to the tracks. A regular ferry service will meet each arriving train and take you to the town across the lake. One of the best views of Hallstatt is from this ferry ride across the lake, especially in the morning when the sun is shining on the town.

• When leaving, the boat takes you back to the tiny train station, where you may take the train back to Attnang-Puchheim and transfer to your next destination. The boat meets each train leaving the station, and the schedule is posted at the boat dock, or it also is available at tourist information. The tourist information office can provide further information about train schedules since the train station itself is likely unmanned (and it is across the lake). You can buy the ticket on the train, but only with cash. It is better to buy your next ticket in advance, if possible. Once on the train, ask the conductor if he/she knows the platform number of your desired transfer (don't worry, all train employees speak English), or check the departures screens when you get to Attnang-Puchheim. But be prepared, the transfer may be fast, as Attnang-Puchheim is not a big station, and the passing trains will not stop for long.

• By bus, taxi, or car. A street passes through a tunnel in the mountain above the town. There is underground parking available here.

• Walk. There is only one road through the town; and automobile traffic is usually not allowed May to October, 10 am to 5 pm, when Hallstatt is essentially car-free. You can easily walk from one end of the town to the other in about a half hour.

Fish from lake Hallstatt.

The restaurant in Gasthof Zauner has very good local fish on the menu.

The local Fassbier (tap beer) is from Salzburg: Stiegl. This is available throughout Austria, however. A more interesting regional beer to try is "Konig Ludwig Dunkel Brau" (King Ludwig Dark Brew) which is not as widely available, although you will find it also in Tirol, to the west. Stop by the local grocery store "Konsum" (technically located in Lahn) to check out the local selection of beers and wines without paying restaurant prices.