If you are planning a trip to Austria and want to include the picturesque town of Hallstatt on your itinerary, you may be wondering how to avoid the crowds in Hallstatt. The town’s UNESCO World Heritage view has become one of the most popular destinations in Europe with tourists flocking by the busload. The charming and beautiful lakeside village is absolutely breathtaking (and definitely worth a visit!) but can be difficult to fully enjoy when at its most crowded.
Here are some tips to avoid the crowds in Hallstatt!
1 – Stay the night
My number one tip for avoiding the crowds in Hallstatt is to stay overnight. The majority of tourists in Hallstatt visit on a day trip from Salzburg or other nearby cities, arriving around 9am and leaving around 7pm. Staying overnight in Hallstatt will allow for the evenings and early mornings to yourself.
2 – Wake up before the sun
2 – Wake up before the sunCheck what time the sun rises during your visit and set your alarm to get up just before then! I know. It’s early. But trust me, waking up early is key to avoiding the crowds in Hallstatt and it’s worth it!
We woke up at 5am during our visit and we had 3 – 4 hours to explore and enjoy Hallstatt’s charm and peaceful lake views before the tourists began to roll in.
When you wake up, head straight to the viewpoint that overlooks Hallstatt so you can catch the sunrise show — watching the early morning light pour in over the mountain onto the little town was spectacular! After that, explore the rest of the charming town, wander the quaint little streets and take in views.
3 – Enjoy the summer evenings
During the summer, the sun doesn’t set until after 8pm (or 9pm in June and July!) so you’ll have some time to enjoy Hallstatt without the crowds in the evening as well. Go for a stroll around town or enjoy a peaceful lakeside dinner (where you’ll likely get a visit from swans!).
4 – Book a lake view room
While typically a bit more costly than a ‘market’ or ‘town’ view hotel room, booking a lake view room (especially with a balcony!) allowed us to fully enjoy Hallstatt even during peak visiting hours. After exploring Hallstatt in the early morning, we noticed the town starting to fill up so we went back to our hotel to sit out on the balcony and enjoyed some coffee and reading while looking at the lake.
5 – Get on the lake
Another way to avoid the crowds in Hallstatt during the day is to get out of the busy town and onto the lake! Rent a swan pedal boat, a rowing boat or even an electric boat and explore the beautiful and serene Lake Hallstatter.
Fantastic tips and beautiful photos, thank you! We’re looking to visit really soon and hoping to spend the night to avoid the day trippers and peak times. Really looking forward to it!
Wonderful! It’s such a pretty town — you’ll love staying the night! 🙂
Wow, after reading this, I am all the more excited to stay in Hallstatt on our Europe trip next year. Thanks for the great tips. We will stay for a few days at least!