Things to Do in Hallstatt, Austria with Kids (Hallstatt Family Travel Guide)

If you’re looking for what to do in Hallstatt with kids, or trying to figure out where to stay in Hallstatt with kids, you’re in the right place!

This past summer we spent 2 weeks road tripping around Germany and Austria. While the majority of our time was spent in Germany, we did spend a few days in Austria, and Hallstatt was one of our stops!

(By the way, after experiencing our trip, not spending more time in Austria in general was my only regret).

Hallstatt is a picturesque village located in the Salzkammergut region of Austria, which is essentially their lake and mountain region with adorable villages and plenty of resorts. It sits on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt, or Hallstätter See.

You may have even seen pictures or videos of Hallstatt comparing it to the city of Arendelle in the Disney movie Frozen, as some say Hallstatt was the inspiration for the fictional home of Anna and Elsa. I’m not sure if that’s true, but it does bear some resemblance!

Anyway, Hallstatt is about as charming as it gets, and well worth a stop if you’re visiting Austria with kids.

Here are all my recommendations for visiting Hallstatt with kids, including what to do, where to stay, and tips for making the most of your trip.

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Getting There

The nearest airport to Hallstatt would be Salzburg, but you could also fly into Munich if you want to explore the Bavarian Alps in Germany, too.

By Car

The best way to get to Hallstatt is by renting a car from whichever airport you fly into. My husband did the driving on this trip, and he said it was very easy to drive in both Germany and Austria.

Be sure to get your international drivers license, which was very easy to do through AAA.

In addition, if you’re driving in Austria, you need ot purchase a vignette, or toll sticker for your rental car. I believe we purchased one from a gas station when we crossed the border from Germany into Austria. If you rent the car in Austria, just ask the rental car company if you can purchase through them. You can be fined if you do not have a vignette.

By Public Transportation

There are both buses and trains that can get you to Hallstatt from Vienna or Salzburg. From what I’ve read, the train station is across the lake from Hallstatt, so you will need a ferry transfer to get into the village itself.

For that reason, many seem to recommend the bus.

How Long Do You Need in Hallstatt?

We spent one night in Hallstatt, and if I could do the trip over I would have added a second night. I don’t think you need much more than that in the area, unless you’re planning to use Hallstatt as your home base for exploring the Salzkammergut region and taking day trips from there!

Where to Stay

To be honest, we booked our stay in Hallstatt kind of last minute because it took us so long to plan out the details of our road trip, and Hallstatt was one of our last stops.

In addition, we have 4 kids, so there weren’t a lot of options available for our big family. Thankfully, on this trip we did have my parents with us, so we were able to book 2 quad rooms in most cities, putting 2 kids with my parents, and keeping 2 kids in our room.

We ended up booking a hotel in the town of Obertraun which is only a few minutes away from Hallstatt. It was quiet, the scenery was incredible, and I actually would have enjoyed spending some more time in this town if we had another night in the aread.

We stayed at Seehotel am Hallstattersee, a lovely hotel with a free breakfast buffet. We booked 2 quad rooms, and while they weren’t connecting, they were right next to each other.

The hotel has a pool, breakfast, parking, and play equipment outside for kids.

Things to Do in Hallstatt with Kids

Take a Photo at the Iconic Photo Spot

Most people are by now familiar with the iconic photo spot above Hallstatt. It’s the Classic Village Viewpoint with a view of the church, the lake and the colorful houses around the church set against a stunning backdrop of towering mountains.

To get to the viewpoint, start by getting to Seestrasse, the main street in town that’s directly in front of the lake. If you’re facing the lake, you’ll head to your left, and keep walking uphill until you reach the photo spot.

There will likely be a people there already taking photos, so just wait for a spot to open up.

In addition, notice the signs urging visitors to be respectful and quiet around the photo spot. Keep in mind that real people live here, so act the same way you would want visitors to your home to act. Be patient, be respectful, get your photo, and head back into town.

I don’t say this to lecture anyone. However, I noticed the area was struggling with overtourism, AND I noticed some unfortunate behavior from fellow tourists, and it got me thinking. I think everyone should have a chance to see this beautiful place, but if we want Hallstatt to remain welcoming and open to tourists, we all need to behave as respectful guests.

But yes, get your photo! It’s truly one of the most jaw-dropping spots I’ve seen in the world, and you’ll want that memory for your photo book.

Get a Cream Roll

On our way back down into town from taking our photos we stopped at Simple 169, a cafe with incredible Schaumrollen (cream rolls…kind of like a cannoli).

We also got coffee and water here, and enjoyed sitting at a few of their outdoor tables. We had an excellent view of the town, and it was the perfect place to take in the charming town and people watch.

I love being able to pour money back into the local economy, and I wish I had gotten the name of the man working the counter the day we visited. He was so kind and welcoming despite my rudimentary attempts at speaking German. And honestly, the cream rolls were insane. And freshly made that day.

Explore Market Square

Hallstatt’s Marktplatz is one of the most picturesque spots in town. It was a warm day when we visited, and after battling the crowds of tourists and hiking up the hill for a photo, we needed a quiet moment in the shade.

Market Square can get busy, but the crowd ebbs and flows, and we were able to find a quiet moment and some open benches in the shade. While other family members went to a shop in search of souvenirs, I hung out in the Market Square with a few of the kids just relaxing and watching people go buy.

The houses and shops in the square are so charming, and there are beautiful fountains and flowers everywhere. Not a bad place to sit and relax!

Shop for Souvenirs

Of course a big part of Hallstatt’s economy is tourism, so there are many wonderful souvenir shops around town!

We enjoyed just walking down the main street and ducking in and out of shops that caught our attention. The kids ended up picking out some of their souvenirs for the whole trip here.

Play on the Playgrounds

If you’re visiting Hallstatt with kids, the crowds can get a little bit overwhelming, so be sure to find the playgrounds and take a break!

There’s a children’s playground just outside of town (in the opposite direction of the viewpoint). Just look for “Spielplatz” on your map app. Spielplatz means playground in German.

There’s a playground, benches in the shade, and a bridge over to a small island which is supposed to be an area you can swim.

Grab some food and have a picnic lunch in this area. It was the perfect break we needed!

There’s also a great Spielplatz in Obertraun that my kids loved if you want to drive over there for an even more peaceful experience.

Explore Obertraun

Speaking of Obertraun, I would highly recommend stopping in this small town during your visit.

Since we stayed in Obertraun we actually had a little bit of time to walk around the area the first night we came into town.

We ate at Dormio Restaurant Obertraun, which had a bounce castle next to the patio for kids to play on. It was nice to let the kids stretch their legs and jump around while we enjoyed our limoncello spritz on the patio.

Afterward, when my youngest was getting restless and sick of sitting at the table, I started walking back toward our hotel and ended up coming across a playground with her. Everyone else joined us there shortly after, and it was nice to let the kids have some more playtime.

We also walked along the lake and there was a walking path, parks, and even swimming areas.

Looking at the map now, I also see a pizzeria and a coffee shop/bakery in Obertraun, plus a view point just a few minutes’ drive away called Wasserfall Wand that I’m sad we missed because it looks really beautiful.

In fact, it looks like Obertraun is a great home base for hiking, so if you are an outdoorsy type of family, this might be the perfect activity to offset the craziness of Hallstatt.

Hallstattersee

There’s lots to do and see on the lake itself! We enjoyed watching the swans swim on the lake, as well as watching ferries come in and out of the harbor.

You can swim in the lake, rent paddleboards, kayaks, or canoes, or even rent a boat for the day!

There are so many things to do in and around the water if you have some extra time and some great weather. It’s called the lake district for a reason - get outside and enjoy the lakes!

Things We Didn’t Get To:

Salzwelten

One of the most recommended things to do in Hallstatt is the Salzwelten, or the Salt Mine Tour. You can take a cable car up to the Salt Mine and the Hallstatt Skywalk for fabulous views of the city below.

We skipped this because to be really honest, it was toward the end of our trip and we were on a budget and frankly sick of spending money.

I’m sure this is a wonderful experience, but we had plenty of fun without doing it, too.

Also, note that the Salzwelten is closed until June of 2026, so be sure to check updates if you’re planning a Hallstatt Trip in 2026.

Tips for Visiting Hallstatt

Book as far in advance as you can. As soon as you know your dates, get to booking your stay! This is a popular area to visit and not many options that can fit large families like ours.
Stay for 2 nights. As I mentioned above, we stayed one night, and I didn’t feel like it was enough time to enjoy the quiet hours when the daytrippers leave Hallstatt. Those tour buses arrive bright and early in the morning, so you may enjoy having one or two evenings in town with fewer tourists.
Have some cash on hand for the few places that don’t accept cards.
Get outside of town if you can. Obertraun or hiking in the surrounding areas are a great way to escape the crowds.
Support the local economy whenever possible.
Be a model tourist! Be polite, quiet, and respectful.
Be mentally prepared for the crowds. If you expect the empty charming town you’ve seen on Instagram, you’ll be in for a rude awakening when you’re getting jostled by crowds on the narrow sidewalk. If you go in expecting lots of other people to be there, it’s easier to maintain your patience and positive attitude.