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Located in the Salzkammergut region of Upper Austria, Hallstatt is one of the oldest villages in Europe, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. With over 7,000 years of history, it is renowned not only for its picturesque landscapes but also for its long-standing cultural value: a salt-making tradition that has existed for millennia, distinctive ancient wooden architecture, religious customs such as the Charnel House (a chapel dedicated to preserving the remains of the deceased), and valuable archaeological artifacts reflecting the early Hallstatt civilization.
In Hallstatt, each season has its own unique beauty, but autumn is considered the most enchanting, when the maple leaves change color and the morning mist blankets the lake, revealing Hallstatt as a vibrant painting of peace and antiquity.
When Hallstatt awakens in the middle of autumn
Early in the morning, Trang left Salzburg at 5:56 a.m., taking bus number 150 to Bad Ischl, then continuing her journey by train and ferry to Hallstatt. After nearly three hours of travel from the Salzburg Hauptbahnhof hotel, the town appeared peacefully beside the calm lake.
The town was just waking up, a few small cafes were opening their doors to welcome the first customers, and white swans were gliding leisurely on the water.
October is when Hallstatt dons its most vibrant autumn attire. Along the small slopes, the old wooden houses with their characteristic pointed roofs are covered in the golden and red hues of maple leaves, reflected in the mirror-like blue lake. Trang says, "going early is the luckiest thing," because before 10 am, the town still retains its fairytale tranquility – where the sound of footsteps still echoes in the serene atmosphere.
Hallstatt is not a tourist village built for visitors, but a place where people still live, cook, garden, and sit drinking tea by the window overlooking the lake. Along the ancient cobblestone streets, there are occasional wooden signs reminding visitors to walk softly, speak quietly, or respect the privacy of the locals.
As the sun rose, the leaves changed color brilliantly, and the wooden roofs peeked out from between the yellow of the trees and the blue of the water, creating a scene like an oil painting. Trang recounted that she had visited Switzerland and Italy the previous summer, admiring the natural landscapes of Europe, but it was only when she arrived in Hallstatt in autumn that she truly understood the beauty that people call "fairytale."
Before leaving the Austrian town, she stopped by the Church of the Assumption of Mary on the hillside, overlooking the entire village nestled beside the lake. The church bells rang in the quiet space, and it was the sound that brought a perfect autumn morning to a close.
The real-life kingdom of "Arendelle".
It's no coincidence that Hallstatt was once considered the inspiration for the kingdom of Arendelle in the Frozen film series. From the Panoramic Viewpoint – the highest point in the town – the landscape unfolds with the cold gray Alps towering on the edge of the town, the tiered wooden houses along the lake, and the pointed bell tower of the Evangelical Church of Hallstatt rising against the deep blue sky.
Trang chose to visit the first viewpoint of the morning, when sunlight pierced through the thin mist, making the lake's surface sparkle as if covered in glitter. Afterward, she spent time strolling along the narrow alleys around Hallstatt Market Square – the village's central square, where hanging flower baskets on balconies remained vibrant despite the approaching early winter chill.
During that journey, Trang met a Korean mother and daughter who had lived in Bac Ninh for three years. They chatted happily, sharing how much they missed their time in Vietnam. Later, she encountered a group of Chinese tourists, helped them with a few things while they took photos, and was surprised to discover they were also staying at the same hotel in Salzburg. "These chance encounters made the trip even more memorable," Trang said.
The boat trip on the lake or the exploration of the Hallstatt museum remain unfulfilled, the cable car (mountain railway) leading to the famous salt mine is closed for maintenance, and Trang hasn't dared visit the famous Charnel House due to personal fears. But it is precisely these incomplete experiences that motivate her to return, to make the autumnal picture of Hallstatt even more complete.
An autumn scene - the maple forest changing color by Lake Hallstatt.
A few notes for your trip to Hallstatt
To make the trip convenient, Trang chose to stay at a&o Salzburg Hauptbahnhof – a hotel just a few hundred meters from the bus station that offers a Guest Mobility Ticket, allowing free travel throughout the Salzburg area, including bus route 150 to Bad Ischl. From Salzburg, visitors can combine bus, train, and ferry travel to Hallstatt, with the total journey taking only about three hours.
In autumn, the weather often changes rapidly, so visitors should depart early to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and avoid afternoon thunderstorms. Ferry tickets can only be purchased with cash, so visitors should prepare small denominations of euros. Food costs in Hallstatt are quite high (around 15-30 euros per dish), so bring your own water and snacks if you want to save money.
Trang shared that the most precious thing about the trip wasn't the beautiful photos, but the moment of sitting quietly by the lake, watching the leaves fall and feeling the slow pace of time – something hard to find in big cities.
Hallstatt in autumn doesn't need filters or color correction; simply standing amidst the gentle chill, listening to the bells echoing from the church by the lake, anyone can feel as if they've wandered into a dream.
