Semi panoramic view from the room
My second last stop for my Europe trip (which was also the stop my other half most wanted to visit) was Hallstatt. Hallstatt is small quaint town in Upper Austria and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unless one is driving, reaching there can be quite a challenge and costly. Nevertheless, it is certainly a place worth visiting.
Being a very small town by the lake Hallstatt, there isn’t much hotel to choose from. Heritage Hotel is probably the most convenient to reach and is situated right in the town centre (it is very small town by the way). There are some B&B around though if one wants to consider other alternatives.
Hallstatt seems to be extremely popular with Asians as we bumped across many tourists from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong (less so from Singapore and Malaysia – this is based on the language and dialect these tourists spoke in). It was also in Hallstatt we bumped into a lovely Taiwanese family on holiday (whom we later bumped into again in Munich Hofbräuhaus a day later, talk about fate). Most of these tourists stay in Heritage Hotel, making it fairly crowded especially during the check in and check out time.
The hotel is not very large, and is separated into 3 sections – House Kainz (the main building), Seethaler House and Stocker House. House Kainz is the only building with lift and the main restaurant is housed in this building. It is also situated by the lake, making it the most convenient. Rooms in the other 2 buildings offer a much better view of Hallstatt, at the expense of uphill walking (which can be tough during winter time) and the lack of elevator.
Early check in seems to be near impossible even during off peak season given the popularity among tourists. For those who are early, there is a luggage storage room but be warned – the luggage room can be packed to the brim with luggage!
There are 3 regular rooms (Standard, Deluxe and Superior) and 2 suites (Junior Suite and Suite). All rooms differ in size. We stayed in the deluxe room and it was fairly spacious for the 2 of us. One thing is that the room lacks in room air-con/heating but room floors are heated. Tea/Coffee are provided complimentary. The bathroom is fairly spacious with a separate toilet. Basic amenities were provided. Our room came with a nice view of the lake and the town.
The hotel has a sauna that is available complimentary to hotel guests. It is located at the top floor and would be a good sanctuary to relax after a long day exploring this wonderful UNESCO heritage site. Towel and drinks are also provided.
Breakfast is served at level 1 restaurant. It comprises buffet spread of both cold and hot items (with different choices of smoked fish!). The cost is 17 Euro per person (15 Euro if one opts for it during check in). Alternatively, there are many cafes within the town one can opt to dine in as well.
Heritage Hotel is not cheap, but it is certainly the most convenient (hence perhaps the most popular) hotel in Hallstatt. I would recommend this hotel for those who prefer a fuss-free stopover here. For those who are more adventurous, they can choose to stay in one of the many B&B’s available. Cheaper options are available at nearby Bad Ischl town (there are buses connecting both towns).
Calm, serene and beautiful Hallstatt
Few tips:
- Do indicate when making a booking if you want a room in House Kainz
- For those who drive, you may not be able to drive into the town after 8am. You may have to park at the carpark next to the bus stop
- It is a short walk of about 500m from the bus stop to the hotel
- Walk up the hill along the small path for about 200 to 300m and you will come to the best picture spot of the town
Town view from the photo spot
That Time Of The Year! 