Hallstatt, situated on the south-western shore of the Hallstätter Sea, is the most picturesque village in Austria. Also, this village is the oldest still-inhabited village in Europe. Hallstatt is also a world heritage site for its cultural heritage. Only one road runs through the village and entire village can be explored in foot in few minutes. Hallstatt is also famous for its salt production. World's oldest pipleline made from 13000 hollowed trees around 400 years back, was first made in Hallstatt only.
Tourists can explore the 250 years old salt caves in the village, go for boating or fishing in the Hallstatt lake and enjoy the fresh fish in lunch or dinner, indulge in hiking and rock climbing activities and lot more. The best activity to do when in Hallstatt is to take a salt mine tour which takes around one and half hours. The train ride is fun and after the train ride, tourists need to walk up the steep hill upto the mine. The views of the Hallstatt village and the lake from the top are incredible. After exploring the mines, you are again taken back to the train.
Major tourist attraction of Hallstatt is Beinhaus or the Bone House. This is one place which one must have never imagined even in weirdest of the dreams. As the cemetry in the village was extremely small, to make place for new burials, the old graves were opened and the bones were took out. These bones and skulls were bleached in the sun and afterwards painted and decorated with flowers. The decorated bones and skulls (with family name and date of death) were kept in the Beinhaus. This practice has now been stopped.
Another tourist attraction is the Hallstatt museum that takes you through the history and civilization of Hallstatt. Tourists also get to know detailed history of the salt caves and mines.