Seehotel Grüner Baum

Snapshot

Traditional lakeside inn directly on the waterfront of Hallstatt, with the UNESCO World Heritage village rising behind and the Hallstatter See in front. One of the most photographed hotel positions in Austria.

The Story

Hallstatt is one of the most visited villages in Austria, and for most people it is a day trip: arrive mid-morning, join the crowds on the narrow lane, leave by mid-afternoon. Staying overnight is a fundamentally different experience.

The Grüner Baum occupies the prime position on Hallstatt’s famous Marktplatz, right on the water. After the last tour buses leave in the evening, the village becomes something else entirely: extraordinarily quiet, lit by reflections on the lake, and almost entirely yours. The same is true at dawn. It is hard to think of another destination in the Salzkammergut where the decision to stay overnight rather than day-trip makes such a tangible difference to what you actually see and feel.

Visiting

• Book well ahead: Hallstatt has very limited accommodation and demand is high throughout the season.
• The restaurant is open to non-guests; the lakefront terrace is the best seat in the village in fine weather.
• Hallstatt is accessible by boat from the train station at Hallstatt Bahnhof on the opposite shore.