Hallstatt to Hallein and Bad Ischl: Private day trip

Inhabited for 4000 years, Hallein was a Celtic settlement before being conquered by the Romans. However, its richest era came in the Middle Ages when the salt mines below the city supplied it, and Salzberg, with 'white gold'. Thanks to the constant flow of income, the Hallein's old town is filled with picturesque buildings, most notably from the Baroque period. Its rich heritage is preserved in two notable museums: one dedicated to the ancient Celts, and another to the Christmas song 'Silent Night', and its composer composer Franz Xaver Gruber. The city's salt mines are also open to visitors, where the mine train brings you into the heart of the mountain as experienced miners guide you through the oldest salt mine in the world. After disembarking, you can whizz down one of the two miner’s slides to reach the amazing subterranean salt lake, where an incredible multimedia show retraces the footsteps of the Celts who mined here 400 B.C. Afterwards, be sure to embark on a serene boat ride across the spectacular lake deep inside the mountain.

Franz Josef loved the town so much that he visited it every year for 60 years until his death and Bad Ischl quickly became known as the ‘Vienna of the Lakes’, given that the town sits on the riverside close to the beautiful Mount Katrin. What sets Bad Ischl apart from many other Austrian towns is that the presence of the emperor can still be felt today. Reminders are everywhere, from the portraits adorning buildings, the statue of the emperor and the Viennese-style coffee houses where among the delicious chocolate cake and coffee, photographs of the emperor and his wife abound along with those of the other European royals who would often visit. The ambience coupled with the classical, colorful and graceful architecture of the town still evokes a feel of an imperial age, which in its own unique way, still leaves a lasting impression on all those who stop by this historic spa town.