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- Fünf-Fingers (Five Fingers) — Krippenstein — A steel-and-wood viewing platform that literally juts over the Dachstein abyss; the staggered “finger” ledges give staggeringly different views of Hallstätter See, the Dachstein peaks and glacial valleys. It’s one of those viewpoints you can’t fake anywhere else — dramatic, vertigo-inducing and utterly photogenic. Take the cable car up and time it for late afternoon light.
- Dachstein Ice Cave & Mammuthöhle — The ice cave network below the Dachstein plateau — Hollowed by glaciers, these natural caverns hold walls, columns and frozen sculptures you won’t see above ground. Walking the icy rooms feels like a different planet and the contrast between alpine meadows and the blue ice below is what makes the Dachstein special. (Guided access is normal;
- Fünf-Fingers (Five Fingers) — Krippenstein — A steel-and-wood viewing platform that literally juts over the Dachstein abyss; the staggered “finger” ledges give staggeringly different views of Hallstätter See, the Dachstein peaks and glacial valleys. It’s one of those viewpoints you can’t fake anywhere else — dramatic, vertigo-inducing and utterly photogenic. Take the cable car up and time it for late afternoon light.
- Dachstein Ice Cave & Mammuthöhle — The ice cave network below the Dachstein plateau — Hollowed by glaciers, these natural caverns hold walls, columns and frozen sculptures you won’t see above ground. Walking the icy rooms feels like a different planet and the contrast between alpine meadows and the blue ice below is what makes the Dachstein special. (Guided access is normal; it’s a natural wonder, not a theme park.)
- Gosausee (Lake Gosau) — The classic Dachstein reflection lake — A compact, crystal-clear lake with one of the clearest mirror-views of the Dachstein face. Short circular walks, a handful of picnic spots and quiet morning reflections make it unbeatable for calm photography and a proper mountain swim when it’s warm.
- Hallstatt historic lakeside village — Timber-front houses, narrow alleys and salt-town atmosphere — Yes, it’s famous, but walking the lakeshore, slipping down a side alley before the tour buses arrive, and watching fishermen haul nets is the real deal. The town’s centuries-old salt heritage gives it a unique scale and feel — you’re walking where people lived around export salt for a very long time.
- Hallstatt Beinhaus (Bone House) at St. Michael’s Chapel — A tiny, strangely beautiful ossuary — Rows of painted skulls and neatly stacked bones tell a blunt local story: tiny graveyards once forced creative burial practices. It’s not gory for the sake of it — it’s a culturally specific, oddly poetic peek into Alpine life and mortality.
- Loser Plateau & Augstsee (hidden gem) — Limestone plateau, jagged ridgelines and a sheltered alpine lake — Drive or hike up the Loser road and you get broad panoramic plateaus, short scrambles and then Augstsee: a small, translucent lake tucked into rock that feels secluded even on busy weekends. The landscape here is starkly different from the gentler lakes below.
- Altaussee & the lakeshore loop — Deep blue water and authentic village life (hidden gem) — Altaussee’s lake is quieter than Hallstatt’s and used by locals for fishing, walks and swims. The village still retains working-town vibes: mountain inns, wood carving, and the shoreline loop is a peaceful way to soak up Salzkammergut atmosphere without the crowds.
- Gosauschlucht (Gosau Gorge) — Wooden boardwalk canyon walks (hidden gem) — A compact, photogenic gorge carved by the Dachstein streams with boardwalks that thread right along the canyon wall. It’s a cool, splashy place on hot days and far less trodden than the big lakes — perfect for a quick geology fix and refreshing detour.
- Ramsau am Dachstein - Hintersee meadows and pastoral trails — Alpine meadows, free-range cows and close-up Dachstein views — Skip the postcard spots and wander the Hintersee area: small tarns, hay meadows and quiet farm trails where locals still dry hay the old way. It’s simple, pastoral Austria with the Dachstein massif always looming above.
- Salt-country footpaths and old trade trails around Hallstatt-Altaussee — Walk the historic salt routes — You can still follow parts of the salt-haul trails and forest paths that linked mines and villages for centuries. They’re low-key, rarely crowded and layered with history: worn switchbacks, tiny shepherd huts and viewpoints used by salt workers. Visiting these trails gives the cultural context that makes the region more than just pretty mountains and lakes.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.