The Hallstatt salt mine at a glance
The salt mine lies in the high valley above Hallstatt and is run by the Salzwelten company, which describes it as the oldest salt mine in the world. That is the operator's own claim. It points to around 7,000 years of salt history and says people lived and mined in the high valley by about 5000 BC. UNESCO also notes salt production on a large scale from the Middle Bronze Age.
The guided tour lasts about 90 minutes and covers roughly 2 kilometres underground. You leave the mountain on the mine train. The whole visit, including the funicular and the walk to the start, takes at least three hours. The new funicular has been running since 29 August 2026, after a year of closure.
What you see on the tour
The route mixes history with a few rides.
Miners' slides
You descend between levels on wooden slides, as miners did. The longest is 64 metres. Several slides are part of the route.
Underground salt lake
An underground salt lake is part of the route.
Bronze Age cinema
A 4K film covers the early mining. Here you also find the oldest staircase in Europe, which is about 2,800 years old.
Mine train
The tour ends with a ride out of the mountain on the mine train.
Our picks: trips with a salt mine
Two private trips from Salzburg and a tour to the Berchtesgaden mine.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Private trip with salt mine and Skywalk tickets
Private car from Salzburg with a guide, the funicular, the Skywalk and the official salt mine tour included. Booked yourself, funicular and mine cost €49 for adults.
Check availability →Private trip from Salzburg, mine tickets optional
A private driver-guide from Salzburg. Salt mine, funicular and Skywalk are only included if you choose the ticket option.
Check availability →Hallstatt and Berchtesgaden salt mine from Salzburg
Combines Hallstatt with the salt mine in Berchtesgaden, not the one in Hallstatt. Check on the tour page which tickets are included.
Check availability →Hallstatt salt mine tours
Salt mine visits, with and without a day trip from Vienna or Salzburg, with live prices and availability.
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Salt mine tickets 2026
Prices valid from 29 August 2026 as listed by the operator. Check them before you travel.
| Ticket | Adult | Child 4 to 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Mine tour plus funicular | €49 | €23 |
| Mine tour only, for walkers | €33 | €16 |
| Funicular only | €29 | €14 |
| Group of 20 or more, mine plus funicular | €47 | – |
| Special tour "Hallstatt Exklusiv", about 4 hours, max. 10 people | €125 | – |
Every 21st person in a group goes free. The special tour needs registration. Children under 4 cannot enter the mine, but they can ride the funicular and visit the Skywalk.
The €33 ticket is meant for walkers. The climb on foot takes 50 minutes to an hour and is steep, and the combined ticket saves you that effort for €16 more. If you want the view as well, read our Skywalk guide first, because the funicular ticket already covers the platform.
Opening hours and timing
From 29 August to 1 November 2026 the last tour starts at 16:30. From 2 November to 6 January 2027 the last tour starts at 15:00. The last ascent is 30 minutes before the last tour. On 24 and 31 December the mine is closed. We could not confirm hours after 6 January 2027.
Be at the valley station 45 minutes before your tour begins. If you visit the Skywalk first, allow about 15 minutes on foot from there to the Knappenhaus, where the tour starts.
Salzwelten shops are at the bus terminal and on the market square. The mine tour itself is underground, so weather matters less than for the Skywalk, though the funicular ride and the views above ground depend on it.
The operator suggests planning at least an hour for finding a parking space. Read how parking works in Hallstatt before you drive.
What to wear and who can come
The conditions underground are the same all year.
Temperature
It is about 8 °C inside in every season. Bring a warm layer and sturdy shoes.
Age
Children can join the mine tour from the age of 4.
Access
The mine is not wheelchair accessible. The funicular and the bistro at the top are step-free.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome, with a muzzle on the funicular. Free dog boxes are available at the Knappenhaus.
A free audio guide in many languages is available in the Salzwelten Destination Guide app.
The Hallstatt culture and the burial ground
The high valley gave a whole period its name.
The Hallstatt burial ground in the high valley lent its name to the Early Iron Age, the Hallstatt period. The operator dates it to about 800 to 400 BC, while other sources say 800 to 450 BC. Researchers from the Natural History Museum in Vienna work on the burial ground and in the prehistoric tunnels every summer. The preserving effect of salt matters for the finds. You can walk to the burial ground from the Skywalk. Salzwelten counted more than 490,000 guests in the mine in a recent year.
Combine the mine with
Hallstatt Skywalk
The viewing platform 350 metres above the village, included in the funicular ticket.
Dachstein ice cave
A second cave experience across the lake, with a cable car from Obertraun.
Day trip from Vienna
How long the journey takes and when a guided tour makes more sense.
Hallstatt salt mine: frequently asked questions
How long does the salt mine tour take?
The guided tour lasts about 90 minutes. Plan at least three hours for the whole visit, including the funicular and the walk to the start.
How much is the Hallstatt salt mine?
In 2026 the mine with the funicular costs €49 for adults and €23 for children aged 4 to 15. The mine alone costs €33 and €16.
Is the Hallstatt salt mine really the oldest in the world?
That is what the operator says. It cites about 7,000 years of salt history. UNESCO describes large-scale salt production from the Middle Bronze Age.
Can children go into the salt mine?
Yes, from the age of 4. Younger children can ride the funicular and visit the Skywalk but not enter the mine.
Is the salt mine open in winter?
Yes, until 6 January 2027, with shorter hours from 2 November. It is closed on 24 and 31 December. Hours after that are not confirmed.
What should I wear in the salt mine?
Warm clothes and sturdy shoes. It is about 8 °C inside all year.