Salzwelten Hallstatt, Hallstatt

When visiting upper Austria and the lake Hallstatt area, this is a must do activity, visiting the oldest active salt mine in the world. The tour through is a great experience. While waiting for the tour to start there is a cafe (snacks/finger food too) and bathroom in the building. The tour guide is friendly and is done in both German and English when going through. They are very knowledgeable as they explain about the salt mine, the mining process and it's history. There are a number of interactive visual experiences as you go through. It's really a well maintained and clean experience. Take some warm clothes with you, you are given overalls to wear over your clothes, and a free locker to leave your belongings in before you enter the mine. Inside the mine was about 8 degrees Celsius. We went as a family of 4 with 2 young kids 4 and 5, and they enjoyed it too. There are a couple slides and a train ride to finish it off.

Very particular place, standing on top of a hill, reachable via funicular (cost of the funicular and salt mine entrance = 36). There is a parking nearby the funicular Station. The tour of the mine takes 2 hrs. Better to go early, since there is always a queue. You are provided of special clothes to dress on top of yours. Then there is a walk to get into the tunnels and the caves areas, where a guide shows you how the salt is extracted. In a dedicated section a movie shows how in the prehistoric eve the salt was extracted. There are then two slides very funny to move from one area to another. Finally a train brings you back to the starting point. Highly recommended.