Hallstatt

The iconic central square and the 1 km timber-and-paved lakeside walkway that defines Hallstatt's postcard image. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout, café terraces accept dogs without fuss, and several gravel pockets between the boathouses let dogs paddle at the water's edge. Best enjoyed before 10:00 or after 18:00 to escape day-tripper crowds.

The funicular from the village to the Salzberg plateau at 855 m, with leashed dogs travelling free. At the top, the cantilevered Skywalk Welterbeblick offers a 360° panorama of Hallstatt, the lake and the Dachstein massif. The Salzwelten salt mine itself BANS dogs, but the funicular, the Rudolfsturm restaurant terrace and the Skywalk are entirely dog-friendly.

The Dachstein cable car from Obertraun climbs to the 2,109 m Krippenstein plateau in three stages, with leashed dogs admitted on all sections (€5 dog ticket return). At the top: the iconic Five Fingers viewing platform (free, dog-accessible), the Welterbespirale walking spiral, and access to the long Heilbronner Trail. Note: the Mammuthöhle ice cave at the middle station bans dogs.

A gentle 6 km valley walk from the south end of Hallstatt village along the Waldbach stream, through meadows and beech forest to the dramatic Waldbachstrub waterfall at the foot of the Dachstein wall. Almost level grade, plenty of shade, multiple stream crossings for cool paw dips, and far less day-tripper traffic than the village. Ideal in a Hallstatt heatwave.

A 3.5 km nearly level loop trail around Vorderer Gosausee, 22 km west of Hallstatt, with the most iconic mirror-reflection view of the Dachstein glacier in the Salzkammergut. Wide gravel path suitable for older dogs, frequent water access and one of the few Salzkammergut lakes that explicitly allows dog swimming at its southern end.

The 12th-century Catholic parish church St Michael, perched on the cliff above the village, contains the famous Beinhaus where 1,200 painted skulls are arranged. The church grounds and the cliffside footpath are dog-accessible on leash; the chapel interior asks dogs to wait outside. One of the calmest dog photo spots in the village even at peak hours.