Gimmelwald to Hallstatt: 3 Alpine Villages by Route
Explore two of the most charming villages in the Alps: Gimmelwald in Switzerland, accessible only by cable car, and Hallstatt in Austria, on the banks of the Hallstätter See. This 121.2 km route connects two iconic destinations where traditional architecture and mountainous landscapes create scenarios of singular beauty.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Gimmelwald, Swiss Alps
- End
- Hallstätter See (House Tetter Sea)
- Stops
- 3
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Gimmelwald, Swiss Alps — Mountain village nestled in the Bernese Alps where modernity has not yet arrived
- Hallstatt, Alpine Lake Village — Picturesque village so beautiful it has been replicated identically in China
- Hallstätter See (House Tetter Sea) — Charming lakeside village considered one of the most enchanting in the world
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Gimmelwald is only accessible by cable car or narrow trails; cars don't get there.
- Food
- In Gimmelwald, buy artisanal alpine cheese (Alp-käse) in the small open houses along the village.
- Timing
- Visit Hallstatt in winter to see the lake's steam rising like a veil, creating mystical atmosphere.
- Transport
- In Giethoorn, use silent boats to move around the canals; Cars do not exist in the village.
- Food
- In Giethoorn, try apple pies with cinnamon in the small local bakeries.
- Timing
- Visit Colmar in spring to enjoy the scent of flowers, or at Christmas when the lights transform the village.
- Food
- Taste the Kogelhop, a typical Alsatian cake, in the bakeries of Colmar.
- Timing
- Visit Shirakawa-go in winter when the snow covers everything and the village looks like a living nativity scene at dusk.
- Timing
- In Oia, arrive before sunset to see the sky transform into shades of orange, pink, and purple.
- Food
- In Paraty, taste fresh fish, shrimp with banana and cachaça from a traditional still.
- Food
- In Jiufen, explore alleys at night to try street food with aromas of ginger, green tea, and bean sweets.
- Timing
- Visit Reine in winter to see the Northern Lights dance over the village and its red houses.
Video on this route
12 Hidden Villages That Look Otherworldly (But Are Real)