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Practical Wanderlust

Off-Beat Couple's Travel Blog

Europe

23 Photos Proving that Hallstatt, Austria in Winter is a Fairytale

Last Updated:   November 30, 2019

Hallstatt, Austria is one of the best trips from Vienna! It's a stunning Christmas Fairytale village in the Austrian Alps.
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Hallstatt, Austria is a fairytale come to life. I’ve been dreaming of visiting this magical village ever since I first saw a picture of it, and I knew instantly that I wanted to visit in winter. I’m a mountains & snow girl, and there’s nothing more snowy and mountainy than a village on a lake in the Austrian Alps. We needed an excuse to share all of the stunning photos we took during our visit to Hallstatt in the winter, so we’ve compiled our favorites into one photo-heavy post – plus all the details you need to plan your own trip to Hallstatt, of course! Get ready for some drool-worthy winter wanderlust fuel. Also, swans.

Table of Contents

  • Arriving in Hallstatt, Austria
  • The Town of Hallstatt, Austria
  • Where to Stay in Hallstatt, Austria
  • Exploring Hallstatt, Austria in a Day
  • Things to Do in Hallstatt in the Winter
  • The History of Hallstatt, Austria
  • How to Get to Hallstatt
    • How to get from Vienna to Hallstatt
    • How to get from Salzburg to Hallstatt
  • What to Pack for Hallstatt in the Winter

Psst: Here are two super detailed winter Europe itineraries – and they even include Hallstatt! While you’re planning a winter trip to Europe, check out our other posts about wintry destinations in Europe! (We’re only SLIGHTLY in love with Europe in the winter, as you can see …)

  • 10 Things to do in Vienna in the Winter: The Ultimate Vienna Christmas Guide
  • 12 Delightful Things to Do in Prague in the Winter
  • 14 Reasons to Visit Český Krumlov this Winter

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Snowy Hallstatt, Austria in front of a mountain, reflected in the icy lake.

Snowy Hallstatt, Austria in front of a mountain, reflected in the icy lake. Basically a fairytale Christmas village come to life.

Arriving in Hallstatt, Austria

You know how sometimes you visit a bucket-list destination and it’s not what you imagined? Well, this was like that, in that it was SO MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN I IMAGINED.

Hallstatt is a LIVING Christmas village, like the kind of fairytale town that Jeremy’s grandmother builds each year, complete with teeny trains and fluffy cotton snow. Except life-sized!

To get to Hallstatt, we took a real-sized train thanks to our Eurail pass, and hopped off at the Hallstatt stop, directly across the lake from the town. Here we found a tiny dock with a tiny ferry – named Stefanie – to shepherd visitors from the train to the village.

This is hands down the most magical, dramatic way to approach a tiny beautiful fairytale mountain town and we highly recommend it.

Hallstatt, Austria reflected in the lake beneath a snowy mountain.

Hallstatt is beautiful from literally every angle. It’s like the town version of Beyonce.

As we clamored onto Stefanie the ferry, snow began to fall in earnest, so that we could barely make out the town of Hallstatt through the snowy mist swirling around the mountains.

And then, we saw it: the spire of the church. The reflection of the lights in the water. The pitched roofs of 800-year old houses, dusted with fresh snow. Mother flipping SWANS playing in the water!!

This was it: my heaven.

The Marketplatz in the center of Hallstatt, Austria in the winter.

The Marketplatz in the center of Hallstatt is peak charming.

I had never seen any place so beautiful in my life, and I couldn’t stop staring. After the ferry docked, I stayed on until everyone left, taking pictures and openly gawking – until they (very nicely) asked me to please leave.

We shouldered our backpacks and crunched our way up the path into town. Each new view was more exciting than the last.

I was giddy. If I wasn’t saddled with a 30-pound backpack, I probably would have skipped through town.

Hallstatt, Austria at twilight during a winter snowstorm. Mountains, fog, snow, … this is my literal heaven!

The Town of Hallstatt, Austria

To get to the inn where we would spend the next two nights, we headed straight into town on the main road – and promptly stopped in our tracks.

We’d found the Marketplatz, the main square of Hallstatt, Austria.  It was multi-colored, there was a giant Christmas tree, everything was snow-covered and magical, and I died and went to heaven right then and there.

The Marketplatz in Hallstatt, Austria first thing in the morning, under a dusting of fresh snow.

The Marketplatz in Hallstatt, Austria first thing in the morning, under a dusting of fresh snow. What is it about pastels and snow that just go together SO well?!

We had to stop ourselves from ducking into the welcoming shops lining the square, boasting signs like FRESH LEBKUCHEN and PINECONE SCHNAPPS. (Don’t worry, we came back later. They were both delicious and yes, they both tasted like Christmas in the mountains).

Pink buildings and a star hanging from a tree in snowy Hallstatt, Austria in the winter.

The colorful buildings near the Hallstatt Museum just off the main square. We saw these beautiful yellow stars all through the town, but couldn’t figure out why!

After just a few minutes of joyfully crunching through fresh new snow in the most beautiful town I’ve ever seen in my life, we arrived at our hotel: the Bräu-Gasthof, which means brewery guesthouse.

YES Y’ALL, we stayed in a 700-year old brewery!

The Bräu-Gasthof in Hallstatt, Austria, in the winter.

The Bräu-Gasthof is directly on the main street in Hallstatt and is one of the primary destinations for visitors because of a group of trees decorated with hanging stars just out front! Hey, can you see me up there on our little balcony? I’m next to the star!

We dropped our bags in our room with a sigh of relief and headed right back out to explore Hallstatt in the snow as the sunset. This is the perfect time of day to wander through Hallstatt, as the crowds from visiting tour groups have all gone home already and only a few like us who opted to stay overnight are left.

A quiet street view of Hallstatt, Austria in the snow in winter.

Blissfully empty streets in Hallstatt, Austria. The tour groups fill up the main street around midday, but early morning and late afternoon-evening are the perfect times to explore a quieter Hallstatt, Austria!

Where to Stay in Hallstatt, Austria

As night and snow fell, we made our way back to warm, cozy Bräu-Gasthof for dinner. The Bräu-Gasthof is home to one of the best restaurants in Hallstatt, and we were eager to try some cozy comfort food!

We stomped off the snow from our boots and rubbed our frozen noses, entered the restaurant, and promptly went back in time about 700 years.

The food at our accomodation, the 700-year-old Brau-Gasthof (brewery guesthouse), was some of the best we tried in Austria! Pictured here: goulash with dumplings, clear broth soup, and beer (of course).

The food at our accomodation, the 700-year-old Brau-Gasthof (brewery guesthouse), was some of the best we tried in Austria! Pictured here: goulash with dumplings, clear broth soup, and beer (of course).

I imagine our dinner at the Bräu-Gasthof was much like it would have been centuries ago. We warmed up over a bowl of clear, shimmering broth with a single fried cheese dumpling soaking up all of its brothy goodness, which nourished me down to my freakin’ soul.

Lia in a hat gazing out of the window of the Bräu-Gasthof in Hallstatt, Austria.

Me, bouncing up and down at 6am trying to contain myself while Jeremy wakes up because I can’t WAIT to go play in the snow!

In addition to some of the coziest, most soul-nourishing, delicious meals we ate during our entire trip to Austria, the Bräu-Gasthof was also surprisingly comfortable for a 700-year old inn. 

Although one corner of our room contained a large, ancient wood-burning furnace, our room was pleasantly heated the modern way, and not drafty in the slightest despite the blizzard outside our windows.

And speaking of those windows: we had 2. One of them looked out over the lake, and the other led to a little patio that gazed directly out onto the street below. So no matter which way I turned, there was snow, and mountains, and Hallstatt, and heaven.

We highly recommend staying at the Bräu-Gasthof during your trip to Hallstatt. The location is excellent, the food is delicious, the room is comfortable, and the views are to die for! Check pricing for your dates.

If Airbnb is more your vibe it is a little limiting to find Airbnbs here as it is such a small village but it is well worth checking out this apartment. The family who own it live above and have an adorable dog and cats which really is a huge selling point for us, HOLIDAY PETS!!

The balcony of our room at the Brau Gasthof in Hallstatt Austria, which looked out over the lake and the village below.

The balcony of our room at the Bräu-Gasthof in Hallstatt Austria, which looked out over the lake and the village below.

I couldn’t stop staring out the windows in glee, watching the snow pile up outside, pointing frantically and saying things like “JEREMY LOOK” and “DO YOU SEE HOW MUCH SNOW THERE IS JEREMY” and bouncing up and down and pressing my face up against the glass.

Snow turns me into a 6 year old, and I could hardly make myself go to sleep. I was way too excited to wake up to a fresh blanket of white, powdery snow and a new place to discover.

Christmas Decorations in Hallstatt, Austria.
Me, the entire trip: JEREMY LOOK JEREMY CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS LOOK JEREMY LOOK
How could anyone sleep when there is SNOW FALLING and EXPLORING to be done?!
How could anyone sleep when there is SNOW FALLING and EXPLORING to be done?!

Those of you who have spent more than 5 seconds browsing the blog probably already know that Jeremy and I are NOT Morning People. We’re not even Mid-Morning People. We’re like, Late Morning/Early Afternoon People, and that’s really only if we can get some coffee in us by 10am.

But in Hallstatt? In Hallstatt, I was totally a Morning Person.

I swear I woke up like 83 times throughout the night so I could glance out the window to confirm that 1) it was still snowing and 2) it wasn’t time to wake up yet.

And then, FINALLY, at 6am (!!!) I could no longer contain myself. The first light of dawn was poking its head around an Alp as if to say “hey, y’all, come on out!”

I bolted out of bed like a kid on Christmas Morning (as opposed to the week before in Vienna, when it was actually Christmas Morning, and I slept in until noon. But I’m blaming that one on jet lag.) 

Snowy houses freshly covered in snow on a quiet morning in Hallstatt, Austria in winter!

Snowy houses freshly covered in snow on a quiet morning in Hallstatt, Austria in winter!

Sure enough, the town was covered in fresh, glorious, undisturbed snow. No crowds in sight. Just us, some swans, and a whole Austrian village to explore.

I dragged Jeremy out of bed and threw on as many layers as I could reach.

Within 5 minutes flat I was outside, breathing in the chilly mountain air and thinking to myself “this is it, I’m starting my life as a Morning Person TODAY.”

(Spoilers: the minute we left Hallstatt I returned to my natural state as highly nocturnal and completely unable to wake up before 9am.)

Looking out over the snowy roofs of Hallstatt, Austria.

Just gazing out over the snowy rooftops of Hallstatt, Austria, pinching myself that I’m really here.

Exploring Hallstatt, Austria in a Day

One of the biggest questions on our mind when we were planning our trip was “how much time should we spend in Hallstatt?”

We opted for 1 full day of exploring, and 2 nights of sleeping in town. If we were to do it again, we’d give ourselves 2 full days. Still, it’s possible to see the village itself in a day.

Even though we had a full day to explore, we got started early. We took a morning walk at 6am (seriously, who ARE we?!) through the newly snow-dusted streets, fresh powder crunching under our feet in the calm, peaceful, and blissfully empty town.

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There were just a few other visitors out walking around and snapping photos – it seemed like they were all actual Morning People, not just Hallstatt Morning People, damn them – but other than that, we had the town all to ourselves.

We took a lap around the Marketplatz and said good morning to some swans (and then named them Sven Swan, Svlad Swan, and Stephen Swan) before heading back to the Bräu-Gasthof to enjoy an incredibly filling breakfast. Because there are no breakfasts in the world better than Austrian breakfasts. Fact.

A winter morning in Hallstatt, Austria. Just us, the snow, and Sven, Svlad, and Stephen Swan.

A winter morning in Hallstatt, Austria. Just us, the snow, and Sven, Svlad, and Stephen Swan.

Although Hallstatt is small, it is popular, and the tour buses full of visitors began arriving around 9am, just as we were finishing breakfast. I’m so grateful to my internal clock for adjusting itself this one time so I could explore the town early in the morning, and I advise any visitors to Hallstatt to do the same: wake up early! You’ll be glad you did.

But if you’re visiting Hallstatt on a day trip, here’s one more tip to avoid the crowds: start climbing!

Walking through Hallstatt, you’ll come across several little staircases that lead up the mountain that this little village is built into. Climb up them, and you’ll soon find yourself above the crowds and exploring some cozy, quiet, blissfully empty little paths.

Exploring the old houses in Hallstatt, Austria in the winter, one of the best day trips from Vienna.

Here’s a tip to avoid the crowds in Hallstatt, Austria: if you see a staircase, climb it! You’ll soon lose the crowds down below and be rewarded for your efforts with stunning views of the town.

Hallstatt is full of tiny paths and little corners to explore, and the crowds tend to stay down near the main road. That’s a mistake! We spent much of our day climbing up as far as we could go and exploring the quieter side of Hallstatt.  Just don’t, ya know, trespass. Stairs are publicly available for you to enjoy – people’s homes are off limit.

Another benefit? Continuously climbing tiny staircases helped us stay warm. Just don’t forget to pack some snow-proof shoes – our sherpa-lined waterproof leather boots from Vivobarefoot kept our feet warm and dry (these are mine & these are Jeremy’s).

Frozen waterfalls in Hallstatt, Austria.

Of course there’s a frozen waterfall. Every good fairytale mountain town has a frozen waterfall. That’s just like, the rule.

Things to Do in Hallstatt in the Winter

Before our visit, we were wondering if there’s actually enough to do in Hallstatt to keep us occupied for an entire day. Hallstatt is a sleepy village – there is no nightlife to be had, few “activities” are possible in the winter, whereas in the summertime, there are tons of outdoorsy opportunities like hiking in Hallstatt or boating in Lake Hallstatt, plus you can even tour the salt mine.

However, exploring and wandering on foot and taking photos and eating and naming swans is actually plenty to keep us occupied.

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Sure, “just walk around and look at stuff” may sound like a snooze, but actually, it’s one of our favorite ways to travel! We could have spent several happy days simply soaking in the views and breathing the fresh mountain air and making snow angels.

That said, if would have had 2 days in Hallstatt, we would have spent one of them at Dachstein Krippenstein, skiing or snowboarding or snow-shoeing or exploring the giant Ice Cave (!!!!!!). But sadly, we only had 1 day to spend exploring the town on foot. Obviously, we’ll have to come back.

Hallstatt, Austria is built right into the side of a mountain and is criss-crossed with little staircases and walking-only paths. The higher you climb up the icy stairs, the emptier the streets are and the better the views!

Hallstatt, Austria is built right into the side of a mountain and is criss-crossed with little staircases and walking-only paths. The higher you climb up the icy stairs, the emptier the streets are and the better the views!

The History of Hallstatt, Austria

After hours of exploring the town on foot, we headed back down to the main square to warm up in the Hallstatt Museum and learn about the history of Hallstatt, because we’re nerds and we enjoy context.

The history of Hallstatt dates wayyyyy back to before the current town was built. Excavations and archeological sites place the first settlers near Hallstatt as early as 7,000 years ago.

These prehistoric settlers did something truly amazing: they founded the world’s first salt mine. (Well, scientifically speaking, it’s the world’s first *known* salt mine, but still, DAYYUUMMMM!) 

Gazing out over Hallstatt, Austria next to a Christmas Tree.

Trying to imagine what this view must looked like 700 years ago … or 7,000 years ago.

These lucky settlers had deliciously seasoned food and some of the best views in the world, so they stayed. And stayed.

And for century after century, the residents of this salt-rich little valley lived a comfortable life, shielded from whatever else was going on in the world, content to mine their salt and then sell it at exorbitant prices to the rest of the world.

The villagers of Hallstatt enjoyed a life of luxury, no matter who they were or who they were governed by: Celtics, Romans, Austrians, and so on.

There was, however, the occasional fire, wiping out the existing village and requiring a newly constructed one. That explains why the Hallstatt of today is so “young” compared to the age that the area has been inhabited (of course, as residents of USA, a tiny baby country with tiny baby buildings, 700+ years is still a mind-bogglingly long period of time).

Lia and Jeremy from Practical Wanderlust in Hallstatt, Austria in the winter.

Just lookin’ adorable and being mushy in a snowy mountain town, living my dream life.

After the museum, we continued exploring Hallstatt on foot, tasting some samples of local zirbenschnaps, which is Schnapps made out of pinecones. It tastes like mountain air and Christmas and evergreen forests. 

We browsed some gift shops, purchasing a few hand-made wooden Christmas ornaments and some locally mined bath salts.

And of course, we threw snowballs at each other. #marriage

Riding the comfortable train from Vienna to Hallstatt was super easy thanks to our Eurail pass!

Riding the comfortable train from Vienna to Hallstatt was super easy thanks to our Eurail pass! The train passes through gorgeous Austrian countryside, which gets progressively snowier as you leave Vienna behind on your way into Hallstatt.

How to Get to Hallstatt

Getting from Vienna to Hallstatt was incredibly easy, especially with our Eurail pass. Here are instructions for getting to Hallstatt from Vienna or Salzburg.

How to get from Vienna to Hallstatt

  • Getting from Vienna to Hallstatt by train:  In Vienna, head to either Hauptbahnhof or Westbahnhof station. Take an Austria National OBB train to Attnang-Puchheim, which takes around 2 hours. Once you reach Attnang-Puchheim station, you’ll need to transfer to a regional train heading directly to Hallstatt.  Your regional train will take you through scenic Austrian countryside for about 85 minutes before depositing you at tiny Hallstatt Markt station across the lake from Hallstatt. Walk down the path and take the ferry into town. Because Vienna and Hallstatt are so close, make sure take advantage of Vienna in wintertime with this ultimate Vienna Christmas guide!
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How to get from Salzburg to Hallstatt

  • Getting from Salzburg to Hallstatt by train: This trip is much the same as the journey from Vienna, but shorter.  From Salzburg, take an Austria National OBB train to Attnang-Puchheim, which takes around an hour. Once you reach Attnang-Puchheim station, you’ll need to transfer to a regional train heading directly to Hallstatt.  Your regional train will take you through scenic Austrian countryside for about 85 minutes before depositing you at tiny Hallstatt Markt station across the lake from Hallstatt. Walk down the path and take the ferry into town!
  • Getting from Salzburg to Hallstatt by bus & train: We hear this route is actually more scenic than the train route, although we haven’t personally tried it. In Salzburg, head to the bus terminal – it’s just outside of the doors of the main train station in Südtiroler Platz. Take bus #150 heading to Bad Ischl. In Bad Ischl, hop off the bus, head inside the train staton (the bus terminal is just outside of it) and take a regional train the rest of the way to Hallstatt.
  • Your regional train will take you through scenic Austrian countryside for about 85 minutes before depositing you at tiny Hallstatt Markt station across the lake from Hallstatt. Walk down the path and take the ferry into town!

If you still have questions about getting to Hallstatt, there’s an excellent FAQ guide right here.

Lia in Hallstatt, Austria in the winter, next to a small Christmas tree and in front of the lake and mountains.

Travel Makeup Tip: wear bright red lipstick in the winter. It will instantly make you look insanely polished, and pop really well against the snow in photos. Boom, lazy makeup done.

What to Pack for Hallstatt in the Winter

Hallstatt in the winter is very cold. Cuz, you know, it’s covered in snow and tucked away in the Austrian Alps. You’ll want to layer up every day. Luckily, winter layering is the perfect vehicle for adorable accessories like scarves and hats! Here are our recommendations for clothing that’s both functional AND super cute to wear in Hallstatt in the winter. Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe for a FREE winter packing guide for Europe using the form below!  If you’re looking for more details, we’ve got a full Europe in winter packing list guide.

  • Warm Walking Boots: Do not skimp on your shoes for your winter trip to Hallstatt!  We recommend boots that can withstand ice or snow, are totally waterproof, and are comfortable enough to walk in for HOURS, especially on uneven cobblestone or icy 700-year-old wooden steps. We’re OBSESSED with our winter boots (and yes, we both have the same ones. Because we’re gross like that). They’re cute, they’re insanely comfortable, they’re waterproof leather and lined with shearling to keep your toes toasty warm, and they’re extremely lightweight and foldable so you can stuff them in your bag when you travel. Oh, and they have thin and flexible soles that let your feet function as if you were walking around in freezing cold Hallstatt completely barefoot!  Note: you might find yourself in need of some calf strengthening before your trip if you’re not used to barefoot-style soles. We can’t recommend these boots enough. They’re made to last and they’re worth every cent – we wear them damn near every day when it’s cold out. We even went snow-shoeing in them once. They are tried & true! Here are my boots and Jeremy’s boots. You can read more about them in our round-up of our favorite travel shoes for women or for men.
  • Wool Socks: Run-of-the-mill acrylic or cotton socks won’t keep your feet warm while you’re exploring Hallstatt.Make sure you get socks that are primarily made of soft, heat-regulating wool, like these or these. 
  • Travel Jeans: Jeremy and I each have a pair of black travel jeans from Aviator USA.  Unlike regular jeans, travel jeans are designed specifically to solve travel-related woes. One of my personal woes is the lack of pockets on women’s jeans. But thankfully, our travel jeans have 6 POCKETS – and they’re all luxuriously large and roomy, too! They’re super stretchy and buttery soft, dry quickly in the rain or when wet, and keep our legs warm when it’s cold out. They’re cozy enough to wear on a plane, stretchy enough to accommodate that 5 extra pounds of holiday weight I always seem to bring back home with me, and they’re super cute! We’re both obsessed. You can get a pair of men’s or women’s black jeans (my personal favorites) on the Aviator USA website.
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  • Wool Undershirt: Laying is crucial when it’s this cold. My favorite way to make sure I stay warm all day is to put a warm layer of wool on before everything else. This is the wool cami I wear, and this is the wool t-shirt Jeremy wears.
  • Wool Leggings: These super comfy 100% wool leggings function just like long underwear. Except they’re made of soft, super-luxurious wool instead of cheap polyester, and make your legs feel like they’re being hugged by an extremely soft sheep. I wore a pair of these under my pants every single day and they kept me toasty warm (without being too hot)! Jeremy has this pair, too. Bonus: they also double as the world’s coziest lounge leggings or even sleepwear!
  • Warm Leggings (with pockets!): Although we bring our wool leggings to layer under our pants, I also bring a pair of regular leggings – you know, for when it’s a balmy 40 degrees in the sun. I love these pants because they actually look like pants, not leggings – and they have ZIPPERED POCKETS!!!! Not those stupid pockets that can fit like, a chapstick and 3 dimes – you can actually zip a phone in there. BLESS.
  • Flannel Shirt: I’m in LOVE with the MerinoLux flannel button-downs from Royal Robbins. They’re stretchy, they’re cozy, they’re blended with merino wool  (yassss) and most importantly, they’re warm AF. But not so warm that you’ll get all sweaty running around Europe and exploring, because they’re also super breathable. They’re also wrinkle resistant, odor resistant, and moisture wicking, and have a hidden zip pocket – so basically everything you could ever ask for in a flannel shirt. I’ve been searching for the perfect flannel for YEARS (you know, one that didn’t give me button-down boob gap and allowed me to actually cross my arms) and this is The One. I love it! Here’s mine and Jeremy’s.
  • Day Bag: I carried this day bag with me every single day packed with my packable down jacket, an extra pair of gloves, and anything else I needed for the day – a notebook, a water bottle, an endless supply of snacks, whatever. Jeremy carried our camera gear in this bag along with his packable down jacket and scarf.
  • Warm Hat: A warm hat is an absolute necessity in chilly Hallstatt in the winter. It also doubles as a super cute accessory! You want a hat that will stay on your head even in blustery gusts of wind, so stay away from those wool felt ~travel girl types of hats and stick with reliable beanies. Personally I’m a fan of the ones with poofs on top, like this or this. Jeremy is more of a purist, and likes to wear beanies like this or this.
  • Warm Coat: Like good warm shoes, a warm winter coat is absolutely necessary for chilly Hallstatt in December & January. I brought 2 coats with me to Europe: a beautiful camel-colored A-line wool coat like this one that kept me incredibly warm and looked amazing in all of my pictures, and a travel-friendly packable down jacket that I kept stuffed in my daypack in case I needed an extra layer! Jeremy wore a peacoat like this one.
  • Scarves: I LOVE a chunky scarf. They’re my favorite accessory! And you will absolutely need a good scarf in Europe. I love this super soft scarf from Royal Robbins, which is blended with wool and turns into a cute shawl or infinity scarf with a few well-placed buttons. I’m also a big fan of scarves that are big enough to double as blankets, like this one or this one.
  • Gloves: Don’t go outside in Hallstatt without gloves on! You will regret it. You will regret it. I love these wool gloves that work with touchscreens, because let’s face it, I have a hard enough time using my phone without wearing gloves.

For more packing tips, head over to our Europe in winter packing list.

Read our Europe in Winter Packing List

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Exploring Brussels, Belgium with the Brussels All-In Discovery Food Tour

Are you packing your warmest clothes and heading to the Austrian Alps yet? We hope these pictures of Hallstatt, Austria in winter ignited your wanderlust! If you’re looking for more Austrian ski getaways, Born Globals has a great guide to the best places to ski in Austria.

Psst: Planning a winter trip to Europe? We combined Austria & its neighbor, the Czech Republic, into one trip. We visited Vienna, Hallstatt, Český Krumlov and Prague during our 2-week long trip. You can read more about our favorite European wintry destinations in the posts below!

  • Two Super Detailed Winter Europe Itineraries
  • 10 Things to do in Vienna in the Winter: The Ultimate Vienna Christmas Guide
  • 12 Delightful Things to Do in Prague in the Winter
  • 14 Reasons to Visit Český Krumlov this Winter
  • 12 Charming Things to Do in Copenhagen in Winter
  • 14 Adorably Romantic Things to do in Bruges, Belgium in Winter
  • The Perfect 7-Day Norway Itinerary for an Epic Winter Trip

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Hallstatt, Austria is a UNESCO world heritage village nestled in the Austrian Alps. Hallstatt in the winter is a winter wonderland - a Christmas fairytale come to life. This photo and travel guide to Hallstatt in winter will inspire your Europe winter travel plans! #Europe #Travel #winterwonderland #traveltips  Hallstatt, Austria is a UNESCO world heritage village nestled in the Austrian Alps. Hallstatt in the winter is a winter wonderland - a Christmas fairytale come to life. This photo and travel guide to Hallstatt in winter will inspire your Europe winter travel plans! #Europe #Travel #winterwonderland #traveltips

Disclaimer: We were hosted by Tourism Dachstein Salzkammergut during our trip to Hallstatt and provided with complimentary passes by Eurail. As always, all opinions, bad jokes, poorly named swans, and obsessive mountain-town-lusting are 100% our own and totally our sponsors’ fault.

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Austria Europe in Winter Hallstatt Photo Essay Romantic Getaways UNESCO World Heritage Winter Winter Travel
by Lia Garcia 
31 Comments

About Lia Garcia

Hey, I'm Lia! I'm a Kentucky native living in Oakland, CA. I'm extremely practical and also entirely addicted to travel, which I'm forever trying to reconcile. If I had a patronus, it would a spreadsheet. Or a llama. Possibly a llama creating a spreadsheet. I'm married to Jeremy and I'm obsessed with him and it's super gross, unless you're us, in which case it's the best.

View all posts by Lia Garcia

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Comments

  1. Erin says: April 13, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    I went to Hallstatt on my first ever European vacation many, many moons ago. Your pictures are amazing and now I want to plan a Christmas trip!! Great recommendations for warm clothing I’v never thought of wool camis and leggings, that’s brilliant!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 19, 2018 at 4:47 pm

      What an amazing way to experience Europe for the first time! And yesss I never go outside in the cold without a full layer of wool underneath all of my clothing, like it’s the 1800’s 😛

      Reply
  2. Mayuri says: April 13, 2018 at 10:18 pm

    This is so beautiful. Love all the shots, makes me wanna take a trip to Austria right this moment

    Very inspiring ♥️

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 19, 2018 at 4:46 pm

      Go with that instinct 😉 Thank you Mayuri!

      Reply
  3. Celia says: April 14, 2018 at 12:24 am

    Great post 🙂 Love your sense of humor. Hallstatt was one of the highlights of my mini Europe trip last winter. We only stayed for a day (morning till afternoon) though, so I would love to go back one day… maybe in the summer when we can row a boat on the lake!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 19, 2018 at 4:46 pm

      Yes! Apparently it’s totally different in the summer. We want to go back too!

      Reply
  4. leanne says: April 14, 2018 at 2:10 am

    This looks absolutely magical! Snow makes every place look pretty but Id imagine it is going to be pretty even without snow here!

    Reply
  5. Linda says: April 14, 2018 at 3:07 am

    Oh my goodness, Hallstatt does look like a fairytale town!! I’m done with winter for this year (it’s FINALLY warming up for spring here in Finland), but one day I definitely want to experience wintery Hallstatt. Especially the pinecone scnapps, because that sounds amazing.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 19, 2018 at 4:43 pm

      Ooooh you’re so close! Well, compared to us all the way in California, at least. You gotta gooooo!

      Reply
  6. Alice says: April 14, 2018 at 4:17 am

    This is so beautiful, please ship me there right now!! I haven’t had the opportunity to go yet but I really can’t wait for that day and I want all of this gorgeous winter experience when I do!

    Reply
  7. Louise says: April 14, 2018 at 7:56 am

    Wow – Hallstatt looks so picturesque! I’m not normally a snow and mountains type of girl but the snow just has a way of making everything look EXTRA pretty. I’m thinking we need to add a winter European trip to our bucketlist!
    I love all your photos! And thank you for sharing what to pack for this trip because I really don’t know how to dress for super cold weather! lol Pinning this for the bucketlist 😉

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 16, 2018 at 11:51 am

      Thanks Louise! And muahahaha, welcome to the dark side. Er, the cold/mountain/snow side, that is 😀

      Reply
  8. Alyssa J says: April 14, 2018 at 8:57 am

    Oh dear this is so, so beautiful!!! I actually planned to head to Austria and Czech Republic last winter but ended up spending Christmas back home instead, now I wish I actually went through the plan! (it’s okay, next winter!)

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 16, 2018 at 11:50 am

      You almost took the trip we ended up doing last year! Well hey, now you have some blog posts to guide your trip for next year 🙂

      Reply
  9. Sarah says: April 14, 2018 at 9:19 am

    Holy sh*it I now want to go to Hallstatt. Actually, I MUST go. In about an hour I will be googling flights and hotels and convincing my husband that it’s totally normal to book a random winter weekend trip 10 months in advance.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 16, 2018 at 11:49 am

      TOTALLY NORMAL. Hey, at least you know prices will be low and hotels won’t be booked yet 😉

      Reply
  10. Amy Dodd says: April 14, 2018 at 10:24 am

    I really wanted to visit Halstatt while I was in Salzburg, and now after these photos I am really bummed that I didn’t have the time! I will def be visiting now during winter though, these photos are beautiful.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 16, 2018 at 11:49 am

      You gotta go back!

      Reply
  11. Kasey says: April 14, 2018 at 10:48 am

    Wow! These are unbelievable gorgeous photos! We were hoping to go to Austria in the summer next year, but now I’m legit wondering if we shouldn’t go in winter. Just wow.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 16, 2018 at 11:40 am

      If you like snow and snow-covered mountains and winter wonderlands, YES YOU SHOULD GO IN WINTER!!!

      Reply
  12. Tasha says: April 14, 2018 at 11:44 am

    Hallstatt looks so beautiful! Especially in the snow. Wonderful photos! Did you find there was still a lot to do there in winter?

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: April 16, 2018 at 11:40 am

      There is not as much to do in the winter as there is in summer, but there’s still plenty to fill a few days! You can go skiing, explore an ice cave, tour the Hallstatt museum, or just do what we did: run around in the snow taking pictures and making snow angels and eating delicious food and generally entertaining ourselves 🙂

      Reply
  13. Jordan says: April 14, 2018 at 2:50 pm

    Your snowy photos are so absolutely dreamy <3 I especially love all your advice on where to stay because I'd love to stay here overnight instead of making it a day trip!

    Reply
  14. Bernade says: July 13, 2018 at 6:43 pm

    Hello Lia and Jeremy,

    What if we bring a family member on a wheelchair? could you please advice me on what to do? Thank you so much.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: July 13, 2018 at 8:18 pm

      Hey Bernade, we certainly aren’t experts but I would say that the main road of Hallstatt is wheelchair accessible. I don’t recall whether many places had stairs to get inside, but the main road through town is mostly flat & wide enough for a wheelchair – just be careful to avoid icy areas, of course! You’ll have difficulty exploring the town by stairs but you can still get a great view overlooking the town via car – there’s a parking lot with some amazing views. I would also advise against taking the ferry to get across the lake, as it’s not only a tricky, icy path to get to the ferry but I doubt it would be very easy to board & offboard with a wheelchair – you’d want to enter by car on the other side. I’m actually not sure though whether you can get from that entrance to the main road in town without stairs… hmm. You know, I’d really recommend reaching out to the tourism board to ask them about this, I think they might be able to give you some better advice! Here’s their website: https://dachstein-salzkammergut.com/

      Reply
  15. Danette Fox says: October 8, 2018 at 7:15 am

    Stunning, dreamy photos & I love how comprehensive your posts are in general. I ended up here after reading your Copenhagen post, which I also loved. I’m curious, in what month did you visit Hallstatt?

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: October 8, 2018 at 10:27 am

      We visited like 2 days after Christmas!

      Reply
  16. Shu says: February 22, 2019 at 2:04 am

    May I check which month you visited hallstat?? I worry the Christmas tree will not be in the market square if I visit hallstat in early January.. thank you

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: February 22, 2019 at 9:02 am

      We visited just after Christmas. I’m not sure when they take it down, but honestly I still think Hallstatt would be just as stunning at anytime during the winter, even without that Christmas tree!

      Reply
  17. Jessica says: September 8, 2019 at 11:18 am

    Were shops and restaurants open while you were there? We are spending Christmas Eve through the 27th there and I’m hoping there will be restaurants open during the holidays!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says: September 9, 2019 at 10:46 am

      Yep, they were! Not sure about Christmas Eve & Day but we were there just before New Years and just about everything was open.

      Reply

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Lia and Jeremy are the married couple behind the Practical Wanderlust travel blog!

Meet Lia & Jeremy

A disaster-prone couple recently returned to Oakland, California from a year-long honeymoon. We share down-to-earth travel tips with a side of sass. Low key stalk us here and on social media!

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  • [FLASHBACK] Copenhagen, 2016: 4 months into our year-long honeymoon. #ad Reeling from the disastrous end of our adventures in South America, we graciously accepted tickets home for Thanksgiving. We missed our families. We  were exhausted. And we were, for some reason, FIENDING for Cinnamon Toast Crunch. We needed a break, but we fully intended to return to South America and pick up where we left off.⁠
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Instead, we booked a cheap flight to Copenhagen. (Because there is always a cheap flight to Copenhagen, from either coast.)⁠
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2 weeks after leaving summery Santiago, Chile we disembarked into the cold 3PM twilight of Copenhagen, Denmark. Christmas Market season had just begun, and the city was decked in holiday cheer and Hygge. We slipped and slid down icy cobblestone streets with steaming mugs of gluhwein clutched in our gloved hands (logistics spoilers: we stocked up on cold-weather gear on Black Friday. Hayyy!).⁠
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Over the next week, we fell head over heels in love with Copenhagen, with its castles, its canals, its tiny mermaid statue, its Theme Park in the center of the city (the 2nd oldest in the world!), its ridiculously good coffee, its fancy open-faced sandwiches (smørbrød is the OG avo toast, don't @ me), its somewhat random self-governed anarchist commune, even the hordes of Danes on bikes whizzing past us. The culture shock revived our waning excitement for long-term travel, and we've had a deep love for Copenhagen ever since.⁠
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Although we haven't had a chance to return (except for a few connections through the airport, which is always a treat because it is the BEST airport), we're forever eyeing flights to Copenhagen, waiting for the right time to come back. And now that we've got a copy of the @MoonGuides Copenhagen & Beyond book, we've got everything we need to plan our next trip! The guide includes a detailed local's guide to Copenhagen, plus several chapters on day trips from Copenhagen, including our favorite: the fairytale castle that served as the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet.
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Is Copenhagen on your bucket list? (Ahem: IT SHOULD BE) If not, tell us about a trip that was exactly what you needed in the comments below. #travelwithmoon
  • Imagine that someone offered you an incredible opportunity. What would make you turn it down? How would you feel saying no?
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Since starting this blog and embarking on the ridiculous, amazing journey of traveling and writing for a living (forever pinching myself), a lot of incredible opportunities have come my way. Opportunities that just about anyone would (and should) jump at headfirst. (I was going to list off a few of the ones I still feel pangs of longing about, but couldn't find a way to not make it sound like a list of self-congratulatory, obnoxious bragging, so y'all get the vague version instead. Sorry! DM me if you're nosy 🧐)
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But I don't take them all. I can't.
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Here are a few reasons I've turned trips (it's usually trips) and opportunities down:
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😓 The dates overlap with precious time I'd otherwise be spending with loved ones, like Thanksgiving, or our annual friends weekend in Lake Tahoe.
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😓 The dates overlap with our wedding anniversary. This one has come up several years in a row - turns out we got married in the middle of conference season 😂
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😓 The trip is too close to a long stretch of travel, which would push me to my mental and physical limits. I have learned this lesson the hard way so many times (still learning/not listening, tbh...)
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I've had to learn how to say no with gratitude and forgiveness (the gratitude for the opportunity offered, the forgiveness is for myself for turning it down). I feel guilt and regret, of course, but I also feel proud of myself for boundary-setting, listening to my body, and prioritizing time with my loved ones - because all the opportunity in the world means nothing to me if I have nobody to celebrate it with.
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My cup is so full. I'm so full of gratitude and joy. And I'm doing my best to stay humble and grounded with the people who have cheered me along on this path.
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Have you ever turned down an opportunity that like, physically hurt to say no to?? Tell me about it in the comments!
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#alwaysthankful #gratefuleveryday #stayhumble #sanfranciscolove #findyouradventure #wandermore #travelblogging
  • There's nothing that a good hair day, some bright red lipstick, and a cold beer can't fix, amiright?? OK - maybe not, but they certainly don't HURT.⁠ Bright lipstick is my go-to confidence improving trick - AND it works even on bad hair days 💄⁠
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But can we talk about the good hair day I'm having in this photo though?! For the first time in my entire life, I've finally figured out how to have Good Hair. Until this year, I was insecure AF about my superfine, extremely thin hair. It wasn't straight and it wasn't curly - it was just like a frizzy, thin, halfhearted flyaway thing with no real shape. When I straighten it you can tell how incredibly thin my hair is - like, the end of my braid is about the width of a pencil, y'all.⁠
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And then I discovered the Curly Girl Method, and everything changed. Turns out that frizz is just a thirsty curl, and with the right combination of products & application technique (and a little bit of magic ... and some science), you can turn frizzy, wavy hair into luscious, bouncy CURLS! Now I have shiny, fabulously curly hair, and it feels like my hair finally matches my personality in a way it hasn't since it was 1/2 pink (college Lia was perfectly suited for pink hair). I no longer feel like I need to wear clip-in extensions to have a good hair day, like I used to. Sure, I now tote around a bunch of hair supplies like a silicon diffuser and a tiny blow-drier and a hair towel and like 3 back-up containers of gel, but LOOK AT MY HAIR. Look at it! It's so worth it.⁠
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I'm still learning about what my hair likes & doesn't like and I don't really understand all the science behind curly hair just yet. But if you're curious, I use lightweight DevaCurl shampoo & conditioner, plus this bright blue LA Looks sport gel that's hella cheap from CVS or Walgreens and looks like the kind of gel a middle schooler in the 90's would use to spike their hair. You'll find all kinds of information by googling the Curly Girl Method or reading "Curly Girl: The Handbook." (This post is in no way sponsored, I just really wanted an excuse to brag about my good hair day.)⁠
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Do you have go-to moves to boost your confidence?
  • "Wait, Salt Lake City has BEER?" #ad We've heard this question from pretty much everyone we told about our trip to Salt Lake City to cover their beer scene, and we're here to say: y'all. YES. 🍻While it's true that the laws surrounding beer in Utah used to be quite restrictive, they've recently changed and given way to a blossoming craft brewery scene full of innovative thinkers who are paving the way for beer in Utah!⁠
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We spent the weekend drinking our way through 11 craft breweries, exploring this stunning city ringed by mountains, and learning all about Salt Lake City's fascinating Pioneer history. In total, we tasted 32 beers (and 1 beer-tini). It was a LOT of fun, even though my body straight gave up around brewery 9 and we had to make a pit-stop at a juice place for a wheatgrass shot. (Yes, it's all in our story highlights, and yes, I realize that's one of the most Californian things I've ever done). But although I tapped out in the last stretch, Jeremy picked up the slack and we finished strong! 💪Well, you know ... as strong as you can be after spending 2 days straight tasting beer.⁠
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Now we're hard at work sorting through all the photos we took and working on a brewery guide to Salt Lake City, with a few suggestions from friends (thanks to @wayfaringviews, who has a fantastic SLC beer guide on her blog, and resident SLC blogger @culturetrekking). This marks our 2nd visit to Salt Lake City (we covered their amazing ski resorts last year) so now we're officially SLC fangirls - can't wait to come back for visit 3!⁠
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Drop us a comment and tell us about a place that surprised you the way Salt Lake City's beer scene surprised us!⁠
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Our trip was sponsored by @visitsaltlake⁠
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#visitsaltlake #saltlakecityutah #beautahful #exploreutah #travelislove #globecouples #streetartaddicted #streetartistry #craftbeerlife #beeroftheday #beertasting #seeyououtthere #couplesofig
  • 🎵Whooo is that girl I seeee, staaaaaring straight, baaaaack at me? When will my REFLECTTION SHOOWWWWW, WHOOO III AMMMMM
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🎵INSIIIIIIIIIDE!!!!🎵
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Welp now that we're all singing Mulan at the top of our lungs and I have your attention... I'm gonna talk about sustainability. (HA! Gotcha.) One of the ways Jeremy and I try to make a positive impact – along with things like carbon offsetting our flights and working towards a zero-waste household – is through conscientious consumerism. Cuz yes, y’all: we tree-hugging granola-eating flower children love shopping, too. We try to vote with our wallets and support businesses who have the same priorities as we do. Businesses who care about the world and the people in it, who are working to fight climate change, who pay their employees a fair living wage, who are aligned with our values, and who agree that Mulan is the best Disney movie of all time (DO NOT @ ME).
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So when @REI asked us to create a sponsored sustainable gift guide, we were thrilled! REI is one of our absolute favorite earth-friendly, responsible, and sustainable companies. They truly walk the talk, with a plethora of impactful business practices that prioritize everything from wilderness conservation, to making the outdoors more accessible and diverse, to developing products with sustainable materials, to reducing waste in their stores and supply chain. (#ad but also like, we genuinely love them and have been members for yearsss!) You can even filter REI’s online search results by sustainability. It’s one of their regular menu filters, like color/price/sizing. Isn’t that rad?
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The eco-friendly gift guide we created is not only full of sustainable products, but they're sold by a sustainable retailer. So you can truly feel good about treating your loved ones (ahem: or yourself) this holiday season. Or just like, whenever. Check it out in the link in our bio, but fast because the Gear Up Get Out sale ends on MONDAY along with up to 30% off!
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Who's your favorite sustainable company or retailer and why do you love them? We love discovering new ones! (Sustainability shoutout to @prana, whose outfit I'm rocking in this pic - we love them too!)
  • What's your relationship like with your body? Does someone close to you feel differently about their own body? How does that affect you?⁠
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Jeremy and I have two very different relationships with our bodies and ourselves, which can be difficult to navigate - especially when one of us feels more confident and comfortable than the other. Over the years, things have evolved and shifted, so we've done our best to be a constant source of love and stability to each other no matter what may be happening internally. But amazing and supportive loved ones can't always affect your relationship with yourself - that's a personal journey that only you and yourself are on. Y'all in that together.⁠
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What we've learned is that communication and empathy between us is key. Our relationships with ourselves are as important to foster, nurture, develop and grow as our relationship with each other. And its just as important to treat ourselves with love, kindess and support as it is with one another. On the days when one of us feels more confident than the other, we strive to lift up those positive feelings and try not to let them affect us negatively - not always the easiest thing to do, but so, so important!⁠
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Do you struggle with your relationship with yourself? Or is there somebody in your life who feels differently about themselves than you do about yourself? How do you navigate that?⁠
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Psst: Lia is rocking an organic cotton dress (with POCKETS) gifted to us by @wearpact, one of our favorite Fair Trade Certified & sustainable clothing companies! They make super comfy and affordable organic cotton clothes ethically and responsibly, and we love them.⁠
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#responsiblefashion #consciousconsumer #shopethical #plusisequal #allbodiesaregoodbodies #autumnishere #fallingforfall #sanfranciscolove #bayareablogger #effyourbeautystandards #bodypositive #globecouples #sustainabletravel #staycurious #couplesofig #travelislove #marriedtomybestfriend #lovegoals #couplestravel #seeyououtthere
  • It rained a LOT during our trip to New Orleans. But I actually didn't mind at all, because California has turned me into the kind of person who gets REALLY excited about rain. Rain in California means fire season is over and winter has begun. It's my favorite sound to listen to while falling asleep. Y'all, is there a song that's the exact opposite of "I Can't Stand the Rain?" Because that would be my song!.⁠
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I also didn't mind the rain because I was exploring a beautiful city with 2 of my best friends (@witchieriche and @cass.love.creativity) and our partners, and that's a rare luxury that overshadows any kind of discomfort. (Even though we all definitely got cranky from time to time because it is literally impossible to spend 4 days traveling and NOT get cranky at some point, and that's just facts.⁠)⁠
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To capture this photo, I dragged my beloved friend Richie and his darling, patient husband @lucasmeyerstyle to City Park to visit the NoLa Art Museum, which is called NoMa. We made fun of historic art for like 2 hours (like, we appreciated it too, but we definitely made fun of it as much as we appreciated it) and then spent another 2 hours wandering around a giant, lush statue garden in the pouring rain looking for this exact bridge (for the 'gram). We kept crossing over not-as-good bridges and being like "is this it??" but I was like NO IT HAS TO BE THE ONE WITH THE REFLECTION because I am definitely that screechy, extra AF friend.⁠
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We were all about ready to give up on our search when we stumbled by complete chance upon a Cafe Du Monde, somewhat randomly sitting in the middle of this gorgeous rainy park. And then, while enjoying 3 fluffy, powdery beignets (each) we finally found The Bridge - hidden in the trees right next to the cafe!⁠
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If that's not the most New Orleans thing you've ever heard, just wait until I tell you about the rest of our trip, because it involves everything from Voodoo Rituals to Jazz Funerals to a Pirate themed absinthe bar.⁠
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And, by the way, I am sorry I haven't yet posted my stories from that trip - I was too busy savoring the time with my beloved friend muffins. My heart is so, so full.⁠
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Do you love the rain too?
  • 'Tis the season of cheerful cold weather, eating a ton of food, and buying things. Lots of things. Oof, was that your wallet I hear whimpering?⁠
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I wanted to give y'all some tips to keep in mind when the inevitable shopping overwhelm starts creeping in later this month. Save this post for when you're about to spend more than you have in your bank account!⁠
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🎁 Don't buy things hoping they will make you happy. Things & stuff may bring you a little joy, but they won't solve all your problems. If you're feeling down, go take a walk, spend time with a loved one, play with a cute animal, or make an appointment with a counselor for a little mental health check-up. (See also: travel. We love travel a LOT, but it also will not solve all your problems. Or make you a different person. Trust us, we've tried!)⁠
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🎁 Shop local when you can. It supports your home community! See also: supporting small business owners, such as Etsy creators, your friendly local blogger (hayyy!) and that sweet old lady who sells creepy dolls and weird-smelling candles at your local craft fair. Support her, too.⁠
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🎁 Consider buying from fewer online stores to conserve packaging waste. If you can get most of your shopping done in one big order from a single store, instead of buying 1 small thing from 20 different online stores, you'll be saving bubble wrap, boxes, and the gas it takes to ship all those boxes to you. Plus, returns will be easier and require less packaging, too!⁠
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🎁 Don't feel guilty for buying stuff. I know, I sound like I'm contradicting myself here. But listen: give yourself a damn break, especially if you sometimes find it harder to spend your hard-earned money than NOT spend it. Buy a few items you truly think will bring you - or a loved one - a little joy, or make things easier. Don't feel guilty for treating yourself or those you love. Just do it responsibly. Shop mindfully, vote with your wallet, and make choices that you feel genuinely good about.⁠
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Are you planning to do some shopping this month? (We'll be stocking up on stuff for our new house!) Drop us a comment about what you're genuinely excited to buy - or your favorite tips for thoughtful consumerism!

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