9Hallstatt, Austria
Few towns have a setting as dramatic as Hallstatt. Historic houses appear to rise directly from the shores of a mountain lake, while steep green mountains create a spectacular backdrop.
The town’s compact center is filled with wooden balconies, flower-covered façades and narrow lanes. The lakeside promenade is particularly beautiful early in the morning, when the water is calm and the surrounding mountains are reflected on its surface.
Hallstatt’s extraordinary setting has made it famous worldwide, but its combination of architecture and Alpine scenery remains difficult to resist.
