Pension Sarstein

The balcony view was magical, and my room felt cozy and had everything I needed. Pension Sarstein was a lovely, welcoming base in Hallstatt. The woman who runs it was so friendly, kind, and helpful, and she made my stay feel special. It’s only a few minutes’ walk from the center, but the place stays quiet and peaceful at night, so it was easy to relax. I loved my time here and would recommend Pension Sarstein to anyone visiting.

Right by the lake, the pension has a garden where you can swim when the weather allows, and our room had a stunning lake view from its balcony. It was easy to find some quiet here despite Hallstatt’s tourism, with around 10,000 visitors a day. Laundry and drying facilities, as well as the sauna, cost extra. The owners were lovely and made us feel welcome as soon as we arrived. They helped us plan what to do and provided maps, suggestions, and discounted cards. The location is handy for the ferry but set back from the busy street. The downsides for me were thin walls, so other guests were clearly audible when talking loudly, and a bed that felt quite soft. Neither was a dealbreaker. We had a beautiful, relaxing stay, and I’d recommend a visit.

This family run pension was unforgettable. Every room has a lake view, and it’s one of the best places I’ve stayed over more than two decades of traveling around the world. We visited in May 2014 and had a wonderful time.

We still call that little room our “Heidi place.” We arrived late in 1996 on the ferry across the lake from the train station, and the lady at the pension had just one room left. She warned us it was small and faced the road leading back toward town, and the bathroom and coin operated showers were down the hall. We remember it fondly from our grand tour of Europe, when we were in our forties and spent four months backpacking and walking. Thank you. We’ll always remember you.