EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

The main north-south road and rail routes keep to the east bank of the River Salzach; Hallein's historic centre is over on the west bank. From the train station , it's a straightforward westward walk to the river, where the bridge leading across into the old town passes the tourist office on the Pernerinsel island (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm; tel 06245/85394, www.hallein-tourism.at ). Here accommodation in private rooms (under öS400/¬29.07) can be arranged, a few of which are in Hallein itself, though most are above the town in Bad Dürrnberg. There's a shortage of decent hotels in the centre, although Bockwirt , near the tourist office at Thunstrasse 12 (tel 06245/80623; öS600-800/¬43.60-58.14; closed Nov), has atmospheric rooms in a historic building in the old town; while Hafnerwirt , handily placed for the train station on the east side of the river at Bundesstrasse Süd 3 (tel 06245/80319, www.hafnerwirt.at ; öS600-800/¬43.60-58.14), is a good-value three-star establishment, offering plain rooms with en-suite facilities, and more expensive ones with TV and phone. Up in Bad Dürrnberg near the salt mines, Hochdürrnberg , Rumpelgasse 14 (tel 06245/75183; öS400-600/¬29.07-43.60), is a small pension offering cosy rooms with shared facilities. There's a youth hostel at Schloss Wispach, a restored stately home fifteen minutes north of the train station (tel 06245/80397; April-Sept only), with dorm beds from öS180/¬13.14 per person, a few doubles (under öS400/¬29.07), and cut-price entry to the open-air swimming pool next door.

Most conveniently central of the eating venues is Unterholzerbräu , Oberhofgasse 4, a traditional Gasthof offering a wide range of inexpensive Knödel and Gröstl dishes, together with slightly more costly schnitzels. Café-Bistro Puppet , two minutes' southeast of the centre at Griesplatz 8, is a funky, youngish restaurant offering a mixed Austrian-Italian menu; while Tepito , beside the Hafnerwirt hotel (you'll pass it on the way into town from the station), serves Mexican food and steaks in lively surroundings. The latter two are also good for evening drinking ; otherwise try Fallschirm on Oberer Markt, an informal, friendly place that's usually open until 2am.