Day 58 – Hallstatt, Austria with Kids: The Playground of Dreams

Traveling with little kids means one thing is always on the agenda: finding a playground. Honestly, it’s our secret weapon. Playgrounds aren’t just a break for the kids—they’re often in beautiful locations, give us parents a chance to relax, and sometimes become the highlight of the entire trip. And let me tell you, nothing (and I mean nothing) has ever topped the playground we found in Hallstatt, Austria.

Hallstatt: Straight out of a Fairytale

If you’ve seen Disney’s Frozen, then you’ve basically seen Hallstatt. It’s said that Arendelle was inspired by this dreamy lakeside town. The night before our visit, we hyped the twins up by watching a few clips of Frozen. Their little faces lit up when we told them, “Tomorrow, we’re going to Arendelle for real!” it was instant excitement, as usual I also printed out some coloring pages while we discussed next day's plan.

We were staying at Camping Primus, by the beautiful Wolfgangsee lake in Gschwandt—such a perfect base. It’s only 45 minutes to both Hallstatt and Salzburg, so you can easily do day trips to either. The lake was stunning, and the campsite itself was fantastic for families.

Parking Struggles & A Lucky Find

Parking with a motorhome is tricky in Hallstatt. The closest parking for caravans was about a 25-minute walk from the town. Hubby dropped us off, parked the caravan, and walked back to meet us.

While waiting, I decided to take the twins to the playground I’d spotted on Google Maps. And wow—what a decision that turned out to be.

The Playground That Stole the Show

Picture this: a playground right on the lake, surrounded by mountains, swans gliding past, and the iconic Hallstatt village in the background. It was like something out of a postcard, but better—because the kids were climbing, sliding, and giggling away while I sat back, snapped photos, and soaked it all in.

The playground had:

• Tons of space to run and play

• Plenty of shady trees and seating

• A mini island with a little bridge (big hit with the twins!)

• And—very important—free, pretty clean toilets.

Honestly, it felt like a mom’s dream come true. Safe, beautiful, and full of entertainment. If Hallstatt itself is a 10/10, this playground is a solid 20/10.

By the time my husband walked back to us, the twins were happy, well-played, and ready for snacks. Perfect timing.

Exploring Arendelle (aka Hallstatt)

From the playground, it was just a 15–20 minute stroll into the heart of Hallstatt. The walk itself was magical—swans, boats, and little fish in the lake and even a free little library kept the kids entertained the whole way.

A little mom travel hack I used that day: I gave the twins their kids’ cameras. They were in charge of taking photos at safe spots, and it was such a hit! It kept them engaged, and the pictures they took are priceless. Highly recommend bringing one for sightseeing days.

When we finally reached the Hallstatt Marketplace, the twins spotted fresh strawberries being sold by a local vendor. We grabbed a punnet (we could not resist they looked amazing) and snacked while taking in the dreamy view.

Since it was also our anniversary, we treated ourselves to a family lunch at a local restaurant and then walked some more to one of the lookouts. The kids were starting to fade a little, but nothing an ice cream stop couldn’t fix. And, no anniversary is complete without gelato.

Wrapping Up Our Perfect Day

By late afternoon, hubby went to pick up the caravan, and the twins and I slowly wandered back until he picked us up.

It was the perfect anniversary celebration—exploring a fairytale village, eating strawberries and gelato, and finding what has to be the best playground in Europe in my humble mum opinion.

Hallstatt truly lived up to the hype.

Additional info for Visiting Hallstatt with Kids:

1. Best Playground in Hallstatt – Don’t miss it! Location: HERE

   
   

2. Bring a Kids’ Camera – We use two kinds:

   • Instant-print style (printing off for travel days so they can snap faster). LINK

   • Smartphone-style kids’ cameras (great for photos, music, audiobooks, and videos). Type 1 Type 2

   • Tip: Have Clear rules = no tantrums. Our kids know they are only allowed to use them when we say it’s safe.

     
     

3. Base Yourself Nearby – We loved Camping Primus at Wolfgangsee. Great lake, easy day trips, and super family-friendly.

   
   

4. Colouring Pages, you can download them from HERE

   
   

5. About Me: I’m Gabby, mom to 5-year-old twins (a boy and a girl), and in 2025 we’re traveling the world most of the time in our motorhome, Sunlight. Follow our family adventures on social media—links below!