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Best way from Salzburg to Hallstatt?

Posted by (texas) on

Hello everyone,

My wife and I will be in Austria in two weeks and are trying to figure out our best course of action. Our flight into Vienna arrives about noon local time and we are trying to figure out our plan from there. We will be starting our trip off in Salzburg/Hallstatt so our options are this:

  1. Take the train from Vienna to Hallstatt and spend the night. See Hallstatt the next day and then take the train to Salzburg. (This is the current plan. Currently have reservations at Gasthof Bergfried)

or

  1. Take the train from Vienna to Salzburg, then the next in the next day or two while there, take a day trip to Hallstatt and then back to Salzburg.

IF we were to choose option 2, what would be the best way to get from Salzburg to Hallstatt and back? We were thinking about renting a car to gain a little more time and have the ability to stop in the countryside if we see something, but having not ever driven in Europe, this option makes me nervous. Is having a car for only the day trip to Hallstatt worth it rather than the train/bus?

Posted by
3834 posts

If you are going to the trouble to go to Hallstatt, I would recommend spending the night there. It's a totally different place late evening and early morning than it is during the day when it's full of day trippers. I personally would go by train.

Posted by
1658 posts

The best way is by train. Not sure what the weather will be like in 2 weeks it could be rainy or snowy. I would suggest a day trip.

Posted by
32198 posts

kevin,

Regardless of whether you travel from Vienna or Salzburg, you'll have to change trains at Attnang-Pucheim. When you arrive at the small (unmanned) station in Hallstatt, walk down the hill to the boat dock and take Stefanie across the lake to the town. You'll need a few Euro for the boat fare. Be sure to have your camera ready!

I'd probably choose the first option and spend the night in Hallstatt. With the travel times involved, a day trip won't allow you to see much.

Posted by
1895 posts

The last train for going to Hallstatt from Vienna Airport train station departs at 2:33pm (2:03pm on Sundays). Between noon and that time you have differnt choices of trains. As said you have to change trains in Attnang-Puchheim once at least, the ride is about 4:15 hours. The fastest connection is 3:51 hours, but requires an extra train change at Vienna main train station (after a 15 minutes ride from the airport). Sunset in Hallstatt is about 6pm, so it will be already dark when you arrive. (Just as information, no safety concerns.)

Option 1 requires that your flight arrives more or less on time. Given that you will be jet-lagged and want to stay one night only in Hallstatt I am not sure whether this is the best option.

Choosing option 2, you have a direct train to Salzburg from the airport every half an hour. A day trip from Salzburg to Hallstatt is not a big issue. You have the choice between two routes; to see the most of the landscape you may use either one for going back and forth. There is the train only choice via Attnang-Puchheim, and there is a bus from Salzburg to Bad Ischl and then the train to Hallstatt. The rides are about 2:30 and 2 hours, respectively.

Driving a car is nothing to be scared about, but you have to consider whether it is really necessary. Parking in Hallstatt is a mess.

Posted by
8 posts

Hello,
My husband and I will be arriving at the Salzburg airport May 28, 2018, at 9:55 a.m. we will both have 1 large and 1 carryon piece of luggage each and are headed to Hallstatt for an over night stay at the Seehotel Grüner Baum on the lake.

  1. What is the best source of transportation Bus vs. Train to our destination, Scenic, comfort, traveling with bags etc.?

  2. Is there a bus from Salzburg to Hallstatt direct?

  3. Does the bus arrive on same side of lake as Seehotel Grüner Baum? Would we taxi from bus depot to Hotel?

  4. If traveling by train from Salzburg to Hallstatt are we transferring trains in Attnang Puchheim and bussing from there or is there a dirct train to Hallstatt where we have to walk from train station to Ferry station?

Thank you, Carrie D.

Posted by
1895 posts

There is no direct bus from Salzburg to Hallstatt. No matter whether you go by train or bus you have one change. Travel time is about the same.

Train from Salzburg to Attnang-Puchheim, change to train to Hallstatt.

Bus from Salzburg to Bad Ischl, change to train to Hallstatt.

At Hallstatt train station a ferry is waiting to bring you across the lake to Hallstatt town.

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