Anyone have suggestions for
HALLSTATT
GRAZ
At what time of the year you plan to travel? Especially regarding Graz, there are so many events which need to be boiled down to a smaller time frame.
I can go sny time I want. I guess avoid June. July, August because of the crowds in Hallstatt. But otherwise, any date is open.
Maybe 2 or 3 nights each. Totally flexible.
My favorite is Hotel Daniel; it is right at the main train station, which was comfortable for me as I was travelling by train. It is not far from the historic city center (1 mile), I either walked or took the tram.
https://hoteldaniel.com/en/graz/
Public transport is as easy to use as in Vienna. Among others, there is a 72-hours pass which includes reduced entry fees for certain sights; I didn't buy it, though. If you have such a pass providing a monetary benefit, it creates a kind of tension to visit as much sights as possible to make most out of it. I have learned that visiting a city is much more satisfying when doing it leisurely.
There is a comfortable way to get from Budapest to Hallstatt by train with a single change only, but you have to start early:
Budapest-Keleti EC 40346 dep. 5:40am to Vienna Hbf arr. 8:20am
Vienna Hbf IC 1018 dep. 8:40am to Hallstatt Bahnhst arr. 11:54am
I looked it up for a date in September. Usually there is only one direct train between Vienna and Hallstatt per day at certain times of the year.
For getting from Hallstatt to Graz there are many connections, some with one, some with two changes. E.g.:
Hallstatt Bahnhst REX 4414 dep. 5:25pm to Stainach-Irdning arr. 6:15pm
Stainach-Irdning IC 611 dep. 6:22pm to Graz Hbf arr. 8:14pm
I don’t have any experience in Graz.
I was in Hallstatt in July but I bet September or October would be really gorgeous. However hotels, etc., go fast so you should probably be looking now. And I didn’t realize how much of it is up so many steps. Ha!
I really enjoyed Hallstatt but I had a car and used my 2 days (3 nights) on 1) a day trip out of town, and 2) most of the day at the salt mine (also a ton of steps). I have a hard time imagining what you would do for more than 2 nights without a car.
Lunch at Rudolfsturm up the funicular, with views, was pretty great and not expensive like I thought it might be.
Check the hours for restaurants in advance.
Two days of travel for a one day event. Doesnt seem worth the effort.
