I have three nights in Vienna and two nights in Salzburg. I wanted to visit Hallstatt and am confused whether I should rent a car and drop in at Hallstatt on the way to Salzburg, spend a few hours there and then proceed to Salzburg OR take a day trip from Salzburg on a bus tour to Hallstatt on the second day. In the second option I would get only half a day to spend at Salzburg on the day I arrive from Vienna. Would that be enough for Salzburg? Or should I go with the first option?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19291 posts
I saw everything I wanted to see in Salzburg in a day, so I think at half day when you arrive and the next day would be plenty.
Hallstatt is on the way to Salzburg from Vienna, so I certainly wouldn't backtrack on a bus tour to see it.
But if I were doing it, I would plan to spend a night in Hallstatt. With part of a day to get to Hallstatt and part of a day to get to Salzburg, a stop on the way wouldn't give you much time there. A few years ago, I arrived in the late afternoon, spent the night and the next day in Hallstatt, then a second night and left the next morning. I felt that that was about right, although I wasn't interested in, and didn't take, the salt mine tour.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I agree with Lee's suggestion to spend one night in Hallstatt and one night in Salzburg. You don't need a car for either or bus; train schedules are pretty frequent and don't require reservations. How to Look Up Train Schedules Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you Lee. I think I will pass by Hallstatt on the way to Salzburg even though I'd like to spend a night there and two in Salzburg but can't because all my travel arrangements are fixed and interlinked.
Posted by
NYC area
3003 posts
Hi,
I think stopping by will be fine. We visited Hallstatt in October a few years back and found a few hours was all that was needed.