Please sign in to post.

Hallstatt from Vienna midweek?

Hello travelers! I need your help! I am joining the My Way Alpine trip in a couple of weeks. I am going early and planned to spend several days in Vienna and do day trips (Melk Abbey, Bratislava, Hallstatt, etc). Here is my problem: It appears the train and bus only travels from Vienna to Hallstatt on weekends! I was planning to arrive in Hallstatt on Thursday and depart either Saturday or Sunday for Salzburg. Can this trip really be weekends only? I have tried several workarounds (organized day trips) but they are all sold out for 1 solo traveler. Of course I already have hotel reservations but I still have a few days that I can cancel them. Any suggestions?

Posted by
2300 posts

What website are you using that is showing no trains available, and what date are you looking to travel from Vienna?

Posted by
11 posts

I was hoping to leave Vienna on Thursday, September 22 for Salzburg. I must be entering something incorrectly because I get a reply that no trains are available o the date requested…..

Posted by
1875 posts

That would be the correct procedure to search for train connections in Austria from Vienna to Hallstatt:
Use the OeBB website: https://www.oebb.at/en/

Enter "Wien" as starting point and "Hallstatt Bahnhst" as destination. (Bahnhst is an abbreviation for Bahnhaltestelle [train stop]; it is so small that it is not even considered to be a train station.)

Be sure to uncheck "Direct trips only".

You have the choice of express trains departing from main train station (Wien Hbf), going with OeBB, or from western train station (Wien Westbahnhof), going with Westbahn. You must change in Attnang-Puchheim to an OeBB local train in either case.

NOTE:
In your particular case you are right that you could not find a train connection. Between September 23rd and October 13th there will be track repairs from Bad Goisern onwards, so train services will be suspended and a train replacement service by bus will run along the train route.

The replacement bus will arrive in Hallstatt at the bus terminal Lahn. Therefore you need to enter "Hallstatt Lahn" as destination when searching for train connections. The replacement bus is marked yellow in the search results. You will have to change to the bus at "Bad Goisern Jodschwefelbad Bahnhof". For every train arriving there will be a bus departing a few minutes later for continuing your journey.

Should you want to delve into the nitty-gritty details of that particular train replacement service, here is the full information:
https://kundeninformation-pv.oebb.at/dam/kundeninformation/extern/OEBB/2022/2022_09/VorinfoBadGoisern_Stainach.pdf

Posted by
11 posts

Thank you all so much for your replies! I knew I could count on RS travel forum readers for guidance!

Posted by
11 posts

Hi Wmt1 : am I correct that I will have 2-4 train changes between hallstatt and Salzburg traveling on Sunday, 9/25? Do you think I need to go ahead and purchase tickets now or think I can wait until the week before or week of?

Thank you!

Posted by
1875 posts

There are two routes from Hallstatt to Salzburg:

1: Hallstatt to Attnang-Puchheim (local train), Attnang-Puchheim to Salzburg (express train).
2: Hallstatt to Bad Ischl (local train), Bad Ischl to Salzburg (bus #150)

Local train means in your special case that part of the trip is by bus (train replacement service).

The travel time is about the same for both options. Option 2 is more scenic than option 1. If you choose option 2 and have enough time, I recommend a short visit of Bad Ischl. Walk to the famous "Zauner" café and pastry store and buy the unique "Zauner-Stollen".

There is no need to buy the tickets long in advance. If you choose option 1, a seat reservation for the express train is recommended.