We (two adults) are looking to get from Ljubljana to Hallstatt Austria by dinnertime on Friday July 8. I can see on bahn.de that my options are: Option 1: 6.5 hr train journey east then north via Maribor or Pragersko, Graz, Stainach
Option 2: 7.5 hr train journey north to Villach, then east by bus to Bischofshofen, then train to Stainach and onward For a point-to-point journey to take up a whole travel day on a 12-day trip, I'm thinking the longer route north would be more scenic and thus more enjoyable. BUT I'm worried about part of the journey being on a bus because, to my mind, buses are more susceptible to delays and could cause us to miss a quick connection in a journey that has only a few departures per day. Any advice? Thanks! P.S. In case you're interested or it sheds any light, our itinerary is IAD > Venice (3 nights) > Ljubljana (2 nights) > Hallstatt (2 nights) > Munich (for the day, ahead of taking the night train) > Den Haag (3 nights), where we'll visit friends and fly home from AMS.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
According to www.oebb.at, you can take the 9:12 AM out of Ljubljana to Hallstatt via Bischofshofen and Stainach without ever having to take a bus. Arrives Hallstatt at 4:35 PM. http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp
Posted by
OP
Baltimore
2 posts
Thanks, Tom. But according to bahn.de, this trip is a bus between Villach and Bischofshofen (EC 112) and then changes back to a train (EC 212). Even on oebb.net the phrase "through coach" is mentioned for this trip with the same train/coach numbers as on bahn.de.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
The www.oebb.at shows you picking up the EC 212 in Ljubljana and then switching to the EC217 in Bischshofen. I see the words "through coach" but there are no bus symbols on that itinerary as there are on others. Confusing. Maybe someone else can shed more light.
Posted by
Defiance, OH
3 posts
"Through coach" in this case does not mean a bus. Two trains (EC 212 from Zagreb via Ljubljana, and EC 112 from Klagenfurt) combine in Villach, leaving the station as EC 112 to Frankfurt via Bischofshofen, Salzburg, and Munich. The "through" coach cars from Zagreb are combined with the coach cars, compartment car(s?), and restaurant car of the Klagenfurt train, so you can just stay in your seat and do not need to change trains at Villach. If the scenic route is worth the extra hour (which is basically the long connection in Stainach rather than a longer travel time), go ahead and book it with no concerns about having to connect to a bus. I avoid buses too, when possible.