Berchestgaden to Hallstatt

Martine,

I've done it by car so I can only speak to that option. Salzburg to Hallstatt is an easy drive through beautiful country. As I remember it took us about 1 1/2 hours each way (from Salzburg). From Berchtesgaden you'd probably have to add another 30-45 minutes.

I went from Freilassing to Hallstatt last August. Before I went I thoroughly researched transportation in that area.

Probably the fastest way to get from Berchtesgaden to Salzburg is via the bus, #840, the Watzmann Express. It goes from Berchtesgaden Hbf to Salzburg Hbf in about 45 min. The fare is €9 per person, each way. If you go by train via Freilassing, it will take a little over an hour, but you can use a Bayern-Ticket (€28 for up to 5 people) both ways.

The rail connection from Salzburg to Hallstatt goes through Attnang-Puchheim, which is somewhat out of the way to the north. Instead, and slightly faster, there are bus connections from Salzburg to Bad Ischl, then by rail or bus to Hallstatt. The rail connection takes you to the Hallstatt Bahnhof, across the lake from Hallstatt, and you take the boat across the lake to Hallstatt. That's probably a dramatic, although slow, entrance to Hallstatt. I took the bus from Bad Ischl directly to Lahn, which is south of downtown Hallstatt, less the a kms walk up the lake.

Two websites to use, Austrian Rail, www.oebb.at, and the Salzburger Verkehrsberbund

Lee,will the bayern ticket(there is 3 of us)be good only for Bertchesgaden to Freilassing portion, or all the way to Hallstatt? I am now thinking to change my last day, spend it in Bertchesgaden and leave from there to catch my night train to Berlin in Freilassing, so that would give us a full day no restriction to go to Hallstatt. Thanks!

Martine, with few exceptions, a Bayern-Ticket (Bavarian-Ticket) is valid for travel only in the German state (Land) of Bavaria. One of the exceptions is that you can use it into the Hauptbahnhof in Salzburg on the line from Freilassing, which is run by German Rail. Salzburg Hbf is considered a "border station" (along with Ulm and Kufstein) as far as the Bayern-Ticket is concerned.

The Bayern-Ticket is valid on regional trains and buses in Bavaria and for all transport in Verkehrverbünden, like MVV (Munich metro). It is not valid else where in Austria.

Austria does have a similar ticket, the Einfach Raus Ticket, which is valid for 2-5 people all day for regional trains, but not, I think, for buses.

I think the bus route to Hallstatt is slightly faster, but, with the rail route via Attnang-Puchheim, you could use the Einfach Raus Ticket (in Austria, not Germany).

Lee if i get this right, i could travel from Bertchesgaden to Salzburg on a Bayern ticket return for all 3 of us for 28 euros and Einfach Raus Ticket from Salzburg to Hallstatt return for all 3 of us for 28 euros, total 56 euros. If it is a weekday all this from 9am to 3am and weekends no time restriction. And i don't have to purchase it before i arrive, it is always avilaible?
Thanks for all your help!

That's pretty much it, but there might be some other deals. What does "3 of us" mean? Is that 3 adults, or 2 adults and a child under 15?

We will be 2 adults and a 14 year of old.

Ok, I'm not positive about this, check at the Berchtesgaden Busbahnhof, but RVO (Regional Verkehroberbayern), the bus company in that area, has a familie Tageskarte for €21. That includes parents and all children under 15, all day on the RVO buses. The Watzmann Express is the hourly bus from Berchtesgaden to Salzburg Hbf and is a little faster than the train through Freilassing. The RVO website implies the Tageskarte might not be applicable to routes outside of Germany, but anther website (it has old prices) says it is. ????

So, your best deal might be the Watzmann Express from Berchtesgaden to Salzburg and an Einfach Raus Ticket from there (€21 plus €28), and it might be a little faster.

BTW, it looks like the bus to Bad Ischl (#150) leaves from Bushaltestelle #5, in front of the Salzburg Hbf.

Update: The bus from Berchtesgaden to Salzburg is covered by the RVO dayticket (Tagesticket). Most route segments outside Germany are not covered, but the website specifically says 'to Salzburg' is.

Thanks for all the help!