Fitting in side trip to Hallstatt

Go to the German Rail (Bahn) website or the Austrian Rail website, www.oebb.at for schedules. You can go by either express or regional train from Salzburg Hbf on the main line towards Attnang-Puchheim and from there south through Bad-Ischl to Hallstatt. That's the conventional route. The Hallstatt station is across the lake from the town. A boat meets the train and takes you to Hallstatt. Or, you can take the train farther south to Obertraun and the bus around the end of the lake to Lahn. It's about 1 km between Lahn and Hallstatt. There are some places to stay in Lahn. You might want to take either route depending on where you are staying. If you use the regional train from Salzburg Hbf to Attnang-Puchheim, you can use a €28 Einfach-Raus Ticket for the whole route. The Einfach-Raus Ticket is an all day, hop on/off pass valid on regional trains, not express trains, but the only trains from Attnang-Puchheim to Hallstatt are regional trains only, so you might as well take them all the way and save money. Another route that would be a little slower and cost somewhat more would be to take postal buses from Salzburg Hbf through the Salzkammergut to Bad Ischl. You can only find these schedules on oebb.at. However, you would get a good look at the lake district in the Salzkammergut. I took that route in 2009 in order to stop in Mondsee and see the SOM wedding church. I then took the bus from Bad Ischl to Lahn because I was staying in Lahn.

I can't remember the tour company but we went by mini van from Salzburg. They arranged everything including a boat ride around the lake. The whole area is beautiful.

We took the train as Lee suggested. Well worth the effort. One of my favorite places once the tour busses leave in the evening.

Deb, I'd suggest using the first route that Lee mentioned - train to Attnang-Pucheim and then Hallstatt. I'd suggest buying your return ticket in Salzburg, as the train station in Hallstatt isn't usually staffed. When you arrive in Hallstatt, walk down the short trail to the boat dock. If it's not there at the time, "Stefanie" will arrive shortly and you can pay the driver (As I recall, the fare is €2.20 each way). Keep your Camera at hand, as there some good photo op's both from the dock and as you travel across the lake. I'd suggest leaving Salzburg as early as possible. The trip to Hallstatt will take at least three hours, including the boat ride. That will allow some time to visit the Salt Mines (take the Funicular up the hill), stop for a cool beverage at Rudolfsturm (the Castle on the hill - fantastic view of the lake) and perhaps visit the small Museum. It's wonderfully quiet at night, but don't let your guard down as there is some traffic through the village. On my last visit there, I witnessed a young lad (who wasn't paying attention), get "smacked" by a car (fortunately he was OK). A previous post mentioned taking a tour from Salzburg. They may have been referrring to Bob's Special Tours. Happy travels!

If you are reading this, you will probably take Ken's advice and buy your return ticket at the Salzburg station, so you won't need this advice. However, if you don't, I expect that there is a ticket automat at the Hallstatt station; look for one when you arrive at Hallstatt. But it means you'll have to figure out the automat before the train arrives. As a last resort, walk the 1 km south to Lahn (that's where the Funicular to the salt mine is) and take the bus around to Obertraun, which you can see across the lake south of the Hallstatt Bhf. The Bhf at Obertraun has a manned ticket counter.