We will be driving from Vienna to Salzburg and spending the night there. We are thinking of driving to Hallstaddt. Does any one know how difficult a drive it is? Any other suggestions to do out of Salzburg?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19240 posts
I've not driven it, but I have been on some of the roads by bus. In 2009, I went by bus from Salzburg to Mondsee, then on via St. Gilgen to Bad Ischl, the biggest station on the line between Attnang-Puchheim and Hallstadt. (Attnang-Puchheim is on the main line between Vienna and Salzburg. I don't know how the highway from Vienna to Salzburg goes, but at some point you turn south off of it and probably go through Bad Ischl.) The road from Bad Ischl to Hallstatt as I remember was just a typical two lane road. It was late August and, as I remember, traffic was light. The road gets to the north end of Hallstatt where it enters a tunnel that bypasses the town (although there is an open part with a small parking lot directly above the town), coming out of the tunnel at Lahn, south of town, at the base of the salt mine incline. There are parking lots at the tunnel exit in Lahn; the road into town, about 1 km, is limited access and you will have to walk from there into town. I think there is also a ferry from Lahn along the shore to town, but I don't know anything about it. You might want to look for accommodations in Lahn and be able to walk without luggage to Hallstatt. For anyone arriving by train, the station is across the lake from the town, a little ferry meets the train and takes you directly to the shore at the main part of town.
Posted by
NYC area
2957 posts
Hi Margaret, It's an easy 1:30 drive from Salzburg to Hallstatt. Roads are normal 2 lane roads, no switchbacks or high roads at all. With 1 night in Salzburg, I'd see Salzburg. Easy trips/sights from Salzburg: Hallstatt Salt Mine - Hallein, Austria Sommerrodelbahns (luge rides) Berchtesgaden area, Germany (Eagles Nest, Rossfeld Panorama Road, Salt Mine, Konigssee, Jennerbahn, etc. etc.) Hohenwerfen Fortress
"Mad" King Ludwig's Herrenchiemsee Palace (Neues Schloss) There are so many places to visit, sights to see and things to do based in or near Salzburg. Again, with only 1 night, why not actually see Salzburg? Paul
Posted by
London, UK
181 posts
We stayed 2 nights in Salzburg and 1 night in Hallestat. It is an easy drive with terrific scenery. Hallestat is absolutely magical!!!