Shuttle bus (or personal driver) from Salzburg to Hallstatt?

Are there really no shuttle buses that take you between the two?

No, why would there be?

Not sure why public transportation isn't okay, but Hallstatt makes a bad day trip anyway. The tiny town is absolutely mobbed with daytrippers and pretty unpleasant. Staying a night is the best answer.

I'm not sure shuttle buses are common between places that are more than an hour apart.

We only have a day so it has to be a day trip, unfortunately, so I'm not wanting to waste 2-3 hours on buses and trains.
But, I have found a co. That has a shuttle.

Shuttleceskykrumlov.com

https://www.getyourguide.com/salzburg-l4/from-salzburg-half-day-tour-to-hallstatt-t51222/
Did you already check out this 1/2 day tour? It looks like your time in Hallstatt is on your own. It also looks less expensive then the shuttle service you found.

Just rent a car and drive it on your own. It's just about 45 miles. Going by bus or other means can be a hassle--and require transfers.

Those really high traffic, popular towns are often best visited early in the morning or late afternoon--after any tour buses have left.

I too tried finding some sort of daytrip sightseeing service between Salzburg and Hallstatt when we were in Salzburg in early June 2022 during our My Way alpine tour. Not finding anything worthy, I settled on Bob’s Special tours Sound of Music tour with Hallstatt, minibus (100E cash RS discount, 9am-5pm, 8:30am pickup from hotel). In addition to the hop-on/off stops for Sound of Music sights, we were given 2.5hrs in Hallstatt to explore on our own. We were there on a rainy Tuesday morning, but by some shear luck it stopped raining for just the amount of time we were walking the little town so we got decent pictures. The rain also must have kept people away as the town was virtually empty and many shops/food stalls were also closed while we were there. We had enough time to take many pictures down at the harbor before following the RS Hallstatt walk, popping into a couple stores along the way including the one with a little museum in the basement. We made our way to the far viewpoint in town, then up the hill to the church and bone chapel, then back down to the main square area for more pictures before finding a bakery for take away snacks and then returning back to meet our driver. I had wanted to visit the museum, but we used our time taking pictures and window shopping instead. Is it enough time to get your fill of Hallstatt, no not at all. But it was good enough to get a sampling of the town and at least have time to capture pictures and views from one side of town to the other.

I am familiar with mydaytrip.com. My cousins used them several years ago in Central Europe. They were very happy with the service. The company offers stops along the way if interested in sights, otherwise it's a short trip. I have read positive reviews on this forum as well.
Edited to add: We hired CK Shuttle between Vienna>Cesky Krumlov>Prague. They may offer what you are looking for. Highly recommend their service. Dependable, affordable, comfortable.

https://www.getyourguide.com/salzburg-l4/from-salzburg-half-day-tour-to-hallstatt-t51222/
Did you already check out this 1/2 day tour? It looks like your time in Hallstatt is on your own. It also looks less expensive then the shuttle service you found.

This would be perfect if they had a full day option ...I'll check it out.

@galliegirlie

We're also doing the MW tour...... ..this is for the day before the tour starts.

Having been to Hallstatt, I would never plan to do it as a day trip. When I went there in 2009, I spent most of the day in the Salzkammergut, arriving late afternoon in Hallstatt. Had dinner in Hallstatt and spent the night. Spent the entire next day exploring Hallstatt; left first thing next morning.

I'd say you didn't do enough planning up front so now you are left with not enough time to give Hallstatt the time it deserves. Forget it.

Stay and spend more time in Salzburg. Altenatives: visit the castle at Werfen or the SOM wedding church in Mondsee. Take a day trip using the Watzmann Express bus from Salzburg Hbf to Berchtesgaden. Take the train to Herrenchiemsee. Go to Burghausen as a day trip.

It is about an hour and a half to drive, and 2:13 on trains with one connection and then the boat across the lake. That's pretty similar.

Will the CK driver stay with you until you are ready to return or will you need a new driver going that way?
The CK and shuttleceskykrumlov are Czech drivers providing service to Cesky Krumlov in Czech Republic and this would be in addition to their regular service.

The company seems to have named itself to attract Americans - the concept of shuttle is not one seen this side of the water so you will possibly be sharing with other Americans.

Rent a car from Sitx at the train station in Salzburg and go to Eagle’s Nest and then stay the night in Hallstatt, that’s what I did before My Way Alpine tour in 2019, sublime.

I say do a day trip to Hallstatt if you want to do a day trip to Hallstatt, and hire a driver or join a tour if that's your preferred mode. It might be busy, but it's still pretty nice. Don't let people spoil it for you.

Like many others my last visit there involved logistics meant to make it more magical - approaching by foot over dramatic mountains in the evening, visiting but staying across the lake where there is a beautiful view of the whole town, using historic salt-boat water taxis, walking the streets early in the morning.

But I'm not going to tell you that you should do it different, or not go, because you're planning a day trip. There's a reason all those people are there - it's a beautiful little place.

I say do a day trip to Hallstatt if you want to do a day trip to Hallstatt, and hire a driver or join a tour if that's your preferred mode. It might be busy, but it's still pretty nice. Don't let people spoil it for you.

But I'm not going to tell you that you should do it different, or not go, because you're planning a day trip. There's a reason all those people are there - it's a beautiful little place.

Yes, I agree and I plan on it. And thank you for not completely ignoring my question and instead offering up an unsolicited opinion, lol. :D