Exploring Hallstatt, Austria: Travel Tips And Tricks

There are several ways to get to Hallstatt, Austria. You can travel by train, bus, or car. The closest large Austrian cities are Vienna and Salzburg, and many travellers make their way to Hallstatt from these cities. The train journey from Salzburg takes a little over two hours, while the Vienna-to-Hallstatt route takes between 3.5 to 4.5 hours. Taking a bus from both Vienna and Salzburg is also an option, but the train is typically a better experience, due to the beautiful views you’ll witness along the way.

Getting to Hallstatt by train

The journey from Salzburg takes a little over two hours, whereas the Vienna-to-Hallstatt route takes between 3.5 to 4.5 hours. Taking a bus from both Vienna and Salzburg is also an option, but the train is typically a better experience, due to the beautiful views you’ll witness along the way. Driving to Hallstatt from Vienna doesn’t save you much time at all as it still takes 3.5 hours each way compared to 4 hours by train. Driving to Hallstatt from Munich is more practical, as it is only 2.5 hours each way compared to 4-4.5 hours by train. The train ticket would also set you back 100 euros round trip, but there are steep discounts for buying far in advance.

If you are looking to check out the Ice Caves, consider staying on the train a couple of minutes past the Hallstatt Station and get off at the Obertraun Train Station where you can catch the local 542 Postbus.

Getting to Hallstatt by bus

If you're travelling from Vienna, it's still possible to get to Hallstatt by bus, but the journey will take longer than the train. The bus connections between individual locations in the UNESCO World Heritage region of Hallstatt Dachstein are well developed, so you can easily reach the sights by bus. The Upper Austrian Transport Association (OÖVV) runs bus routes from Obertraun via Hallstatt to the imperial town of Bad Ischl, or from the picturesque Gosau valley via Bad Goisern to Bad Ischl.

If you're looking to visit the Ice Caves, you can stay on the train past the Hallstatt Station and get off at the Obertraun Train Station, where you can catch the local 542 Postbus.

Since 1 June 2020, all buses taking passengers to Hallstatt in the UNESCO World Heritage region Hallstatt Dachstein Salzkammergut are required to book an entry/exit slot via a booking platform. Registration is required, and payment is made by credit card.

Getting to Hallstatt by car

Driving to Hallstatt from Vienna takes around 3.5 hours each way, which is only slightly faster than the train journey of 4 hours. However, driving may be preferable if you are continuing on to Salzburg or staying overnight in Hallstatt.

If you are driving to Hallstatt from Munich, the journey is more practical at 2.5 hours each way, compared to 4-4.5 hours by train. The train ticket is also expensive at 100 euros round trip, although there are steep discounts for buying in advance.

To get to Hallstatt by car, you can follow these directions:

• From Vienna, take the A1 motorway towards Salzburg and exit at Regau. Then, follow the B145 road towards Bad Ischl and Hallstatt.
• From Munich, take the A8 motorway towards Salzburg and exit at Bad Reichenhall. Follow the B20 towards Berchtesgaden and continue on the B305 towards Bischofswiesen and Berchtesgaden. Finally, take the B319 towards Ramsau and Schönau am Königssee, and follow the signs to Hallstatt.

It is important to note that there is no road access directly into Hallstatt. Instead, you will need to park your car at the P1 parking lot outside of town and take a short ferry ride (2 Euros) to reach the town centre. The ferry schedule matches up with incoming trains, and the ride offers beautiful coastal views of Hallstatt.

Getting to Hallstatt from Salzburg

If you choose to take the train, you'll need to take an Austrian National OBB train to Attnang-Puchheim, which is 50 minutes from Salzburg. From there, you'll transfer to the local REX train toward Hallstatt. The final leg of the journey takes 85 minutes, and then you'll need to take a short ferry ride to get across the lake to the town. The ferry costs 2 Euros and the ferry schedule matches the incoming train times. The whole journey from Salzburg to Hallstatt takes a little over two hours.

You can also take a bus from Salzburg to Hallstatt, although the train is typically a better experience due to the beautiful views along the way.

Getting to Hallstatt from Vienna

Hallstatt is a UNESCO Heritage site located on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt in Austria's Salzkammergut region. The best way to get from Vienna to Hallstatt is by train. The price of a one-way ticket from Vienna to Hallstatt can vary from €19 to €55, depending on the season. The ride can take 3.5 to 4.5 hours and may require one or two transfers. The train from Vienna to Hallstatt departs once daily and operates every day. The journey takes approximately 3 hours and 9 minutes. The train station in Hallstatt is located on the opposite side of the lake from the village, so to get there you will need to take a ferry. The boat departs every 30 minutes and is usually timed to coincide with the train.

If you prefer to drive, the journey from Vienna to Hallstatt is a scenic 3.5-hour car ride. However, you cannot drive into the main village centre, so you will need to leave your car in a parking lot outside the old town. Parking should not be an issue if you arrive early in the morning or plan your trip during the off-season.

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