The trip to Hallstatt takes one full day, leaving early morning and getting back to Salzburg at evening.
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| Iconic view of Hallstatt |
First things to check:
- Make sure it's not rainy day by weather forecast – There is a lot walking in Hallstatt outdoor, and strong rainy day is not good.
- Try make sure it's not public holiday in Austria, nor Sunday. Public transport is better in working days and Saturdays – also there might be less people in Hallstatt.
- This my plan is NOT valid in public holidays or Sundays, if you really need to take a trip to Hallstatt in public holidays or Sundays - you have to travel with train thru Atthang-Puncheim when you return from Hallstatt to Salzburg in Public Holidays or Sundays. The route via Atthang-Puncheim is not more difficult, it's just more expensive.
- Even after reading this, double check route planning via ÖBB Route planner (ÖBB is great site to plan routes in Austria). NOTE: ÖBB Route planner doesn't cover ferry routes in Hallstatt. These instructions are from my travel in 2014, so in theory, it's possible that some timetable information are changed.
The route from Salzburg to Hallstatt
Get
to Salzburg bus station - that is next to Salzburg main train station (Salzburg Hbf - Salzburg Hauptbahnof) - or any bus stop for BUS 150 to Bad Ischl.
Take a BUS 150, to take Route from Salzburg train station to Bad Ischl.
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| Landscape view of Austria from the Bus |
- Bus departures the Salzburg train/bus station at 08:15am
- Cost is 10.50e/person (one way) - pay to driver
- Bus arrives in the Bad Ischl bus station at 9:50am
- Make sure you sit on left side of the bus so you can get great landscape views during the bus trip.
- Bad Ischl bus station locates next to Bad Ischl train station.
Train from Bad Ischl to Hallstatt
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| Bad Ischl Train and Bus station |
Cost is 4.20e per person (one way) - buy a ticket from Bad Ischl train station if you have not bought it already - cashier or ticket machine.
NOTE - Very important: Also buy return ticket from Hallstatt to Bad Ischl at the same time. Hallstatt train station is only "small" house with only one slow ticket machine - if there is a lot tourists without tickets, you might miss the train.
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| Austrian landscape from the Train |
Make sure you sit on the right side of the train – to get better landscape views during the short train trip.
Train arrives in the Hallstatt train station at 10:47am.
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| Hallstatt Train station |
- In the Hallstatt train station, walk down to near lake (15m) and wait for the local ferry boat.
- Ferry - (actually it's just boat) - cost 2.50e per person (one way) - Pay to boat's cashier.
- Ferry times are related to train - it should not take long - perhaps 5-10min when ferry arrives.
From Hallstatt to Salzburg
Route from Hallstatt to Salzburg is very much similar, here I just try tell some basic times.
Ferry from the Hallstatt to Hallstatt train station
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| Ferry 'Stefanie' in the Hallstatt |
Last ferries from Hallstatt to Hallstatt train station departures at:
- 16:15 (4:15pm)
- 16:45 (4:45pm)
- 18:15 (6:15pm) - Last ferry of Hallstatt
Ferry route takes to about 10 minutes, all ferry times are related to train time table of the Hallstatt train station.
Click on timetable – it might be little difficult to read, but check the: Ship ”Stefanie to the railway station Hallstatt" – First table - "Direction to: Bad Goisern, Bad Ischl, Attnang-Puncheim - Vienna/Salzburg"
- First row is ferry's departure times
- Second line tells the next train arrive time for this ferry on same column.
Train timetable from Hallstatt train station to Bad Ischl
- Departure at 16:32 (4:32pm) – You will arrive to Bad Ischl at 16:53 (4:53pm)
- Departure at 17:07 (5:07pm) – You will arrive to Bad Ischl at 17:34 (5:34pm)
- Departure at 18:32 (6:32pm) – You will arrive to Bad Ischl at 18:53 (6:53pm)
Bus 150 timetable from Bad Ischl to Salzburg
- Departure at 17:24 (5:24pm) - You arrive to Salzburg at 18:57 (6:57pm).
- Departure at 18:24 (6:24pm) - You arrive to Salzburg at 19:53 (7:53pm).
- Departure at 20:24 (8:24pm) – This bus will end to St. Gilgen at 20:54 (8:54pm) – and change to another BUS 150 from St. Gilgen to Salzburg at 21:05 (9:05pm) – You arrive to Salzburg at 21:53 (9:53pm).
Overall
cost of the trip: 34.40e per person (adult)
Staying multiple days in the Hallstatt
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| Hallstatt Bahn to Salt mines |
- You don't need to carry luggage into ferry boat – it's just easier to walk just into train in Obertraun.
- If you have no return ticket - it's easier to buy in Obertraun train station.
- It's easy to walk to Hallstatt from Obertraun (4-5km perhaps), or take a ferry in summer times.
- Obertraun have cable car to mountains area that are just awesome. NOTE: Obertraun cable car is open only at summer time
- In summer time - You can go to Salt mines in Hallstatt and you can take full tour with ship. You cannot see everything in one day in summer. All (few) fountains are also closed during the winter.
- There is also Hallstatt museum - that takes it's own time.
But overall – Hallstatt is just great place to visit – if you can have only one day – it's still definitely worthy to visit – even in Winter.
Links
- Austrian Postbus pages - not so useful as ÖBB Route planner
- Cruising in the world Heritage Hallstatt-Dachstein - Ferry times and plans
- Hallstatt in wikipedia
- Hallstatt Museum in wikipedia
- Salzburg Hauptbahnhof in wikipedia
- ÖBB Route planner
- My landscape pictures from the trip 'from Salzburg to Hallstatt' on flickr
- My pictures of Hallstatt on flickr - all my pictures are geotagged
Awesome write-up. Thumb-up.:)
ReplyDeleteHi! Is there another way to get to Hallstatt by way of bus? (150, 542, 543)?
ReplyDeleteIt always depends on your schedule and timing, but using 542 & 543 seems to be little more difficult. You have to change from bus 542 to 543 in Hallstatt Gosaumühle, which is almost but not in Hallstatt itself.
DeleteFerry timetable is well synced with train timetable.
Hi there, just to ask, i saw that there is this 24hrs regional bus pass that cost 25e for 2 people. is it valid for the bus ride for bus 150? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIf you mean Salzburg 24 hour tickets, no. Hallstatt is not in Salzburg state.
DeleteThanks.... Very VERY informative, will help us on our trip to Austria in May 2016
ReplyDeleteThanks Timo! This plan and trip was awesome! We went from Salzburg to Hallstatt 5.1.2016 and only the prices had changed a bit:
ReplyDelete- Bus 150 at 8.15 am Salzburg-Bad Ischl 10,50€ one way, 21€ with return.
- Train Bad Ischl-Hallstatt at 10.20 am 4,20€ one way, 8,40€ with return.
- Ferry to Hallstatt 2,50€ one way, 5€ with return.
Totally: 34,40€.
Hallstatt is definitely worth to visit even in winter! And it is better to sit on the left side of the bus and right side of the train to see the best views. :)
Thanks alot for information. :)
DeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteGreat info thank you
Not sure if this page is still active but I can only got to Halstatt for the day on a Sunday, would you still recommend this or will it be too difficult with transport not being as regular?
Thanks
Katrina
It's just different route, nothing more. Hallstatt is pretty place and I would go even on Sunday, you just need to use Attnang-Puchheim train station.
DeleteThe duration with train via Attnang-Puchheim is same as using this my plan. (it will cost little more thou). But it's not more difficult.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteyou have incredible explanation skills, I hope everything is clear for everbody.
I have question, is it possible to see Salzburg and Hallstat on same day from Vienna (sunday)? Same day early departs and evening to be in Vienna?
Another question, After visit Hallstat from Salzburg how can I return to Vienna from Hallstat directly? Could you give me directions, time schedules and prices.
Thank you in advance and for your assitance.
Nazim
Salzburg and Hallstatt in one day. No. Even Hallstatt takes at least one day, if you go to Hallstatt mines in summer time and do little explore in the village. Salzburg have multiple nice sight seeing places, such as european biggest fortress that have multiple museums in it. Salzburg Fortress itself takes about one day if you see it well.
DeleteChecked from ÖBB - https://tickets.oebb.at/en - From Hallstatt to Vienna/Wien takes about 4 hours via train. Depends from the day. Salzburg - Vienna/Wien takes about 2.5h - 3h via train.
I did actually write little story about Salzburg too.
ReplyDeleteTravelling in salzburg
* There is also links in the bottom of Salzburg blog about Salzburg fortress and Geiereck
Thank you very much for usefull information,I changed my mine I will take much time on this trip after your explanation.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to seeing Hallstat and Salzburg.
Thank you so much. The way you explain it is very clear and so helpful. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://missnidy.blogspot.co.id
My pleasure :)
DeleteHi, thanks so much for the information!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of heading there in Jan 2017... Do you think there's a need to get tickets beforehand?
Bus, and ferry ticket must pay to driver. But overall - No need to buy tickets beforehand - only the return ticket from Hallstatt to Bad Ischl is good to have beforehand - but you can buy it form Bad Ischl train station when you will be there.
DeleteAlso, do you know how to get from Salzburg to Innsbruck? And if early booking of tickets is needed? Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteÖBB knows :) at the moment - direct link to Route planner & buying the ticket is in: http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en?
Delete* From Salzburg to Innsbruck is direct train, ticket can be bought from online (from ÖBB) - if you do buy a ticket from ÖBB - it's pretty simple - pay with (credit) card - and print the ticket, go to correct train and you are good to go.
I did write this about train travel in Austria (at 2014): http://traveltimo.blogspot.fi/2014/05/train-travel-in-austria.html
Thanks so much for the information Timo, appreciate it a lot!
DeleteI'll book the Innsbruck tickets beforehand... fingers crossed it won't be rainy!
Hi, do you know how to get from Hallstatt to Innsbruck? and also do you think there's a need to get tickets online? Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteRailway tickets are always good to buy online. Bus tickets must always pay to driver and cannot buy online. However, if you are moving from Hallstatt to Innsbruck - it takes at least 4-5 hours, so it's basically one full day, and it's better to use train only and buy tickets online.
DeleteFrom Hallstatt to Innsbruck, you can use ÖBB Route planner. http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en?
* There is two ways to do it, either go to Salzburg first, which requires 2 stop. This way it's about 4.5 hours.
* Or little longer route, Going to Linz first and then to Innsbruck. But requires only 1 stop in Linz. This way it's bit over 5 hours.
But check the ÖBB Route planner http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en? how it suits for your plans.
Hi, we are planing to go on Feb 2017, we found a shared shuttle which cost us 80€ in total of 2 from Salzburg to Hallstatt(door to door). Do you think is it worth for the price or we just take public transports (bus-train-ferry) to Hallstatt?
ReplyDeleteAnd also any way from Hallstatt to Český Krumlov?
Many thanks
Of course, it is faster and more easy to take shared shuttle. If 40e is not much for you, you can take it. :)
DeleteBenefits for shuttle:
* Time saving - it does probably take 1h 10min from Salzburg to Hallstatt with shuttle. (my plan takes 2 hours).
* Shuttle is more comfy, easier.
If you take shuttle, remember sit on the left side of shuttle (just like on the bus) to get better landscape views.
From Hallstatt to Český Krumlov - it does take multiple stops with public transport (and 6 hours, cost is around 24e - 50e, depends which time you travel). But only 2.5 hours with shuttle, if you can check decent shuttle price from Hallstatt to Český Krumlov - it is valid option.
You can check all public transport options - even from Hallstatt to Český Krumlov from http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en
Hello, We are planning (Feb) to go Salz and Hallstat with kids 3 and 6, do you have any suggestion as winters are normally cold and we may use the public transport for our travel. If it is too cold then what are the must see things that we can plan and skip those are not really not needed.
ReplyDeleteAll depends on your personal interest, but I wrote little about travelling in Salzburg:
Deletehttp://traveltimo.blogspot.fi/2014/03/travelling-in-salzburg.html
* Salzburg have Hohensalzburg fortress and nice little old town.
* Geiereck mountain top can be very nice. it should be easy with children. Just public bus and then cable car to mountain top.
* All these are quite much outdoor - if you visit in Geiereck, make sure it's not cloudy day, and not windy day.
I live in colder country than Austria, so cold is not a problem for me, but it's very important to wear proper winter clothes to keep warm. It's better to have more clothes than less clothes.
ok, thank you very much for the information, also we prepare ourselves for the worst weather conditions just in case.
DeleteI did check the average weather for Salzburg in Feb. https://www.worldweatheronline.com/salzburg-weather-averages/salzburg/at.aspx
Delete-> Average day have -2C in the morning, and +6C at day time.
If you go visit at Geiereck, it's colder there, according to this site:
https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/forecast/modelclimate/geiereck_austria_2778754
In Feb, average weather is -11C in the morning, and -4C at day time. the cold is not too bad if you are wearing enough clothes, but the cold wind is.