How To Get To Hallstatt By Train:
Train Route Overview: Getting to Hallstatt by train is super easy.
From either Salzburg or Vienna you’ll take an Austrian National OBB train to Attnang-Puchheim where you then transfer to the local REX train toward Hallstatt.
The Attnang-Puchheim train station is 50 minutes from Salzburg and 135 minutes from Vienna. There will be around a 10-minute layover between trains and the final leg takes 85 minutes.
The only goofy thing about taking the train into Hallstatt is that it actually drops you off across the lake from town which requires a short ferry ride (2 Euros😀).
On the bright side, the ferry’s schedule matches up to meet incoming trains and the ride offers amazing coastal views of Hallstatt.
If you are looking to check out the Ice Caves, consider staying on the train on your way into town a couple minutes past the Hallstatt Station and get off at the Obertraun Train Station where you can catch the local 542 Postbus which is explained below.
Train Tickets Cost & Timetables: 🕛
For train info visit the German Bahn Train website or the Austrian OEBB Train website.
Or Book from our pertner and get discount click here
If you book early there are often special online fares called Sparschiene fares which are up to 80% off the full fare. 😆
The specials fares go on sale 6 months in advance, but a limited number are available per train and sell out.
The full fare by train from Salzburg to Hallstatt is 15-28€ each way depending on the train options you select.
The first trains out in the morning leave at 5:12am (twice an hour) and the last ferry back to Hallstatt Station leaves at 6:15pm to meet the last train at 6:32pm daily.
Summary of Route Legs & Transfers: 🚆
Our map above will help a ton, but here is the overview of each leg.
How To Get To Hallstatt From Salzburg - By Train Attnang-Puchheim
Step 1: Salzburg or Vienna > Attnang-Puchheim:
It is a direct national train to here from Salzburg in 50 minutes or Vienna Westbahnhof Station in 2 hours.
From/to Salzburg your layover for switching trains will be about 12 minutes and from/to Vienna it will typically be 20-30 minutes.
The first train in the morning typically leaves at 5:12am with departures twice an hour (:12 & :22).
If you follow this route in reverse to go back to Vienna or Salzburg by train from Hallstatt, remember to keep note of your train number and departure time as return departures leave Attnang-Puchheim multiple times an hour and you want to make sure you are getting on the correct one covered by your ticket.
Total Time: 50 minutes from Salzburg or 2 hours from Vienna to Attnang-Puchheim.
How To Get To Hallstatt From Salzburg - By Train Hallstatt Station
Step 2:
Attnang-Puchheim > Hallstatt Bahnhof:
The local train from Attnang-Puchheim (pronounced: ott-nine pook-haim) to Hallstatt Bahnhof will take 90 minutes.
It will drop you off across the lake from town and the Stephanie ferry will be there to meet the incoming trains and glide you into town. There are no bag lockers at tiny Hallstatt Station.
If you are visiting the Dachstein Ice Cave & 5 Fingers consider riding the train another 4 minutes past Hallstatt Bahnhof to Obertraun Station to catch bus 543 nearby to go up to the Ice Cave Visitor Center.
This bus route (explained above) also loops back to the village of Hallstatt from the Ice Caves.
Total Time: After a 10-20 minute layover it is a 50-minute ride to Hallstatt’s train station.
How To Get To Hallstatt From Salzburg - By Train Stefanie Ferry Boat
Step 3:
Hallstatt Bahnhof > Hallstatt Markt (Stefanie Ferry):
Running 365 days a year, the Stefanie Ferry Boat (website) meets incoming trains to peacefully glide visitors across the lake from the Train Station to the docks on the Northside of the village center called Hallstatt Markt. The lake does NOT freeze over in Winter regardless of what you have heard. Keep in mind that the last ferry back to the station leaves at 6:15pm to meet the last train at 6:32pm daily.
Total Time: Ferries meet the incoming trains and the ride across the lake is around 10 minutes.
Getting To Hallstatt By Car:
1. Driving From Salzburg (1 Hour and 15 Minutes):
Driving Route Overview:
Rent car from here.
If you already have a rental car, you will really want to consider driving to Hallstatt from Salzburg.
The biggest advantage to driving to Hallstatt from Salzburg is that it only takes 1 hour and 15 minutes compared to over 2 hours by bus or over 2.5 hours by train.
The driving route is very easy with rolling hills as you weave through the beautiful Salzkammergut Lake Region.
Driving is also nice as it makes getting between Hallstatt village and the Dachstein Ice Cave Visitor Center (3 miles away) very easy.
2. Driving From Vienna (3.5 Hours):
Driving Route Overview:
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.
The only reason we would ever recommend driving to Hallstatt from Vienna is if you continuing onto Salzburg after visiting or if you are staying overnight in Hallstatt (book your hotel far in advance).
3. Driving From Munich (2.5 Hours):
Driving Route Overview:
Driving to Hallstatt from Munich is actually a lot more practical than you would think 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.
Ultimately if you are driving from Munich you should be finding time to spend at least a night or town on the way in Salzburg anyway so this drive would be pretty rare.
Very Important: If you are driving over the border of Germany and Austria you need to make sure you have a European Union travel sticker called a “vignette” in your car window.
The vignette stickers are required to enter Austria, but because Germany doesn’t require them your car may not have one included in your car when you pick it up.
These stickers only cost around 10 euros and can be picked up either from your rental car company or from almost any gas station, but the ticket for not having one is almost 200 euros.
4. Parking In Hallstatt:
Parking Overview:
There are 3 main parking lots right on the Southern end of Hallstatt village (P1, P2, & P3) which are very clearly marked as you come into town.
These lots are located close to the Salt Mine Visitor Center and the main Hallstatt Lahn Bus Stop.
While one of the lots is closed in Winter, we have never had an issue getting a spot. This is because most visitors come in by train or in hoards on tour buses and not by car. There is also a large parking lot right at the Dachstein Ice Caves Visitor Center.
If you are staying in a hotel overnight they have special parking spots on the edge of town that are free and includes a shuttle (they will verify your accommodations when you park).
Bag Lockers & Luggage Storage:
If you are stopping at Hallstatt on your way in between Vienna and Salzburg or Munich you will need to plan ahead to store your luggage during your visit.
The biggest issue, is that unlike other main cities in Austria, there are no bag lockers at the Hallstatt train station.
You will either need to drop your bags at one of the stations on the way during a short layover or you’ll need to take advantage of one of the limited luggage storage options in the heart of Hallstatt.
Read More: Luggage Storage Options Near Hallstatt.
How To Get Around In Hallstatt:
Once you get to Hallstatt you can get anywhere in town quickly by foot.
A funicular takes you from City level up to the Salt Mines. The Stephanie Ferry quickly brings you across the lake if you need to catch a train.
If you wish to get to the Ice Caves check the local Post Bus Schedule. Taxis are limited, however, there are a couple companies. If you are struggling to find one, any Inn Keeper or the Visitor Center staff can help.
Interesting Facts About Getting To Hallstatt:
The only ways to get to Hallstatt over 2,000 years was to either take the narrow trails around the lake or a boat from the Steeg (Northside of the Lake). In 1877 the train line opened across the lake stopping in nearby Obertraun with the Hallstatt Train Station and ferry to cross the water opening in 1881.
Nine years later they finally completed Hallstatt’s lakeside road in 1890 after demolishing some medieval homes along the river bank of the village. Part of the new Lake Road, or Seestraße in German (pronounced: Zee-stra-sa, roll the ‘r’), still had to be elevated hanging over the water on stilts just to make one full lane. Proper two was traffic to and from Hallstatt wasn’t possible into town until the car tunnel under Salt Hill (Saltberg) was finished in the 1960s. The rumble from the tunnel construction was used to make the popular, and gorgeous, Bather’s Island (Badeinsel) on the Southside of town not far from the main Hallstatt Lahn bus stop.
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