A Day Trip to Hallstatt – Austria

Austria’s Hallstatt is one of those beautiful towns buried away in a backwater area. This article will provide all the information necessary to go from Salzburg to Hallstatt. I enjoy discovering hidden, little towns that are out of the way and nobody has ever heard of. The more of a hidden treasure something is, the harder it is to get there! One is Hallstatt, which is 2.5 hours from Salzburg by two trains and ferry.

Knowing this fairy village from all the stunning Instagram photographs. Once in my life, I’ve desired to travel to this mystical village. It was worth the journey to see the stunning Austrian Alps set perfectly behind a calm lake filled with beautiful swans. Hallstatt is the ideal spot to add to your bucket list for Austria because it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.

How to Get to Hallstatt, Austria

Even though it would be freezing, I had always wanted to visit Hallstatt, Austria in the snow. Although I’ve seen some lovely snow photographs around here, the scenery is stunning whenever you visit. I went in March. The village is getting increasingly well known and may get congested, although March wasn’t too awful.

Ways from Salzburg to Hallstatt

TYPE	COST	TIME	HOW TO BOOK
Train + ferry	€12	2.5 hours	Train Line
Guided Tour	€63	1.5 hours	Get your guided tour
Car Rental	from €100/day	1 hour	Discover Cars

To get to Hallstatt, you may either take 2 trains and a boat or 3 buses. Here’s how you do it—I chose the train/ferry option!

1st Step: 🚂 caught a train from Salzburg < Attnang-Puchheim

🕑Time 44 minutes (2 stops)

change the train

2nd Step: 🚂 then take second train from Attnang-Puchheim < Hallstatt Bahnhof

🕑 1 hour and 36 minutes (20 stops)

When you leave the train, a ferry will be waiting for you.

3rd Step: Ferry ⛴️from Hallstatt Bahnhaf < Hallstatt Market

🕑 5 minutes ride (Ticket Price €2.50/way)

Note: every day the last ferry departs at 6:15 p.m. to catch the 6:32 p.m. last train.

I’m excited to visit Hallstatt and unwind by the lake. It turned out that my hopes for a tranquil, relaxed trip experience wouldn’t last long. I couldn’t help but feel eager for my arrival as the train got closer to Hallstatt. As we sped through vast blue lakes, steep mountains, and the greenest grass I had recently seen, I had my face pushed up against the glass.

Using public transportation, it takes around 2.5 hours to go from Salzburg to Hallstatt.

When I arrived at Hallstatt, I could feel the town’s unique vibe. Mountains covered in luxuriant greenery around the city. The village, which is situated on the highlands and faces the Hallstätter See Lake, may be seen from a distance.
Swans, Swiss chalets, cobblestone streets, outdoor cafes, and no cars. Nothing except vehicles! It’s amazing how quiet it is when there aren’t any buses, motorbikes, mopeds, or other cars around. To be honest, this was surreal.

Avoid Crowd

In Hallstatt, there are many things to see and do. You must gently explore and learn about all the hidden beauties. Around 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. is when the majority of day visitors come to Hallstatt. Avoid these busy times by visiting Hallstatt early in the day or late in the day.

Experience in Austria – Things to Do

1. Visit the Market Square

The famed Market Square serves as Hallstatt’s beating heart. Although its foundations date back to the fourteenth century, the majority of the vibrant residences were constructed in the 16th century. A 1743 construction known as the Holy Trinity Column stands in the middle of the area. Visit this vibrant plaza, the center of the little town, as you stroll about. It is very adorable!

You may get ice cream and stroll around the area, visit a café, or shoot pictures in front of people’s homes (Embarrassing Moment: I was taking a picture of someone’s house when they walked out and spotted me! The shame I felt because of this blog…)

2. 360-degree Panorama View At World Heritage Skywalk

After spending a few hours exploring the town, you should go to get a bird’s-eye view of Hallstatt. It’s my bad luck because due to the shortage of time, I never visited this point but I will hopefully do it the next time. A breathtaking view of the entire Dachstein Salzkammergut region is available from the Hallstatt Skywalk observation platform, a World Heritage site. From the salt mine, you may hike for an hour or take the €16 funicular ride to reach this 360-meter-high deck.

Follow the signboard and go down the road from the southern viewpoint till you reach the funicular. You may book the funicular trip independently or along with the worthwhile Salzwelten tour. The observation deck is designed like a triangle, with the tip hanging over a cliff. Standing at the very end was scary. If you need food or coffee after the walk, you may also find the Rudolfsturm restaurant at the top.

Opening hours: Daily: 09:00 am to 06:00 pm

Hallstatt Cable Car Prices — Roundtrip

Adults	€16
Children 4-15 years	€8
Families
2 adults + 1 child	€34
Each additional child	€7

3. Take a Postcard Famous Photo

When visiting Hallstatt don’t forget to take a postcard famous picture of an Austrian lakefront village. At the north and south corners of the village, respectively, there are two spots where you may capture Hallstatt in picture-perfect fashion. From the north to the south end, the perfect strolling tour of Hallstatt has begun. Whatever the case, Hallstatt is a small village, and getting from one end to the other would probably take an hour or less.

On the north side, it began. When reaching the ferry terminal, proceed a minor distance in the direction of the town’s northwest corner. This winding route will lead you to Hallstatt’s most magnificent viewpoint, where you may capture the first famous postcard-quality shot.

It is impossible to overlook because it is Hallstatt’s most recognized viewpoint. Visit there to snap pictures or just to soak in the magnificent scenery. It is situated on Gosaumühlstrasse, about 290 meters (a short 5-minute walk) from the central square.

4. Take a Boat Ride

Consider taking a leisurely boat ride on the Hallstätter Lake if you haven’t already taken the ferry across the lake from the railway station. I’m lucky that I take the ride on the boat and view the panoramic view of my life. It will not just offer you a unique vision of the town of Hallstatt and the hills around, but it will also give your legs a brief rest. Ferries over to Obertraun and up to Obersee are additional options for the ferry to the railway station. Both the northern Markt terminal and the southern Lahn terminal in the village have boat docks.

If you want to Watch my Boat Tour🛥️ Video Click Here↗️.

Exciting Boat Tour, the overview of hallstat

5. Walk Around the Hallstatt

Hallstatt is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of its landscape, as was already mentioned. This is a fantastic reason to do nothing except stroll through the town. Several locations are picturesque as well.

Here, a lot of tourists capture beautiful social media images. Your stroll is made more delightful by the modest stores, eateries, and cafés that give the area a village-like feel.

As you go throughout the city, you may also get audio and textual tours online.

You might also take a stroll out from the village and go to Badestrand, a famous spot the stunning views of Hallstatt. You may enjoy a quiet Hallstatt on your own after a 10-minute walk.

Final Thoughts on Hallstatt

I loved my day at Hallstatt, despite some unpleasant interactions with the people and some cool weather. It’s a tiny village with plenty of twisting, narrow streets, and exploring them was enjoyable. On a wet day, though, there wasn’t much to do here. A museum and a few stores are present, but I have little interest in any of them. At least for one day, the weather was pleasant, allowing me to spend a little more time exploring.

Some Useful Tips

• In the historic center, save your €0,50 coins for the toilets. A small side street off the main pedestrian street, just before the market square, is where you’ll find them (directions tourist information office).
• The Wi-Fi hotspot is available on Market Square.
• Since many restaurants and stores don’t take credit or debit cards, make sure to have extra cash with you. Alternatively, before placing an order or making a purchase, ask about card facilities.
• When the residents celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi or Fronleichnam in the Market Square and on richly decorated boats on the lakes, you could have the chance to experience one of the city’s long-standing customs if you visit Hallstatt in June.
• The tourist office in Hallstatt, located at 114 Seestraße, may provide hiking route recommendations.