How to Get to Hallstatt from Salzburg
Travelling to Hallstatt by train is one of the most scenic ways to reach this famous lakeside village in Austria. Surrounded by the mountains of the Dachstein Salzkammergut region and sitting beside the beautiful Hallstätter See, Hallstatt is a destination that seems almost made for a train journey.
See: Eurail Global Pass – Unlimited train travel across Europe
But there is one important thing to know before you travel: Hallstatt railway station is not in the village itself. It is located on the opposite side of Lake Hallstatt. When you arrive by train, you need to take a ferry across the lake to reach the centre of Hallstatt. The ferry crossing takes about 15 minutes and provides a spectacular introduction to the village.
How do you get to Hallstatt by train?
Take an ÖBB train to Hallstatt railway station (from either Salzburg or Vienna), which is located across Lake Hallstatt from the village. From the station, walk a few minutes to the ferry landing and take the ferry across the lake to Hallstatt centre. The crossing takes approximately 15 minutes.
That unusual arrival was part of what made my journey to Hallstatt so memorable.
Going to Hallstatt by train is extremely convenient as the train stops just a short distance from the ferry which will take you across the lake Hallstätter See to Hallstatt town.
Traveling by train also allows you to view the amazing vistas as the train rolls by the Alpine mountains, the quaint villages that seemed to have escaped the modernization of the cities and fast flowing rivers of melted mountain snow.
What Is the Hallstatt Train Journey Like?
You can start your journey from either Vienna or Salzburg. If you start from Vienna the ÖBB Railjet train departs hourly from Wien Hauptbahnhof station to Attnang-Puchheim where you will need to change to a local train from Attnang-Puchheim to Hallstatt. The journey from Vienna to Attnang-Puchheim takes about an hour an forty-eight minutes with intermediate stops.
From Attnang-Puchheim the journey takes about an hour and thirteen to an hour and thirty-seven minutes to reach Hallstatt station depending on the type of train which is running. This is the best part of the trip as you will pass beautiful lakes, snow capped mountains and fast flowing streams. There are also scenic towns you might want to visit along the way such as Bad Ischl and Bad Goisern where you might want to stop for a short visit or for a meal.
You can also start your journey from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof station where the ÖBB train also departs hourly. You will also have to switch to the same local train at Attnang-Puchheim. The journey from Salzburg to Attnang Puchheim is about 44 minutes with no stops.
Hallstatt railway station is not in the town itself. It is across Lake Hallstatt.
On approaching Hallstatt you will be able to see how amazing the town looks from across the lake. The train station is across the lake from the town and the easiest access to the town is by a short ferry ride which takes about 15 minutes.
Once you reach Hallstatt station do not be surprised if it looks more like a train stop than a station! You can now walk to the jetty a short distance away and you will have to carry your luggage with you for a short walk along the beautiful rugged scenery.
Be mindful that the ferry departs and arrive at Hallstatt town on fixed schedules which may vary with the seasons. You might not want to arrive after the last ferry has departed as you will be stranded at the station. If this happens you might want to give the towns mentioned earlier a visit!
Instead of walking straight into Hallstatt, you cross Lake Hallstatt by boat. As the ferry moves away from the railway station, the village gradually comes into view across the water, backed by steep Alpine mountains. It is a very memorable way to arrive!
Exploring Hallstatt
After arriving in Hallstatt check-in to your hotel and start exploring the town. There are numerous restaurants and souvenir shops to cater for the more touristy types. You can also visit the Salzwelten salt mine and museum by riding the funicular train up to visit the World Heritage View Skywalk.
Check the opening and closing times of the places you are visiting to ensure that you can make it up to the salt museum and back in time for your next destination as you will have to factor in the ferry and train schedules too. Also do consider purchasing the Eurail Global Pass for unlimited train travel all over Europe which comes with no worries about missing your train – just jump on the next one!
See: Where to stay in Hallstatt
Article and photos by Jack K.
Editor’s note: This article is based on my 2018 journey to Hallstatt. Train and ferry schedules, fares and connections can change, so check the current ÖBB and Hallstätter Schifffahrt schedules before travelling.
Also read: Mercedes-Benz Museum Stuttgart: A Journey Through Automotive History
