How to get to Hallstatt in 2025 – your transport guide in Austria

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Table of Contents:

When to travel to Hallstatt

How to get to Hallstatt

How to get to Hallstatt from Salzburg

Where to stay in Hallstatt

What to see & do in Hallstatt

When to travel to Hallstatt

Hallstatt is a small but very picturesque town in Austria, located between a lake and mountains. Travelers choose Hallstatt as a tourist destination for its various attractions. For example, here you can take a cable car down to the salt mines or, on the contrary, climb the mountains and see Hallstatt Lake in all its splendor. Until recently, it has been difficult to visit Hallstatt due to its location, but today tourists can get to Hallstatt both by public transport and by car.

After examining a lot of information, I decided to put it together and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Hallstatt. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Hallstatt.

You can come to Hallstatt any season of the year, depending on your preferences. If you like snowy landscapes, then come to Hallstatt during the period between November and March and you will be able to enjoy these fairy picturesque views. If you prefer blossoming nature, then come to Hallstatt during the period between April to October. Spring and summer will inspire you with its green forests, bright colors and sunny days. Autumn is no less beautiful and colorful and has its own charm. So, the choice is up to you.

How to get to Hallstatt

How to get to Hallstatt from Salzburg

The Hallstatt train station is located on the opposite shore of the lake, so once you get to the station, you will also need to take a ferry to get to Hallstatt itself. The crossing takes, on average, no more than 5 minutes; the one-way fare is 3,50 euros. The ferry schedule can be found on the website Hallstattschifffahrt.at (available in German or English).

If you arrived in Hallstatt by car, then you should keep in mind that parking is located right in the tunnels before entering Hallstatt due to limited space in the town. Travelers go up on special elevators from the tunnels and exit onto pedestrian paths. Hallstatt is a small town and can only be explored on foot.

By public transport: Despite the fact that Salzburg is located only 70 km from Hallstatt, if you decide to travel by public transport, you will have to change trains along the way. There may be several options. The first one is to get to Hallstatt by train with a change in the town of Attnang-Puchheim. In this case, the travel time takes a little more than 2 hours (the change itself is  rather short  and takes no more than 5-7 minutes). The second option is to take a bus from Salzburg to the resort town of Bad Ischl (you need a bus line # 150), and then take the train from Bad-Ischl directly to Hallstatt. The travel time takes about 2 hours 20 minutes. You can check the train timetable on the Raileurope service and the bus timetable on the Salzburg-Verkehr service.

By rented car: If you plan to get to Hallstatt by car, then the shortest route from Salzburg is highway No. B158 (see on the map). The route passes through the resort town of Bad Ischl. The travel time by car takes a little over an hour. You can rent a car for traveling around Austria at the Salzburg Airport or at the rental offices in the city center. You can also book a car in advance on specialized international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Based on my experience, both services have a convenient search with a lot of options for sorting the results as you may need. To rent a car you need to have a passport, an international driving license and a bank card to pay for the services.

Where to stay in Hallstatt

Hallstatt is a great place to stay in Austria, surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes. However, you need to take into account that the town is very small, which means there are few accommodation places here. These are mainly apartments or holiday homes, with only a few hotels. If you are looking for a budget option for accommodation, then it is worth considering the offers in the town of Obertraun, which is located on the opposite side of the lake.

So, based on my research, the following accommodation options are popular:

Seehotel Gruner Baum 4* – the hotel is located in the center of Hallstatt. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, a spa area, and a terrace with views of the lake. Guests can stay in rooms of varying categories. Some rooms have views of either the lake or the historical part of the town. Breakfast is included. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Public parking is provided nearby for an additional fee. There is an ATM and luggage storage at the front desk;

Heritage Hotel Hallstatt 4* – the hotel is located in the center of Hallstatt and has a terrace with views of the lake. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, and a sauna. Guests can stay in rooms of varying categories, including family rooms. The type of meals offered is breakfast or half board. Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Public parking nearby is available for an additional fee. Luggage storage services can be found at the front desk;

Seehotel am Hallstattersee 2* – the hotel is located in the town of Obertraun and has panoramic views of the lake. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool. Guests can stay in rooms of varying categories with mountain or lake views. Family rooms are also available. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Public parking on site is provided for an additional fee. Luggage storage services can be found at the front desk.

20 km from Hallstatt you can find the resort town of Bad Ischl, where more accommodation options are available, so some tourists choose Bad Ischl to stay in, and then come to Hallstatt for sightseeing (direct trains and buses operate daily). By the way, Bad Ischl is a famous thermal resort, so you can stay here for a longer period and relax in one of the thermal complexes.

Thus, the following accommodation options are popular in Bad Ischl:

Eurothermen Resort Bad Ischl 4* – this hotel is located in the center of the resort and is connected directly to the Salzkammerguttherme spa complex. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a sun terrace. The thermal complex has indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna and offers a large variety of massage and beauty treatments. Guests can stay in rooms of different categories. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that half board (breakfast + dinner) is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel rooms free of charge. Free private parking can be found on site. The front desk serves guests 24 hours a day;

Villa Seilern Vital Resort 4* – the hotel is located in Bad Ischl and offers its guests a spa area and a restaurant serving Austrian and international cuisine. The hotel’s spa area includes a sauna, a steam bath, hydromassage, an indoor pool, and a gym. The hotel is surrounded by a garden. Guests can stay in rooms of different categories. Rooms have balconies with mountain views. Meal type is breakfast or half board. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking on site is provided for an additional fee. The reception is open 24 hours a day;

Sonnhof 3* – the hotel is located near the thermal complex in Bad-Ischl and is surrounded by a splendid garden. There is a terrace and a library on site. You can stay in rooms of varying categories. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site. Luggage storage services can be found at the front desk.

What to see & do in Hallstatt

The main attractions of Hallstatt, in addition to the colorful houses and narrow streets of the town, are the picturesque natural landscapes. In my point of view, there are several tourist attractions in Hallstatt that are a must-see if you finally get to this remote but beautiful town. Firstly, it’s a funicular ride down to the salt cave; secondly, a cable car ride up to the “5 Fingers” observation deck in the Dachstein Mountains; and thirdly, it’s walking around the Hallstatt Lake.

The Salt Cave in Hallstatt is an unforgettable adventure. You can go down into the illuminated mines and view the exhibitions on a special underground funicular; a ride on it is exciting. I found out detailed information for visiting the Salt Cave:

• The mines are open from March to November, from 9.30 am until 4 pm am daily;
• Audio guides are available;
• The entrance fee is 40 euros for an adult and 20 euros for a child (children over 4 years old are allowed);
• The salt cave is located at Salzburgerstrasse 21, a 15-minute walk from the ferry pier.

The “5 Fingers” observation deck in the Dachstein Mountains is an absolutely amazing experience, as the climb will allow you to see all the beauty of the Alpine nature from a bird’s eye view, as well as visit ancient caves, some of which are completely icy and present an unforgettable sight. You can climb the mountain using a special cable car, which is ultra-modern and equipped with view cabins that take you to a height of 2000 meters.

At the top there are two observation platforms called “Spiral” and “5 Fingers”. The second is famous for having five platforms extended forward, which creates a very special impression for everyone who comes to see the unique landscapes. You should definitely visit the ice caves, which are incredibly beautiful labyrinths with ice sculptures inside. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:

• The site is open from the end of April until the end of October every day;
• The cost of visiting is 45,30 euros for an adult and 24,90 euros for children (family and group rates are also available). This cost includes cable car services (ascent & descent);
• Please, note, that climbing to the Dachstein mountain starts from the town of Obertraun, which is on the opposite side of the lake from Hallstatt.
• You also should take into consideration that the temperature in the cave is about -2C (26,6 °F).

After exploring the lake part of Hallstatt, go deeper into the town – to its central square. Many historical and architectural monuments have been preserved here. So, here you will see the Chapel of St. Michael, the Catholic Church of Hallstatt (built in the 12th century), the Evangelical Church (built in the 18th century), and the Market Square with a fountain. In addition, it is always nice to stroll around the colorful little houses and narrow streets of the town.

In your free time, you can go for a ride around the lake, for example, go on an hour-long ferry trip (group tour) or rent a private boat. The lake in Hallstatt does not freeze, so you can go for a ride at any time of the year.

To my mind, the picturesque landscapes of Hallstatt are difficult to underestimate. The most beautiful and clean alpine lake, inspiring mountain views, caves, salt mines, unique alpine houses and elegant chapels are the sights of Hallstatt that attract tourists from all over the world. Hallstatt is perfect for a one-day trip from the nearest major cities, as well as a place for a longer stay for several days or even weeks. There are many hiking routes around Hallstatt that will allow you to appreciate the beauty of the local alpine landscapes.

Photo above the article: Kevin Poh