Visiting Hallstatt, Austria

Visiting Hallstatt, Austria

I actually came once before, but it was so long ago that I can't remember anything, so this time I came back to explore it thoroughly.

This time I could feel a lot of change (even though I came in this season). The largest group of foreign visitors was Thai, and I saw several Thai tour groups. Another nationality that comes in large numbers is Vietnamese. These two groups mostly come on tours, while other Asians and Europeans come independently, like me.

The place looks beautiful, but considering the time it takes (a whole day, and maybe longer if you come from Vienna) and the travel costs, even when going the cheapest way and walking up to the Heritage viewpoint yourself (not taking the aerial tram, which costs 11 € round trip, and if you also go into the salt mine up there, it's another 25 €), the food and shops here are much more expensive than in the city.

It's not very worthwhile. I think the lovely lakes in Tyrol or Switzerland, or even in Italy, such as Lake Como, are much prettier, cheaper and easier to get to. Switzerland especially is full of beautiful lakeside villages.

If you come here on your own, there are several ways, but the prices you pay differ.

Wherever you come from, whether Salzburg or Vienna, you need to change to a bus or train at Bad Ischl. From there you can take the train that runs directly from Linz and get off at Hallstatt station (this station is like a No Man's Station: there's nothing there except a trash bin and a ticket machine. Slightly better, there is a small building to shelter from the rain and cold, with just 5 chairs). After getting off, walk down to the pier and take the boat across to the village of Hallstatt Lahn on the other side of the lake. The boat costs 3.5 € per trip (the boat waits for the train and arrives at exactly the same time). The boat crosses to the pier by the church. Walk up, turn right and follow the road for 300 meters and you will find the famous viewpoint where everyone gathers (if you go in the morning, you'll face backlight like I did).

Another way is from Bad Ischl: at the bus stop by the train station, there is bus line 542 running to the village of Obertraun (if you have time, try visiting this village. I think it's even prettier than Hallstatt, especially the Five Fingers viewpoint, which you can reach by cable car). In fact, the train that brings you to Hallstatt continues to the next station at this village too. If you've already bought a ticket, don't throw it away, because the ticket is valid up to here. I mention this because for the return trip I recommend taking the train on to this village and then taking a train back to Bad Ischl, or you can take bus 542. The ticket price includes both bus and train.

Bus 542 stops in front of the train station in Obertraun village. When you get there, transfer to bus 543 and pay just 1 €. After about 10 minutes you will arrive at the World Heritage village of Hallstatt Lahn (Hallstatt is the name of the train station, while the full name of the village is Hallstatt Lahn. I stress this because it can be confusing when buying tickets). Bus 542 runs all the way to the entrance of the Ice Cave, another popular place. I didn't go, so if you have, please tell us whether it's worth it. As for bus 543 (please check carefully that it's running; when I came it wasn't, because of Covid. Normally it runs several times a day, every hour), it stops at the bus station at Hallstatt Lahn, the same place where tour buses park. Walk across the road to the tram station that goes up to the Heritage viewpoint and to the salt mine.

Buying bus tickets
1. From Salzburg to Bad Ischl, you can take the train (strongly not recommended because it's very expensive), or take bus line 150, which runs several times a day to Bad Ischl train station (the fare is only 15 €, and the price includes bus 542 or the train to Obertraun, which also stops at Hallstatt station as well).
2.If you come from Vienna or anywhere else, take the train to Salzburg HBF, walk to the bus station in front of the station and go to stop E, which is the starting stop for line 150.
3.If you come from Linz, you can take a train straight to Hallstatt station in a single trip.
You can buy tickets at the train station from the ticket machine by choosing your origin and destination as Hallstatt Lahn. The machine offers several options. Choose the one with bus line 150 to Bad Ischl and then the train or bus 542 to
Obertraun. The all-inclusive price is 15 € per trip, so 30 € for a round trip, with no discount. Or you can buy online. Download the app called ?BB, the app for all travel in Austria. You can use it to buy train and bus tickets, or city bus and tram tickets in every major city such as Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz and Linz. The app shows how to travel and the full details of connection times (so you won't get lost). You can pay with a travel card. Once you have your ticket, show the QR code to the driver or train staff.

Bus 150 tickets can also be bought on the bus. Tell the driver you are getting off at Obertraun, and the ticket can be used to continue by train or bus 542. The price is the same, 15 €, but you must pay in cash only, just like the 3.5 € boat ticket (bring cash with you). You can check the bus 150 timetable at the bus stop at stop E.

Oh, and if you want to stay overnight around here, I recommend the village of Bad Goisern, which the train or bus from Bad Ischl passes through anyway. It's much cheaper and has even better views. Or you can go further and stay in Obertraun. I don't recommend staying in Hallstatt Lahn: everything is expensive, as if you were forced to pay.

Cr.Tony Thinnakorn Poonvasin