St. Wolfgang at a glance
St. Wolfgang lies on the Wolfgangsee. It has a pilgrimage church with a famous altar by Michael Pacher, a lake with seven boat landings, and the base station of the Schafbergbahn. It is a good half-day or full-day trip from Hallstatt, but you need to plan the transport.
This guide focuses on three things: the church and its altar, the boats on the lake and the railway up the mountain. Dates are for the 2026 season, and most of them end around 1 November.
How to get to St. Wolfgang
Public transport here means bus and boat. Plan the connections before you leave.
From Salzburg
Take bus 150 from Salzburg main station to Strobl, about an hour, then change to bus 546 for St. Wolfgang. The whole trip takes about 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 40.
From Bad Ischl
Bus 546 runs from Bad Ischl, about hourly according to the regional timetable concept from 2020. Check the current timetable.
From Hallstatt
Go to Bad Ischl first, by train or by bus, and change there. Rail works mean replacement buses until 1 or 2 November 2026, so allow extra time.
By car
The Schafbergbahn base station has 300 parking spaces. Check the parking rates on site.
If you are planning the whole route, our guide to Salzburg to Hallstatt shows where St. Wolfgang fits.
Wolfgangsee and Salzkammergut tours
Day trips that include St. Wolfgang, Bad Ischl and Hallstatt, with live prices and availability.
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The pilgrimage church and the Pacher altar
The Wallfahrtskirche St. Wolfgang was consecrated in 1477. Its high altar is the work of Michael Pacher of Bruneck, who made it between 1471 and 1479. It was installed in 1481, according to the municipality's chronicle. It is the oldest completely preserved work of this kind by Pacher and is 10.88 metres high.
Outside Lent the altar is usually shown with its festive side open. Ask at the entrance whether an admission fee applies.
Schafbergbahn: a steam rack railway to the summit
The railway runs from St. Wolfgang up to the Schafbergspitze at 1,783 metres. It opened in 1893 and is steam powered. It is the steepest rack railway in Austria.
| Ticket 2026 | Adult | Child (4–14) |
|---|---|---|
| Return to the summit | €61.00 | €18.40 |
| One way | €43.00 | €12.90 |
The line has 1,190 metres of height difference. The main season runs daily from 25 April to 1 November 2026. Holders of the Salzkammergut Erlebnis-Card pay €58.20 for the return. A dog day ticket costs €7.50. The KlimaTicket and the Guest Mobility Ticket are not valid. Until 31 October, children up to 14 travel free when accompanied by an adult, on Fridays from 13:30. Seniors have a reduced fare on Mondays from 13:30 until 27 October.
In Advent, from 20 November to 20 December 2026, trains run Wednesday to Sunday to the Schafbergalm at 1,364 metres, not the summit. That ticket is €50.00 for adults and €15.00 for children. There are also trips between 26 December and 3 January.
Wolfgangsee boat trips
The boats of the WolfgangseeSchifffahrt call at seven landings: Strobl, Gschwendt, St. Wolfgang Markt, St. Wolfgang Schafbergbahn, Ried-Falkenstein, Fürberg and St. Gilgen. You can use the boat to reach the lake villages without a car.
In 2026 the late-season timetable runs daily from 7 September to 26 October, followed by an autumn timetable from 27 October to 1 November. Advent trips run Wednesday to Sunday between 20 November and 20 December. Low water has made boarding at some landings harder, so check before you plan the route.
| Advent 2026 route | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Strobl to St. Wolfgang | €9.00 | €2.70 |
| St. Wolfgang to St. Gilgen | €11.80 | €3.60 |
| Strobl to St. Gilgen | €15.50 | €4.60 |
We could not verify the regular day fares for 2026, so check the operator's price list.
Planning a day at the Wolfgangsee
One suggestion for a day with limited time.
Morning
Arrive in St. Wolfgang and see the church and the altar.
Midday
Take the Schafbergbahn if the weather is clear. Check the forecast first, as the view depends on cloud cover.
Afternoon
Return by boat or bus. Check the last departure before you board, because the timetables change through the season.
Keep the day flexible, because rain is common in the Salzkammergut.
St. Wolfgang: frequently asked questions
How much is the Schafbergbahn in 2026?
A return ticket to the summit is €61.00 for adults and €18.40 for children aged 4 to 14. One way costs €43.00 for adults and €12.90 for children.
When does the Schafbergbahn run?
The main season is daily from 25 April to 1 November 2026. In Advent, special trains run on Wednesdays to Sundays from 20 November to 20 December, but only to the Schafbergalm.
What is the Pacher altar?
It is the high altar of the pilgrimage church in St. Wolfgang, made by Michael Pacher between 1471 and 1479 and installed in 1481. It stands 10.88 metres high.
Can I reach St. Wolfgang from Hallstatt in one day?
Yes, via Bad Ischl, but it is a long day. Allow extra time while rail works are on until early November 2026.
Are the lake boats running in winter?
We found no regular winter timetable. After the autumn timetable ends on 1 November 2026, the published trips are the Advent sailings, Wednesday to Sunday from 20 November to 20 December.