How to get to Hallstatt
There are three ways to reach Hallstatt: by train with a short ferry ride, by regional bus, or by car to one of the car parks at the edge of the village. Visitors' cars cannot enter the historic centre, so even drivers finish the trip on foot.
For most travellers the train and ferry is the best option. The station is on the eastern shore of the Hallstätter See, and a ferry crosses to the village market place. It runs 365 days a year, including in winter, and the crossing is part of the experience: you see the village the way it looks on the postcards.
Getting to Hallstatt: the options compared
Times are for one direction and include changes. Check the current timetable before you travel.
| Option | From Vienna | From Salzburg | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train and ferry | About 4.5 to 5.5 hours | About 2 hours 15 minutes | Change at Attnang-Puchheim, then ferry from the station |
| Regional bus | – | Bus 150 to Bad Ischl, then train or bus 541/542 and 543 | Slower, but no ferry needed on the last leg |
| Car | About 275 km, around 3 hours | About 80 km, around 1 hour 15 minutes | Park at P1 or P2 and walk, about €18 to €20 for a day |
| Guided tour | Day tours available | Day tours available | Transport and a time limit on the village are fixed |
The Vienna train time is a realistic range from official data on the individual legs. Car times are without traffic.
Our picks: let someone else drive
Organised trips from Vienna and Salzburg.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Hallstatt and Salzburg in one day from Vienna
A 14-hour day by coach from Vienna with a walk at each stop. No entry tickets are included, and you have less time in Hallstatt than on a single-stop trip.
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Half-day trip from Salzburg
A coach trip with a guide on board and about two and a half hours of free time in Hallstatt. Entry fees are extra.
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Hallstatt day trip from Vienna, Skywalk optional
The most-reviewed day trip from Vienna, with a guide, a stop at Ort Castle and about three hours in Hallstatt. The Skywalk is only included if you pick that option; a boat ride is not included.
Check availability →Day trips to Hallstatt
Guided trips from Vienna and Salzburg with transport included, with live prices and availability.
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By train and ferry
The line is the Salzkammergutbahn, which you reach from Attnang-Puchheim on the main Vienna to Salzburg line.
1. Get to Attnang-Puchheim
From Vienna Hbf or Salzburg Hbf, take a fast train on the main western line. From Salzburg this leg takes about an hour.
2. Change to the regional train
Trains towards Bad Ischl and Stainach-Irdning serve Hallstatt station. Bad Ischl is about 50 to 60 minutes from Attnang-Puchheim, and Hallstatt lies between Bad Goisern and Obertraun on the same line.
3. Take the ferry
The pier is about two minutes on foot below the station. The ferry runs almost hourly and is timed to the trains. If a train is late, the ferry may adjust its departure. In bad weather, sailings can be cancelled.
4. Pay in cash
A single ticket costs €4 and a return €8, according to the 2025 price list. We found no newer list for 2026. Bring coins or small notes, as card payment is not accepted.
Rail works until early November 2026
Until 1 November 2026, replacement buses run instead of trains between Attnang-Puchheim and Steeg-Gosau or Bad Ischl. Between Gmunden and Bad Ischl the replacement service continues until 2 November. This is the stretch you need for Hallstatt.
Plan extra time, and expect changed departure times. Look up your exact connection on the ÖBB website or app the day before. After the works end, the normal train and ferry service returns.
Not sure which way suits you? Our day trip from Vienna and Salzburg to Hallstatt guides compare the options from each city.
By bus
Buses are the alternative when you come from Gosau, Bad Ischl or Obertraun.
Bus 543
Runs from Gosaumühle via Hallstatt Lahn to Obertraun and the Dachstein cable car. Hallstatt Lahn is the bus stop and terminal on the southern edge of the village. From there it is a short walk to the centre; the museum is about ten minutes away.
Buses 541 and 542
These connect Bad Ischl, Bad Goisern, Steeg-Gosau and Gosau. To reach Hallstatt, change to bus 543 at Gosaumühle. A regional transport plan from 2020 describes roughly hourly service, so confirm the current timetable.
Bus 150 from Salzburg
Runs from Salzburg Hbf (Südtiroler Platz) past Fuschl and St. Gilgen to Strobl and Bad Ischl. From Bad Ischl you continue by train or bus. Read more in our Salzburg to Hallstatt guide.
By car
Salzburg to Hallstatt is about 80 km and takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes without traffic. Vienna is about 275 km, around three hours. For comparison, Bad Ischl is 107 km from Linz, 180 km from Graz and 200 km from Munich.
Two barriers close the historic centre to visitors, including those with a hotel booking in the centre. You park at P1 to P4 and walk. P1 and P2 are closest, and a day costs around €18 to €20, depending on the source. Parking cannot be reserved, so arrive early. The Salzwelten recommend planning at least an hour to find a space.
Full details of the lots, walking times and fees are in our Hallstatt parking guide.
Once you have arrived
Where to go next, depending on how you got here.
Getting to Hallstatt: frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to get to Hallstatt?
For most visitors it is the train to Hallstatt station and the ferry across the lake. You avoid the car parks, and the ferry lands at the market place. A guided tour is easier still if you do not want to organise changes.
Do I need a ticket or a time slot to enter Hallstatt?
No. There is no entry fee and no time slot for individual visitors. Only coach companies have to book an arrival slot, which costs €126 per coach since May 2026.
Does the ferry run in winter?
Yes. The ferry operates 365 days a year, which makes it the only ship service on an Austrian lake that runs through the winter, according to a regional tourism source. Sailings can be cancelled in bad weather.
Is there a bus from Salzburg to Hallstatt?
There is no direct bus. Bus 150 takes you from Salzburg to Bad Ischl, and from there you continue by train or by bus 541/542 and 543. The train via Attnang-Puchheim is usually faster.
Can I drive into Hallstatt?
Not into the historic centre. Visitors park at P1 or P2 and walk, or at P3 or P4 for a longer walk. Only guests with a booked room in the centre can use a shuttle, and only from P1.
Are trains running normally in autumn 2026?
Not quite. Replacement buses run between Attnang-Puchheim and Steeg-Gosau or Bad Ischl until 1 November 2026, and between Gmunden and Bad Ischl until 2 November. Check your connection on the ÖBB website before you travel.