Hallstatt, a picture perfect village in Austria, is possibly the most photographed and the most famous village in the world. This lakeside village with a population of under 1000 attracts over 3 million visitors every year! So popular is this village that China has even created a replica of the village near the city of Huizhou in Guangdong province. Hallstatt is a UNESCO World Heritage site and known for its pre-historic salt mines and the settlements of early celtic people during the Iron age. During the Bronze age, salt production was a commercial activity.

Population of under 1000, but over 3 million visitors yearly

There are lot of things going for Hallstatt – the stunning location on the lakeside with the Alps towering behind, the oldest salt mines in the world, cute looking houses on the hillside, beautiful avenues and a skywalk on mountain top with magnificent views. So when did this little village become so famous? In the year 2010, the visitors averaged 100 per day. Over the next 14 years, this has multiplied by 100 times to an average of over 10,000 visitors per day in 2024. If there is any proof required of the tremendous influence of social media via shared pictures and reviews, this is it.

Locals are becoming wary of the continuing influx

Do locals enjoy this huge influx of tourists? Apparently not. They have tried over the years to stem the influx without any success. But one visit and it becomes quite apparent that the village has been re-modelled for the tourists- with cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops. No doubt it pulls in lot of money. So be prepared for a crowded experience.

How to get to Hallstatt by public transport

Salzburg is the nearest big town and I am sure Hallstatt is among the most popular day trips out of Salzburg. Fortunately, it is possible to do a day trip from Salzburg by public transport. But there is no direct connection and I took the fastest possible route, as also suggested by the help desk at Salzburg Hbf – Bus(route no. 150) from Salzburg railway station to Bad Ischl (bus stop and railway station are adjoining), thereafter a connecting Train to Hallstatt station and finally a Ferry from the Hallstatt railway station to the Hallstatt village. It is a very enjoyable journey but takes a minimum of 2.5 hours.

Highly scenic journey

The Bus route no. 150 from Salzburg railway station to Bad Ischl passes through some lovely villages/towns and lakes. The scenery through out the 55kms and 90 minutes journey is awesome. I even felt tempted to get off at places such as Fuschl or St. Gilgen. The Train ride over 20+ kms from Bad Ischl to Hallstatt Bahnhst(train stop) takes 21-35 minutes(‘REX’ is faster, ‘R’ is slower), followed by 7-8 minutes of scenic Ferry ride. Including waiting time, the earliest one can reach Hallstatt village is 2.5 hours.

Tickets

I bought the day pass(valid for both Bus and Train) at the Salzburg Hbf ticket counter. Tickets can also be purchased online on the OBB website. I think I paid little over €30 per adult and the day pass provided flexibility to board any Train or Bus on the route. The customer service counter had photocopies of Bus and Train connections during the day and I too grabbed a copy. The first Bus departs at 8.15am and thereafter every hour till 4.15pm .There are connecting Trains at Bad Ischl with a time lag of 15-20 minutes or so. The 8.15am Bus that I took departed a bit late so I missed the connecting Train at Bad Ischl. In hindsight, this was fortunate as it gave me about an hour to walk round the town. Turned out to be a very neat little town, as the pictures suggest. I also decided not to risk the last connection on the return journey.

From Bad Ischl, the Train took little more than 20 minutes to reach Hallstatt. Hard to miss the station as bulk of the passengers alighted at Hallstatt! The Ferry crossings are timed to arrivals and departures of trains. In few minutes, we were on our way with every passenger eager to catch the first glimpse of the vast lake as well as the Hallstatt village. Reached Hallstatt village around 11.40am.

The Ferry ride return ticket costs €7 per adult(€3.50 one way) and needs to be paid in cash. During the onward journey, most visitors crowded the deck, looking to click as many pictures as possible. On the return journey, the deck was mostly free!

At the pier, there is a big display on ferry timings. Take a picture just in case.

Very short connection time at Bad Ischl while returning

On the return journey, the Trains run at staggered timings. I took the 16.32 train back to Bad Ischl. There were 2 Trains after this. Predictably, the queue for the Ferry ride to the Hallstatt station for the 16.32 Train was long. Looking at the length of the queue, I actually thought we will all not fit in but we did! The Ferry did not depart until about 12-14 minutes before the scheduled arrival of the Train. Why do they need to time it to perfection? Will the Train wait if the ferry is delayed? Don’t know; the Train at Bad Ischl certainly did not.

At Bad Ischl, there is a time lag of just 2-6 minutes to board the Bus. Luckily, the Train was bang on time and I could get into the connecting Bus comfortably, arriving in Salzburg around 18.30 hours. The bus was full on the return journey and the scenery, during the twilight hours, enchanting.

Other options

Longer options include travel entirely by Train or by Bus. If you take the Bus, the Ferry ride can be avoided but I think it is a nice picturesque ride by Ferry. Check out the various available options on the OBB website.

Private transport

A private transport can get one to Hallstatt in an hour and quarter. That gives more time to explore Hallstatt or to visit nearby attractions such as Dachstein ice caves. Besides, the Salzkammergut district itself is very picturesque and one would be tempted to stop by scenic lakes on the way or during the return journey. Additionally, there is an option of taking different routes for the onward and return journey. The general advice is to arrive early to ensure availability of parking.

Another option is to take half a day guided tour out of Salzburg.

What to see in Hallstatt

There is not a whole lot to do. The village itself is the main attraction, not anything in the village. So just soak in the views! Stroll around the village, including the market square, taking a close look at the beautifully decorated houses. Make sure to also take the path a little up in the hill. That leads to the church and the cemetery. Enjoy the views from the lake side from both ends of the village. There is a convenient walkway from one end of the village to the other.

Mountain top

Take the funicular to the mountain top(you can also walk up). Absorb the stunning views from the viewing platform. There are some exhibits here, including Celtic grave and Bronze age hut. Nothing very special though. There is also a restaurant with great views. Thought of having a beer while admiring the views but I was told alcoholic beverages are not served outside! Strange.

If interested, visit the world’s oldest salt mines. Time permitting, one can also take a boat tour on Lake Hallstatt though it might appear to be redundant if taking the Ferry from/to the railway station.

There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in the village. Plus shops selling variety of souvenirs and other items. Touristy no doubt. But still the village itself is quite charming.

Funicular price

The funicular round trip ticket costs €22 without salt mines tour and €40 with salt mines tour, per adult. There is no additional fee for the viewing platform.

How much time is required?

About 4 hours is good to explore Hallstatt if not visiting the salt mines. Including a break each for coffee and lunch. Add additional 1 hour for the salt mine. Whichever way, if traveling by public transport, make sure you get to the Ferry pier well in time.

Should you stay overnight in Hallstatt?

There is limited accommodation available in Hallstatt but by and large, it is not necessary to stay over. Most of the visitors are in Hallstatt between 10am and 5pm. Unless you have an aversion to the crowd, or are visiting nearby areas or are in transit, or prefer the views at sunrise or sunset, there is no need to stay over in Hallstatt.

Vegetarian food

Limited choices in cafes and Italian restaurants. But manageable. Difficulty is that some of the popular joints get crowded easily and there is wait time for a table for lunch. I chose an Italian restaurant near the pier that was not crowded. Cost €35 per couple.

Salzburg to Hallstatt total cost by public transport from Salzburg

About €80-100 per person. Except Ferry, all other payments can be made by card.

When to visit

Any time. Bulk of the tourists visit during the summer months of June to August. But these are also the rainiest months. I went in the first week of October when the weather was perfect. There was still fair bit of crowd but less than what one would encounter during the peak summer season. Hallstatt looks very pretty in the winter too, with the snow sitting on the village houses and on the mountain slopes.

Is Hallstatt a must visit place?

Certainly yes. Despite being so touristy, the village retains its charm. And the location is unbeatable. While I have seen equally or even more beautiful houses elsewhere in Germany and Austria, Hallstatt is a complete package. Also, Hallstatt is one location where the journey from Salzburg is as scenic as the destination itself. There have been suggestions on avoiding Hallstatt due to the crowds and heading to other beautiful villages/towns in Austria. Better option may be not to travel during the peak summer season.