Hallstatt is a small fairy tale village near Salzburg, Austria. And if you google the summer photographs of Hallstatt, they are nothing short of amazing!
However, the day we were to visit Hallstatt, it was raining and extremely cold! But we still decided to go by the plan. We visited Hallstatt and loved it!
There are plenty of guided tours available to Hallstatt from Salzburg, which are usually half day tours and perfect for people wanting to avoid the hassle of planning the trip. That said, planning your own trip is super fun! Also cheaper!
Here is a guide of how to plan your visit on your own - detailed information regarding the modes of transport you need to use - yes, you need to use roadways, railways and waterways! And the costs involved.
How to get there? What to expect and what to do /eat there ? Was it worth it?
HOW TO GET THERE -
One way journey roughly takes about 3 hours. It is a relay of bus-train-ferry!
Go to the Salzburg main bus station and take bus number 150 to Bad Ischl ( occupy seats on the left side for excellent views)
At Bad ischl, you can choose to take another bus but we opted for a train ride to Hallstatt station (occupy seats on right side for the views)
Take a ferry from Hallstatt station to reach the village .
Expect to pay around 30 euros for return journey per person.
WHAT TO EXPECT -
Hallstatt has gained tremendous popularity over the years and now is an extremely popular day trip for tourists visiting Salzburg. Rightly so, it is so gorgeous! But expect crowds.
Check the weather forecast for the day before heading out. Hallstatt is stunning in every weather , but you can make the most of everything that Hallstatt has to offer, if the weather is right.
WHAT TO DO IN HALLSTATT -
We just relaxed in Hallstatt - watched the ducks and swans, admired the mountains, marveled at the clouds and enjoyed a walk around the place.
There is a bone house and also a cemetery that are worth a visit.
We were looking forward to the sky walk and salt mines tour, but to our disappointment the clouds didn't clear up at the top, so we couldn't see anything except for a blanket of white and we realized upon arriving there that children less than 4 years were not allowed on the salt mine tour.
WHAT TO EAT -
There are plenty of restaurants in Hallstatt catering to all tastes and budgets. We ate at the restaurant at the sky walk, hoping for the clouds to clear up while we finish our meal, but that didn't happen.
Also if you are pressed for time and want to get a quick and delicious bite on the go, try the Donner kebab outlet just near the ferry station.
There are plenty of cute restaurants to choose from, when in Salzburg. Also lot of small souvenir shops.
There is a small cafe at the Bad Ischl train station , pick up some delicious snacks for the journey!
SO WAS IT WORTH IT? -
In my opinion, yes! We loved our time there. But what are our takeaways from our trip to Hallstatt on a rainy day :
It is beautiful in rain too. But set your expectations likewise and enjoy yourself.
Inquire about the weather/view from the sky bridge at the ticket counter before you buy the ticket. It costs 16 euros per person for the funicular ride to sky bridge and must definitely be worth it on a clear day, but not on a cloudy day in my opinion.
Parents travelling with toddlers need to remember that the salt mines tour, which sounds amazing, cannot be done with a child less than 4 years of age.
We would love to go back to Hallstatt on a clear day when our child is older to explore and enjoy salt mines.
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