Hallstatt: Day Trips and Tours from Salzburg

Discover the stunning lakeside village of Hallstatt on a day trip from Salzburg. Visit the Hallstatt Skywalk, an awe-inspiring viewing platform with dramatic and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Glimpse the famous Bone House in St. Michael's Chapel and explore the ancient Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine, considered to be one of the oldest in the world.

The UNESCO village of Hallstatt offers fresh air, history and scenic views aplenty!

You will find below everything you need to know about Hallstatt, one of the best destinations for day tours from Salzburg.

How to get to Hallstatt from Salzburg?

Hallstatt is a charming village on the shore of Lake Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut region of Austria. The village is roughly 70 kilometers from Salzburg.

From Salzburg to Hallstatt by car

If you plan to drive from Salzburg Central, the quickest route without tolls follows highways 158 and 145 towards Hallstatt. The entire journey will take you roughly 90 minutes.

From Salzburg to Hallstatt by bus/public transport

The bus or train journey to Hallstatt from Salzburg takes 2.5 hours. Trains to Hallstatt depart several times a day from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (the main railway station). Take the Austrian National OBB train to Attnang-Puchheim, then transfer onto another OBB train to the Hallstatt main station.

You can also take a bus from Salzburg to the Bad Isch station, then transfer to another bus to get to Hallstatt.

Guided tour to Hallstatt from Salzburg

Guided tours to Hallstatt from Salzburg save you the trouble of organizing transport. You will get picked up by a driver who will take you directly to Hallstatt in a motorcoach, bus or regular vehicle.

What is the typical itinerary of a day tour to Hallstatt from Salzburg?

You will get picked up by a driver in a motorcoach, bus, luxury vehicle or regular car, depending on the tour you have chosen. Tours offer pickup either at your accommodation or at specified hotels in Salzburg Central.

Then you will travel through the Salzkammergut and stop at famous attractions like Lake Wolfgang or St. Gilgen. But, not all tours make stops along the way.

Once you are in Hallstatt, some tours give you the option to visit the Saltzweltsen salt mine, while others will only take you on a tour to the entrance.

However, you can always count on at least two hours to explore Hallstatt village at your leisure. On your drive back to Salzburg, you may also stop along the way to take photographs. Other tours even go into Germany before driving back to Austria.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Hallstatt?

Guided group tours to Hallstatt from Salzburg

Guided tours to Hallstatt only (without other stops) offer free time in the village plus a trip up to Salzweltzen. These tours do not include a tour of the salt mine, but you will view the entire Hallstatt village from the viewing point at the mine’s entrance.

You will also see other sights in Hallstatt like the Muhlbach Waterfall and the Bone House. On the way back to Salzburg, enjoy views of Gosau Lake and the Dachstein mountains.

These Hallstatt excursions can be full-day or half-day tours.

Private tours to Hallstatt plus Salzkammergut from Salzburg

Guided private tours to Hallstatt offer the same itinerary as group tours plus other interesting stops. These include Fuschl Caste, St. Gilgen, Lake Wolfgang and other scenic places in Salzkammergut. You will also stop in Bad Ischl and pass by Lake Gosau en route back to Salzburg.

Private customized day tour to Hallstatt from Salzburg

For this guide, you can choose from a set of options and create a custom itinerary for the tour. Your professional guide will take you everywhere you need to go in a luxury vehicle.

Options for the trip include the 5 Fingers Viewpoint, Salzwelten Hallstatt, the Hallstatt Skywalk, Dachstein’s Giant Ice Caves, Lake Wolfgang, Schafberg Cog Railway and Salzwelten Altaussee. However, these tours always end in Hallstatt, where visitors get two hours of free time to explore the village.

Day trip to Hallstatt plus “The Sound of Music” filming locations from Salzburg

These tours explore the Salzkammergut area and stop at several “The Sound of Music” film locations. There are options for group tours and private tours available.

You will also stop in Hallstatt for two hours to explore at your leisure, visit the Basilika St. Michael to reenact “The Sound of Music” wedding scene and, finally, drive back to Salzburg.

Day tour to Hallstatt plus Eagle’s Nest from Salzburg

These tours offer a visit to both Hallstatt village and Eagle’s Nest, a historic mountain top building in Berchtesgaden, Germany. After a quick photo at St. Gilden, you will see Lake Wolfgang and Lake Hallstatt as you explore the Salzkammergut region.

Then, enjoy an excursion to Eagle’s Nest and a scenic drive back to Salzburg. You can book a group or private version of this tour.

Day tour to Hallstatt plus 5 Fingers Viewing Platform or Salztwelzen Hallstatt from Salzburg

This tour covers your entry to Saltzweltzen Hallstatt or the 5 Fingers Viewing Platform. If you choose to visit Saltzweltsen, you will also get to see the Hallstatt Skywalk. Your guide will also show you around Hallstatt village and give you time to walk around freely.

How much does a tour to Hallstatt from Salzburg cost?

Group tours to Hallstatt only (without other stops) cost roughly €60 per person for either a 3- or 6-hour long tour. Hallstatt private tours cost around €260 per person.

Half-day private tours to Hallstatt with stops in Salzkammergut cost roughly €60 per person and full-day tours cost about €90 per person without admission fees. Expect to pay around €910 per group of up to three people for a private full day tour with all fees and taxes included.

Private customized day tours to Hallstatt cost about €730-€750 per group of seven people.

Day trips to Hallstatt plus “The Sound of Music” filming locations start at 148€ including two adults. For private tours, expect to pay €760 to €810 per group of seven people.

Group tours to Hallstatt plus Eagle’s Nest cost about €430 per person, depending on the group size. Private tours cost around  €760 per group of eight people.

Day tours to Hallstatt with options to stop at the 5 Fingers Viewing Platform or Salztwelzen Hallstatt also cost roughly €760 per group.

What will you see and do on a Hallstatt day trip from Salzburg?

Hallstatt

At the UNESCO World Heritage village of Hallstatt, there are plenty of fantastic things to see and do, and the Hallstatt Sky Walk is top of the list.

The Sky Walk is a mountainside viewing platform located around 350 meters above the village. Definitely check this place out for the fresh alpine air and world-class views it offers. To reach the Sky Walk you can take a fun ride up the Hallstatt Cable Car from near the Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine museum.

One of the most popular attractions in Hallstatt village is both beautiful and macabre. Hallstatt Ossuary — also known as the Bone House, is home to one of the largest collections of decorated human skulls in existence. Many of the skulls feature hand-painted motifs and date back to the turn of the 19th century.

The village has a historic Old Town which is sure to delight and you can wander around at your leisure visiting the local shops, museums and restaurants. A trip to the Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine museum is great fun and covers over 3,000 years of the town's salt mining history in the town.

Salzkammergut

The Salzkammergut region is full of beautiful lakes like Lake Wolfgang and other attractions like Fuschl Caste and the scenic St. Gilgen village. There are also various scenes in “The Sound of Music” that were filmed in Salzkammergut.

Eagle’s Nest

The Eagle’s Nest is a mountain top construction in Germany built by the Third Reich. It is a historic building and cultural landmark with a dramatic viewpoint that looks over the Bavarian Alps.

When is the best time to visit Hallstatt?

Hallstatt is wonderful in the spring months from March to May, when there is still snow but the weather is less cold than in the winter months. You can slo visit in summer from June to August, but tourist attractions become extremely busy during this time.

Are there any tours to Hallstatt from other cities in Austria?

Yes, there are tours departing from other cities in Austria:

• Day Trips to Hallstatt from Vienna

Travel tips

• Bring a camera or a cellphone with you to take photographs along the way.
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Bring sunglasses and a hat for areas without shade.
• Bring a water bottle with you for the journey.
• If you go to Eagle’s Nest and you are not a European Union resident, bring documentation with you for the crossover into Germany.