Hallstatt, Ort Castle and Alpine Lakes Day Trip from Vienna

Schloss Ort and Lake Traunsee

The first highlight of the day is Schloss Ort in Gmunden, one of the most photographed castles in Austria. The Seeschloss, or lake castle, stands on a small rocky island in Lake Traunsee and is linked to the shore by a long wooden bridge; its origins go back about a thousand years, and its white walls and onion-domed tower date from later rebuilding. Behind it rises the steep Traunstein mountain, the landmark of the lake.

You have about 30 minutes here for photos on the bridge and in the castle courtyard. The castle is a favourite wedding venue, and couples often pose on the bridge, which is why the guide calls it the 'wedding bridge'. Lake Traunsee is the deepest lake in Austria, and on a clear morning its turquoise water and the mountain behind make a perfect first picture of the Salzkammergut.

The Salzkammergut lake district

Between Gmunden and Hallstatt the coach drives through the Salzkammergut, a region of lakes, forests and mountains whose name recalls the salt that made it rich for centuries. The road follows river valleys and lake shores, and the guide points out the views and tells you about the traditions of the region, from salt mining to local crafts.

The Hallstatt-Dachstein Salzkammergut cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is easy to see why from the window. This part of the trip is often what guests remember after Hallstatt itself: green meadows, wooden farmhouses and the first views of high peaks. In winter the landscape is often white with snow, which gives the trip a very different, quiet beauty.

Hallstatt old town and market square

Hallstatt is a small village squeezed between the steep mountainside and Lake Hallstatt, with houses climbing in terraces and narrow lanes linking them. People have mined salt in the mountain above the village for about 7,000 years, and the village gave its name to the Hallstatt culture of the early Iron Age. At its centre is the little market square with colourful houses and a fountain.

With about three hours of free time you can walk the lakeside lane, see the white Lutheran church with its slender spire by the water and climb up to the Catholic parish church with its famous charnel house, where painted skulls are kept. This is also the time to have lunch: many restaurants serve fresh lake fish. Is Hallstatt worth visiting on a day trip from Vienna? For most travellers it is the most beautiful place they see in Austria.

Lake Hallstatt, the boat and the Skywalk

Lake Hallstatt, the Hallstätter See, is a deep, calm Alpine lake surrounded by forested mountains. From May to October you can take a short boat ride on the lake at your own expense, buying the ticket on the spot, and see the village from the water, the classic view from the postcards.

Another option is the funicular up the mountain to the Skywalk, a viewing platform high above the rooftops with a sweeping view over the lake and the valley; it is also not included and paid on site. If you prefer to stay in the village, the classic viewpoint at the northern end of the lakefront lane gives the famous picture of the church spire and the houses reflected in the water.

How to get to Hallstatt from Vienna

Hallstatt is about 300 km from Vienna, and many visitors wonder how to get there without a car: by public transport it means at least two changes of train and a ferry. On this tour the coach covers the whole route, about 600 km on the motorway in total, with a coffee break at a rest stop in Strengberg on the way out and a stop near Enns on the way back.

The best time to visit Hallstatt is early in the season or in autumn, when the light is soft and the lanes are calmer, but the village is beautiful in every season, including snowy winter days. The day is long, about 13 hours, so bring water and light snacks; you are back at Albertinaplatz around 8:15 pm.