Hallstatt or St. Gilgen?
Mar 3rd, 2010, 07:36 AM
#1
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Hallstatt or St. Gilgen?
We are in the VERY early stages of planning a trip for next year (probably May) to Germany/Austria. We will visit family first in Switzerland for one week, and then travel to Germany/Austria for the 2nd week. We did this last year and loved it. We would like to stay in Berchtesgaden for at least 3 nights, but are debating about where to spend the next few nights. Hallstatt and St. Gilgen both look beautiful. If you had to choose one, which one would you stay in for 2 nights? We would have to leave from there and travel back to Munich to fly home. We would not have a car, only using public transportation.
Mar 3rd, 2010, 07:55 AM
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I would choose Hallstatt for 2 nights. It is absolutely beautiful. IMO it is more quaint than St. Gilgen. Your choice of day trips will be limited but for only 1 full day, there will be plenty of things to occupy your time. The salt mine, even if you do not take the tour, you can go up on the funicular and take in the amazing views. Or you can go to Bad Ischl or Dachstein to Five Fingers-totally awesome!
St. Gilgen will allow more day trips and I also love it there, but my heart is always taking me back to Hallstatt.
St. Gilgen will allow more day trips and I also love it there, but my heart is always taking me back to Hallstatt.
Mar 3rd, 2010, 07:56 AM
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Hi nicksgirl88,
Haven't been to Hallstatt yet myself, but I spent five days in St. Gilgen last year and loved it. I also don't have a car and found St. Gilgen to be just delightful.
It's easy to get to St. Gilgen by bus from Salzburg, and easy to get around the lake. I went by ferry and by hiking mostly, but my favorite day was when I rented a bike and rode down to Strobl.
Good luck with your decision!
s
Haven't been to Hallstatt yet myself, but I spent five days in St. Gilgen last year and loved it. I also don't have a car and found St. Gilgen to be just delightful.
It's easy to get to St. Gilgen by bus from Salzburg, and easy to get around the lake. I went by ferry and by hiking mostly, but my favorite day was when I rented a bike and rode down to Strobl.
Good luck with your decision!
s
Mar 3rd, 2010, 09:47 AM
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Thanks for the replies...what is the distance between the two towns? If we decided to stay in St. Gilgen, I suppose we could make a trip down to Hallstatt for the day? Also, does anyone know how long the train ride is back to Munich from either?
Mar 3rd, 2010, 09:55 AM
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Hi again,
Normally, I recommend that folks research their train trips on the German rail site
www.bahn.de
But because getting to St. Gilgen involves an Austrian bus, it doesn't come up on the scheduler. Therefore, you're better off using the Austrian train site at
www.oebb.at
There's a button to change the language to English.
I think it's better to give you the tools to find all the answers yourself, so you're free to play with your schedule and itinerary with all the resources.
Have fun!
s
Normally, I recommend that folks research their train trips on the German rail site
www.bahn.de
But because getting to St. Gilgen involves an Austrian bus, it doesn't come up on the scheduler. Therefore, you're better off using the Austrian train site at
www.oebb.at
There's a button to change the language to English.
I think it's better to give you the tools to find all the answers yourself, so you're free to play with your schedule and itinerary with all the resources.
Have fun!
s
Mar 3rd, 2010, 11:17 AM
#7
We stayed in Hallstatt and spent a few hours in St Gilgen. We preferred St Gilgen, the water in the lake is a wonderful aqua colour but the lake in Hallstatt is very dark. We also didn't find people in Hallstatt particularly friendly which was unusual as on the rest of our trip in Austria people were lovely.
Kay
Kay
Mar 3rd, 2010, 05:43 PM
#8
I loved Hallstatt, a very small beautiful town. I was a solo female traveler and found everyone to be very nice! The waiter at dinner joking around with me, the owner of the B&B sitting with me during breakfast, the guy at the gyro stand offering advice, etc.
After 2 nights there, I spent 2 nights in St. Wolfgang which is on the same lake at St. Gilgen. So let me throw St. Wolgang into the mix! ;-) I liked St. Wolfgang much better than St. Gilgen. There is a ferry that goes to/from St. Gilgen. St. Gilgen is larger than Hallstatt (but still very small) and St. Wolfgang is the largest of the three (but, again, still very small!) You have more lodging, restaurant, etc. options in St. Wolfgang.
Have fun wherever you choose! A gorgeous area!
After 2 nights there, I spent 2 nights in St. Wolfgang which is on the same lake at St. Gilgen. So let me throw St. Wolgang into the mix! ;-) I liked St. Wolfgang much better than St. Gilgen. There is a ferry that goes to/from St. Gilgen. St. Gilgen is larger than Hallstatt (but still very small) and St. Wolfgang is the largest of the three (but, again, still very small!) You have more lodging, restaurant, etc. options in St. Wolfgang.
Have fun wherever you choose! A gorgeous area!
Mar 4th, 2010, 04:34 PM
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I personally would choose St. Gilgen. Hallstatt is gorgeous, but St. Gilgen, imo, would be better as a base. They are only about half an hour or so apart, so you could easily visit one from the other. St. Wolfgang is a nice town as well and, as mentioned above, just on the other side of the lake.
Tracy
Tracy
Mar 30th, 2010, 12:27 AM
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I was wondering if anyone had lodging recommendations for either St. Gilgen or St. Wolfgang? We have been to Hallstatt and loved it, but would like to try something new. We are a family of four so lodging is a bit harder to find! Thanks so much in advanced.
