Hallstättersee Schifffahrt

A family shipping company

Hallstättersee Schifffahrt is the shipping company of Lake Hallstatt, in the Austrian Salzkammergut. There has been navigation on the lake since 1862, and the line between the centre of Hallstatt and the railway station on the opposite shore has run since 1881. According to the Salzkammergut tourist office, it is the only boat connection on an Austrian lake that is also maintained in winter. Since autumn 1967 the company has belonged to the Hemetsberger family, who still run it, with an office at Am Hof 126, in Hallstatt.

The fleet

It has four boats:

• MS Hallstatt, the largest, with 190 seats, heated, with drinks on board and possible wheelchair access.
• MS Stefanie, with 150 seats, the line boat to the station, also with possible wheelchair access.
• MS Goisern, with 150 seats, heated and with drinks, without wheelchair access.
• MS Dachstein, with 80 seats, without wheelchair access.

The lines

The station line runs 365 days a year between Hallstatt Markt and Hallstatt station, with departures linked to the trains; if the train is late, the boat waits for it and changes the timetable. It is the natural way to reach Hallstatt by train, because the station is on the opposite shore from the village. The timetables for each direction can be downloaded as PDFs on the website.

In season there are also lake trips. The south trip goes from Hallstatt Markt to Lahn and to Obertraun, with a stop at the suspension bridge, from May to September, with some departures only in July and August; it lasts about 50 minutes. In high summer, from mid-July to mid-August, there is also a north trip towards Untersee and Steeg. Outside those dates the company organises special trips with booking. In bad weather departures may be cancelled. The prices of what we list are in the offers on this page.

Paying and travelling with children, dogs or bikes

Most important: you pay in cash only; they do not accept cards. Bring loose euros.

• Children: children under 4 travel free if they do not occupy a seat, one per adult, and children under 14 pay less on the trips.
• Dogs: with a muzzle and lead, and they pay a fare.
• Bikes, pushchairs and scooters: are carried on payment according to the tariff.
• School groups of more than 15 pupils get a discount.

Landing stages and contact

The landing stages are Hallstatt Markt (centre), Hallstatt Lahn, next to the bus terminal, Obertraun, next to the Haus am See, the railway station and the suspension bridge. The company answers in German and English, on +43 6134 8228 and at [email protected], and has a form for special trips.