Schladming, Austria
Tuesday, 11 Sep 2018
Today, we would be travelling from Vienna to Schladming, an almost 5 hour journey via train. We had to change 2 times: from Vienna central station, we took the Railjet 71 to Bruck/Mur Bahnhof (2 hrs); then took the Regional train 1709 from Bruck/Mur to St Michael in Oberstmk (22 min); and finally from St Michael to Schladming. However, Schladming station is currently closed for repair works, so we had to alight at Stainach-Irdning Bahnhof, and took the replacement bus to Schladming. Our itinerary did not mention this change of route, so we were not aware of the change. It was announced in the train, but in German, so we did not understand it. Luckily another passenger asked us if we were headed to Schladming, then asked us to board the bus from Stainach-Irdning. We were thankful for the helpful fellow passenger. We departed Vienna about 9am and arrived Schladming around 1.40pm.
Our ticket was a Sparschiene (discounted) ticket which cost EUR 24 per person which we bought online prior to travelling to Austria from the OBB website. It was very convenient for us. We chose to pick up the ticket from the OBB vending machine, which we printed out once we arrived at Vienna airport. You could also buy the ticket from the OBB app and choose to display the electronic ticket via the app. But make sure you have data connectivity on your mobile phone if you choose this option. Free wifi is available throughout the bigger train station and in the Railjet. But there was no wifi in the Regional train or replacement bus.
From Schladming train station, we took the taxi (EUR 9) to our Gastehaus Huber (EUR56 per night, via Booking.com). It was quite a distance to walk from the train station with our backpacks under the hot sun, so we chose to take a taxi. We got help from the train station officer to call for a taxi as there was no taxi around when we arrived.
Our Gastehaus Huber is a participating guesthouse under the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard scheme. This means we were eligible to enjoy free use of public transporation and gondola lifts in the Schladming Dachstein area and discounted admission fees to many attraction sites, including the Hallstatt salt mine, which we would be visiting the day after tomorrow. Check out all the perks of the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard here.
Our Gastehaus Huber is a charming bungalow in a farmhouse setting. Open the windows, and we were greeted by views of cows and ponies grazing the grass; and rolling green hills. We were after all, in the Austrian alps! The air was fresh (apart from the occasional cow dung smell). Our host, Frau Huber was very accommodating, explaining to us the bus schedules, which we could now use for free for the duration of our stay after she printed out our Sommercard. We just had to tap our Sommercard in the bus and enjoy the free ride!
Since it was already 3pm, we only planned to take the free bus to Schladming town, alighting at Planet Planai, then take the gondola lift up Planai mountain and do a short hike up there. The last gondola descent was at 5pm.
At Planai, again we only had to tap our Sommercard and enjoy the free lift up and down. However, you can only take 1 return free gondola lift per day.
We descended from Planai at 4.45pm, then had our early dinner at the halal Bashir pizzeria, just a walking distance from Planet Planai. Then we walked back to Planet Planai and took the last bus back to Obere Klaus at 5.45pm. The downside of our staying at Gastehaus Huber was that we had to leave Schladming town early, or we had to hike back about 2.5km, or take the taxi, which we had to pay.
Tomorrow will be an early start for us as had already booked for the gondola lift up to Dachstein mountain at 9.15am. You need to book your spot in the summer months as seats are limited. Reservation can be done here
Stay tuned!
Today, we would be travelling from Vienna to Schladming, an almost 5 hour journey via train. We had to change 2 times: from Vienna central station, we took the Railjet 71 to Bruck/Mur Bahnhof (2 hrs); then took the Regional train 1709 from Bruck/Mur to St Michael in Oberstmk (22 min); and finally from St Michael to Schladming. However, Schladming station is currently closed for repair works, so we had to alight at Stainach-Irdning Bahnhof, and took the replacement bus to Schladming. Our itinerary did not mention this change of route, so we were not aware of the change. It was announced in the train, but in German, so we did not understand it. Luckily another passenger asked us if we were headed to Schladming, then asked us to board the bus from Stainach-Irdning. We were thankful for the helpful fellow passenger. We departed Vienna about 9am and arrived Schladming around 1.40pm.
 |
| in the train |
 |
| happy cow view from train |
 |
| rolling hills |
Our ticket was a Sparschiene (discounted) ticket which cost EUR 24 per person which we bought online prior to travelling to Austria from the OBB website. It was very convenient for us. We chose to pick up the ticket from the OBB vending machine, which we printed out once we arrived at Vienna airport. You could also buy the ticket from the OBB app and choose to display the electronic ticket via the app. But make sure you have data connectivity on your mobile phone if you choose this option. Free wifi is available throughout the bigger train station and in the Railjet. But there was no wifi in the Regional train or replacement bus.
From Schladming train station, we took the taxi (EUR 9) to our Gastehaus Huber (EUR56 per night, via Booking.com). It was quite a distance to walk from the train station with our backpacks under the hot sun, so we chose to take a taxi. We got help from the train station officer to call for a taxi as there was no taxi around when we arrived.
Our Gastehaus Huber is a participating guesthouse under the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard scheme. This means we were eligible to enjoy free use of public transporation and gondola lifts in the Schladming Dachstein area and discounted admission fees to many attraction sites, including the Hallstatt salt mine, which we would be visiting the day after tomorrow. Check out all the perks of the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard here.
 |
| our Sommercard |
Our Gastehaus Huber is a charming bungalow in a farmhouse setting. Open the windows, and we were greeted by views of cows and ponies grazing the grass; and rolling green hills. We were after all, in the Austrian alps! The air was fresh (apart from the occasional cow dung smell). Our host, Frau Huber was very accommodating, explaining to us the bus schedules, which we could now use for free for the duration of our stay after she printed out our Sommercard. We just had to tap our Sommercard in the bus and enjoy the free ride!
 |
| Our Gastehaus Huber |
 |
| entrance to Gastehaus Huber |
 |
| our cosy room |
 |
| view of cows from our room window |
 |
| ponies |
 |
| view from our guesthouse |
 |
| view from our guesthouse |
 |
| posing in front of our guesthouse |
Since it was already 3pm, we only planned to take the free bus to Schladming town, alighting at Planet Planai, then take the gondola lift up Planai mountain and do a short hike up there. The last gondola descent was at 5pm.
 |
| bus stop in front of our guesthouse |
 |
| waiting for the bus |
At Planai, again we only had to tap our Sommercard and enjoy the free lift up and down. However, you can only take 1 return free gondola lift per day.
 |
| view of Schladming from the gondola |
 |
| at the top station of Planai gondola lift at 1825m |
 |
| the hiking trail on top of Planai |
 |
| the lake at Planai |
We descended from Planai at 4.45pm, then had our early dinner at the halal Bashir pizzeria, just a walking distance from Planet Planai. Then we walked back to Planet Planai and took the last bus back to Obere Klaus at 5.45pm. The downside of our staying at Gastehaus Huber was that we had to leave Schladming town early, or we had to hike back about 2.5km, or take the taxi, which we had to pay.
 |
| Al Bashir pizzeria |
 |
| our Margherita pizza |
Tomorrow will be an early start for us as had already booked for the gondola lift up to Dachstein mountain at 9.15am. You need to book your spot in the summer months as seats are limited. Reservation can be done here
Stay tuned!
Labels: Travelogue
posted by aiyda at 9:22 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home