Getting around Salzburg
Getting Around Salzburg – The Easiest Ways to Explore the City
Salzburg is a compact, walkable city that’s wonderfully easy to explore—whether on foot, by bike, or using its efficient public transport system. Once you’ve figured out how to get to Salzburg and arrived in this enchanting Austrian gem, you’ll quickly realise that moving around the city is part of its charm. With most attractions within easy reach, you can wander from Mozart’s birthplace to Mirabell Gardens or climb up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress without ever needing a car.
One of the best things about getting around Salzburg is the city’s commitment to sustainable, accessible travel.
Buses and trains are punctual, clean, and well-connected—making it simple to explore not only the historic centre but also the picturesque outskirts and Alpine villages beyond.
Even better, if you’re staying in any hotel, guesthouse, or self-catered apartment within the entire State of Salzburg, you can enjoy Free Salzburg Transit, giving you unlimited access to public transport throughout your stay.
It’s an incredible benefit that makes discovering more of the region both effortless and eco-friendly.
Hi, I’m Tammy, the founder of Wanderlustria, a trusted travel planning hub dedicated to showcasing Austria at its very best.
I live in the heart of the Alps, not far from Salzburg, and visit the city often—usually by public transport, just like a local.
In this guide, you’ll discover everything you need to navigate Salzburg with ease and confidence—from making the most of local transport passes to hiring e-bikes or simply wandering along the scenic Salzach River. By the end, getting around Salzburg will feel as natural and effortless as the city’s rhythm itself.
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Walking
Salzburg is one of the most walkable cities to visit. The must-see sights are all within a 10-minute walk from each other.
From Mirabell Garden, the start of the Altstadt (old town) is 10 minutes walking from the main train station (Salzburg Hbf) and another 10 to 15-minute walk to Hohensalzburg fortress on the other side of the old town.
The old town is a pedestrian area, only residents with a special permit and taxis are allowed to drive into the old town.
Biking
Salzburg is a very bicycle-friendly city with many bike paths, and cycling on the road is also safe.
There are over 180 kilometres of bike paths in Salzburg. Most of the paths are along both sides of the River Salzach, through parks, and along idyllic tree-lined lanes. The automobile-free Hellbrunner Allee takes you to the Hellbrunn palace and gardens.
Salzburg Public Transport
Salzburg has an eco-friendly public transportation system that includes electrically powered trolleys and buses.
There are no trams or metro in Salzburg.
The trolley buses run every 10, 15, or 20 minutes during the day, while most regular buses come every 15 minutes.
At night, there is the NachtStern (Night Star), a bus that runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and Bustaxi, which costs 4.50€.
Click HERE for more information.
IMPORTANT
If you stay in a hotel, B&B, hostel, campsite, etc., in the State of Salzburg, you receive a free Salzburg Guest Mobility Card that gives you free buses and trains in the entire State—including Salzburg city transport—for the duration of your stay.
You do not need to buy additional Transport tickets
Read our information on the Salzburg Guest Mobility Card
Tickets
There are single-ride, 1 hour, 24-hour and weekly tickets for public transport.
Tickets can be purchased in four ways.
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- Single-ride and 24 hr tickets can be bought directly from the bus driver.
- Hourly, 24-hour and weekly tickets can be purchased atAutomats/ Vending machines located at some bus stops.
- Trafik (Tobacco Shops) offer pre-sale bus tickets at a discounted rate.
- Online or the App has all the tickets at discounted rates.
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Tickets are cheaper if you buy them in advance at Trafiken, from a ticket machine or online. If you plan to stay longer than 4 days, purchasing a weekly pass is worthwhile.
As of October 2025- Full price fares
| Pre-sale | Bus | Automats | |
| Single fare ticket | 2,40€ | 3,00€ | – |
| Hourly ticket | 2,50€ | ||
| 24-hr ticket | 4,90€ | 6,40€ | 4,90€ |
| Weekly Ticket | 22,00€ | 22,00€ |
*Discounts are provided for Seniors 65 years+ with a ÖBB Vorteilscard and Youth up to 19 years old.
Do not buy public transport tickets if you have a Salzburg Card The Salzburg Card includes all the buses in the city center and bus number 25 to the Untersberg Cable Car.
NOTE: All advance paper tickets must be validated on the first journey.
Transport Apps
There are two different Apps that you can use to display connections: how to get from A to B and how to buy tickets.
SalzburgMobil App Download Here
Salzburg Verkehr (Transport) App Download Here
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Taxi
There are many taxi ranks in the town centre, Hauptbahnhof, airport and Shopping malls.
Taxis can be ordered by phone +43662 8111
Payment – Every taxi has a card machine- so you can pay in cash, and also with debit or credit card:
Exploring outside Salzburg
If you plan on going on excursions to the area surrounding Salzburg, it is possible to take public transport.
S-Bahn
The S-Bahn trains connect the Old Town and central Salzburg with regional areas. The majority of the S-Bahn trains depart from Salzburg’s Main train station (Hbf).
The main S-Bahn Lines are:
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- Line S1 Lamprechtshausen – Salzburg Main Station: daily at 30-minute intervals, during peak commute times every 15 minutes
- Line S2 Strasswalchen – Salzburg Main Station – Freilassing: daily, once an hour
- Line S3 Bad Reichenhall – Freilassing – Schwarzach St. Veit – Saalfelden: daily once an hour; between Freilassing and Golling-Abtenau every 30 minutes on workdays
- Line S4 Berchtesgaden – Freilassing: daily, once an hour
- Line S11 Ostermiething – Bürmoos: daily, once an hour:
Tickets can be purchased from
Regional Buses
Here are some of the bus lines that take you to the main destinations
Bus 25: From Salzburg Main Train Station (Hbf) and Mirabellplatz to Hellbrunn Palace, Anif Zoo and Grödig Untersberg Cable Car.
Bus 151 Gasibergbus: Departs from Mirabellplatz and takes hikers up Salzburg’s local mountain, Gaisburg.
This Bus is not included in the 24-hour ticket or Salzburg Card. Find the schedule HERE and buy tickets on one of the Apps listed above.
Regional Bus Bayern 850: Departs from Salzburg Main Train Station and Mirabellplatz to Berechtsgaden Main Train Station.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Tips
You may think that Salzburg’s public transportation is free since it seems everyone gets on and doesn’t pay and there are no barriers to swipe a ticket.
But it is operated on an honour system- you will be fined if you are caught without a ticket.
If you have a paper ticket you must validate it before your first journey.
Tickets bought directly on the bus are automatically validated and need not be stamped again.
Our Recommendations | Where we Stay in Salzburg
♥ As one of the hotels we always dreamed of staying at, we loved the famous luxury Hotel Goldener Hirsch, located directly on Getreidegasse.
♥ I enjoy staying at the charming 3-star Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt, located on the Linzer Gasse pedestrian zone- close to everything.
♥ For budget-conscious travellers, I recommend staying at the Gästehaus im Priesterseminar. I recently stayed in the Seminary Guesthouse located less than 5 5-minute walk from Mirabell Palace and Gardens. It offers great value close to all the major sights.
Our Recommendations | Our Favourite Salzburg Tours & Activities
♥ Festung Hohensalzburg Pre-book your tickets to visit the 900-year-old Salzburg Fortress- perched upon Festungberg Hill. The medieval fortress is one of the largest and best preserved in Europe.
♥ Sound of Music Tours Find where the 'Hills are alive with the Sound of Music' on the Panorama Bus Tour (Read our Bus Tour Review).
I highly recommend the Fräulein Maria Bike Tours for a fantastic day exploring the sights in Salzburg.
♥ Concerts Enjoy classical music, operas, performances- and of course Mozart in breathtaking venues such as Mirabell Palace and Best of Mozart at the fortress.
♥ Cooking Classes and Food Tours Learn to cook Austrian Classics such as Schnitzel and Apple Strudel, Food tours and Wine or Beer Tastings
Discover Salzburg
Getting to Salzburg
Where to Stay
Best Salzburg Hotels
Getting around Salzburg
Free Salzburg Public Transportation
Salzburg Tours & Tickets
30 Things to See & Do in Salzburg
Best Salzburg Christmas Markets
16 Day Trips from Salzburg
Sound of Music Tour Review
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