How to get to Salzburg
How to Get to Salzburg – Your Complete Travel Guide
Wondering how to get to Salzburg with ease?
Nestled between Munich and Vienna, Salzburg is perfectly positioned for travellers arriving by plane, train, or long-distance bus.
Thanks to its central European location, reaching this UNESCO-listed gem is refreshingly straightforward—whether you’re flying into Austria, journeying across Germany, or exploring Europe by rail.
As someone who has navigated every scenic route to Salzburg—from panoramic Alpine drives to efficient international train links—I can assure you that getting to Salzburg is part of the adventure itself. In this guide, you’ll discover the most convenient, cost-effective, and enjoyable ways to reach the city known for Mozart, baroque beauty, and breathtaking mountain views.
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By Air
You could arrive to Salzburg by flying into either Salzburg, Munich, Innsbruck or Vienna
1. Salzburg Airport (SZG) is known as Salzburg Airport Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
It is Austria’s second-largest airport and a gateway to Austria’s ski resorts. The airport is located 3.1 km (2.0 mi) from the centre of Salzburg and 2 km (1.2 mi) from the Austrian-German border.
Austrian Airlines, British Airways, EasyJet, Eurowings, Ryanair, and many other airlines provide flights to Salzburg. For more information about flights arriving to Salzburg, visit the Salzburg Airport Website.
From Salzburg Airport
- Welcome Pickups offers a hassle-free pickup & transfer service to your accommodation with an easy online English-language form to pre-book a local, English-speaking driver.
Benefits of Using Welcome Pickups
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- Local English-speaking drivers
- Flat, pre-paid fee
- Flight monitoring for delays
- 24/7 Customer support
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- Public buses run at regular intervals between Salzburg Airport, the main train station (Hbf) in Salzburg and the city centre, as well to major nearby resorts.
From the Airport take Bus #2 or #10 to the city centre.
2. Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport
Due to the proximity of Munich to Salzburg, many visitors fly to Munich. Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport is an international airport located ~ 182 km (113 mi) north of Salzburg. Munich International Airport is the second busiest airport in Germany and serves as the hub for Lufthansa.
From Munich Airport
- Welcome Pickups offers a pickup & transfer service to your accommodation with an easy, hassle-free, online English-language form to pre-book a local, English-speaking driver.
- There are excellent train connections from Munich Airport via Munich’s Ostbahnhof to Salzburg.
The train to Salzburg takes ~ 2.5 hours. - Driving takes approximately 2 hrs.
3. Innsbruck Airport
Innsbruck is located ~190 km (~56 mi) west of Salzburg.
From Innsbruck Airport
- Bus route F connects Innsbruck’s main train station (Hbf) with the airport. The bus trip takes about 20 minutes.
From Innsbruck Hbf, there are over 30 trains per day to Salzburg.
It takes ~2 hrs by train from Innsbruck to Salzburg. - Driving via the Inntal Autobahn E60 and the A8 takes approximately 2 hrs.
4. Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Vienna International Airport is located ~320km (~200mi) east of Salzburg. Vienna International Airport is Austria’s biggest airport and a main hub for Austrian Airlines and many other international flights.
From Vienna Airport
- You can travel on a direct train from Vienna-Schwechat Airport to Salzburg, without transferring, in ~3 hours.
- Driving via the A1 Autobahn takes approximately 3 hrs.
- Welcome Pickups offers a hassle-free pickup & transfer service to your accommodation with an easy online English-language form to pre-book a local, English-speaking driver. Book your Transfer from the Vienna Airport
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By Train
International trains arrive at the Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (Hbf), the Main train station. There are many connections from Vienna, the rest of Austria, Germany, Italy, and the rest of Europe to Salzburg.
In addition, you can take the Nightjet from many European destinations such as Hamburg, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and Florence and arrive in the morning in Salzburg. Find out more on the Nightjet Website.
From the train station
In front of the train station is Südtiroler Platz, the main bus stop.
Important Bus Connections include:
- Salzburg main station – Salzburg Old Town: trolleybus lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 – duration: 10 minutes
- Salzburg main station – Messezentrum (exhibition centre): trolleybus line 1 – duration: 12 minutes
- Salzburg main station – Salzburg Airport: trolleybusline 1 – duration: 19 minutes
By Bus
Flixbus: Buses arrive at Salzburg Alpensiedlung P+R Süd
From the Flixbus stop- Take Bus number 3 in the direction of Salzburg Landstraße (Bahnhofstraße).
The bus stops at Justizgebäude (closest to the Dom and the Festung), Makartplatz, Mirabellplatz,)
By Car
Traveling to Salzburg from within Austria take the A1 or A10 autobahn. From Germany you drive on the A8.
Ensure that you have a Vignette, the Austria highway Toll sticker. There is a toll exemption for travellers on the Munich-Salzburg route (A8 motorway). From the Walserberg border to the Salzburg-Nord exit, no motorway toll sticker is required. But you will need a motorway vignette beyond that.
Read more about the Vignette HERE
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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