Getting Around Salzburg: An Overview
Salzburg is a compact city on the Salzach River, and its historic centre (Altstadt) is one of the best-preserved Baroque city centres north of the Alps. For most visitors, the practical answer to "how do I get around?" is simple: on foot. The city also has a solid public transport network of trolleybuses and buses, plus taxis, bike paths, and a train station that connects Salzburg to the rest of Austria and Europe.
Walking: The Best Way to See the City
The best way to get around Salzburg is by foot. The historic centre is walkable, and many of the main sights sit close together within the Altstadt. If you arrive at the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), you can reach the city centre on foot in about 15 minutes, or take one of the trolleybuses if you have luggage or prefer not to walk.
Driving in the city is generally a pain: road names are small and written in a traditional German font that can be hard to read. The recommended approach for drivers is to park on the edge of the city and continue on foot.
Public Transport: Trolleybuses and Buses
Salzburg's public transport is built around the StadtBus network. It includes electric trolleybuses (O-Buses) and fuel-powered buses. The trolleybuses are the same vehicles that connect the airport with the city and the main station, so they are often the first form of public transport a visitor encounters.
- Buying tickets: You can buy a single ticket directly from the bus driver. A cheaper option is to buy a multi-trip strip of tickets in advance. Day passes, weekly passes, and monthly passes are also available.
- Mobile tickets: The Salzburg Verkehr app lets you buy tickets from your phone.
- Vending machines: Some tickets, such as the 24-hour ticket, are cheaper when bought at a vending machine rather than from the driver.
- Late-night caution: Be careful about catching one of the last buses of the night. They can take you several kilometres out of town, leaving you to walk back or take a taxi. If you need to get somewhere late at night, a taxi or walking may be the better choice.
Trains and the Lokalbahn
Salzburg's main train station, the Hauptbahnhof, sits north of the Salzach River in the New Town. It is operated by the Austrian Federal Railway Company (ÖBB) and by the German national railway (DB), and both companies have ticket counters and machines in the station. The station also has a supermarket, lockers, and toilets.
From the Hauptbahnhof you can reach many destinations, predominantly in Austria but also across Europe. There are direct train connections with Vienna, Linz, Feldkirch (at the Liechtenstein border), and Zürich, among others. Inter-city trains run very frequently, especially to Vienna. International trains also operate from Zurich, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Budapest, and the ÖBB Nightjet runs to Salzburg from Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
If you are coming from Bavaria, the Bayern Ticket sold by DB covers train rides between Bavaria and Salzburg, but it is only valid on Regional trains. It can be bought from DB ticket counters and machines in the station.
In addition to the main rail network, the Lokalbahn train has its own separate station under the main train station and travels in the direction of Oberndorf and Lamprechtshausen. Tickets for the Lokalbahn can be bought on the train itself.
Buses Beyond the City
For exploring areas around Salzburg, such as Bad Ischl or Fuschlsee, POST-BUSes are an option. These also leave from the main train station, and tickets can be bought from the driver.
Long-distance buses also serve Salzburg. Note that the Flixbus stop is in Salzburg Süd, which is not really near the main train station, so plan accordingly if you arrive or depart by that service.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are a practical fallback, particularly late at night when the last buses may leave you stranded far from the centre. The source material does not describe a dedicated ride-hailing app for Salzburg, so the safest assumption for a visitor is that taxis are the main on-demand option, with public transport and walking covering most daytime needs.
Bikes
Renting a bike is an excellent option. Salzburg has an extensive network of bike paths, and cycling is often faster than the bus, car, or walking. There are also good bike paths on either side of the river, which you can follow to Freilassing, Oberndorf, or Hallein.
Tickets, Passes, and the Salzburg Card
Beyond single tickets, Salzburg offers day, weekly, and monthly passes, and the Salzburg Verkehr app is the convenient way to buy them from a phone. A separate option worth considering is the Salzburg Card, which bundles transport and attractions:
- Free single admission to all the city's attractions.
- Free use of public transport throughout the city, including the fortress funicular, the panorama boat, and the cable car to Untersberg.
- Discounts for cultural events and for various tours and excursions.
The Salzburg Card is available in 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour versions, so whether it pays off depends on how long you stay and how much you want to pack into your visit.
There is also a mobility contribution for overnight guests: from May 2025, overnight guests pay a daily mobility contribution and can then use all public transport in the state of Salzburg free of charge.
Getting from Salzburg Airport into the City
Salzburg W. A. Mozart International Airport (SZG) is located on Innsbrucker Bundesstraße, about 20 minutes from the centre of the city. The airport has direct connections from a range of European cities, including Amsterdam Schiphol, Rotterdam, Brussels, London, Paris, Vienna, Zurich, Istanbul, Moscow, and many large German cities.
Getting into town from the airport is straightforward:
- By trolleybus: Connection with the city is provided by a trolleybus. Tickets can be bought easily from the bus driver. You can travel from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof main station, from which many destinations are reachable, predominantly in Austria but also across Europe.
- Other modes: The airport is also reachable by other modes of transport, though the trolleybus is the simplest public option.
If you need more international flight connections than Salzburg offers, one option is to fly to Munich and take the train to Salzburg. Other Austrian airports such as Graz or Innsbruck can also be of interest if you enjoy scenic journeys through the mountains.
Practical Tips for Drivers
Salzburg is well connected by autobahn to Vienna and Munich. If you drive, you need an Austrian motorway vignette, and the price varies depending on whether you buy a yearly or a short-term vignette. Once in the city, the best bet is to find a parking space and travel on foot.
- Parking garages: Several garages on the edge of the historic centre offer hourly and 24-hour rates. Garage companies include Best in Parking, APCOA, and Contipark. Nearby hotels often have arrangements for discounted rates with commercial garages.
- Park-and-ride: More budget-friendly options include park-and-ride lots, which sometimes have promotions such as a free transit pass or free parking during summer months.
- Winter driving: In cold weather, be prepared for snow. Snow chains are recommended in extreme weather, and all cars must have snow tires by law from October to April.