Do I need public transport in Salzburg?

The Altstadt is small enough to walk, but buses and trolleybuses are useful for getting to the train station, Hellbrunn Palace, Mirabell Gardens and out-of-centre accommodation. A single ticket costs around €2.50. The Salzburg Card covers all city buses, the airport bus and the Hohensalzburg funicular — worth it if you plan to visit several attractions in one or two days.

Salzburg public transport guide 2026: buses, tickets and tips

How Salzburg gets around

Salzburg is a compact city. The historic old town — the Altstadt — sits within a bend of the Salzach river and can be walked end to end in about 20 minutes. For most visitors, the majority of the classic sights are reachable on foot from a centrally located hotel.

That said, public transport fills several important gaps: getting from the Hauptbahnhof (which sits about 1.5 km north of the Altstadt) to the centre, reaching Hellbrunn Palace and Mirabell Gardens, travelling out to accommodation on the city edges, and connecting to the airport without taking a taxi.

This guide covers everything you need to know about getting around Salzburg without a car — from the bus and trolleybus network to cycling, taxis and the all-important Salzburg Card.

The city bus and trolleybus network

Salzburg Linien operates the city’s public transport, which consists of conventional diesel buses and a small fleet of trolleybuses (electric buses running on overhead wires). The two systems are operationally identical from a passenger perspective — you use the same ticket on both.

Key lines to know

Trolleybus O (Obus): This is the line most useful for visitors. It runs from the Hauptbahnhof through the city centre, stopping along Theatergasse near the Altstadt, then continuing south. If you arrive by train and want to get to the old town quickly, take the Obus from the station forecourt — it deposits you close to the Dom and Franziskanergasse in about eight minutes.

Line 1: Runs east–west across the city, connecting the Hbf area with Mirabell, the centre and residential areas east of the river. Useful for reaching Mirabell Palace and Gardens without walking the full distance from the station.

Line 2: Connects the airport to the city centre and Hauptbahnhof. Journey time is approximately 20 minutes. This is the most practical bus for airport arrivals. For the full breakdown of airport transfer options, see our Salzburg airport to city guide.

Line 3: Runs from the Hbf through the centre to the western residential areas. Useful for accommodation on the Rainerstrasse or Gabelsbergerstrasse.

Line 5: Connects the Hbf area with the centre and the Salzach riverbank areas south of the Altstadt.

Line 25: The key bus for Hellbrunn Palace. Departs from Hanuschplatz (city centre) and reaches Hellbrunn in about 15 minutes. Runs roughly every 20–25 minutes during the day.

Line 10: Airport express service running to the Hbf and Mirabellplatz.

Key stops to memorise

Salzburg Hbf (Hauptbahnhof): The main terminus and interchange point, where most lines begin or pass through
Hanuschplatz: Central city hub — main interchange point for lines heading south and east
Mirabellplatz: Closest stop to Mirabell Palace and the Makartplatz concert venues
Theatergasse/Mozartsteg: The Altstadt-adjacent stop for Trolleybus O
Rathaus: City hall area, close to the Getreidegasse
Hellbrunn: For the palace and its famous trick fountains

Ticket types and prices

Single and day tickets

Salzburg Linien tickets are zone-based, but for visitors staying in the city, you are almost always within Zone 1 (the inner city).

Single ticket (Einzelfahrt): approximately €2.50 pre-purchased; around €3.20 on board the bus
24-hour day pass: approximately €5.80
48-hour pass: approximately €10.40
72-hour pass: approximately €14.50
Weekly pass: approximately €19

Buying on board is significantly more expensive per trip. For anything more than one or two journeys, buy in advance.

Where to buy tickets

Ticket machines at the Hauptbahnhof: The most reliable option — machines accept cards and cash and offer English-language interface
Trafik (tobacconist): Many tobacco/newspaper shops around the city sell Salzburg Linien tickets
Salzburg Linien app: Available on iOS and Android; allows purchasing and storing digital tickets
On board the bus: Available but at a premium — use only if you have no other option

Children under 6 travel free. Children aged 6–14 pay reduced fares. Dogs and bicycles require additional tickets.

The Salzburg Card

The Salzburg Card bundles unlimited city public transport with free entry or discounted entry to most of the city’s major paid attractions. Whether it makes financial sense depends on what you plan to see.

The Salzburg Card covers the Hohensalzburg Fortress funicular and entry, all city buses and trolleybuses, the airport bus, Hellbrunn Palace trick fountains, the Salzburg Museum, Mozarteum concerts, boat trips on the Salzach and more. Available in 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour versions.

For a detailed cost breakdown of whether the card pays for itself on your specific itinerary, see our Salzburg Card guide.

At a minimum, if you are visiting Hohensalzburg Fortress (which costs around €16 with the funicular), Hellbrunn Palace (around €14), and taking several bus journeys, the 24-hour card at around €33 covers its cost in two attractions plus all transport. The 48-hour version at €41 represents strong value for anyone spending two full days doing city sightseeing.

Getting to Hohensalzburg Fortress by public transport

The fortress sits on a 120-metre-high rocky outcrop above the Altstadt. You reach it either by the Festungsbahn — the funicular — or on foot via a steep path.

The funicular lower station is on Festungsgasse, in the heart of the old town. It runs continuously throughout the day and takes about one minute. The single fare is approximately €16 including fortress entry (slightly less for entry-only without funicular). The Salzburg Card covers both the funicular ride and fortress entry, which is one of its most compelling inclusions.

For the full fortress experience — what is inside, how long to allow, what to skip — see our Hohensalzburg Fortress guide.

Getting to Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Mirabell Palace is about 15 minutes’ walk from the Altstadt, north across the river. From the Hauptbahnhof it is approximately a 12-minute walk, or a 5-minute ride on Bus 1 to the Mirabellplatz stop.

The gardens are free to enter at all times. The palace interior is occupied by the city council and is not publicly accessible beyond the marble staircase and ceremonial rooms, which are sometimes open for limited visits.

The Hop-on Hop-off option

If you prefer a structured introduction to the city before navigating independently, the hop-on hop-off bus covers the major sights with audio commentary. It is not a substitute for walking the Altstadt (which requires being on foot), but it works well for reaching sights outside the old town core and for a general orientation on your first day.

The Salzburg hop-on hop-off bus runs a loop covering the Altstadt, Mirabell, Hellbrunn, Schloss Leopoldskron and other sights. Full-day tickets allow you to board and alight at any stop — useful for combining sights efficiently without timing individual bus routes.

Cycling in Salzburg

Salzburg is a reasonably cycle-friendly city. The flat riverbank paths along the Salzach are the most pleasant cycling corridors, connecting the city centre with the northern residential areas and the Hbf area on both banks. The main Altstadt itself has some pedestrian-only zones where cycling is prohibited — look for signs.

NextBike is the city’s bike-share system, operating with a network of docking stations around the centre, the Hbf, Mirabell and the hospital area. Registering requires an app or website account. Prices are approximately €1 per 30 minutes, or a day pass for around €15. Bikes must be returned to official docking stations.

Private bike rental is available from several operators near the Hbf and the Altstadt, typically starting at around €15–20 per day for a basic city bike. Mountain bike and e-bike rentals are available for approximately €25–40 per day.

The dedicated Salzach cycle path (Salzachradweg) runs along the river for the length of the city and continues into the Salzkammergut region — it forms part of the longer EuroVelo 9 route.

Taxis and rideshare

Taxis are available at the Hbf, the airport and in the Altstadt area, or by phone/app. The main local providers are Radio Taxi Salzburg and Taxi 8111. Fares start at approximately €4.50 and run about €2–2.50 per kilometre. A typical journey from the Hbf to the Altstadt costs €8–12.

Uber operates in Salzburg, though driver availability is more limited than in Vienna. During peak evening hours and after night bus service ends, Uber can be useful as a supplement.

Note: there are no taxis permitted to drive into the pedestrianised Altstadt core. Drop-off and pick-up points are on the perimeter streets — typically Kajetanerplatz or Rudolfskai along the river.

Night buses

Salzburg Linien runs a night bus service on Friday and Saturday nights (and nights before public holidays). Night buses depart from Hanuschplatz in the city centre on roughly 30–60 minute intervals from around midnight to 3–4 am.

Night bus line designations begin with N (N1, N2, N3, etc.). Fares are the same as daytime tickets — approximately €2.50 pre-purchased — but the Salzburg Card does not cover night buses. Purchase tickets from machines at Hanuschplatz before boarding.

On other nights of the week (Sunday to Thursday), the regular bus service typically ends around 11 pm–midnight, after which taxis and rideshare are the practical alternatives.

Accessibility

Salzburg Linien has steadily modernised its fleet with low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses. The majority of city buses now have:

Kneeling function (bus lowers toward the kerb at designated stops)
Wide doorways for wheelchairs and pushchairs
Audio and visual stop announcements
Dedicated wheelchair spaces

The Hauptbahnhof is fully accessible with lifts to all platforms. Main city bus stops at Mirabellplatz, Hanuschplatz and the Hbf are accessible.

Within the Altstadt, accessibility is less straightforward. Many streets are cobbled, some passages are narrow, and the main churches have stepped entrances. The Festungsbahn funicular has lift access at the lower station and accessible viewing areas within the fortress. Hellbrunn Palace has accessible garden paths. For detailed accessibility information, Salzburg Linien publishes a downloadable accessibility guide on its website.

What you cannot do by bus: out-of-city day trips

The city bus network covers Salzburg itself. For day trips to Hallstatt, the Salzkammergut lakes or Berchtesgaden, you move onto a different transport layer — regional trains (ÖBB) and Postbus routes. The Salzburg Card does not cover regional trains or the Salzkammergut Postbus network.

For transport beyond the city, see:

Getting around the Salzkammergut — Postbus, regional trains, ferries and driving
Salzburg to Hallstatt by train — the full step-by-step connection
Best day trips from Salzburg — overview of options and transport for each

Is public transport enough, or do you need a car?

For staying within Salzburg itself and making day trips on the rail/bus network, public transport is entirely sufficient. You do not need a car in the city — parking is expensive and the Altstadt is pedestrianised anyway.

The case for renting a car is mainly about flexibility when doing Salzkammergut day trips: stopping at smaller lakes, arriving at Hallstatt early before P1 fills, combining multiple destinations in a day. For that comparison, see our Salzburg with or without a car guide.

For anyone on a tight budget, city buses plus ÖBB trains for day trips keep transport costs low — see our Salzburg budget guide for overall cost framing.

If you are staying outside the city centre and need to bring a car into town, see our Salzburg parking guide for garage and P+R options.

Frequently asked questions about Salzburg public transport guide: buses, trolleys and the Salzburg Card

How much does a bus ticket cost in Salzburg?

A single ticket is approximately €2.50, a 24-hour day pass around €5.80, and a 72-hour pass around €14.50. Tickets bought on board the bus cost more — around €3.20 for a single. Buy in advance at ticket machines at the Hauptbahnhof, at tobacconists (Trafik) or via the Salzburg Linien app. The Salzburg Card covers all city public transport with no per-trip cost.

Is the Salzburg Card worth it for public transport?

If you plan to visit Hohensalzburg Fortress, two or three other attractions, and use buses regularly, yes. The card covers unlimited city buses, trolleybuses, the Hohensalzburg funicular, the airport bus, and most major museums. A 24-hour card costs around €33, a 48-hour card €41, and a 72-hour card €47. If you are visiting 3+ paid attractions in a day, it typically pays off.

Which bus goes from Salzburg Hbf to the Altstadt?

Trolleybus O (also written Obus) runs from the Hauptbahnhof through the city centre along Theatergasse and is the most direct link. Bus lines 1, 3 and 5 also connect the station to the Altstadt area. The walk from the station to the old town takes about 20 minutes along the Salzach riverbank — a pleasant option on a dry day.

Are there night buses in Salzburg?

Yes. Salzburg Linien operates night buses on Fridays, Saturdays and the nights before public holidays. Night bus lines (prefixed N) depart from Hanuschplatz in the city centre roughly every 30–60 minutes from around midnight to 3 am. Standard fares apply, and the Salzburg Card does not cover night buses. Taxis and rideshares are the main alternative after night bus service ends.

Can I cycle around Salzburg?

Yes, Salzburg has a reasonable cycling infrastructure. The Salzach cycle path runs along both banks of the river and is flat and well-maintained. The city operates NextBike, a bike-share scheme with docking stations around the city centre, the Hbf and Mirabell. Short-term rentals start at around €1 per trip or €15 for a day pass. Most of the Altstadt itself is restricted to pedestrians and cyclists in specific sections — check signs carefully.

Is Salzburg public transport accessible for wheelchair users?

Most modern Salzburg Linien buses have low-floor access and designated wheelchair spaces. The Hauptbahnhof, Mirabellplatz and main central stops have accessible platforms. The Hohensalzburg funicular has lift access at both the lower station and within the fortress. The Altstadt itself has some cobblestone areas that are challenging for wheelchairs, particularly around the Dom and Franziskanergasse.

Which bus goes to Hellbrunn Palace?

Bus line 25 runs from Hanuschplatz (city centre) to Hellbrunn, taking about 15 minutes. Buses run roughly every 20 minutes during the day. The stop is Hellbrunn — a 2-minute walk from the palace entrance. Return buses to the city run on the same schedule. If you have a Salzburg Card, the bus ride is included.

Can I take the bus from Salzburg airport to the city?

Yes. Bus line 2 and line 10 run between Salzburg Airport (Flughafen) and the city centre and Hauptbahnhof, taking about 20 minutes. The bus stop is directly in front of the arrivals hall. A single ticket costs around €2.50 with a pre-purchased ticket or €3.20 on board. The Salzburg Card covers this bus. Taxis cost approximately €15–20 to the Altstadt.

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Salzburg public transport guide: buses, trolleys and the Salzburg Card