Car-free vacation in Salzburg – how to make it work

Holidays without a car or holidays without a car – more and more travellers are doing without a car on city trips. We at the Wendl Hotels in Salzburg are fans of car-free holidays and are happy to explain how to make it as successful as possible.

Option 1: Flight to Salzburg

You will love Salzburg Airport! It is small and easy to navigate, and you often have to walk across the runway to get to the plane. Travelers with hand luggage who have already checked in online only need to plan a short amount of time before their flight. Exceptions prove the rule: In winter, Salzburg Airport is popular with ski vacationers in Salzburger Land and Tyrol and is sometimes at its capacity limits. Checking the day's arrivals and departures will give you certainty about how much time you should plan at the airport.

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a) The bus. In Salzburg, almost all buses are electric, because they are powered by an overhead line, which we affectionately call trolleybuses. Take the trolleybus line 2 from the airport towards the city center and get off around 10 minutes later at the Jodok-Fink-Strasse stop for the max70 and junior hotels, and around 25 minutes later at the Mirabellplatz stop for the andrä hotel.
Tickets for the bus can be bought online, at the ticket machines at the bus stops or in many tobacco shops, or (more expensively) from the bus drivers.

b) The taxi. Pre-order by calling +43 662 8111 or get into one of the taxis waiting directly at the airport. Please make sure when ordering or boarding that the taxis also accept your EC or credit card, Austrians still have a strong love of cash. The taxis in Salzburg are mostly well maintained, arrive quickly and are usually cheaper than the next option.

c) Uber. Only established in Salzburg since 2024, taxis in the vast majority of cases drive as Uber. Due to Uber's fixed fee, Uber fees are usually more expensive than a taxi ride.

Option 2: Train to Salzburg

The Salzburg train station is an important hub in European rail traffic and is therefore served by many cities. In addition to the Austrian Federal Railway, the ÖBB, the private Austrian Westbahn is also active here. What's more, something that many holidaymakers from Germany don't know: Salzburg is a DB train station. In other words: You don't have to buy an international ticket and you can travel to Salzburg with cheap tickets such as the Deutschland-Ticket, the Bayern-Ticket or the Südostbayernbahn-Ticket! All DB saver fares are also valid to Salzburg.

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a) By Bus: Salzburg Central Station is the hub for inner-city traffic, and you can get to Hotel Andrä with all lines that go into the center. The Kongresshaus or Mirabellplatz stops are ideal for getting to the hotel. As a guest at the max70 or junior Smarthotel, take line 10 (Jodok-Fink-Strasse) or 1 (Glansteg). Bus tickets can be bought online, at the ticket machines at the stops or in many tobacco shops, and also (more expensively) from the construction drivers.

b) On foot: If you only have light luggage, Hotel Andrä a 10-minute walk away, ideal for getting your circulation going again after a long train journey.

c) The Taxi: Taxis wait for passengers at the train station at any time of day or night. Before you start your journey, make sure that debit and credit cards are accepted if you want to pay cashless.

This is how you can get around Salzburg without a car:

d) Day tickets SVV and Salzburg Card: For guests who are staying longer, we recommend various day tickets or the Salzburg Card, which combines free use of public transport with free entry to many attractions. You can buy both the bus tickets and the Salzburg Card at the reception of the Hotel max70, as well as at numerous advance booking offices and the bus tickets are always available on the bus.

e) Bicycle: Salzburg has a great network of cycle paths and is a very bicycle-friendly city. At the Hotel max70 you can rent e-bikes to explore the city and the surrounding area.

f) On foot: The Wendl Hotels are ideally located for walking into Salzburg's old town. If you like walking, you will find beautiful, ever-changing routes through the districts that allow a deep insight into the real Salzburg. Through parks, along the Salzach, over Salzburg's city mountain Mönchsberg, when walking through the city you will be amazed at how green and magical this city is. Especially in the high season in summer, walking is a perfect alternative to city buses or taxis. Even festival guests often come to Hofstallgasse or Domplatz on foot - one of the many factors that make the classical music festival so magical.

Attention: E-scooters and e-bikes that can be rented via app are not as common in Salzburg as in other cities.