Salzburg old town and river

Salzburg

A baroque old town under a hilltop fortress, with the Alps 20 minutes away.

Photo: Jorge Franganillo (CC BY 2.0)

Currency
Euro (EUR)
1 USD = 0.89 EUR
Emergency number
120
112 / 122 / 123 / 133 / 140 / 144 also works
Advisory level
Normal precautions
U.S. Department of State and 3 other governments
Language
Austro-Bavarian German
Local transport
Bus & walking
Old town is pedestrian
Yellow Thunderstorm Warning issued for Austria - Bruck-Mürzzuschlag

Thunderstormwarning · Area: Bruck-Mürzzuschlag · From 2026-10-08T17:08:04+00:00 · until 2026-10-08T18:08:04+00:00

Yellow Thunderstorm Warning issued for Austria - Leoben

Thunderstormwarning · Area: Leoben · From 2026-10-08T17:08:04+00:00 · until 2026-10-08T18:08:04+00:00

Yellow Thunderstorm Warning issued for Austria - Liezen

Thunderstormwarning · Area: Liezen · From 2026-10-08T17:00:15+00:00 · until 2026-10-08T18:00:15+00:00

Good to know

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Austria, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period…

Austria follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must: have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ag…

The European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now being implemented across the Schengen area…

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Austria. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty…

Exercise normal security precautions. Latest change: Editorial change.

Exercise normal security precautions. Latest change: Laws and culture section – updated information on covering your face in public places.

Trains from Munich and Vienna both stop in the centre, so this works well as a stop between the two.

The funicular to Hohensalzburg is included in the fortress ticket. Walking up saves money but takes 20 steep minutes.

The Salzkammergut lakes, including Hallstatt, are one to two hours away by bus and train.

The Salzburg Card covers entries and transport. It pays off if you are doing three or more paid sights in a day.

Local knowledge

Contributed by guides, operators and creators on the ground. Community advice, kept separate from official sources.

Do Hallstatt before nine or after five

Day coaches arrive from ten to four. Either side of that you get the same lake with a fraction of the people.

Tour operatorSalzkammergut Tours

Frequently asked questions

Two days for the old town, fortress and Mirabell, plus a third for Hallstatt, the lakes or the Eisriesenwelt ice caves.

Yes. Direct trains take under two hours each way, which leaves a full day in the old town.

It is beautiful but very crowded midday. Go early or stay overnight after the coaches leave.

Buy online in summer. The combined ticket includes the funicular both ways.

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Austria. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

U.S. Department of State currently advises normal precautions (level 1 of 4). Advice differs slightly between governments, so check your own country's advisory before you travel.

Currency: EUR. Languages: Austro-Bavarian German. Capital: Vienna.

For tour operators

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Sources and freshness

Travel information last reviewed 16 October 2026. Compiled from European Commission Newsroom, IATA Timatic, Open-Meteo and Tourpublish Travel Intelligence. Always confirm entry rules and safety guidance with official government sources before you travel.

Advisories, entry rules and alerts apply to Austria as a whole.

Aggregated from official sources. Content is never rewritten — always display the publisher, publication time and original source link.

Photography: Jorge Franganillo (CC BY 2.0); Andreas Stiasny (CC BY-SA 4.0); Isiwal (CC BY-SA 4.0).