Salzburg has a lot more to offer than a few Sound of Music filming locations. The Salzburg Card provides the proof with free access to 24 world class attractions including the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Hellbrunn Palace and the birthplace of Mozart.
We’ve used the Salzburg Card on two occasions and each time got more than our money’s worth. The first time was on a family day trip from Innsbruck, the second on a 3-day visit with a friend and the third to follow in The Sound of Music in Salzburg.
Why consider the Salzburg Card?
The Salzburg old town is a UNESCO world heritage site. As such, there are plenty of historical sites to explore in quite a small geographical area. One of these is the Hohensalzburg Fortress that watches over the city. Even if you’re not interested in the history, you would want to get up there for the excellent views it offers over Salzburg and surroundings.
However, the Salzburg Card doesn’t only include historical sites and museums. It also takes you on a river cruise, gives you a taste of famous Austrian beer, introduces you to the animals in the Salzburg Zoo, ferries you up a mountain, and lets you get wet in the gardens of Hellbrunn Palace.
What’s more is that the Salzburg Card includes the public transport that takes you to the included attractions. AND it is valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours from the time you first use it and not only on specific calendar days. In addition, you receive a discount on some other attractions and activities like the hop on hop off bus tours.
The Salzburg Card Price
| SALZBURG CARD | ADULTS | CHILDREN 6-15 YEARS |
| 24 Hours | €29 *€26 | €14,50 *€13 |
| 48 Hours | €38 *€34 | €19 *€17 |
| 72 Hours | €44 *€39 | €22 *€19,50 |
*Winter price from 1 November to 30 April
How do you know the intention is not to rip you off? The Salzburg Card Price is reduced in winter when some of the attractions are closed. But don’t worry, there are still a lot of really nice things to see and do in Salzburg in winter.
Read more: Plan your Salzburg to Hallstatt day trip with my detailed guide
Where to buy the Salzburg Card
Buy the Salzburg Card at any Salzburg information and ticket office. In addition, most hotels sell the Salzburg Card. If you buy it online, you must exchange your voucher for the actual card at the main tourist information office on Mozart Square in the Salzburg old town or the one at the main station. Remember to grab a Salzburg Card booklet, listing all the attractions with their opening times, when you get your card.
List of attractions with normal prices
| ATTRACTION | NORMAL PRICE | ATTRACTION | NORMAL PRICE |
| Hohensalzburg Fortress | €12.90 | Hellbrunn Palace & Trick Fountains | €12.50 |
| Salzburg Zoo | €11.50 | Salzach Cruise | €15 |
| Bible World Interactive Centre | €9.50 | Museum of Natural History | €8.50
|
| Catacombs | €2.00 | Domquartier Salzburg | €13.00 |
| Cathedral Excavations | €3.50 | Festival Halls | €7 |
| Folklore Museum | €3,50 | Stiegl-Brauwelt | €13.00
|
| Mozart’s Birthplace | €11.00 | Mozart’s Residence | €11.00 |
| Museum of Modern Art Salzburg – Rupertinum | €6.00 | Museum of Modern Art Salzburg – Mönchsberg | €8.00 |
| Cable Car Untersberg | €25.00 | Panorama Museum | €4.50 |
| Salzburg Christmas Museum | €6.00 | Salzburg Museum – New Residence | €9.00 |
| Salzburg Open Air Museum | €11.00 | Georg Trakl Memorial & Research Centre | €5 |
| Toy Museum | €5.00 | Mönchsberg Lift | €3.80 |
How we made the most of our Salzburg Card
24 Hours
Our day trip to Salzburg from Innsbruck started at the tourist information office where we bought our tickets. As we already had an idea what we wanted to see and do, the tourism official helped us by marking everything on a map. She also gave us valuable advice on how to get to Hellbrun Palace with the help of the free public transport included in the Salzburg Card.
We started our tour at the Salzburg Cathedral and had a look at the cathedral excavations (€3,50). From here, we took a leisurely stroll through the Salzburg old town to Mozart’s birthplace (€11). After learning some fascinating facts about the musical wunderkind we grabbed some brunch-on-the-go at the little Spar supermarket in the same building.
Brunch in hand, we made our way along the Salzach River to the docking station for a leisurely cruise (€15). A bus trip (€4,80 return) to Hellbrunn Palace followed where we had lots of fun getting wet under Archbishop Markus Sittikus’ trick fountains (€12.50).
Back in Salzburg, we used the Salzburg Card for the last time to explore the Hohensalzburg Fortress (€12.90). Our day was rounded off perfectly with a beer and some traditional food at a local festival on Mozart square before heading back to Innsbruck.
Salzburg Card Price = €29
Normal Attraction Prices = €59.70
Total Savings = €30.70
Read more: Also planning on visiting Innsbruck? Then my Innsbruck Card review will be helpful too.
48 Hours
This time, I had a day and a half to explore Salzburg with a good friend from South Africa. Irma and I bought the 48-hour Salzburg Card at the Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt where we stayed. Since our room wasn’t ready yet when we arrived around noon, we set off immediately for the Salzburg old town with our cards in hand.
Read more: An honest review of the Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt Salzburg
Our first stop was the Domquartier Salzburg (€13), the cathedral museum complex. We were quite disappointed to find some areas closed with no reasons given. However, we marvelled at Rembrandt’s Old Woman Praying in the art gallery and took in the views of Mozart Square from the terrace above the cathedral arcade.
When it was time to go inside the cathedral, entry was denied. It was only when we stepped outside that we found out why we couldn’t access so many areas. The reason was a very important meeting of the Order of the Holy Grail to Jerusalem. I kid you not. It was like a scene from a Dan Brown novel, and the arrival of the knights and other very important guests kept us intrigued and entertained for a long time.
After all the excitement, we took the funicular to the nearby Hohensalzburg Fortress (€12,90) before heading back to our hotel.
Our first stop on day 2 was the Mozart Residence (€11). From here, we walked across the street to Mirabell Gardens before taking the bus (€4,80 return) to Hellbrunn Palace (€12.50). It was our best intention to go to the Stiegl-Brauwelt and taste some beer from here, but we got side-tracked by a flea market on the banks of the Salzach River.
We attended the Mozart Dinner Concert in the evening for which we could have received a 5% discount if we bought the tickets after buying the Salzburg Card.
Salzburg Card Price = €38
Normal Attraction Prices = €54.20
Total Savings = €16.20
The bottom line: We saved money with the Salzburg Card even on a very relaxed 48-hour schedule. The 72-hour card gives you even more flexibility.
When not to consider the Salzburg Card
Obviously, if your time is limited or you just want to visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress and otherwise walk through the Salzburg old town and Mirabell Gardens, you might be better off buying individual tickets.
- This article is only meant to illustrate that the Salzburg Card is indeed good value for money. Visit the official website for a complete list of all the attractions and services as well as the opening times and other relevant information.
Read more: Visiting Austria in winter? Find out what to do if you don’t ski.
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The Salzburg Card sounds like a good deal and a great way to see the city’s highlights. I’d love to visit, and I would definitely take advantage of this. Those trick fountains look awesome!