How to Get to Salzburg from Vienna

If you're planning your trip, you probably already have some idea of what to see and do in Vienna. But if you're staying in Vienna for four days or more, you might want to consider a trip to Salzburg.

About 280 kilometres from Vienna, Salzburg is a World Heritage Site in its own right. Mozart's birthplace, located in the Eastern Alps, offers so many attractions that it is capable of making anyone fall in love with it. Ideally, you should spend a couple of days here, but if you don't have time, a one-day visit is enough. Here's how to get there from the capital without any problems.

Vienna is well equipped to ensure that its visitors are never bored. Among the activities on offer are organised excursions to Salzburg, the most convenient way to visit this beautiful city.

This is undoubtedly one of the best excursions you can take from Vienna. One of the advantages of opting for an organised tour is that you don't have to keep track of the timetable to get there and back.

The guide, on the other hand, is another aspect that makes the difference. Not only will he take you directly to the most interesting places (Mozart's house, Mirabell Palace or the places where the film The Sound of Music was shot), but he will also give you information to help you get the most out of the experience.

Practical information about the excursions

• Price: from 131 €.
• Total duration: about 13 hours.
• Why I like this option: It's the easiest and most comfortable way to visit Salzburg from Vienna.
• Recommended if: you are going to spend several days in Vienna and want to get to know the fantastic city of Salzburg in a comfortable way.

The relative proximity of Vienna and Salzburg means that you can also travel on your own by train. Although you won't have the help of a guide and you'll have to find your own tickets.

One of the positive factors of this option is the number of trains that make the journey and the length of the timetable: the first train leaves Vienna at around 5.30am and the connection continues throughout the day with departures every half hour. For the return journey, you'll find trains until 22:00.

There are two options for getting to Vienna: from the central station (Wien Hauptbahnhof) or Wien Mitte (near the centre). And you'll arrive at Salzburg's only train station, the Hauptbahnhof, about 15 minutes from the centre.

Practical information for travelling by train

• Price: from €25 each way.
• Total time: about 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I like this option: for the convenience, flexibility of timetables and the beauty of the scenery through which the train passes.
• Recommended if: you want to go to Salzburg on your own in a comfortable and relaxed way.
• Tip: check the website for train times.

The bus is another great option for travelling from Vienna to Salzburg, whether you want to spend the night in Salzburg or return to the capital after a full day of sightseeing. You'll find departures from 5:40am and returns until around 7:50pm.

There are several companies operating this route. If you are looking for the best possible price, the most interesting is Westbahn. Their buses leave from Vienna Westbahnhof (Vienna Westbahnhof).

FlixBus also operates this route, but in this case their prices are considerably higher.

Practical information for travelling by bus

• Price: from €14 each way.
• Total time: about 3 hours including departure from Vienna.
• Why I like this option: It's the cheapest way to get from Vienna to Salzburg and there's plenty of time to visit the city's main attractions.
• Recommended if: You're trying to save on transport to spend on other aspects of the trip such as food and entrance fees.

The car has the advantage of offering great flexibility, both in terms of timetables and stopping anywhere along the way. Between Vienna and Salzburg, there is no shortage of such places. My recommendation is to make at least a short stop at Melk Abbey, Hallstatt and Sankt Gilgen.

If you are driving your own car, you should buy a road sticker and stick it on the front windscreen. It costs about 10 €, but it will be valid for 10 days. If you don't buy it, you can be fined about 120 €.

You can also rent a car. Prices in Austria are not too low, but you might be lucky and find a good deal. Try to pick up the car at a pick-up point at the train station or other central locations so you don't have to travel to the airport.

• Vienna Car Rental: prices are not very high. The problem is that many models do not let you rent for a single day, but you can always try.
• Zippy 7: one-day rentals start at €100.
• Sur Price: sometimes they have promotions that allow you to rent a car for less than 35 € per day.

Practical information for driving

• Price: petrol + transport vignette (about €10) + car rental if applicable (from about €50 per day).
• Total drivingtime: about 3 hours, but I recommend stopping along the way.
• Why I like this option: for the flexibility it offers.
• Recommended if: You want to make the most of your trip from Vienna to Salzburg to get to know one of the most beautiful regions in Europe.

It's difficult to say which option is best for you to take from Vienna to Salzburg. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you'll need to consider the type of trip you want to make to make your final decision.

• The organised tour is the most convenient option. You won't have to worry about anything, and having a guide to explain what you're seeing is always a plus. On the downside, going with a group means you have a little less flexibility when it comes to sightseeing.

• On the other hand, a car is a great option if you want to make a full day of sightseeing in the region between Vienna and Salzburg. There are plenty of places to stop, but you'll always have to keep an eye on the time if you don't want to return to the capital after dark.

• Public transport also has its advantages. The high frequency of trains makes it convenient to extend your stay in Salzburg, while buses are the best option if you're on a tight budget. In both cases, however, you'll have to buy your own tickets and make sure you don't miss your return journey.

Once you've arrived in Salzburg you'll want to make the most of the hours you spend there. The city is home to a large number of interesting sights and, even if you're accompanied by a guide, it's always a good idea to have an idea of them beforehand:

• Hohensalzburg Fortress: built in 1077, it is considered one of the best preserved on the continent. Its interior stands out for its medieval decoration and for the small torture museum it houses.
• Mozart's Birthplace: its museum has been open since no less than 1880. An essential visit for music lovers.
• Salzburg Cathedral: this is undoubtedly one of its most emblematic buildings. Its façade and dome are worth a visit in themselves.
• Hellbrunn Palace: don't just focus on the architectural beauty of this 17th-century building, as its wonderful surroundings do not detract at all.