Stepping onto an early morning bus, you scan your electronic ticket and find a window seat among chattering locals. Salzburg is waking up and excitement builds as the bus heads out of the city and into the mountains of the Austrian Alps.
Passing through pretty villages, a whim makes you hop off to explore. That’s fine: the travel is free and another bus will be along soon. Because this is SalzburgerLand, an Austrian province where a pioneering scheme gives visitors free use of its extensive public transportation network, opening up eco-friendly exploration and authentic cultural experiences across the region.
The historic city of Salzburg is the gateway to SalzburgerLand. Home to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and famous for its hiking and winter sports, the stunning Alpine scenery of lakes, pastures and mountains was the backdrop for “The Sound of Music.” And it’s all yours to discover for free thanks to the Guest Mobility Ticket.
On checking in, you’ll receive a PDF or electronic ticket valid for public transport within SalzburgerLand, including regional and many intercity trains, except night buses and certain special or long-distance lines, during your entire stay. You can use it on city transport, regional buses, S-trains, regional trains, long-distance trains and Salzburg Verkehr shuttles that link rural villages. Which means you are free to explore anywhere and everywhere in SalzburgerLand with hop-on hop-off spontaneity. More than convenience, it’s an invitation into Austrian life as you travel like a local with the locals, perhaps unlocking the unexpected upgrade of a great café recommendation.
Salzburg is the starting point for many adventures and with your Guest Mobility Ticket you can immerse yourself in its rich cultural heritage. Travel from Salzburg’s historic heart with its Baroque architecture up to the heights of the majestic Hohensalzburg Fortress; take a bus to Mozart’s birthplace, the Museum of Modern Art or the wonderfully opulent Mirabell Palace. But let your Guest Mobility Ticket take you even further and explore the great outdoors with day trips to the many sites of natural beauty across SalzburgerLand.
It’s incredible to think that a bus from the center of Salzburg offers a quick escape into the Alps; it’s even more incredible to hop on a bus and do it. Dropped off for free at the legendary Untersbergbahn, buy a separate ticket (not covered by your Guest Mobility Pass) for this spacious cable car to carry you nearly 4,500 ft up the Untersberg Mountain to breathe in the clean air and take in spectacular views across Salzburg and the countryside.
Taking a train to Werfen, a connecting shuttle bus carries you into a fantastical world of ice giants – the Eisriesenwelt. Descending into the world’s largest ice cave is a breathtaking experience as the atmospheric light glistens on imposing ice formations and your mind struggles to comprehend the vast scale of this frozen wonder. It’s a good thing you dressed warm.
Sipping coffee in a café by Lake Wolfgangsee, your mind and body are uplifted through connecting to nature – the spectacular scenery of forested mountains towering over the turquoise waters. A short bus ride from Salzburg, Lake Wolfgangsee and its charming villages bring the opportunity for hiking, cycling, swimming, sailing and more while embracing the relaxed local spirit of “gschmah” where things feel good and get done without a fuss.
Public transport takes you to Krimml Waterfalls, one of Europe’s highest waterfalls. From moss-covered rocks, the sound and sight of endless water plunging over precipices on its 1,200 ft journey into the lake below is simply mesmerizing. Every stop on the 2.5-mile trail brings a new appreciation of the power of the elements and the beauty of the Alpine landscape.
It’s a beauty that is preserved by using your Guest Mobility Pass to travel by public transportation. Having enjoyed the stunning scenery and wonderful wildlife, you can reflect on how choosing public transportation actively reduces CO2 emissions, bringing the contented feeling that you’re exploring SalzburgerLand sustainably and responsibly. It’s what will help preserve the splendor of its landscape, historic buildings and many traditions for future travelers.
