When planning a trip to Salzburg, you may come across information about the Salzburg Card and wonder if the Salzburg Card is worth buying. This Salzburg Card review gives you my thoughts about this pass and explains everything you may need to know.
Disclaimer: Special thanks to the Salzburg Tourism Board for hosting me at several attractions on my trip to Salzburg! As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own. This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no cost to you!
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Table of Contents
What is the Salzburg Card?
The Salzburg Card is an all-inclusive pass that provides admission to various attractions across Salzburg and discounts to other places. It also includes public transportation.
What Comes With the Salzburg Card?
The Salzburg Card comes with three main things: Admission to tourist attractions and museums, access to public transportation, and discounts on certain events and other attractions.
Attractions
These are some of the attractions included in the Salzburg Card.
- Hohensalzburg Fortress
- Mozart Residence
- Mozart Birthplace
- Hellbrunn Palace
- St. Peter’s Abbey
- Salzburg Christmas Museum
- Museum der Moderne Salzburg
- Salzburg Museum
- Stiegel Factory
- Dom Quarter Salzburg
Public Transportation
The card is good to use on all buses across Salzburg for as many uses as you want to the length of your pass. It also includes the Funicular up to the Monschberg, the Cable Car, and the Monchsberg Lift.
Discounts
The pass provides discounts to the following attractions (and more):
- Stiegel Factory Tour and Tasting
- Various Concerts around Salzburg
- Salzburg Walking Tour
- GoCarts
- Bike Rental
- Salt Mine Berchtesgaden
- Hop On Hop Off Bus
- Aqua Spa
Cost of the Salzburg Card
The cost of the Salzburg Card is why the Salzburg Card is worth buying. Visitors can opt to buy a 1 day, 2 day, or 3 day pass. Visitors can save a ton of money with the Salzburg Card if you utilize it correctly. Prices are as follows for 2024:
January to April and November to December
- 1 Day: €28
- 2 Days: €36
- 3 Days: €41
May to October
- 1 Day: €31
- 2 Days: €40
- 3 Days: €46
We had a 3-day pass, which I thought was plenty and gave us time to see all of the sights. It is worth it alone just to have it for public transportation.
Why Should I Buy the Salzburg Card?
There are a few things you should think about to see if the Salzburg Card is worth buying. First, how long will you be in Salzburg? What attractions do you want to visit while there? What season are you visiting in?
If you are going to be in Salzburg for at least a full day on your own and want to visit a lot of the main sites, then the Salzburg Card is going to be worth buying. If you have been to Salzburg before or just want to wander around, the pass might not be for you.
How Do I Use the Salzburg Card?
The Salzburg Card is super easy to use. It will activate after you scan it at the first attraction. Then, for most of the attractions, you can bypass the line and scan it at the gate of each attraction. Most of the sites also have a sign stating how to use your Salzburg card at that attraction. I loved how easy and convenient the Salzburg Card was to use at every attraction.
The Salzburg Card is Worth Buying?
I am 100% convinced the Salzburg Card is worth buying, especially if it is your first time in Salzburg and you want to visit all of the attractions. It also helped us build a great itinerary for seeing all of the sites in Salzburg. I loved the convenience of using it, and I also liked that I did not have to worry about public transportation. It was super nice just to hop on a bus without worrying about buying a ticket.
If you do not plan on visiting the main attractions in Salzburg, you may not find as much value in the multi-day Salzburg Cards, but a one-day card could still be worth it.
My Thoughts on the Salzburg Card
It was nice and convenient to have the Salzburg Card during our time in Salzburg. Even though I had visited many of the main attractions during my study abroad days, it was nice to revisit them with my husband.
I loved that we did not have to worry about buying a bus ticket any time we wanted to get on a bus, nor did we have to worry about paying for each attraction individually.
If you have more time, make sure to add in time in Vienna or Munich as part of your Salzburg trip. You could also take a day trip from Salzburg to Hallstatt or many other amazing places in the area. Need help figuring out where to stay in Salzburg? This post will help.
