In an announcement made by the Salzburg Tourist Office, Austria's fourth largest city will be introducing a mobility fee in the Province starting May 1, 2025. In return, overnight guests will receive a Guest Mobility Ticket that will grant full access to the public transport—urban transport, regional bus services, suburban railways, regional and long-distance trains, and micro-mobility services—within Salzburg. This is part of the city's initiatives to promote sustainable and budget-friendly travels.
Notably, the city already has the Salzburg Card, which offers free admission to museums and attractions within the city of Salzburg, alongside a variety of additional benefits, available for purchase.
The new Guest Mobility Ticket is designed to give travellers access to a modern, well-connected bus and train network, ensuring comfortable and convenient travel. While it will only be issued to overnight guests, it will remain valid for the entire duration of the stay. The ticket will be valid from check-in, until the end of service on the departure date.
These digital-friendly tickets will be sent electronically as a mobile wallet pass or PDF, either during the check-in or pre-check-in at accommodations. Travellers can choose to use these tickets digitally on the smartphone or carry a printed copy of the same.
Importantly, the Guest Mobility Ticket cannot be purchased independently; it is exclusively tied to overnight accommodation within Salzburg. This means that to receive the ticket, a visitor must be staying at an accommodation provider within the Salzburg area.
Like the KlimaTicket Salzburg, the Guest Mobility Ticket will be valid on cross-regional lines ordered by Salzburg Verkehr. For travel outside of the province of Salzburg, a separate ticket will need to be purchased.
The Salzburg Verkehr app on iPhone and Android helps make this travel planning easier. The app, also an initiative by the tourism board, provides an overview of all the available connections from point A to point B via a simple timetable tool.
Initially, the Guest Mobility Ticket by Salzburg will be priced at an administrative fee of EUR 0.50 (roughly INR 50) per night, added to the local overnight tax. This nominal fee allows visitors to enjoy free and unlimited access to Salzburg's extensive public transport network, encompassing buses, trains, and shuttles. In two years, after May 1, 2027, this price will be bumped up to EUR 1.10 (roughly INR 100) per person, per night, notes the tourism board.
This isn't the first green step taken by Salzburg. The Salzburg Global Seminar and Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron, for instance, are committed to reducing their carbon footprint by implementing an energy-efficient heating system, using an electric company car, and supporting green transportation options for guests, including free bike rentals and an electric vehicle charging station. They also use LED lightbulbs throughout the Schloss and the Meierhof.
Salzburg Global is also focused on reducing waste production through recycling services for glass, cardboard, and metal, using water fountains and refillable water bottles, and encouraging guests to reuse hotel towels.
Salzburg's Lungau region aims to be CO2-neutral by 2030, supported by a biomass heat and power plant and car-free travel for guests.