Car & Van Hire - Salzburg

Planning a trip to Salzburg? Getting to the Austrian city is easy, thanks to Salzburg International Airport W. A. Mozart (SZG).

From Salzburg Airport to the city centre, the drive only takes about 20 minutes, with direct access to the city via taxis, public transport or car hire.

Car hire from Salzburg Airport is a popular choice to explore the city. Not only does a car give you the freedom to explore the city at your own pace, but it also allows you to visit Salzburg’s neighbouring mountains with ease – a must-see during your trip.

The renowned ‘City of Mozart’ has plenty to offer tourists. With breathtaking landscapes, baroque architecture, and bountiful culture – there are endless things to do in Salzburg. One of the best ways to explore the city is on a walking tour. If you’re on a budget, there are free walking tours of Salzburg available, too. Not sure what to do in Salzburg? Here are some of our top picks.

Top places to visit in Salzburg

Hohensalzburg Fortress (Salzburg’s castle)
Visiting this impressive hilltop fortress is one of the best things to do in Salzburg. Take the funicular railway to the top to explore the impressive 16th-century architecture and enjoy panoramic views over the city.

Mozart museums in Salzburg
No trip to Salzburg is complete without a dose of Mozart. You can visit the Mozart Birthplace and Mozart Residence museums for an extraordinary insight into the composer’s childhood or retrace his steps on a City Walk: Mozart.

Salzburg Old Town
Salzburg Old Town, or Altstadt, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a good reason. The area is characterised by quaint cobbled streets and bustling squares lined with ornate medieval and baroque buildings. The Old Town is a must-see in Salzburg.

See sights from the Sound of Music
If you’re a fan of the 1965 musical cult classic, you can get your Sound of Music fix in Salzburg. Not only was the film shot in the city, but the real Trapp family lived here, too. Take in the most famous sites on a Sound of Music Tour of Salzburg.

Day trips from Salzburg

During your trip, make time for a day trip from Salzburg. The Alps are just a short drive from the city, so it’s well worth visiting nearby mountains for some of the best views in Austria. Hire a car from Salzburg Airport to visit these unmissable sites easily.

Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves
Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves in Werfen are the largest accessible ice caves in the world. Delve into a naturally formed ice kingdom in the mountain, where you’ll get a guided tour through sub-zero winding paths and spectacular ice formations. The Ice Caves are one of the top things to do in Salzburg.

Mountains near Salzburg
There are numerous mountains a short distance from Salzburg where you can hike, cycle, paraglide, sightsee, and ride cable cars. With a rental car, these are easily accessible. Mountains near Salzburg include:
• Gaisberg
• Untersberg
• The Kapuzinerberg
• Monchsberg
• Rötelstein

Hallstatt
For a change of pace, visit Hallstatt, a fairy tale-esque lakeside town that’s earned a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Hallstatt is also home to the world’s oldest salt mine, which is one of Salzburg’s top attractions.

Liechtensteinklamm
An hour’s drive from Salzburg is Liechtensteinklamm, a dramatic gorge with a natural waterfall. Visitors can explore a kilometre of wooden walkways through the ravine, and even climb 30 metres up the spiral ‘helix’ staircase for unrivalled views.

Salzburg food & drink

Salzburg’s signature dishes include schnitzels (meat breaded and fried), kasnocken (warm dumplings filled with cheese and caramelised onions) and bierfleisch (goulash made with beer). Some of the best food in Salzburg is sweet, like warm apple strudels, rich chocolate Sachertorte and Mozart Balls – chocolate pralines filled with pistachio and nougat. Keen to know more about the beer brewing process? There are plenty of breweries near Salzburg due to its proximity to Germany’s ‘Beer Belt’.

Shopping in Salzburg

Salzburg boasts a varied shopping scene of boutiques, markets, shopping centres and traditional gift shops (be prepared for plenty of Mozart souvenirs). If you’re looking for small, independent shops, head to Salzburg’s Old Town where you’ll find more than 400 stores. The most famous shopping street here is Getreidegasse, one of Salzburg’s top sites (it’s also home to Mozart’s birthplace). A 15-minute drive from the city centre, Europark Shopping Centre has more than 130 high-street and designer shops, including an Ikea.

Festivals and events in Salzburg

Every winter, visitors flock to Salzburg Christmas Market. The event dates back to 1491 and takes place in the cathedral square, with a packed calendar of festive events to accompany the traditional market stalls. Mozart Week is held annually over the composer’s birthday (27th January), where the city’s concert halls are filled with classical music in celebration of Salzburg’s most famous resident. The highlight of the city’s calendar, the Salzburg Festival takes place for six weeks every summer. The culture hub plays host to opera, music, and drama events in 15 venues across the city.

Driving in Salzburg is usually a stress-free experience. Roads in Austria are well-maintained with clear signage, so driving in Austria as a tourist is easy. A hire car is the best way to explore the stunning scenery around Salzburg. Before you get behind the wheel, there are a few things you need to know.

Essential documents to drive in Austria

Before you can hit the road in your hire car from Salzburg Airport, you’ll need some essential documents:
• A full, valid driving licence from your country
• Proof of ID (such as your passport).

If you’re driving your own vehicle in Austria, you’ll also need:
• Vehicle insurance
• V5 registration document
• A vehicle national identifier sticker (if there isn’t one on the number plate).

By law, all drivers in Austria must carry:
• Reflective jackets
• Warning triangle
• Headlamp beam deflectors.

Road rules for driving in Austria

There are a few rules you should know before driving in Austria as a tourist:
• You must stop at zebra crossings
• All passengers must wear a seatbelt
• Children under 14 and shorter than 1.35m in height must use special seatbelts or child restraints for their size

To drive on freeways, motorways, and expressways, you need a pre-paid toll sticker, known as a vignette. Vignettes are cheap to buy (around ten euros for ten days) and must be displayed on your windscreen. If you fail to buy or display a vignette, you’ll be fined.

What side of the road does Austria drive on?

Austria drives on the right-hand side of the road, like most of Europe. This means drivers must overtake on the left. Generally, vehicles from the right have priority unless otherwise stated by signage.

Speed limits in Austria

Before driving in Salzburg, take note of the national speed limits in Austria:
• 30-50km/h in urban areas
• 100km/h in rural areas
• 130km/h on motorways.

However, pay attention to road signs as speed limits may differ on some roads.

Minimum age to drive in Austria

The minimum age to drive a car in Austria is 17. However, the minimum age to hire a car in Austria is 21.

How to drive from Salzburg Airport to the city centre

Driving from the airport to the city centre is easy – it takes about 20 minutes, and most of the journey is on a dual carriageway.

Car hire Salzburg Airport

Want to hire a car from Salzburg Airport? Enterprise Rent-A-Car has a range of vehicles to hire for your Austrian adventure, including cars, vans, SUVs and 4x4s. Visiting Salzburg? Hire a car so you can explore this beautiful city and surrounding areas from the comfort of your own vehicle.