Lively Salzburg: View through the historic old town to the Hohensalzburg Fortress.Image: www.imago-images.de
In Austria, the city of Salzburg wants to reduce inner-city traffic in July and August through stricter access rules. Day tourists are no longer allowed to drive into the core of the center by car, as the city announced.
June 30, 2026, 8:16 p.mJune 30, 2026, 8:16 p.m
Instead, large parking spaces on the outskirts of the city should be used. Anyone who parks there only has to pay 7.50 euros (6.92 francs) as a daily parking fee and also receives a day ticket for up to five people to use local public transport, said a spokesman.
The reason for the regulation is the regular inner-city traffic jams when thousands of day tourists flock to Salzburg, especially on rainy days. “Even if we have 1,000 fewer car trips a day, that should provide relief,” said city spokesman Karl Schupfer. Even day-trippers wouldn’t benefit if they were stuck in traffic jams for a long time instead of strolling around the city. Garages, hospitals, businesses and hotels remained accessible.
Exceptions to the driving ban also apply to Bavarian neighbors
The regulation contains numerous exceptions. Vehicles with license plates from the city of Salzburg, the Salzburg area, Hallein and the Berchtesgadener Land district in neighboring Germany are exempt from the driving ban.
According to the information, journeys by destination and source traffic in connection with professional practice, business, delivery, loading activities, medical care or hotel bookings are also excluded.
It was said that the two-month regulation may be extended if it proves successful. (sda/dpa)