If you take the train to the Christmas market in Salzburg, you don’t have to worry about parking or traffic jams in town. The Bayern-Ticket (Bavaria ticket) and the Deutschlandticket, Germany’s monthly public transport pass, are both valid as far as Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (main station), and from there it’s a walk of around 10 to 15 minutes to us, the Salzburg Christmas market at Mirabellplatz.
Is the Bayern-Ticket valid to Salzburg? Yes. The Bayern-Ticket is valid on regional trains (RE, RB and S-Bahn) as far as Salzburg Hauptbahnhof. Buses and trolleybuses (Obus) in the city of Salzburg aren’t included; you need a separate ticket for those.
The walking time from the station, the trolleybus lines and our opening hours are further down.
Which train tickets are valid to Salzburg? Bayern-Ticket and Deutschlandticket
- Bayern-Ticket: it’s valid as far as Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, but only on regional trains – Regional-Express (RE), Regionalbahn (RB) and S-Bahn – not on ICE or IC trains. From Monday to Friday it’s valid from 9 am; at weekends and on public holidays, and on 24 and 31 December, from midnight. Up to five people can travel together on one ticket. Watch out on 8 December: it’s a public holiday in Austria but not in Bavaria, so on that Tuesday the Bayern-Ticket is only valid from 9 am.
- Deutschlandticket: according to Deutsche Bahn, Salzburg Hauptbahnhof is a shared station of the German and Austrian railways, so the Deutschlandticket is valid as far as there – as everywhere, only on regional trains. It isn’t explicitly intended for city transport in Salzburg, so it’s better to get a separate ticket for the trolleybus.
You need a separate ticket for the trolleybus in Salzburg, except on the four Advent Saturdays: on 28 November and on 5, 12 and 19 December 2026, buses and trains in the city’s core zone (city centre) are free for everyone. There’s more on this in our guide to the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt – Christkindlmarkt is the Austrian name for a traditional Christmas market.
Munich – Rosenheim – Salzburg: what’s happening on the line in 2026
There’s a lot of engineering work on the line in 2026, so check the journey planner before you set off.
- Until 12 December 2026, the RE 5 (Meridian) runs at changed times between Munich and Rosenheim, every two hours with an extra stop in Grafing.
- In mid-December the timetable changes, and times may be different afterwards.
- Bring a passport or ID card: there are border checks on the way back into Germany (as of October 2026).
From Salzburg train station to the Christmas market at Mirabellplatz: on foot or by trolleybus
On foot, it’s around 10 to 15 minutes from the main station to us – our market is right on the way into the Old Town. If you’d rather not walk, take trolleybus line 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6 from the station to the Mirabellplatz stop. In total, lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 stop there.
At the market, use the big Christmas tree in front of the palace as your landmark. All the details on getting here are on our info page.
Opening hours & getting here
From the station to the market in 10 to 15 minutes: opening hours, trolleybus lines and directions at a glance.
When to arrive, when to leave: a Christmas market day trip by train
We’re open from 19 November to 31 December 2026, Sunday to Thursday 10 am – 8 pm, Fridays and Saturdays until 9 pm. On 24 December we close at 3 pm.
- When you arrive: hot Maroni (roasted chestnuts) from Markus Dimmer or a Speckbrot (bread topped with Austrian bacon) from the Rettenbacher family.
- In the evening: on many Advent evenings, including all four Advent Saturdays, there’s Advent music in front of the palace at 5.15 pm. That still leaves time for the journey home; all the dates are on our programme page.
- For the journey home: Salzburger Brezen (Salzburg-style pretzels) in twelve varieties from Alexander Reisinger, roasted almonds from Ludwig Glier or Lebkuchen hearts (gingerbread hearts) from Susanne Meixner.
- Cold feet on the platform? Astrid Siebenhandel has hats, gloves and socks.
What else there is to eat is in our article on food and drink at Mirabellplatz, and right next to the market, the Mirabell Gardens are worth a detour.
Christmas programme
Advent music in front of the palace, the lighting of the Christmas tree and St. Nicholas: plan your train home around these dates for 2026.
From Munich, Vienna and the airport
- From Munich: on the Meridian (RE 5) the journey takes around two hours, a little less on long-distance trains. Until 12 December, changed times apply on the section to Rosenheim.
- From Vienna: direct trains run from Vienna Airport to Salzburg; the journey takes just under three hours.
- From Salzburg Airport: trolleybus 2 runs via the main station to Mirabellplatz without changing.
- Staying overnight: if you stay overnight in Salzburg, you get the Guest Mobility Ticket at check-in and can use it on trolleybuses and buses. There’s more in our article Where to stay in Salzburg for the Christmas markets.
You’ll find all the Christmas markets in the city and a route from the main station in our overview of the Salzburg Christmas markets.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The Bayern-Ticket is valid on regional trains as far as Salzburg Hauptbahnhof. On weekdays it’s valid from 9 am; at weekends, on Bavarian public holidays and on 24 and 31 December, from midnight.
No. Buses and trolleybuses in Salzburg’s city transport aren’t included in the Bayern-Ticket. On the Advent Saturdays, however – 28 November and 5, 12 and 19 December 2026 – they’re free for everyone in the core zone.
Yes. According to Deutsche Bahn, Salzburg Hauptbahnhof is a shared station of the German and Austrian railways, so the Deutschlandticket is valid as far as there. For the trolleybus in town, you should buy a separate ticket.
It’s a walk of around 10 to 15 minutes from the main station to the Christmas market at Mirabellplatz. Alternatively, take trolleybus line 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6 to the Mirabellplatz stop.
Yes. On 28 November and on 5, 12 and 19 December 2026, buses and trains in the core zone of the city of Salzburg are free for everyone. Outside the core zone, regular fares apply.
Bring a passport or ID card. On entry into Germany – that is, on your way back – there are border checks (as of October 2026).
Sources
All details retrieved on 23 October 2026: Deutsche Bahn: Bayern-Ticket · Deutsche Bahn: Bayern-Ticket to Salzburg · Deutsche Bahn: Deutschlandticket abroad · Bayerische Regiobahn (Meridian), engineering notices of 18 May and 22 October 2026 · City of Salzburg: press release on free public transport on Advent Saturdays · ZDFheute, border checks, 19 August 2026 · Salzburg Tourism: rail travel to Salzburg