Hallein salt mine from Salzburg: 19 to 24 minutes by train, the €35 Salzwelten ticket, the Friday and Saturday shuttle and what to wear

💡 The Short Version: Go by train: the Hallein salt mine is 19 to 24 minutes from the Hauptbahnhof, and the Salzwelten ticket is €35 for the mine and the Celtic Mountain. The mine’s own shuttle from Mirabellplatz is €69 on Fridays and Saturdays, which is €34 for the transport. GetYourGuide sells the ticket at €35, the operator’s own price. Allow 2.5 hours: the guided tour takes about 90 minutes, and the Celtic Mountain is included. It is 7 to 10°C all year; wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes. From 2 November 2026 the last tour starts at 15:00. Prices are in euros. Or book now: the Salzwelten ticketad is €35 and the Bavarian salt mine tourad from €90 (GetYourGuide).

The ticket and the shuttle

The prices are from salzwelten.at. The shuttle is sold by Salzburg Sightseeing Tours, meets from 9:00 for the 9:15 departure, and starts the guided tour at about 10:10. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. Online tickets let you choose the tour time and walk straight into the changing area; discounted tickets are honoured only at the ticket window.

Getting there

Hallein is about 19 km from Salzburg. The regional train from the Hauptbahnhof takes 19 to 24 minutes. The Hallein tourist board names the S-Bahn S3 and buses 160 and 170 from the Hauptbahnhof as the direct ways to Hallein and Bad Dürrnberg (hallein.com). The mine’s address is Ramsaustraße 3, Bad Dürrnberg, and the ÖBB planner gives the connection. Overnight guests ride the regional trains in the province of Salzburg free on the Guest Mobility Ticket, and Hallein is inside it. By car, parking on site is free, with charging points.

What to see

The mine is on the Dürrnberg, where salt has been mined for 2,600 years. Visits are guided tours only, in German or English.

The raft on the underground salt lake in the Hallein mine. Photo: Ray Swi-hymn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

1. The tour. About 90 minutes. A train takes you into the mountain, then you walk about 1 km through the tunnels, ride a raft across an underground salt lake and slide down the miners’ wooden slides. A staircase with handrails runs beside each slide. A train takes you out. Tours run every 20 minutes from June to September, and more often on busy days; individual tours and whole days can sell out.
2. The Celtic Mountain. Next to the mine, with a themed playground, the Celtic village Salina and a salt manufactory where pyramid-shaped salt crystals are made. It is in the mine ticket.
3. What to skip: nothing; the whole visit is 2.5 hours.

What to wear: it is 7 to 10°C all year, so bring a warm jacket and sturdy shoes. Protective overalls are provided and compulsory. Small bags go in free lockers.

Who cannot go: children under 4 are not admitted, the route is not wheelchair-accessible, and dogs are not allowed in the mine. Visitors with claustrophobia are advised against it (salzwelten.at). The mine takes cash and cards.

The Salzburg Museum also runs the Museum of the Celts and the Silent Night Museum in Hallein (salzburgmuseum.at).

Hours

Other salt mines

Hallstatt’s mine is €49 with the funicular and needs a full day. The Bavarian salt mine tourad is from €90 for 4 hours and ends in Berchtesgaden; the Eagle’s Nest page covers the town.

Before you go

• The one thing that ruins the visit: cold. It is 7 to 10°C underground whatever the weather outside.
• From 2 November 2026 the last tour starts at 15:00, so take a morning train.

Day trips from Salzburg compares every trip. Salzburg public transport covers the Hauptbahnhof and the Guest Mobility Ticket, and the Werfen page is the other trip by train. What to book in Salzburg lists the city’s closed days, and where to stay in Salzburg compares the areas.