In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Bus 150X from outside the Hauptbahnhof reaches St Gilgen in 42 minutes and St Wolfgang in 1 hour 9 minutes to 1 hour 21 minutes by a second bus; there is no train. The Schafbergbahn is €61 up and down (€43 one way) and it and the lake ships stop on 1 November 2026. In Advent the Schafbergbahn runs only to the Schafbergalm, at €50 up and down, from 20 November to 20 December and from 26 December to 3 January. No tour from Salzburg is built around the lakes: the Sound of Music tour drives past the Fuschlsee and the Wolfgangsee and stops at Mondsee. Prices are 2026 prices in euros. Or book now: the Original Sound of Music Tourad is from €75 and the Hallstatt half-day tourad from €85 (GetYourGuide).
Getting there
Bus 150 begins at the Salzburg Hauptbahnhof and leads past the Fuschlsee and the Wolfgangsee to Bad Ischl. It runs every hour and at times every half hour (hallstatt.net). Both buses leave from Südtiroler Platz, in front of the station.
| Journey | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bus 150X to St Gilgen | About 42 minutes | The express, calling at Fuschl am See, St Gilgen, Strobl and Bad Ischl |
| Bus 150 to St Gilgen | Up to 49 minutes | The stopping bus, calling at Hof and Fuschl |
| Bus 150X and bus 546 to St Wolfgang Markt | 1 hour 9 minutes to 1 hour 21 minutes | Bus 150X to Strobl, then bus 546 |
| Bus 150X to Bad Ischl | 1 hour 12 minutes | The stopping bus takes about 1 hour 30 |
Overnight guests ride bus 150 to St Gilgen free on the Guest Mobility Ticket, which covers regional buses in the province of Salzburg. Salzburg public transport has the rules.
The Schafbergbahn
€61 up and down, €43 one way · 2026 season 25 April to 1 November · about 35 minutes to the top
The cog railway climbs from St Wolfgang to the Schafberg. Tickets are sold online and at the cash desks in St Gilgen, St Wolfgang Markt and the St Wolfgang valley station (5schaetze.at).
A Schafbergbahn steam train at the summit station. Photo: Tobias b köhler, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
| Ticket | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Up and down | €61 | €18.40 |
| One way | €43 | €12.90 |
- The way up is not reserved. The way down is booked with the ticket, at a time you choose, and can be changed at the terminals on the mountain.
- Not valid with the KlimaTicket or the Guest Mobility Ticket, and bikes are not carried.
- Advent rides: 20 November to 20 December 2026 (Wednesday to Sunday) and 26 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 (daily), only to the Schafbergalm at 1,364 metres. Adults pay €30 one way and €50 up and down; children €9 and €15. Children up to 14 ride free with an adult on Advent Sundays, on the railway and the ships.
- 2027: no season has been announced.
The Wolfgangsee and the Schafbergalm from the Schafberg. Photo: Tigerente, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Wolfgangsee ships
The WolfgangseeSchifffahrt sails on the lake to St Gilgen, St Wolfgang and Strobl. The 2026 sailings run to 1 November, on the autumn timetable from 27 October. In Advent a ship runs between the Advent markets of the three villages, with online tickets expected from mid-November. Fares and timetables are at 5schaetze.at. The ships are not covered by the Guest Mobility Ticket.
A passenger boat off St Gilgen’s waterfront on the Wolfgangsee. Photo: Arne Müseler, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de.
Mondsee and the Sound of Music
The wedding church in the film is the Basilica of St Michael at Mondsee. It is a stop on the Sound of Music tours rather than a public-transport trip. Panorama Tours’ Original Sound of Music Tour takes in the lake district and the church in 4 hours, and Bob’s small-group tour drives past the Fuschlsee and the Wolfgangsee and gives free time in Mondsee. Hallstatt and the Sound of Musicad is the 10-hour combination from €140.
Before you go
- 1 November 2026: the Schafbergbahn and the ships close for the season.
- After that: the Advent rides to the Schafbergalm and the Advent ship are the only services.
- The one thing that ruins the day: going up the Schafberg without the way down booked; choose the time when you buy.
Day trips from Salzburg compares every trip. Hallstatt is on the same bus line, and Sound of Music locations in Salzburg covers the film places in the city. What to book in Salzburg lists the closed days, and where to stay in Salzburg compares the areas.
Common questions
How do I get from Salzburg to the Wolfgangsee?
Take bus 150X from Südtiroler Platz, outside the Hauptbahnhof. It reaches St Gilgen in about 42 minutes. The stopping bus 150 takes up to 49 minutes. St Wolfgang Markt takes 1 hour 9 minutes to 1 hour 21 minutes by bus 150X and then bus 546.
Is there a train to St Wolfgang?
No. The way from Salzburg is by bus.
How much is the Schafbergbahn?
€61 up and down and €43 one way for an adult in 2026. The way up is not reserved; the time for the way down is chosen when you buy the ticket. Children pay €18.40 return and €12.90 one way.
Is the Schafbergbahn open in winter?
The 2026 season runs from 25 April to 1 November. Advent rides run from 20 November to 20 December, Wednesday to Sunday, and from 26 December to 3 January, daily, but only to the Schafbergalm, at €50 up and down for adults. No 2027 season has been announced.
Do the Wolfgangsee ships run in winter?
The 2026 sailings run to 1 November. In Advent a ship runs between the Advent markets of Strobl, St Wolfgang and St Gilgen; online tickets for it are expected from mid-November.
Does the Guest Mobility Ticket cover the Schafbergbahn?
No. It does not cover the Schafbergbahn or the Wolfgangsee ships.
