Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut Transportation

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One of the highlights of a visit to St Wolfgang is to take the famous Cog Wheel Railway up to the Schafberg mountain just next to the town. If you are taking the Postbus bus, there is a bus stop just in front of the railway station at the bottom of the mountain. The train leaves about every one hour and the journey takes about 1 hour. As it is normally crowded during summer months, it is advisable to go early and make a reservation first. If you want to see nice scenery, sit on the left side of the train (queue early so that you can get the best seats). More information and photos are at my VT Schafberg page, the prices of the train ride are:

Train to top of Schafberg mountain (14 euros one way, 24 euros return)
Train to Schafbergalpe, middle stop (11 euros one way, 20 euros return)
Train from middle stop to top of mountain (5.40 euros one way, 10.80 euros return)
Children 6-14 years of age (50% discount of above prices)

If you are also interested to take the boat rides on Wolfgangsee lake together with the above train ride, combo tickets are available around 30 euros return and this can save you money. More information is at the attached brochure, prices will change with each year and season.

Boating on the Wolfgangsee is one of the most beautiful ways to explore the lake and take in the views of the quaint villages and looming mountains that surround it.

The OBB fleet of ships has an extensive network of routes that can get your around the lake to most destinations or just to enjoy the views. Check out the website below for a list of routes and fares.

On May 20th, 1873 the passengertravel at the "Wolfgangsee" was opened. The wheel steamer "Kaiser Franz Josef I." provided a connection over the lake and at that time it was praised as a "high technical achievement".
The ship "Kaiser Franz Josef I."still exists, but the huge impellers are kept in motion by a diesel engine since the early fifties. The 33 m long nostalgia ship holds 200 persons and was already star in numerous films.

Today, the OEBB fleet counts six motor ships with the flagship "Wolfgang Amadeus". The largest ship, "Austria" seizes altogether 365
passengers and could be rented like all other ships of the fleet also for round travels or group journeys.

The OEBB lines belong to the fixed constituent of the region "Wolfgangsee" and enjoys largest popularity with guests from close and far. The fleet provides the connection of the places approximately around the lake and represents the most impressive possibility of exploring this pictorial area.

Wolfgangsee ferries stop at the village center (right next to the White Horse Inn) in Sankt Wolfgang and also by the Schafberg railway. Here you see the Kaiserin Elisabeth pulling in by the Schafberg railway station.

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The cheapest and best way to go from Salzburg to St Wolfgang is by the comfortable air-conditioned buses of the Postbus (see website below). From Salzburg, you first go to the bus-stop in front of the Mirabellplatz and take postbus number 150 (40 minutes to 1 hour per bus, you can see the electronic signboard next to the bus-stop for the timing of the next bus) to the bus terminal at the town of Strobl. At Strobl bus terminal, you switch to postbus number 2560 (about 1 hour per bus) to St Wolfgang. To check what is the best schedule for your visit, please go to the Postbus website below and enter the destinations, date and time. The bus journey will take about 2 hours and cost $7.10 euros one way, and it is to be paid to the bus driver when you board the bus and he will issue you a receipt once you have paid. At St Wolfang, there is a bus stop at the town centre just next to the tourist information centre near to the road tunnel. There is also another bus stop in front of the Schafberg Cog-railway train station.

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There are some leg paddle boats available for ride on the Wolfgangsee (which I think will cost 5 euros). They are located at the shore of the lake just next to the famous Im Weissen Rossel (Dark Horse Inn) at the St Wolfgang town centre. This boat ride will be the best during the warm summer weather.

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Just like other tourist destinations in Austria and elswhere in Europe, you will see some horse carriages at the town centre of St Wolfgang waiting for tourists. My wife and I did not try it so we do not know the price of the ride (my guess is that it probably will cost at least 30 euros). If money is no problem and if the weather of your visit is very good, then a ride on the horse carriage in St Wolfgang will be a very good and romantic experience because other than this beautiful town, you will get to see the beautiful Wolfgangsee lake, surrounding mountains and towns etc. In a nutshell, this will be the Austrian countryside at its very best.

St Wolfgang and surroundings are perfect for cycling especially during summertime. When my wife and I were there in June 2007, we saw a lot of people cycling. The only caution is that the roads can be narrow and therefore it is very important to watch out for traffic.

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It is very easy and relaxing to walk around and explore St Wolfgang and its surroundings. Firstly, go to the tourist information centre in the town centre (just next to the main road near to the vehicle tunnel which leads to the town) and ask for a map. The map is very comprehensive and detailed, and include this town and also other towns surrounding the lake such as Strobl, Abersee and St Gilgen. Furthermore, the town is rather small and there are good signages so it is very easy.