Salzburg attraction prices double as costs outpace inflation

Ticket prices at some of Salzburg’s attractions have doubled since 2016, while overall inflation rose by about 40 percent, ORF Salzburg reported.

Families visiting the city’s sights during the summer holidays face substantially higher costs. A ride on the Schafberg railway is now nearly 80 percent more expensive than it was in 2016.

At the House of Nature museum, which attracts an average of 1,000 visitors a day, adult ticket prices have doubled over the past decade. Children’s tickets have risen by 90 percent. The museum’s deputy director, Torsten Klade, cited higher wages, operating costs and energy prices.

Klade also pointed to major investments, including a recent renovation of the reptile zoo that cost more than two million euros. The city and the province of Salzburg provide financial support, most recently contributing 1.3 million euros each.

Similar increases have been recorded at Salzburg Zoo, in which the city and province each hold a 50 percent stake. Adult admission has risen by 60 percent in ten years, while children’s tickets are more than 50 percent more expensive. Higher subsidies to support ticket prices are not available.

Further increases have already been announced for next year. Salzburg AG’s tourism operations, including the fortress railway, the Schafberg railway and shipping on Lake Wolfgang, plan to raise prices by 4 percent.

Some attractions have increased their prices more moderately since 2016. Tickets for the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the Mönchsberg lift are each just over 30 percent more expensive, while fares for the fortress railway, including the fortress lift, have risen by 26 percent.

The city and province of Salzburg point to discounts such as the family pass, the activity card and the cultural pass as ways to reduce the cost of visiting attractions.