Discover Upper Austria with the whole family! The best way to do this is by bus and train – without any traffic jams or the hassle of finding a parking space. Families travelling by public transport get to spend quality family time together even whilst on the journey. To convince even more people of the benefits of public transport, the Family Public Transport Days . The Family Public Transport Days are a joint initiative of the Upper Austrian Transport Association (OÖVV) and the Upper Austrian Family Department. In conjunction with the Upper Austrian Family Card, families can get a free Upper Austria Leisure Ticket and use it to travel on regional and city public transport for a whole day. Many of the most popular family day-out destinations are easily accessible by public transport and attract visitors during the Family Public Transport Days .
Picturesque natural landscapes, culturally rich towns, historic sights and family-friendly amusement parks – Upper Austria offers a wide range of options for unforgettable family days out. Travelling by public transport allows families to get around in a climate-friendly and stress-free way, without the hassle of finding a parking space or getting stuck in traffic – and on Family Public Transport Days, it’s even free!
On these special days, families can travel for free for a whole day on regional and city public transport in Upper Austria using the Upper Austria Family Card in combination with the Upper Austria Leisure Ticket. The aim of the initiative is to appeal in particular to those who have rarely or never used public transport before, and to provide them with easy and straightforward access.
The Upper Austrian Transport Association and the Upper Austrian Family Card hope to encourage as many families as possible to make greater use of public transport rather than their own cars, even in their leisure time. The campaign is designed to help people experience the benefits of public transport first-hand and to convince them of its merits in the long term. Ideally, this will lead to the development of long-term travel habits, potentially culminating in the purchase of a KlimaTicket OÖ. The Family Public Transport Days are taking place for the second time since 2024. Due to high demand, the campaign period has been extended to four days (5, 6, 19 and 20 September).
Family Public Transport Days: How families can get their free Upper Austria Leisure Ticket
Families can visit the Upper Austria Family Cardwebsite or use the Family Card app to enter their card number and download, print or save their Upper Austria Leisure Ticket to their smartphone free of charge for one of the four promotional days. Only one ticket can be redeemed per Upper Austrian Family Card. The free ticket is only valid in conjunction with the Upper Austrian Family Card – both must be presented upon inspection.
It pays to be quick – the allocation is limited to 1,500 Upper Austria Leisure Tickets per day.
With the Upper Austria Leisure Ticket, up to two adults and four children under the age of 15 can use all public transport throughout Upper Austria and across the Salzkammergut region in the province of Salzburg for one day. Long-distance trains and the Pöstlingbergbahn in Linz are excluded. The ticket is also valid for children not registered on the Upper Austrian Family Card. This means that children under 15 who are friends of the holders can also travel with them.
Take a snap, enter the photo competition and KlimaTicket OÖ win
As part of the Family Public Transport Days, families have the chance to win a KlimaTicket OÖ All-Access pass by capturing their favourite family moments during the Family Public Transport Days. Taking part is really easy: just take a snap, upload it to the Upper Austrian Family Card website, and you’ll be entered into the prize draw for a KlimaTicket OÖ Gesamt. The closing date for entries is 27 September 2026.
“The Family Public Transport Days offer an excellent opportunity to discover the benefits of public transport in Upper Austria in a straightforward and free way. We want to invite families to leave the car at home and simply give our public transport a go for leisure trips. Families in particular benefit from an attractive, affordable and reliable service. Our aim is to encourage even more people to switch to public transport,” said Günther Steinkellner, Provincial Councillor for Infrastructure and Mobility.
“Families are the building blocks of our society. They make an indispensable contribution every day – which makes it all the more important to actively support all measures that strengthen society’s appreciation for the efforts of parents. With the Family Public Transport Days, we want to consciously give something back to them – namely the opportunity to enjoy time together and explore Upper Austria at a leisurely pace using public transport. The well-being of families is always our top priority. This is precisely why we are working in partnership with the Upper Austrian Transport Association to promote family-friendly transport options,” adds Manfred Haimbuchner, Deputy Governor and Family Affairs Minister.
“To actively drive forward the mobility transition, it is crucial to create attractive public transport options in order to encourage as many people as possible to opt for climate-friendly mobility. We are therefore all the more delighted that – after 2024 – we once again have the opportunity, in cooperation with the Family Affairs Department, to offer families an accessible service through the Family Public Transport Days , to convince them of the benefits of public transport. “Families represent a particularly important target group, especially when it comes to leisure travel, and we aim to specifically target them with these promotional days,” explains Klaus Wimmer, Managing Director of OÖ Verkehrsverbund Gesellschaft.
Leisure travel continues to grow
The use of public transport for leisure purposes has increased significantly in Upper Austria in recent years and continues to grow in importance. This trend is driven by several factors. In addition to high reliability and a frequent service, straightforward ticketing options and attractive fare structures play a key role. A noticeable and measurable increase in passenger numbers has been observed in recent years, particularly at weekends and on public holidays – that is, during people’s leisure time. More and more people are taking advantage of the opportunity to reach their leisure destinations by public transport, travelling comfortably to their destinations throughout Upper Austria without the stress and traffic jams. In regional bus services alone, passenger numbers at weekends and on public holidays rose by just under 57 per cent between 2019 and 2025.
This trend has been driven, on the one hand, by attractive fare schemes such as the KlimaTicket OÖ and the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ, and, on the other hand – and above all – by the continuous expansion of public transport in recent years: The existing regional timetable network (regional buses, regional and local rail services) in Upper Austria has been expanded by around 15.8 per cent since 2019, which corresponds to an increase of around seven million additional timetable kilometres per year. Furthermore, partnerships with local authorities, the tourism sector and event organisers provide targeted incentives to travel by public transport and reap the benefits – for example, through special services, promotional weeks or voucher schemes. True to the motto: travelling by public transport is not only easier on your nerves and the environment, but also on your wallet. Many event organisers have now also recognised this need for sustainable and climate-friendly mobility solutions and are increasingly investing in the provision of event and special services (around 60 event partnerships per year). In tourist regions such as the Salzkammergut in particular, public transport is becoming increasingly important for managing visitor flows as effectively as possible. That is why the Upper Austrian Transport Association, in close cooperation with Upper Austrian Tourism and the tourism associations, is actively promoting sustainable transport options for leisure travel, with the aim of convincing even more people in future to opt for climate-friendly transport during their leisure time as well.
This trend is particularly evident in the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ: in 2025, a total of 57,040 Freizeit-Tickets OÖ were sold. This represents an increase of 14,027 tickets, or 33 per cent, compared with 2024. In certain months, sales figures for the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ almost doubled compared with the previous year. Preliminary sales figures for the current year confirm this positive trend. The Freizeit-Ticket OÖ was introduced in 2020 specifically for public leisure travel and is in high demand, particularly at weekends.
Alongside the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ, the KlimaTicket OÖ is also making a significant contribution, with currently over 40,000 active tickets in Upper Austria. A study commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) in January 2026 shows that 43 per cent of KlimaTicket OÖ users surveyed already use the ticket for leisure travel as well. The KlimaTicket OÖ enables year-round mobility throughout the province and offers unlimited access to public transport in Upper Austria – with or without inclusion of the core zones in Linz, Wels and Steyr, depending on requirements.
“Particularly in busy tourist regions, the proportion of visitors travelling by public transport at weekends and on public holidays is rising steadily. This trend is primarily due to the ongoing expansion of public transport, as well as simple, attractive fare structures and modern distribution channels. Public transport is thus making a significant contribution to climate-friendly mobility whilst at the same time providing much-needed relief for Upper Austria’s roads,” said Steinkellner.
“The growing importance of leisure travel on public transport underlines that the use of buses and trains has long since gone beyond traditional commuting. Public transport is increasingly being used at weekends and on public holidays to reach destinations throughout Upper Austria in a convenient and climate-friendly way. Public transport opens up new possibilities for leisure activities. Those travelling by public transport are no longer restricted to traditional circular routes when going on hiking trips. Hikes with family or friends, as well as individual stages on long-distance walking routes, are made attractive by good public transport links, as the start and end points can be chosen flexibly and the return or onward journey can be made comfortably by public transport,” explains Wimmer.
On the Upper Austrian Transport Association’s website at https://www.ooevv.at/de/ausfluege-events.html, anyone interested can find great ideas for their next public transport outing.
Selected day-out suggestions with discounts on Family Public Transport Days
Hop on, sit back, enjoy the family day out and discover Upper Austria together with the whole family: the best way to do this is by bus and train – affordable, environmentally friendly and completely free of traffic jams and the hassle of finding a parking space. Families travelling by public transport spend valuable family time together even whilst on the journey. Many of the most popular destinations are also easily accessible by public transport for families, and some of them offer attractive discounts when used in conjunction with the Upper Austrian Family Card. Whether it’s a museum, a high ropes course, mountain railways or a family boat trip on Lake Wolfgang – on Family Public Transport Days, families save twice over and enjoy not only free travel to and from their destination by public transport, but also discounts on admission to selected attractions. Further information on discounted admission is available at www.familienkarte.at.
With the free Upper Austria Leisure Ticket , the partner businesses of the Upper Austria Family Card at great discounted rates and enjoy a day full of fun!
6 September – Every first Sunday of the month is Family Sunday
The museums run by OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH and selected branch venues are inviting holders of the Upper Austria Family Card to visit on 6 September with free admission: Schlossmuseum (Linz), Francisco Carolinum (Linz), OK (Linz), Sumerauerhof (St. Florian near Linz), Kubin-Haus Zwickledt (Wernstein am Inn). Further information: www.familienkarte.at
50 per cent discount on admission to the Ars Electronica Centre on 19 and 20 September
On 2 September 1996, the Ars Electronica Centre opened as the ‘Museum of the Future’. Since then, it has inspired generations with art, technology and their implications. To mark its 30th anniversary, a new chapter is beginning: this autumn, visitors can look forward to new exhibitions, guided tours and workshops. Holders of the Upper Austria Family Card will receive a 50 per cent discount on admission on 19 and
20 September.
Further information: www.familienkarte.at and https://ars.electronica.art/center
50 per cent discount on admission to the Castle Museum on 19 and 20 September
The Castle Museum offers a comprehensive insight into the natural, cultural and art history of Upper Austria – from prehistory and early history right through to the 21st century. Regional and international themes are showcased across more than 10,000 m² of exhibition space and in changing special exhibitions. Holders of the Upper Austrian Family Card will receive a 50 per cent discount on admission on 19 and 20 September.
Further information: www.familienkarte.at and www.ooekultur.at
Treasure hunt at the Wurzeralm on 19 September
On 19 September between 10.00 and 14.00, the Wurzeralm is hosting a big treasure hunt for the whole family. Along the circular walking trail, which is suitable for pushchairs, there are a variety of interactive and stamp collection stations, as well as attractive prizes. Holders of the Upper Austria Family Card receive a discount on the ascent and descent.
Further information, prices and registration (by 17 September) at www.familienkarte.at (limited places available).
20% discount on admission to the Hallstatt Salt Worlds
At the Salzwelten in Salzburg*, Hallstatt and Altaussee*, unique history comes to life. Exciting guided tours, long miners’ slides, underground salt lakes and impressive views deep inside the mountain make each site a special day-out destination. With the Upper Austria Family Card, you can enjoy a 20 per cent discount on adult tickets until 10 January 2027. Online tickets are available using the promotional code “OÖFamilie25”. Further information: www.familienkarte.at and www.salzwelten.at
*Destinations are not included in the Upper Austria Leisure Ticket.
On 19 and 20 September: 50% discount on the Dachstein Salzkammergut mountain railways
Feuerkogel, Dachstein West, Dachstein Krippenstein and Grünberg offer a wide variety of nature and family experiences. From impressive panoramic views and a diverse range of hiking trails to viewing platforms, a summer toboggan run, a treetop walk and an adventure playground – there’s something for everyone. With the Upper Austria Family Card, families receive a 50 per cent discount on the standard rates for adults, teenagers and children.
Further information: www.familienkarte.at and www.bbds.at
High ropes course adventure on 19 and 20 September
Exciting climbing adventures for the whole family await at selected high ropes courses in Upper Austria on 19 and 20 September. Holders of the Upper Austrian Family Card receive a 50 per cent discount at participating partner venues:
- PRO-ADVENTURES – Großraming Rafters’ Village
- Goruck Forest High Ropes Park – Haag/Hausruck
- Forest Adventure Park – Gosau
- Gleinkersee Forest High Ropes Course – Windischgarsten
- Outdoorcamp Nature Sports – Hinterstoder
Further information and prices: www.familienkarte.at
Experience Lake Wolfgangat a reduced rate on 19 and 20 September
On 19 and 20 September, WolfgangseeSchifffahrt is offering the chance to explore Lake Wolfgang and the surrounding areas in comfort. With the handy WolfgangseeTicket, families can hop on and off at any of the seven jetties and explore the towns of Strobl*, St. Wolfgang* and St. Gilgen, as well as the surrounding countryside. With the Upper Austria Family Card, the WolfgangseeTicket is available at a reduced rate: adults pay 15.50 euros (instead of 31 euros), children 9.20 euros.
Further information and tickets at www.familienkarte.at or www.5schaetze.at
*Destinations are not included in the Upper Austria Leisure Ticket.
Discounted summer tobogganing on 19 and 20 September
Whether you prefer a thrilling ride or a leisurely one – on the summer toboggan runs, everyone sets their own pace and enjoys plenty of fun. With the Upper Austria Family Card, families can enjoy attractive discounts at selected partner venues on 19 and 20 September. The offer applies to the Schönau im Mühlkreis Speed-Gleit-Bahn (Stoaninger Alm) and the Hirschalm Hunting Fairy-Tale Park (Unterweißenbach).
Further information can be found at www.familienkarte.at