The Austrian city, which draws more than three million overnight stays annually, has implemented the restrictions during July and August, a period of peak tourism.

The policy, designed to limit the number of vehicle entries by roughly 1,000 a day, targets day-trippers travelling from outside the Salzburg region. Commuters, delivery vehicles, taxis, rental cars, disabled visitors and hotel guests with reservation confirmation in the restricted zone are exempt. Drivers with German number plates from neighbouring Bavarian towns, including Berchtesgaden and Bad Reichenhall, are also unaffected.

Bernhard Auinger, mayor of Salzburg, said: "We do not want chaotic traffic situations like we saw last year. It is aimed at day trippers who travel by car from farther afield. It is important to me that residents of the central Salzburg area and business-related traffic are not affected."

Fines of up to €80 (£68) will be imposed on drivers entering the old town around the Staatsbrücke, the state bridge that spans the Salzach River. The measures were prompted by mounting complaints from locals about congestion during summer months.

Auinger added: "It is certainly much better than spending hours stuck in traffic. And it also makes life a lot easier for the people who live and work in the city of Salzburg."

Park-and-ride facilities have been expanded, offering a day ticket including travel on local public transport for five people at €7.50 (£6.45), encouraging tourists to switch to alternative transport.

Heidi Strobl, of the Salzburg tourism board, said the policy was inspired by similar schemes in other European cities struggling with overtourism.

She said: "This approach has taken a page from the zona a traffico limitato in Rome, Florence and Pisa, as well as the ban in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

"These measures have helped manage vehicle congestion in city centres while maintaining a high-quality visitor experience."

Salzburg’s historic centre, a Unesco World Heritage site, is home to landmarks such as Mozart’s birthplace and the baroque-style 17th-century cathedral. The city’s summer visitor numbers were boosted last year by celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music, adding pressure to roads and parking in the old town.

With the new driving restrictions, Salzburg aims to balance tourism with local quality of life, reducing congestion while maintaining access for residents, essential services and hotel guests.