Salzburg
Baroque streets, Mozart’s musical legacy and Alpine views in a compact city made for exploring on foot.
LOCATION
Western Austria near the German border
POPULATION
About 160,000
CURRENCY
Euro (€)
RECOMMENDED STAY
2 to 3 days
GETTING AROUND
Walking, bus and regional train
BEST TIME
May to June, September to December
KNOWN FOR
Mozart, Baroque architecture and Alpine scenery
DON'T MISS
Old Town and Festung Hohensalzburg
INTRODUCTION
Why Visit
Salzburg has been part of my travels since I was young. Growing up in Bavaria, it was close enough to Munich for an easy day trip, and for several years my friends and I made an annual winter journey here for the Christkindlmarkt. We would take a late-morning train, spend the afternoon wandering the Christmas market and somehow always finish with dinner at a Chinese restaurant in an atmospheric old vaulted cellar before catching the train home. I've returned many times since, sometimes for the day and sometimes overnight.
Salzburg is compact, but there is a remarkable amount packed into a relatively small space. The historic center combines narrow lanes such as Getreidegasse with monumental Baroque squares, churches and palaces, while Festung Hohensalzburg watches over everything from above. Almost wherever you go, the surrounding hills and Alps form part of the scenery.
Some of my favorite Salzburg experiences have simply involved seeing the city from different elevations. The fortress provides the classic panorama, while the Mönchsberg and the terrace by the Museum der Moderne offer another wonderful perspective. On one overnight visit outside the center, I stayed on a hillside east of the Old Town and watched the sun set behind Salzburg and the mountains beyond.
The city has changed considerably since my first visits. Salzburg's Old Town is now extraordinarily popular and can feel overwhelmed by visitors during the middle of the day. I still find it beautiful, but I enjoy it much more early in the morning or later in the evening. Staying overnight therefore has a real advantage.
Salzburg also works particularly well as the center of a longer trip. Lakes, mountains, villages and places such as Berchtesgaden, Königssee and Bad Reichenhall surround the city. I've explored parts of this landscape by car, train, bicycle and on foot, and the region is easily worth several additional days.
Salzburg fortress as seen from the Kapitelplatz
EXPLORE MORE
Plan Your Visit
For me, the best trips leave room for both the places you planned to see and the unexpected discoveries along the way. These guides bring together practical advice, local food, events and ideas for exploring beyond the main sights, based on what I have learned from my own travels.
Trips & Journeys
Salzburg meets Austria's lake country, the Alps and southeastern Bavaria. I have explored the region by car, train, bicycle and on foot, and it deserves several days. The six options below favor distinct experiences rather than repeating similar lakes; check seasonal opening, weather and fitness demands before setting out.
PLAN YOUR TIME
Suggested Itineraries
These itineraries build gradually rather than trying to cram every Salzburg attraction into the first day. One day covers the essential historic center; additional days add culture, gardens and the surrounding landscape.
ONE DAY
Classic Salzburg
A focused introduction combining Mirabell, Mozart, the historic center and Festung Hohensalzburg. It works as a realistic day trip from Munich without racing through every sight.
Morning:
Arrive at Salzburg Hauptbahnhof and walk or take a bus to Schloss Mirabell. Explore the gardens, pass Mozart-Wohnhaus and cross the Salzach. Enter the Altstadt early enough to notice Getreidegasse's signs and passages, then visit Mozarts Geburtshaus if it is a priority.
Afternoon:
Continue through Residenzplatz, Mozartplatz, Domplatz and Kapitelplatz, where Sphaera aligns with the fortress. Visit the cathedral if access permits, then ride the Festungsbahn to Festung Hohensalzburg. Allow time for its courtyards and panorama rather than treating it only as a viewpoint.
Evening:
Walk down if energy and weather allow, then have dinner in the Old Town before returning toward the station.
Mirabell gardens with view of the fortress in Salzburg
TWO DAYS
Salzburg at a Slower Pace
An overnight stay adds the Mönchsberg, a museum and quieter evening streets. The extra time matters less for collecting sights than for seeing Salzburg after the day-trip rush.
Morning:
Use Day One for Mirabell, Getreidegasse, the cathedral squares and Festung Hohensalzburg. On Day Two, begin with Mozart-Wohnhaus or a place skipped the previous day, then follow the Salzach toward Griesgasse. This avoids repeatedly crossing the center.
Afternoon:
Take the Mönchsberg lift through the rock to the Museum der Moderne. Visit the exhibitions if they appeal, but also allow time for the terrace and elevated paths. Walk part of the ridge for changing views over the roofs, fortress and Alps, then descend by lift.
Evening:
Return to the Altstadt after many day visitors have left.
Strolling through Salzburg's pedestrianized shopping street, Getreidegasse
THREE DAYS
City, Culture & Hellbrunn
Three days leave room for Hellbrunn's palace grounds and trick fountains while retaining a relaxed pace for museums, meals and Salzburg's elevated walks.
Morning:
Use the first two days for the Altstadt, fortress, Mozart sights, Mirabell and Mönchsberg. On Day Three, take a bus south to Schloss Hellbrunn. Explore the palace if it interests you, spend time in the grounds and join a trick-fountain tour when operating.
Afternoon:
Return to central Salzburg and choose one cultural stop. The Museum der Moderne, DomQuartier or a Mozart house can fill the time; alternatively, stay outdoors along the Salzach. Let weather and energy determine the choice instead of forcing a checklist.
Evening:
Finish with dinner in the historic center and a final river crossing. In clear weather, use Mozartsteg or another bridge for views toward the fortress as daylight fades.
Museum der Moderne in Salzburg located high above the old town
FOUR DAYS
Salzburg & the Alpine Landscape
A fourth day belongs to the Alpine landscape: choose Untersberg, the Salzkammergut lakes or Berchtesgaden and Königssee rather than stretching city sightseeing further.
Morning:
Choose one full-day excursion based on conditions. Take the bus to the Untersbergbahn for a close mountain experience, select one or two Salzkammergut lakes for water and villages, or cross into Germany for Berchtesgaden and Königssee.
Afternoon:
Continue the same excursion instead of returning early. At Königssee, take the boat toward St. Bartholomä. Around the Austrian lakes, leave time to walk beside the water. On Untersberg, respect sudden weather changes and choose paths suited to your footwear and fitness.
Evening:
Return to Salzburg for a relaxed final dinner. After a day among mountains and lakes, the city's setting makes more sense than it does from Getreidegasse alone.
Königssee surrounded by Alpine mountains
My Tips for Your Visit
Salzburg is easy to underestimate because it is compact and convenient from Munich. You can see the major sights in a day, but that does not mean you should. The Old Town is now extremely busy, and I enjoy it far more early, late or from the hills above.
