Comparison · Innsbruck vs Salzburg · Austria
Innsbruck vs Salzburg
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Innsbruck for Golden Roof and Nordkette cable cars; choose Salzburg for Mozart and Hohensalzburg Fortress. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 138 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 138 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Innsbruck
- June–September and December–January
- Best time for Salzburg
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Innsbruck | Salzburg | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Austria | Austria |
| Known for | Golden Roof, Nordkette cable cars and Bergisel ski jump | Mozart, Hohensalzburg Fortress and Salzburg Festival |
| Best time to visit | June–September and December–January | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$300 | $180–$300 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 26°C (79°F) | July, 25°C (77°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, 3°C (37°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | INN, MUC | SZG, MUC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Innsbruck for…
Golden Roof and Nordkette cable cars. Innsbruck, capital of the Austrian Tyrol, packs a late-medieval old town around the Golden Roof, Habsburg palaces and Baroque churches into a valley floor beneath the Nordkette range. A funicular and two cable cars climb from the city centre to Hafelekar at…
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Choose Salzburg for…
Mozart and Hohensalzburg Fortress. Salzburg's UNESCO-listed old town squeezes Baroque churches, archbishops' palaces and Mozart's birthplace between the Salzach river and the cliffs of the Mönchsberg, with Hohensalzburg Fortress on top. It is compact enough to see on foot in a day or two, and…
Top sights compared
| # | Innsbruck | Salzburg |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Roof | Hohensalzburg Fortress |
| 2 | Hofburg Innsbruck | Mozart's Birthplace |
| 3 | Hofkirche | Mozart Residence |
| 4 | Tyrolean Folk Art Museum | Mirabell Palace and Gardens |
| 5 | Nordkette cable cars | Salzburg Cathedral |
Food compared
| Innsbruck | Salzburg |
|---|---|
| Tiroler Gröstl | Salzburger Nockerl |
| Kaspressknödel | Mozartkugel |
| Speckknödel | Bosna |
| Tiroler Speck | Cheese dumplings |
Which is cheaper?
Innsbruck and Salzburg cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $170–$300 in Innsbruck and $180–$300 in Salzburg (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Innsbruck on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Innsbruck and Salzburg are about 138 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Innsbruck and 3 in Salzburg.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Innsbruck or Salzburg cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $170–$300 in Innsbruck and $180–$300 in Salzburg (estimates).
+Is Innsbruck or Salzburg better for a first trip?
Pick Innsbruck for Golden Roof and Nordkette cable cars, or Salzburg for Mozart and Hohensalzburg Fortress.
+How far is Innsbruck from Salzburg?
About 138 km in a straight line.