Travel guide · Austria
Salzburg travel guide
Mozart's Baroque city beneath a hilltop fortress on the Salzach
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
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 it fills up each summer for the Salzburg Festival and all year with fans of The Sound of Music. The Alps start at the city's edge, so lakes, salt mines and mountain roads in Austria and Bavaria are easy day trips. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- Austria
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- SZG, MUC
- Mid-range daily budget
- $180–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Mozart, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg Festival and The Sound of Music
Why visit Salzburg
- Hohensalzburg, one of the largest preserved medieval castles in Central Europe, looks down on an old town small enough to cross in 15 minutes.
- Mozart's birthplace on Getreidegasse and the family's later residence on Makartplatz trace the composer's early life.
- The Salzburg Festival, Mozart Week and year-round concerts in palaces, churches and the fortress make it a classical-music capital.
- Hallstatt, the Salzkammergut lakes, the Eisriesenwelt ice cave and Berchtesgaden are all reachable as day trips.
- Monastic beer halls, coffee houses and Salzburger Nockerl give it a food culture all its own.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Castle · Festungsberg
Hohensalzburg Fortress
Begun in 1077 and expanded by successive prince-archbishops, the fortress crowns the Festungsberg above the old town.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
Museum · Altstadt
Mozart's Birthplace
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756 in the third-floor apartment of this yellow house at Getreidegasse 9 and lived here until 1773.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Garden · Andräviertel
Mirabell Palace and Gardens
Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich built the palace in 1606, and its formal Baroque gardens frame a classic view of the cathedral and fortress.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Kids
Religious site · Altstadt
Salzburg Cathedral
The early-Baroque cathedral, consecrated in 1628, has a white-and-stucco interior under a high dome and the font where Mozart was baptised.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Citywide
The Sound of Music locations
Many film locations are walkable: Mirabell Gardens, the Residenzplatz fountain, Nonnberg Abbey and the views across the lake to Schloss Leopoldskron.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
.jpg){kind=link}
Museum · Right-bank old town
Mozart Residence
In 1773 the Mozart family moved to a larger apartment in the Tanzmeisterhaus on Makartplatz, where Wolfgang lived until 1781.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Where to stay
Altstadt (left-bank old town) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and luxury
Altstadt (left-bank old town)
Baroque squares, Getreidegasse shop signs and the cathedral beneath the fortress
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and food lovers
Right-bank old town and Linzergasse
Steep Steingasse, a long shopping street and the Kapuzinerberg rising behind
$$ · Best for families, first-timers and budget
Andräviertel and Mirabell
Grid of 19th-century streets around Mirabell Gardens and the Thursday market
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and quiet stays
Mülln
Monastery brewery, church on a rock and quiet lanes at the foot of the Mönchsberg
What to eat
- Salzburger Nockerl — A soufflé of sweetened egg whites baked into three golden peaks, said to represent the hills around the city, dusted with icing sugar and often served over fruit sauce.
- Mozartkugel — A ball of pistachio marzipan and nougat coated in dark chocolate, created by Salzburg confectioner Paul Fürst in 1890.
- Bosna — Salzburg's own hot dog: a grilled bratwurst in a toasted bun with onions, parsley, mustard and a curry-spiced seasoning.
- Cheese dumplings — Small flour dumplings tossed with strong local cheese and topped with crisp fried onions, served in the pan.
- Wiener Schnitzel — A thin escalope of veal, breaded and fried until it puffs up, served with lemon, potato salad or parsley potatoes.
- Kaiserschmarrn — A thick, fluffy pancake torn into pieces in the pan, caramelised with sugar and served with plum compote or apple sauce.
When to go
The best months for Salzburg are May, June and September, with mild weather, gardens in bloom and lake trips at their best without festival prices. July and August bring the Salzburg Festival and the biggest crowds, while late November and December are popular for Christmas markets and Advent concerts. January to March is quiet, cold and good value.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Easter markets and festival, flowering gardens and the reopening of Hellbrunn; showers are frequent. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm days, beer gardens and lake trips, plus the Salzburg Festival; the busiest and most expensive season, with afternoon storms. |
| Autumn | September–November | Settled September weather, the Rupertikirtag fair and autumn colour, turning grey in November until the Christmas markets open. |
| Winter | December–February | Christmas markets and Advent concerts in December, then cold, quiet weeks with low prices, Mozart Week and nearby skiing. |
Getting there and around
Salzburg Airport is about 4 km from the centre; trolleybuses reach the old town and the main station in about 20–25 minutes, and a taxi takes about 15 minutes. Munich Airport is about 2 hours away by train via Munich or by direct coach.
Salzburg's old town is small and largely pedestrianised, so walking is the main way to get around. Trolleybuses and buses link the centre with the station, the airport, Hellbrunn and the Untersberg.
Plan your days
Two days covers the fortress, the cathedral, Mozart's houses, Mirabell Gardens and Hellbrunn's trick fountains. A third day allows a trip to Hallstatt, Berchtesgaden or the Eisriesenwelt; four or five days lets you combine the city with the Salzkammergut lakes.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- German
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe and comes from mountain springs; it is among the best in Europe.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number), 133 police, 144 ambulance
- Tipping
- Round up the bill or add about 5–10% for good service, telling the waiter the total you want to pay when you hand over your money or card.
Salzburg is generally low-risk for visitors. Watch for pickpockets in crowds on Getreidegasse and at the Christmas markets, and take care on wet cobbles and steep paths to the fortress.
Flights to Salzburg
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Salzburg?
Two days covers the fortress, the cathedral, Mozart's houses, Mirabell Gardens and Hellbrunn's trick fountains. A third day allows a trip to Hallstatt, Berchtesgaden or the Eisriesenwelt; four or five days lets you combine the city with the Salzkammergut lakes. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Salzburg?
The best months for Salzburg are May, June and September, with mild weather, gardens in bloom and lake trips at their best without festival prices. July and August bring the Salzburg Festival and the biggest crowds, while late November and December are popular for Christmas markets and Advent concerts. January to March is quiet, cold and good value.
+What is Salzburg known for?
Mozart, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg Festival, The Sound of Music, Baroque architecture, Mozartkugeln and Christmas markets. Hohensalzburg, one of the largest preserved medieval castles in Central Europe, looks down on an old town small enough to cross in 15 minutes.
+Is Salzburg expensive?
Salzburg is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $180–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Salzburg?
No for the city, where parking is scarce and expensive. A car helps for the Salzkammergut lakes, Berchtesgaden and Alpine roads, though buses and trains reach most day-trip destinations.