2 days in Salzburg

Day by day

1. Day 1: Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mozart's Birthplace

   Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart's Birthplace, Mirabell Palace and Gardens and Salzburg Cathedral, then Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hohensalzburg Fortress

      Inside are the richly decorated princely apartments with the Golden Hall, a marionette museum and ramparts with views over the city and the Alps. The Festungsbahn funicular, running since 1892, climbs up from Festungsgasse in about a minute.

   2. Late morning

      Mozart's Birthplace

      The rooms display his childhood violin, a clavichord, family portraits and letters.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Salzburger Nockerl

      Traditional restaurants and coffee houses in the old town; order it for two and expect a wait of about 20 minutes.

   4. Afternoon

      Mirabell Palace and Gardens

      The Pegasus Fountain and steps featured in The Sound of Music's 'Do-Re-Mi' scene, and the dwarf garden holds grotesque marble figures. The gardens are free.

   5. Late afternoon

      Salzburg Cathedral

      Its three bronze doors date from the 20th century and represent faith, hope and charity, and the square in front is the stage for the festival's Jedermann.

   6. Evening

      Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln

      Arrive on a summer evening for a seat under the chestnut trees.

2. Day 2: The Sound of Music locations and Mozart Residence

   The Sound of Music locations, Mozart Residence, DomQuartier and the Residenz and Getreidegasse, then Salzburg Marionette Theatre in the evening.

   1. Morning

      The Sound of Music locations

      Coach tours go further to the gazebo at Hellbrunn and the wedding church in Mondsee.

   2. Late morning

      Mozart Residence

      The museum focuses on his life and works, with his fortepiano and an audio guide with musical excerpts.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mozartkugel

      The Fürst confectionery shops in the old town sell the original hand-made version; others are everywhere.

   4. Afternoon

      DomQuartier and the Residenz

      Peter's Abbey.

   5. Late afternoon

      Getreidegasse

      Covered passageways (Durchhäuser) run through the buildings to Universitätsplatz, where the Grünmarkt sells produce and snacks.

   6. Evening

      Salzburg Marionette Theatre

      Check the programme before you travel; performances are not daily.

Before you go

• Salzburg Marionette Theatre: Book ahead for summer and Christmas performances, which often sell out.

If it rains

• Swap in Haus der Natur (Altstadt): Head first for the science centre upstairs, where children can test experiments themselves.
• Swap in Hangar-7 (Airport): Combine it with an airport arrival or departure; it is next to the terminal.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–18 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.4 hours in December to 16 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. The left-bank old town, the right bank, Mirabell Gardens and the fortress are all within 20 minutes on foot; footbridges such as the Makartsteg cross the Salzach.

More or fewer days

• One day in Salzburg
• 3 days in Salzburg

Questions travellers ask