Free things to do · Salzburg · Austria
6 free things to do in Salzburg
Salzburg without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cezar Suceveanu, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Salzburg without paying an entry fee: Mirabell Palace and Gardens, Getreidegasse, St. Peter's Abbey and Cemetery and Kapuzinerberg are all free. The Salzburg Card pays off if you visit three or more sights a day, as it includes transport and the fortress funicular.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 6
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Garden · Andräviertel
1.Mirabell Palace and Gardens
Peek into the palace's Marble Hall staircase, decorated with putti, and look out for chamber concerts held there.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Kids
Street · Altstadt
2.Getreidegasse
Walk it before 10am or after 6pm, when it empties and the signs are easier to photograph.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Altstadt
3.St. Peter's Abbey and Cemetery
Visit early in the morning when the cemetery is silent, then step into the abbey church's Rococo interior.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Right-bank old town
4.Kapuzinerberg
Go late in the afternoon, when the sun lights up the old town and the fortress from the west.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
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Religious site · Nonntal
5.Nonnberg Abbey
Combine it with the footpath up to the fortress, which passes the abbey gate.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Airport
6.Hangar-7
Combine it with an airport arrival or departure; it is next to the terminal.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Andräviertel | Mirabell Palace and Gardens | 45 minutes |
| Altstadt | Getreidegasse and St. Peter's Abbey and Cemetery | 45 minutes + 45 minutes |
| Right-bank old town | Kapuzinerberg | 1–1.5 hours |
| Nonntal | Nonnberg Abbey | 30 minutes |
| Airport | Hangar-7 | 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Religious site · Altstadt
Salzburg Cathedral
Listen for the noon organ recitals or Sunday mass music, a free way to hear the cathedral's organs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Citywide
The Sound of Music locations
Walk or cycle the Leopoldskroner Weiher path for the lakeside view of the palace from the film.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Altstadt
Mönchsberg and the Museum der Moderne
Walk the ridge towards the fortress and descend through the old town for a half-day loop.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Art
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Experience · Mülln
Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln
Arrive on a summer evening for a seat under the chestnut trees.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- History
More ways to save
- The Salzburg Card pays off if you visit three or more sights a day, as it includes transport and the fortress funicular.
- Many sights are free: Mirabell Gardens, St. Peter's Cemetery, Nonnberg Abbey, the Kapuzinerberg and Hangar-7.
- Eat at the Augustiner beer hall's food stalls or have a Bosna for a cheap, filling meal.
- Avoid festival season and December if you want lower hotel prices; January to March is the best value.
- Stay near the main station for lower room rates and walk to the old town through the Mirabell Gardens.
- Use regional buses rather than tours for Hallstatt, Berchtesgaden and the lakes.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Salzburg expensive to visit?
Salzburg is expensive for most visitors, but 6 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Salzburg?
Mirabell Palace and Gardens: Peek into the palace's Marble Hall staircase, decorated with putti, and look out for chamber concerts held there.