Outdoors · Salzburg · Austria
6 best outdoor things to do in Salzburg
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Start with The Sound of Music locations, Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains and Mönchsberg and the Museum der Moderne. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 12–18 hours across 5 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 12–18 hours
- Areas
- Citywide, Hellbrunn and Altstadt
Outdoors in Salzburg
Experience · Citywide
1.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
Palace · Hellbrunn
2.Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains
Bring a change of top for children; the guides make sure someone gets wet on every tour.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Outdoors
- Couples
Viewpoint · Altstadt
3.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
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
Museum · Altstadt
5.Haus der Natur
Head first for the science centre upstairs, where children can test experiments themselves.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Nature · Grödig
6.Untersberg cable car
Go on a clear morning and wear proper shoes; summit paths are rocky.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Citywide | The Sound of Music locations | Half a day |
| Hellbrunn | Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains | 2–3 hours |
| Altstadt | Mönchsberg and the Museum der Moderne and Haus der Natur | 1–2 hours + 2–3 hours |
| Right-bank old town | Kapuzinerberg | 1–1.5 hours |
| Grödig | Untersberg cable car | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 1 free, 2 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is The Sound of Music locations; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Citywide): The Sound of Music locations, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Hellbrunn and Altstadt): Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains → Mönchsberg and the Museum der Moderne, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Altstadt and Right-bank old town): Haus der Natur → Kapuzinerberg, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Grödig): Untersberg cable car, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- September: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 11 rainy days, busy crowds. Settled, mild days and fewer crowds; a good month for the Salzkammergut and mountain walks.
- August: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 14 rainy days, very busy crowds. Festival season in full swing, with Jedermann on Cathedral Square and busy streets; book everything well ahead.
- October: highs of 14°C (57°F), about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds. Autumn colour on the Kapuzinerberg and Mönchsberg; Hellbrunn's season winds down.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Right-bank old town and Linzergasse — Steep Steingasse, a long shopping street and the Kapuzinerberg rising behind
- Parsch and Aigen — Leafy villa suburbs on the slopes of the Gaisberg
More of Salzburg
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Salzburg?
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.
+Which of these are free in Salzburg?
Kapuzinerberg.