Salzburg, Austria: travel guide
Baroque old town, Mozart's birthplace and a fortress above the Salzach
Baroque city on the Salzach, birthplace of Mozart and setting of The Sound of Music, crowned by the Hohensalzburg Fortress.
About Salzburg
Salzburg is a compact Baroque city on the Salzach river, with the Hohensalzburg Fortress standing on its hill above the rooftops and the Alps rising beyond. Mozart was born here, and music runs through the city's character.
The old town is easily covered on foot: Getreidegasse for its wrought-iron guild signs, Residenzplatz and the cathedral, and across the river Mirabell Palace and its gardens. Fans of The Sound of Music will recognise several locations, and Nonnberg Abbey is part of that story. Day trips into the Salzkammergut lakes are close.
Salzburg suits couples, music lovers and short city breaks. Late spring to early autumn is pleasant, and the Advent period is atmospheric.
- Country
- Austria
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Vienna
- Nearest airport
- SZG
Last updated
Top places to visit in Salzburg
Hohensalzburg Fortress
castle · about 2 h · entry €13 (≈ ₹1,420)
One of Europe's largest fully preserved medieval fortresses, perched above the old town with a funicular and panoramic views.
Mirabell Palace & Gardens
palace · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Baroque palace with manicured gardens famous from The Sound of Music's Do-Re-Mi sequence.
Salzburg Cathedral (Dom)
cathedral · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Early-Baroque cathedral on Domplatz where Mozart was baptised, with a soaring domed interior.
Getreidegasse
shopping street · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Narrow medieval shopping lane lined with wrought-iron guild signs, the beating heart of the old town.
Mozart's Birthplace
historic house · about 1 h · entry €12 (≈ ₹1,280)
The yellow house at Getreidegasse 9 where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756, now a museum.
Hellbrunn Palace & Trick Fountains
palace · about 2 h · entry €15 (≈ ₹1,600)
Renaissance pleasure palace south of the city with mischievous 17th-century water-powered trick fountains.
St. Peter's Abbey & Cemetery
abbey · about 1 h · entry €2 (≈ ₹210)
Working Benedictine monastery founded in 696 with catacombs cut into the fortress rock and a romantic cemetery.
Residenzplatz
square · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Grand baroque square with a monumental fountain, bounded by the Residenz and the cathedral.
Nonnberg Abbey
convent · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Hilltop Benedictine convent, the oldest continuously existing nunnery in the German-speaking world and Maria's convent in The Sound of Music.
Things to do
- Original Sound of Music Tour Tour · 4 h · from EUR 55 per person
- Salzburg Old Town Walking Tour Tour · 2 h · from EUR 18 per person
- Hohensalzburg Fortress & Funicular Sightseeing · 2 h · from EUR 13 per person
- Mozart Dinner Concert Entertainment · 3 h · from EUR 75 per person
- Salzach River & Lakes E-Bike Tour Adventure · 3 h · from EUR 45 per person
Day trips and tours
- Salzburg & Sound of Music Highlights 5 h · from EUR 79
Where to stay in Salzburg
- Altstadt about EUR 220 per night
Historic left-bank old town at the foot of the fortress; most sights on your doorstep.
- Neustadt & Mirabell about EUR 160 per night
Right-bank quarter around Mirabell Gardens with hotels, cafés and the station nearby.
Hotels
- Hotel Goldener Hirsch 5-star · EUR 350 to EUR 780 per night
- Hotel Sacher Salzburg 5-star · EUR 380 to EUR 900 per night
- Hotel & Villa Auersperg 4-star · EUR 150 to EUR 280 per night
- Star Inn Hotel Salzburg Zentrum 3-star · EUR 90 to EUR 150 per night
- YoHo International Youth Hostel 2-star · EUR 28 to EUR 90 per night
Where to eat
- St. Peter Stiftskulinarium Austrian, European · about EUR 65 per person
- Zum Zirkelwirt Austrian · about EUR 28 per person
- Café Bazar Cafe, Austrian · about EUR 18 per person
- Café Tomaselli Cafe · about EUR 16 per person
- Balkan Grill Walter Street Food · about EUR 6 per person
- Bärenwirt Austrian · about EUR 26 per person
Getting to Salzburg
Airport: Salzburg (SZG)
How visitors arrive in Salzburg
- Train to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof By train from Munich / Vienna · common
Salzburg's main station has fast trains from Munich and Vienna, plus international and night services. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Fly into Salzburg Airport By air from Europe · common
Salzburg airport has flights from many European cities, with a trolleybus into town; some fly to Munich and take the train. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Drive via the A8 or A1 By road from Munich / Vienna · possible
Motorways connect Salzburg to Munich and Vienna; parking at the edge of the old town is advised. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Trolleybus from Salzburg Airport
Trolleybus lines 2 and 10 run from the airport towards the old town; check the route if you need the main station. Source: salzburg.info
- The old town is best explored on foot; leave any car in a garage at the edge of the old town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the railway station to the centre
- Salzburg Hauptbahnhof
The main station is north of the Salzach river in the New Town, with direct trains from Vienna and Munich. The old town is a walk away or a trolleybus ride. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- The old town is best explored on foot; leave any car in a garage at the edge of the old town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the bus terminal to the centre
- FlixBus stop at Salzburg Sud
Long-distance buses, FlixBus included, stop at the main station and at the Salzburg Sud park-and-ride. Check your ticket for the stop and plan local transport into the centre from Salzburg Sud. Source: salzburg.info
- The old town is best explored on foot; leave any car in a garage at the edge of the old town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Bus
Salzburg's city buses include electric trolleybuses on many of the numbered lines, alongside conventional buses on others; the compact old town is best done on foot.
- Walking
Paying
- City bus tickets can be bought from the driver, a vending machine or a mobile app. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Safety and scams to avoid
Costumed concert ticket touts
Getreidegasse & Residenzplatz
People in Mozart-era costume aggressively sell overpriced or lower-quality concert tickets to tourists.
How to avoid it: Buy from official venues (Mozarteum, fortress, Marionette Theatre) or verified sellers.
Overpriced taxi from airport
Salzburg Airport
Some drivers quote inflated flat fares to the old town instead of metering.
How to avoid it: Insist on the meter or use the trolleybus line 2; the fare is typically EUR 15-20.
Best time to visit Salzburg
- Jan 3°C
- Feb 6°C
- Mar 10°C
- Apr 16°C
- May 19°C
- Jun 23°C
- Jul 24°C
- Aug 24°C
- Sep 20°C
- Oct 14°C
- Nov 9°C
- Dec 4°C
More in Austria
Frequently asked questions about Salzburg
- What are the main places to visit in Salzburg?
- Places covered in our Salzburg guide include Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mirabell Palace & Gardens, Salzburg Cathedral (Dom), Getreidegasse, Mozart's Birthplace.
- Where should I stay in Salzburg?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Salzburg: Altstadt, Neustadt & Mirabell.
- How do I get around Salzburg?
- Ways to get around Salzburg covered in our guide: City bus, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Salzburg?
- Scams reported to us for Salzburg include Costumed concert ticket touts; Overpriced taxi from airport. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Salzburg?
- Average daytime highs in Salzburg run from 3°C in Jan to 24°C in Jul.
- Which airport is nearest to Salzburg?
- The nearest airport to Salzburg has the code SZG.