Salzburg is one of the most popular European cities to visit for a city break. There are many things to do in Salzburg that attract tourists from all over the world, such as visiting the filming locations for the well known movie The Sound of Music or visiting the birthplace of Mozart himself.
No time to read now? No problem, save a pin to your Pinterest board for later!
Salzburg is a beautiful European city to visit with a huge amount of culture and history. In this guide to visiting Salzburg, you will visit some of the most historic sights, some of which are well known for being in the Sound of Music film. Listed below are the sights you can expect to see whilst you are visiting Salzburg.
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
We use the below booking platforms to plan our trips. We hope you find them useful too!
Hohensalzburg Fortress
Hohensalzburg Fortress is the place to go for a fantastic sunset view. Constructed in 1077 as a protection from the enemy, it is one of the few fortresses in the world that has truly served its purpose as it was never captured.
Today, the Hohensalzburg Fortress is the largest preserved attraction of its kind in the whole of Europe. There are two entrances to get to Hohensalzburg Fortress; you can either walk all the way up to the fortress or can take the Fortress Funicular.
Although the funicular is the fastest way up, the walk to the fortress will greet you with some stunning views of the city. Once you’re in the fortress, travel back in time with the incredible architecture and the museums.
Above all that, enjoy the incredible views of the city that you see from the top.
Residenzplatz
Located near Salzburg Cathedral, Residenzplatz is another popular tourist attraction in Salzburg. It is a magnificent forecourt that has a beautiful baroque fountain which is the key highlight of this place.
This is one of the largest squares in the city which is known for its amazing grandeur. Stroll around the square and witness the majestic fountain and the sculpture of four horses in the centre of the fountain.
Mirabell Gardens
The city of Salzburg is known as the home to several filming locations for the famous movie ‘The Sound of Music’. Mirabell Gardens is one of those prominent locations that you may recognise if you have seen the movie. It features in the song sequence ‘Do-Re-Mi’
There is also a palace, Marble Palace, within the vicinity of the garden. Both the palace and gardens have been around since they were built in 1606 and have been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site. As you can imagine this makes it a very popular place to visit in Salzburg.
One significant attraction here is Dwarf Garden, one of the oldest of its kind in entire Europe.
Mozartplatz
Mozartplatz is another popular square in Salzburg located near Residenzplatz. The key highlight of this attraction is Mozart’s statue. It was installed in the year 1841.
Mozartplatz and the buildings around it play a crucial role in the history of Salzburg. Behind the square, there is part of the old city wall. Whereas, in the north is the tourist information centre.
Neue Residenz, located on the south of Mozartplatz, is another attraction also known as the home to the Salzburg Museum. Lastly, on the west, you will get to see Glockenspiel, a famous cafe, and the Salzburg Christmas Museum.
St. Peter’s Abbey
Located in the old town of Salzburg, St. Peter’s Abbey is known as one of the oldest cemeteries in the world as well as being the oldest German-speaking monastry. Despite being a cemetery, St. Peter’s Abbey is amongst the most-visited attractions in the city.
If the ‘Sound of Music’ is a favourite movie of yours, then you may want to visit St. Peter’s Abbey as it has been featured in the movie. Although they didn’t film the scene in the graveyard, they built a graveyard in Hollywood that was inspired by St Peter’s Abbey and filmed the Nazi chase scenes there.
However, apart from that, the cemetery is also known as the resting place of many famous personalities, scholars, and artists including Mozart’s sister, Nannerl.
Mozart Birthplace
The city of Salzburg is known as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a highly celebrated composer.
Located in Salzburg Old Town, house number 9 is building that lures the attention of tourists from across the globe to see where this fantastic composer was born. What once was his house is now a converted museum where you can visit and learn more about Mozart.
On display in the musem, you will find some of the original instruments that he used to play including his violin and clavichord. The one-hour museum tour takes you through the original rooms of Mozart’s Birthplace and lets you have a glimpse of what his everyday life looked like. Even the furniture displayed in the museum is also original and dates back to the 18th century.
St. Erhard’s Church
Another beautiful religious building in Salzburg is St. Erhard’s Church. Initially, the church was built as a hospital chapel but later it was converted into a church.
The architecture is the key highlight of this church along with its beautiful interior. The beauty of the church is adorned with sublime views of the mountains in the backdrop.
If you want to capture some photos of the church with the gorgeous backdrop, we recommend you cross the bridge and enjoy the wider view.
Go Shopping Around Linzer Gasse
Salzburg River is another popular attraction in the city not just for sightseeing but also for shopping around it. Each side of the river welcomes shopaholics for an ultimate shopping tour. There are shopping streets and Linzer Gasse is the pedestrian area around it.
There are many shops, restaurants, and boutiques in the area. You can also find some great artwork in the market. When you are tired of shopping, visit one of the restaurants for a much-needed break and treat yourself to some delicious food.
If you walk further walk down the road, there is Kapuzinerberg which connects to Linzer Gasse. Right after the Station of the Cross and passing a monastery and a few chapels, there is an observation point from where you can relish some stunning views.
How to Prepare for your Trip to Salzburg
Before you head off on your trip to Austria, there are a few things to organise to ensure your trip runs smoothly and you have the best experience on your adventure in Salzburg. These include what to pack for Salzburg in winter, what insurance to get, where to stay and how to get around.
How to Get to Salzburg
Salzburg Airport is very close to the city centre. Bus number 10 runs every 10 minutes from the airport to the city centre and takes around 20 minutes. The price of the bus ticket is roughly €2.50 for adults and €1.30 for children.
It is also very popular to travel to Salzburg by train. We previously used interrail tickets to travel on the trains around Europe which was very straightforward.
Where to Stay in Salzburg
No matter what your style of accommodation is, Salzburg has the perfect place for you. We have put together a list of the best places to stay in Salzburg, ranging all price ranges, to make your trip a little less stressful.
Luxury – For memories of your Salzburg trip that will last a lifetime, the only place to stay in Salzburg is at the luxurious Hotel Sacher in Salzburg city centre. Opened in 1866, the historical Hotel Sacher combines the high quality of service that you can expect in Austria with the traditional experience of Salzburg. From wooden panelling to silken wallpaper, this hotel is the purest definition of luxury.
Book your stay at the Hotel Sacher right here!
Mid-Range – For the perfect mix of luxury and affordability, the Pension Ballwein is perfect for an authentic, Austrian experience during our visit to Salzburg. This hotel features the traditional Austrian decoration and architecture that you would expect during your visit to the mountainous region of Salzburg. Plus, sitting just 2-miles from the majority of the top sights in Salzburg, you can relax outside of the city without being too far away.
Book your stay at the Pension Ballwein right here!
Budget – The best value bang-for-your-buck in Salzburg is the shockingly affordable Plaza Inn Salzburg City, which sits just a 10-minute walk from the central train station. The quality of accommodation for the price you pay at the Plaza Inn is very surprising for an expensive city such as Salzburg, so this is definitely a steal for your visit to Austria.
Book your stay at the Plaza Inn Salzburg City right here!
If hostels are more your social scene, Salzburg has a huge range of hostels available in all locations across the city. Make new friends and enjoy the social side of travelling with a hostel.
What to Pack for Salzburg
You can expect the weather during your trip to Salzburg to be very dependent on the time of year that you are visiting. With temperatures during the summer months topping 30-35 degrees celsius and dropping well below freezing during the winter.
For the warmer months, we suggest you pack small, light clothes, with a couple of layers that you can put on as the day comes to an end, or when you head up the mountains. The most important part of packing light is considering the layers you will take. Try to avoid big, bulky clothing and instead opt for layers that are much lighter and smaller, but when worn together provide real heat for those cold winter days.
You will also want to make sure you have packed comfortable and waterproof shoes to keep your feet dry and warm during your trip. This day out in Salzburg will involve a lot of walking, so you do not want to be stuck with sore feet and uncomfortable shoes.
Salzburg is a truly fascinating city, with lots of stunning sights to see. With everything from stunning mountain backdrops to fairytale castles, the city of Salzburg is every photographer’s daydream, so you will want to make sure you have packed a good camera.
You can read what else we keep in our camera bag over here.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance?
We know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, a guide to the things to do in Salzburg. If you have been to Salzburg recently, let us know how you found it in the comments below. What were your favourite sights? What did you think of the castles? Where was your favourite stop? Let us know in the comments below.
If you are planning a full trip to Salzburg, make sure you check out the rest of our guides and Austria content to ensure a stress-free adventure.
Don’t forget that sharing is caring! Be sure to share this article with your family and friends to let them know all about your big plans. Maybe even inspire them to visit Salzburg castles themselves! Catch up with us on social media and see what we are currently up to. Tag us in your photos from your Salzburg adventure on Instagram so that we can share them with the rest of our community.
Read Now:
- The Best Salzburg 2 Day Itinerary – Don’t Miss These Sights in Salzburg
- One Day in Salzburg – The Complete Salzburg One Day Itinerary
- Salzburg City Guide – The Salzburg One Card
This article may contain affiliate links that provide us with a small income. For more information read our Affiliate page.
Save this image to your Austria Pinterest Board for later!
