Salzburg possesses a cinematic beauty. Its Baroque Altstadt, or Old Town, is dominated by a towering hilltop fortress, with a backdrop of the jagged Alps.
The city’s musical legacy is just as spectacular, thanks to Mozart and Maria von Trapp. And while Salzburg is compact enough to explore on foot, the Altstadt is packed with cultural and culinary interest, from grand palaces and ornate churches to inviting cafés and sun-dappled beer gardens.
Read on to discover some of the best things to do in this enchanting city.
Why Salzburg is Worth Adding to Your Austria Itinerary
Salzburg skyline featuring Festung Hohensalzburg and Old Town, Salzburg, Austria
Salzburg may be diminutive, but it is known for its enormous cultural significance, largely thanks to the sheer wealth on which it was built.
“Salzburg” means “Salt Fortress,” a clue to the “white gold” from which its riches originated. From the 13th to the early 19th centuries, the city was ruled by powerful prince-archbishops, whose prosperity was derived from salt mining and trade.
These prince-archbishops also had an eye for the finer things in life, turning the medieval town into a magnificent Baroque city by constructing palaces, vast fortifications, and patronizing the arts.
Here are 10 of the best things to do and see in Salzburg, whether you want to sing “Do-Re-Mi” by a fountain, gaze at gilded palaces, or immerse yourself in all things Mozart on your next visit to Austria.
1. Ride up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for City and Alpine Views
Hohensalzburg Fortress atop a hill in Salzburg, Austria, with white walls, medieval architecture, lush greenery, and the Alps under a clear blue sky.
Hohensalzburg Fortress towers above the city with far-reaching views over the Baroque Altstadt to the mountains beyond. It’s reached via a steep hike or a panoramic ride in the glass Festungsbahn funicular.
A visit here is one of Salzburg’s essential experiences; as well as the ornate Golden Hall and Prince’s Rooms, you’ll see the Fortress Museum, which explains the city’s history.
2. Stroll Through Mirabell Palace and Gardens
Mirabell Palace and Gardens in the summer surrounded by lush greenery.
The Mirabell Palace was built in 1606 and is a confection of gleaming marble and elaborate ceiling frescoes. Yet it’s most famous for the scene in “The Sound of Music” where Maria and the von Trapp children dance around the fountain singing “Do-Re-Mi,” attracting movie fans from all over the world.
You’ll see the famous Angel Staircase and Marble Hall on a visit, while the ornamental gardens, with views up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, are a beautiful place for a stroll.
3. Visit Mozart’s Birthplace
Mozarts Geburtshaus, Salzburg, Austria
Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, at no. 9 Getreidegasse, where he spent much of his childhood. His birthplace is now a pilgrimage site for classical music fans from all over the world.
You can also visit the family apartment on Makartplatz, carefully furnished in the style of the late 18th century, and learn more about the life of the boy genius through letters, documents, and memorabilia, including his childhood violin.
4. Wander Salzburg’s Old Town, or Altstadt
Altstadt (Old Town) in Salzburg, Austria
The maze-like streets of the UNESCO-listed Altstadt are clustered on the bank of the Salzach River in the shadow of the Hohensalzburg Fortress. It’s easy to explore on foot.
Getreidegasse is the atmospheric heart of the Altstadt. It’s pedestrian-only, like much of the neighborhood, and lined with grand houses, arcaded passageways, and elaborate wrought-iron guild signs traditionally associated with the trades practiced along the street. This is also where you’ll find Mozart’s birthplace.
Other Altstadt highlights include the medieval Alter Markt Square, Salzburg Cathedral, and St. Peter’s Abbey.
5. Step Inside Salzburg Cathedral and St. Peter’s Abbey
This magnificent Baroque cathedral, famed for its vast dome and mighty organ, is the spiritual heart of the city. Mozart was baptized here in 1756. The cathedral is part of what’s known as the DomQuartier. The Residence, one of the homes of the prince-archbishops, and St. Peter’s Abbey are part of the same complex.
An abbey has stood on the site now occupied by St. Peter’s since the seventh century, although what you see today combines more recent Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo styles. As well as the abbey itself, the atmospheric cemetery and early Christian catacombs are worth visiting.
6. Tour Hellbrunn Palace and Its Trick Fountains
The whimsical 17th-century Hellbrunn Palace, a Baroque fantasy to the south of the city, was built by Salzburg’s prince-archbishops as their own Garden of Eden.
The trick fountains are the highlight here, dancing jets amid a complex of reflecting pools and grottoes festooned with statues of mythological gods. Nothing is what it seems—prepare to get wet.
7. Experience “The Sound of Music” Locations
Fans travel from all over the world to immerse themselves in the filming locations of the five-time Academy Award-winning movie.
On a tour, you’ll see the Mirabell Palace, of “Do-Re-Mi” fame, and Schloss Leopoldskron, the von Trapp home in the movie. At Hellbrunn Palace, check out the gazebo where the filmmakers shot “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” while Nonnberg Convent is where Maria was a novice. Can you sing during the tour? Absolutely.
8. Pause for Coffee, Pastries, and Classic Austrian Desserts
Coffee culture is an essential element of life in Salzburg. Coffee, cake, and other Austrian desserts are something to be savored in a beautiful setting, so check out some of the most atmospheric coffeehouses. Café Konditorei Fürst is where you’ll find the original Mozartkugel, which is a chocolate-coated ball of marzipan. Tomaselli is the place to head for Salzburger Nockerl, the local specialty of fluffy dumplings.
If beer is more your pleasure, don’t miss the many beer gardens; the Stiegl-Keller, overlooking the domes and spires of the Altstadt, serves local beers from the barrel.
9. Marvel at Intricate Puppetry in the Salzburg Marionette Theatre
This enchanting theater on Schwarzstrasse isn’t just for kids; the skill of the puppeteers and the astonishing attention to detail have won the performance practice a place on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Operas and musicals are staged here, from “The Sound of Music” to an abridged version of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” with the puppets taking center stage.
10. Experience the Magic of Salzburg’s Christmas Markets
Christmas in Austria is such a special time. The Alps are draped in snow, the air is crisp, and the aromas and carols of the Christmas markets fill the air. The haunting beauty of “Silent Night” is all the more significant; the lyrics were written nearby in 1816 by local clergyman Joseph Mohr.
There are five main Salzburg Christmas markets to explore, including the Christkindlmarkt by the cathedral and those at Hellbrunn Palace and Mirabellplatz. Shop for wooden nutcrackers, tasteful ornaments, Mozartkugel, and fruit schnapps. Fuel up on sizzling Bosna, a local sausage specialty, as well as sweet Kaiserschmarrn with applesauce.
How to Spend One Day in Salzburg
If you’re visiting Salzburg as a day trip from your Danube River cruise, it pays to plan ahead.
Consider investing in a Salzburg Card, which gives you free access to most museums and public transportation. If you’re doing a “Sound of Music” tour, allow roughly four hours and consider adding on a self-guided walking tour of the Altstadt and Getreidegasse to gain a sense of the city center.
Otherwise, here’s a realistic outline itinerary for a day trip to Salzburg:
- Morning: Visit the Mirabell Palace and Gardens.
- Late morning: Take a walking tour of Altstadt; visit Mozart’s birthplace.
- Early afternoon: Have lunch in Altstadt, then visit Hohensalzburg Fortress.
- Late afternoon: Relax in a beer garden, or if you want to keep sightseeing, head to Hellbrunn Palace to see the Trick Fountains.
What to Book in Advance in Salzburg
Salzburg’s busiest time is during July and August, which is peak visitor season as well as the Salzburg Festival, six weeks of music, theater, and opera throughout the city. December is also a busy month when people come for the Christmas markets.
The Salzburg shore excursions offered by Celebrity River Cruises℠ are a stress-free way to ensure a deep dive into the city’s attractions. But if you are exploring independently, certain attractions should be booked in advance in summer, such as Mozart’s birthplace and “Sound of Music” tours.
What to Eat and Drink in Salzburg
Salzburg’s Altstadt is packed with cafés, restaurants, and beer gardens. Local specialties are hearty, so arrive hungry. Try Kasnocken, which are tiny pasta dumplings cooked with creamy mountain cheese. Tafelspitz is a rich beef dish with apple horseradish, and Wiener Schnitzel is breaded veal served with potato salad.
Desserts include Salzburger Nockerl, a fluffy, soufflé-like confection, and melt-in-the-mouth strudel of all kinds, including apple, plum, and cherry.
Places to try include Gasthof Goldgasse, a tavern housed in a 700-year-old building in the Altstadt. Salzburger Grill Imbiss, also in the Altstadt, is the place for a Bosna, a bratwurst served in a white roll and slathered with mustard, ketchup, curry powder, and onions.
FAQs: Planning Your Salzburg Visit
Is Salzburg worth visiting on a Danube or Central Europe trip?
Salzburg is worth visiting as part of a Danube cruise on so many levels. There’s Mozart’s legacy, filming locations for “The Sound of Music,” and the Baroque beauty of the compact Altstadt. See the city as a day trip from Linz or as an extension of your Danube cruise with Celebrity. You don’t have to choose either Salzburg or Vienna; you can do both.
Can you visit Salzburg on a day trip from Vienna or Linz?
Salzburg is an easy day trip from Linz; the journey is only about 1.5 hours by road or 1 hour, 15 minutes by high-speed train. Traveling from Vienna is possible, but the journey is longer: two and a half hours by train.
What are the best things to do in Salzburg in December?
Take in the beauty of the Altstadt in December; it’s all the more romantic if there’s snow on the ground. Dip in and out of the various Christmas markets: there are five, each with its own character. Take in snowy Alpine views from Hohensalzburg Fortress and back in town, sip on coffee piled high with whipped cream in a cozy coffeehouse.
Is three days in Salzburg too much?
Life moves at a slower pace in Salzburg. As such, three days is perfect if you want to combine some of the museums with the big sights, or take a trip out into the Salzkammergut region, a landscape of lakes, mountains, and in summer, flower-filled meadows.
Plan Your Perfect Visit to Salzburg
Salzburg is, quite simply, captivating, and worth visiting either as a day trip from Linz or an extended stay.
When you’re ready to start planning, explore Celebrity’s Danube River cruises to Linz and discover one of Austria’s most spellbinding cities.
