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15 Best Things to Do in Salzburg (Austria)

Salzburg is one of the most renowned cities in Austria and Europe, and has possibly the best-preserved old town centre full of beautiful baroque architecture which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This charming Austrian town is most famous for being the birthplace of the classical composer Mozart, but has so much more in terms of historical sights and fun attractions. The list below details the top things to do in Salzburg and contains a wide variety, from Museums and Gardens to Churches and Mountains.

Lets explore the best things to do in Salzburg :

1. Salzburg Fortress

Otherwise known as Hohensalzburg Castle, this imposing Fortress sits in a dominating position on top of the Festungsberg Hill and has been a major power hive for the rulers of Salzburg since the 1000’s.

Since its inception, the castle has undergone many transformations, additions and expansions including a Funicular Cable Car leading from the bottom of the Hill that allows easy access for tourists.

The striking white exterior of the building stands out, while there are many courtyards and walls to look down on the city of Salzburg from.

Inside, there are many rooms and wings to explore containing various artefacts and traditional decor; a large Aerophon (Organ) sits in the powder room, while the Golden Hall contains many marble pillars and the Chapel is decorated with Stuccos and Ornate busts.

The fortress is without a doubt the number one attraction in Salzburg and a wonderful piece of history.

2. Salzburg Old Town

One of the largest UNESCO World Heritage sights by area, the Salzburg Old town or Altstadt encompasses many of the City’s main sights and is full of historical buildings, beautifully designed squares and quaint little side-streets leading off to forgotten corners.

The building style consists mainly of Medieval and Baroque architecture and the old town is just a great place to walk through.

The Old Town is a perfect starting place for your time in Salzburg and you could easily spend a day getting lost in the streets, admiring the sights, having a coffee or maybe doing some shopping.

3. Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Salzburg is not short on historical buildings and gardens, but the Mirabell Palace is outstanding and is one of the finest in Austria.

Listed as a cultural heritage monument, the Palace was built in 1606 and was used mainly as a pleasure palace.

As well as the striking Marble Hall which is a venue for Palace Concerts, the Palace also has a wondrous set of gardens that can be explored at your leisure.

The garden gives great views to Salzburg Cathedral and has a symmetrical design with emphasis on mythology including the Pegasus Fountain and lots of other fountains, hedges, and themed gardens.

If you enjoy maintained Gardens and being in the outdoors, the palace is a brilliant place to visit.

4. Mozart’s Residence

Wherever you go in Salzburg, the influence and fame of Mozart is apparent – Born in a small house originally, the family moved to what is now known as “Mozarts Wohnhaus” in Makartplatz.

The building was reconstructed as closely as possible to the original design after its destruction during World War II and is now open as a museum.

This fantastic museum contains biographies of the family members together with displays of their day to day life and how they would have lived.

For any Mozart fan this museum is a must.

Available activity : Mozart Concert with Dinner

5. Hellbrunn Castle/Palace

Located in the southern Morgz district of Salzburg, Hellbrunn Castle or Palace is surrounded by a beautiful park and also has the Salzburg Zoo close by.

Created in the 1600’s as a residential villa much like Mirabell Palace, Hellbrunn has a lively yellow rendering and its front façade is fully symmetrical.

The main attraction of Hellbrunn Palace however is the gardens and trick fountains.

The gardens are simply magical and contain many different Grottos, Fountains and Water Automats.

What people love most is the water features that try and trick you such as the seats with holes in that spurt water on the unsuspecting guest when you sit down – Its loads of fun and during the summer months a wonderful outdoor space to enjoy.

6. Salzburg Cathedral

A fine example of a Baroque Cathedral, the Salzburg Cathedral is located in an enclosed square next to the Salzburg Residenz and St. Peter’s Abbey, creating a lovely historical area to visit.

This Cathedral has been demolished and rebuilt several times from its initial creation in 774 and now stands as a striking piece of architecture; the front facade has dual bell towers and outside sits the Marian Column in the middle of the “Domplatz”. Although a relatively simple design, it is still striking while its interior is magnificent.

The interior is fairly simplistic too, and has many columns, knaves, a beautiful organ and detailed frescos in the dome.

7. Neugebäude

The Neugebäude or New Residence is a beautiful building in its own right and has halls decorated with Stuccos from the 1600’s and also hosts the Salzburg Museum but the main draw is the musical Glockenspiel.

This wonderful arrangement of 35 bells was created in the 18th Century in Antwerp and shipped over to Salzburg where it took several years to tune and setup correctly (Or to the best of the clock makers ability who installed it!). These amazing musical pieces play at set intervals during the day and perform beautiful renditions of Classical numbers such as the Menuett by Mozart and Tochter Zion by Handel.

Not only can you sit and admire this classical display, but guided tours of the bells and mechanisms are available too.

8. Getreidegasse

This famous and popular street runs for a stretch in the old town and is a standout destination for shopping.

The narrow street has many buildings packed together that stretch far back and have beautiful designs and quaint little windows.

Many passageways and courtyards spring from the main street and create romantic areas to explore, while small details like the wrought iron guild signs give Getreidegasse extra charm and character.

Shops include fine Jewellery, fashion, antiques, traditional costumes, and many boutiques.

There is also a mouth-watering selection of eateries and cafes to enjoy, and several historical buildings and points of interest.

9. Toy Museum

You may think that a Toy Museum is purely for children, well the Salzburg Toy Museum thinks otherwise.

Located close to  Mozartplatz and Mirabell Palace, this fantastical place will provide hours of fun and wonder for children and adults alike.

Split into two sections – The “museum” part contains various historical displays of old toys and games, while the “hands-on” part contains different interactive rides and activities such as a marble run, a mini race-circuit, and an imitation shop where children can learn how an old shop looked and worked.

With seasonal and special themed activities too, you can be guaranteed to always find something different and entertaining in this brilliant museum.

10. Mozartplatz Square

Buried right in the centre of the Old Town, Mozartplatz is a peaceful square dominated by an ornate Bronze statue of the square’s namesake that was unveiled in the presence of his sons in the 1800’s.

Aside from the statue, there is also several museums and attractions directly on the square including the Salzburg Museum, the Traklhaus and The Salzburg Christmas Museum.

Furthermore, just off of the square, are two more adjoining squares that are worth exploring – The Residenplaz and the Domplaz.

11. Hangar 7

This fantastically designed building is not your typical hangar, but does contain many aeronautical artefacts.

Situated next to the main Salzburg Airport (Keeping in with the theme!), the “Hangar” contains several bars, a  cafe, a Michelin Star restaurant, and outdoor lounge, several motorbike and Formula 1 exhibits, and an amazing display of aeroplanes ranging from a Cobra Helicopter to an Alpha Jet Aircraft.

Hangar 7 is just a fun and exciting place to see, not only for the amazing architecture of the hydrofoil dome, but also the well-presented displays and swanky social areas.

12. Mozarts Birthplace

As one of the most visited museums in the world, the birthplace of this legendary Classical Composer is a must see sight in Salzburg.

The city has various museums, monuments and places dedicated to Mozart, but his birthplace is definitely the defining one.

The sight is easily accessible as it is in the Old Town, and a full tour of the displays etc should take around an hour.

The museum contains everything Mozart, from details of his childhood life, to musical instruments he owned and composed his famous symphonies with.

It really is a treat to gain such a detailed insight into Salzburg’s most famous residence life.

13. St. Peter’s Abbey

Not to be confused with Salzburg Cathedral, the Abbey dedicated to St. Peter was originally constructed over old Christian remains in 696 by Saint Rupert and has stood in some form ever since.

This Benedictine Monastery is the oldest in the German-speaking era and also holds the oldest Library in Austria.

The architecture has changed over the years to suit the various fashions of the eras, and now has a combination of Romanesque and Renaissance styles.

A very decorated and ornate religious building, the Abbey also has Catacombs that are open to the public, a lovely Cemetery, The Long gallery which includes many large paintings, and also an extensive Library with over 100,00 volumes (Unfortunately the Library is only accessible by very selective guided tours). If you are interested in historical buildings, St. Peter’s Abbey is an interesting place to visit whilst in the Old Town area of Salzburg.

14. The Eagles Nest

This Third Reich era building was constructed as a mountain getaway high up near the town of Berchtesgaden in Germany and although it is not in Salzburg itself, is easily accessible as a day trip from Austria.

Today the building stands as a restaurant and tourist site and attracts many visitors, not only for the architecture of the building and its historical significance, but mainly for the unbelievable views of the Bavarian Alps.

To reach the summit where the Eagles nest is situated, it takes around two hours on foot from the Obersalzberg area – You will then be rewarded with some stunning views of the mountainous countryside beneath you.

To enter the building/restaurant, you walk through a long 124m underground tunnel and descend into a lift that takes you a further 124m inside.

Although not a well published site, the Eagles Nest is still an interesting place to visit and great for hiking.

Available tour : Eagle’s Nest and Berchtesgaden Tour from Salzburg

15. Gaisberg Mountain

Lying in the eastern area of Salzburg, this mountain is the perfect place to try your hand at some adrenaline filled activities or a hike.

There is a bus link from outside Mirabell Palace so if you do not have a car, the mountain is still accessible.

If you love the outdoors and outdoor activities, Gaisberg will be your dream – There is over 20km of well-marked trails ranging in length and difficulty, and a host of outdoor activities including Paragliding and Mountain Biking.

To experience a different side to Salzburg’s historical centre, get out of the town and explore the expanses of the Gaisberg!

15 Best Things to Do in Salzburg (Austria):

• Salzburg Fortress
• Salzburg Old Town
• Mirabell Palace and Gardens
• Mozart’s Residence
• Hellbrunn Castle/Palace
• Salzburg Cathedral
• Getreidegasse
• Mozartplatz Square
• Mozarts Birthplace
• St. Peter's Abbey
• The Eagles Nest
• Gaisberg Mountain

18 Top-Rated Things to Do in Salzburg

Written by Bryan Dearsley and Joni Sweet Updated Dec 25, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Salzburg is one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Located in northwest Austria, it's as popular among tourists for its well-preserved historical architecture as it is for its magnificent Alpine setting.

This picturesque city stretches along both banks of the River Salzach as it emerges from the Salzburg Alps into lower land dominated by the 1,853-meter Untersberg. Its romantic Old Town district is a must-visit attraction, a compact neighborhood of narrow medieval streets and arcaded courtyards that are fun to explore. So, too, are the spacious squares of the residential area between the Neutor and the Neugebäude districts.

Salzburg also enjoys a special fame in the world of music as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart . This rich musical heritage is reflected in tourist attractions such as the museum in his family home, various festivals showcasing his music, and even the melodies that ring out daily on the city's famous Glockenspiel. Several of Salzburg's attractions were also used as filming sites for The Sound of Music , and these are a particular draw for tourists.

Find out all the best places to visit while on vacation in this beautiful corner of Austria with our list of the best things to do in Salzburg.

1. Explore Salzburg's Old Town (Altstadt Salzburg)

2. climb to fortress hohensalzburg, 3. see st. peter's abbey, 4. visit historic st. peter's church, 5. tour salzburg cathedral, 6. explore the residenzplatz, 7. explore the salzburg residenz and the residenzgalerie, 8. see how the wealthy of old lived: hellbrunn palace and fountains, 9. mirabell palace and gardens, 10. visit the franciscan church, 11. mozart's birthplace, 12. salzburg's festival theaters, 13. neugebäude & the salzburg carillon, 14. st. sebastian's church and cemetery, 15. see the old town hall, 16. climb to the salzburg catacombs, 17. ride the cable car to the top of the untersberg, 18. take a drive to hallein and the celtic museum, where to stay in salzburg for sightseeing, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to salzburg, salzburg, austria - climate chart, more must-see destinations near salzburg.

From University Square (Universitätsplatz), a number of wonderful passageways known as "Durchhäuser" weave northward to Getreidegasse . This busy pedestrian area has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is lined with quaint old merchant homes dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries.

Highlights of a walking tour of this Old Town area are its many original wrought-iron shop and inn signs, along with its many quiet old courtyards. And it's a big area to cover, encompassing some 580 acres in the heart of Salzburg, all of it just begging to be explored.

The area is also home to numerous art galleries, boutique shops, as well as jewelry and craft workshops. There are also plenty of cafés and restaurants, many with street-front patios that make for pleasant spots to kick back and do some people watching.

At the eastern end of Getreidegasse lies the Kranzlmarkt. Here, you'll find the old Town Hall (Rathaus) surrounded by even more old medieval houses, some as tall as five stories. In the Old Market (Alter Markt) stands the 13th-century Court Pharmacy (Hofapotheke), while in the middle of the square is the 17th-century St. Florian's Fountain. This latter attractive landmark is known for its unique octagonal basin and an even older spiral grille from 1583.

Other Old Town sightseeing opportunities include the Judengasse with its narrow, twisting lanes, and the Chiemseehof . Built in 1305, the latter was the residence of the Prince Bishops of Chiemsee until 1806. It's worth seeing for its arcaded courtyard decorated with coats of arms.

Salzburg is dominated by the picturesque Fortress Hohensalzburg (Festung Hohensalzburg), a stunning historic fortress that dominates the city skyline. Situated on the southeastern summit of the Mönchsberg, the original castle was built in 1077, and much of what's seen today dates from the early 1500s.

You can reach the castle by a pleasant 20-minute walk from the Old Town center or via a funicular railway from Festungsgasse. The approach to the fortress passes through a number of impressive arched defensive gateways under the 17th-century Fire Bastion to the Reisszug, a unique hoist dating from 1504 once used to haul supplies. It then continues through the Horse Gate into the Haupthof, or outer ward, with its ancient lime tree and a cistern from 1539.

Other highlights include the courtyard, with its tiny Church of St. George (Georgskirche) from 1502, and the famous Salzburg Bull (Salzburger Stier). This historic organ dating from 1502 still plays daily and seems to echo the carillon in the Neugebäude.

Interior highlights include the sumptuous Princes' Apartments, with their Late Gothic décor and fine painted wainscoting; the Golden Room (Goldene Stube), with its marble doorways; and the Golden Hall, with gold bosses on the blue coffered ceiling and red marble columns.

Also worth seeing are the Fortress Museum , with weapons and torture devices, and the Rainer Regiment Museum containing artifacts from the old Salzburg household regiment. English language guided tours of the fortress are available and include options geared toward families and children.

Address: Mönchsberg 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

Official site: www.salzburg-burgen.at/en/hohensalzburg-castle/

On the western side of Salzburg's Kapitelplatz stands the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter (Erzabtei St. Peter). Founded by St. Rupert in 690 CE, this impressive building complex served as the residence of the Archbishops until 1110.

While the present buildings date mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries, they remain an impressive testament to the order's architectural skills. The best example of this can be seen in the building's tall onion-shaped tower, one of the first of its kind in Europe.

Highlights include St. Peter's Churchyard (Friedhof St. Peter), an impressive burial ground surrounded on three sides by arcades and family tombs from the 17th century. To the south, it backs onto the sheer rock face of the Mönchsberg, where you'll find Early Christian catacombs and St. Maximus' Chapel, hewn from the solid rock.

A passage leads from the churchyard into the outer courtyard graced by St. Peter's Fountain (Petrusbrunnen) built in 1673. Also of note here is the Haydn memorial depicting the life and work of Johann Michael Haydn, brother of famed composer Joseph Haydn.

Another important Salzburg landmark is Nonnberg Abbey , founded in 714 CE. The abbey is also the site of what is reputedly Europe's oldest restaurant, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, which was founded prior to 803 CE.

Address: Sankt-Peter-Bezirk 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

One of Salzburg's oldest and most attractive churches, St. Peter's Church (Stiftskirche St. Peter) has undergone many transformations over the years. Completed in 1143, it was added to and altered in 1625, and decorated in Rococo style between 1757 and 1783, when its distinctive helm tower was added. The church is also known as the "Abbey Church" for its location within the St. Peter's Abbey complex.

Inside the porch under the tower is the Romanesque west doorway dating from 1240. In the interior, the plan of the Romanesque basilica can still be detected, along with monuments including the rock-hewn tomb of St. Rupert with an epitaph from 1444.

Other notable monuments are those dedicated to Mozart's sister Marianne (Nannerl), who died in 1829, and to JM Haydn, brother of Joseph. Other highlights are the painted altarpieces on the 16 marble altars and the Lady Chapel (Marienkapelle) from 1319, which contains a stone figure of the Virgin, along with Early Gothic frescoes and later frescoes from 1755.

A prominent building thanks to its twin 79-meter tall towers, Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) was completed in 1657 and is famous for its Italian style and its role as the location of Mozart's baptism. The building's west front, facing the Domplatz , has four colossal marble statues, the outer ones representing St. Rupert and Virgil, patron saints of the province. The inner ones depict Peter and Paul.

Notable features include its three massive bronze doors with their symbols of Faith, Love, and Hope; the high altar with its Resurrection painted in 1628; and the superb frescoes in the vaulting. The burial vaults and artifacts in the crypt are also worth seeing.

Be sure to visit the Cathedral Museum . This important cultural attraction features a variety of collections of liturgical objects and objets d'art from the Salzburg archdiocese. These include the 8th-century Carolingian Cross of St. Rupert, Gothic statues and paintings, and items from the Cathedral Treasury.

Also, check the cathedral's website in advance of your visit for details of upcoming concerts and recitals.

Address: Domplatz 1a, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

At the very heart of Salzburg's Old Town (Altstadt) on the left bank of the Salzach is the Residenzplatz. One of the city's largest squares, it's the best place from which to begin exploring the many tourist attractions and things to do that this beautiful city has to offer.

The focal point of the Residenzplatz is the stunning Residenzbrunnen . This masterpiece of marble was made by an Italian sculptor in 1661 and is the largest and finest Baroque fountain this side of the Alps. Standing 15 meters high with splendid figures of bold horses, along with the god Atlas bearing dishes, it also impresses with its dolphins. Crowning the whole display is a Triton with a conch shell.

From here, it's easy to spend time relaxing in the terraced cafés and boutique shops lining the adjoining streets. You can also jump right in and visit key attractions such as Salzburg Cathedral and the Residenz , the former palace of the city's Prince Bishops.

The square is also frequently used for concerts and celebrations such as public New Year's Eve parties and the excellent Salzburg Christmas Market.

Address: Residenzplatz, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

Dominating the western side of Salzburg's Residenzplatz is the Residenz, the former palace of the city's once powerful Prince Bishops. Built between 1596 and 1619, this huge palace is laid out around three courtyards, with a large marble gateway added in 1710.

Its spectacular State Apartments are lavishly decorated in Late Baroque and Early Neoclassical style and with exquisite wall and ceiling paintings, rich stucco ornaments, and handsome fireplaces. Of particular note are the Knights' Hall (Rittersaal), the Conference Hall (Konferenzsaal), and the splendid Audience Hall (Audienzsaal) containing Flemish tapestries from the 1600s and fine Parisian furniture.

Other highlights include the White Hall (Weisse Saal), with its superb stucco ornaments in Louis XVI style from 1776; the Function Room (Gesellschaftszimmer), with 18th-century silk carpets; and the Imperial Hall (Kaisersaal), with its portraits of Holy Roman Emperors and Kings of the Habsburg dynasty.

The Residenzgalerie , an art gallery established in 1923, displays works of European painters from the 16th to 19th centuries. The collection includes paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Brueghel.

Address: Residenzplatz 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

Official site: https://www.domquartier.at/en/residenz/

Markus Sittikus, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, commissioned this pleasure palace in 1613 as a place to relax and entertain. Never intended as a residence, Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn) is nonetheless quite grand, and a tour gives you an inside look into the world of these immensely wealthy and powerful rulers of both church and state.

Sittikus conceived of unusual entertainments for his guests. These include a garden of trick water features and fountains, where an innocent looking statue of pavement may suddenly turn into a shower, or what appear to be benches around a table suddenly begin to spout water all over guests. The tour is lighthearted and fun, especially for children and those who don't mind getting a bit wet (it's a good idea to keep your camera and phone covered).

Apart from the trick fountains and beautiful flower gardens, the park is interesting as the site of the gazebo and grand alley of trees used in filming The Sound of Music . In December, the gardens are home to a lovely Christmas Market; entrance to a nearby folk museum is included in the admission ticket.

Address: Fürstenweg 37, Hellbrunn, Salzburg, Austria

Official site: www.hellbrunn.at/en/

Another garden used in the filming of The Sound of Music is at Salzburg's lovely Mirabell Palace (Schloss Mirabell). This excellent example of Baroque landscape design was laid out in 1690 with numerous terraces, marble statues, and fountains.

The palace itself was remodeled in Baroque style between 1721-27 before being restored in the simpler Neoclassical style after a fire in 1818. Highlights of a visit include the spectacular Grand Staircase, built in the 18th-century, with a number of statues by Georg Raphael Donner and his pupils.

Other interesting features are the Marble Hall, which is still used for concerts and functions, and the Schloss Mirabell Baroque Museum . Housed in the Gardener's Building (the Gärtnergebäude), the museum is part of the estate's Orangery, and exhibits European art of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Also of note is the former 18th-century aviary, now used for exhibitions. Of interest, too, is the small open-air theater located at the southwestern corner of the gardens.

Address: Mirabellplatz 4, Salzburg, Austria

To the north of St. Peter's Church stands the Franciscan Church (Franziskanerkirche), the town's parish church until 1635. Notable features of the exterior are the high roof of the choir, and the tower on the south side from 1498.

Interior features of note include the dark 13th-century Romanesque nave, which contrasts with the high, bright 15th-century Gothic choir. In front of a ring of Baroque chapels dating from 1606 stands the high altar, added in 1709 and notable for its late 15th-century carved Madonna.

In the central chapel behind the altar is a winged marble altar from 1561 from the old cathedral. Opposite the church is the still-operating Franciscan Friary. Visitors are welcome to attend mass here.

Address: Franziskanergasse 5, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

The house where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27th, 1756, is one of the best places to visit in Salzburg if you're a fan of classical music. Highlights include the rooms once occupied by the Mozart family, and a museum displaying numerous interesting mementos, including the young Mozart's violin, portraits, and original scores of his compositions.

Engaging exhibits introduce his family members and their life and explore his operatic works, with costumes, set designs, and models and excerpts from his operas. One room is furnished as it would have been in his time. English language guided tours can be arranged.

Address: Getreidegasse 9, Salzburg, Austria

Official site: https://mozarteum.at/en/museums/mozarts-birthplace/

Salzburg has long been famous for its music festivals, as shown by the city's many historic theaters and concert halls. Collectively known as the Festival Theaters (Festspielhäuser), these buildings consist of the large Festspielhau ; the smaller Haus für Mozart , between which is a foyer with fine frescoes; and the Karl-Böhm Hall , used for exhibitions and receptions.

It's in this building, decorated by superb 17th-century frescoes, that the famous Salzburg Festival has been held since 1925. This popular multi-week-long summer event showcases the best of European music and drama.

Other major Salzburg festivals include Mozart Week , a winter event focusing on the works of the great Austrian composer; and Salzburg Cultural Days , an annual two-week festival in October that includes symphonic and chamber concerts and opera performances.

For a completely different theatrical experience, visit the Salzburg Marionette Theater . Eestablished in 1913, it's one of the oldest puppet theaters in the world.

Address: Hofstallgasse 1, A-5010 Salzburg, Austria

Official site: www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/summer

Opposite the Salzburg Residenz is the New Building (Neugebäude), erected in 1602 as the Archbishop's guesthouse and enlarged in 1670. Now home to provincial government offices and the Salzburg Museum , the building is famous for its carillon, the famous Glockenspiel.

Built in 1702, it contains 35 bells that play tunes from Mozart's vast repertoire three times per day (7am, 11am, and 6pm). Guided tours of the tower offering a unique view of the workings of this impressive mechanism are available.

A highlight of the experience is hearing the famous Salzburg Bull, the organ in neighboring Hohensalzburg palace, respond to the carillon with a chorale. Also, be sure to visit the lovely 18th-century St. Michael's Church (Michaelskirche) on the north side of the Residenzplatz at the corner of Mozartplatz with its Mozart Monument from 1842.

Address: Mozartpl. 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

A highlight of Salzburg's more modern district on the right bank of the Salzach is St. Sebastian's Church (Sebastianskirche). Built in 1512 and completely remodeled in Rococo style in 1753, the church features a flight of steps leading to St. Sebastian Cemetery (Friedhof).

Established in 1595, in the middle of the cemetery, stands St. Gabriel's Chapel (Gabrielskapelle), with its ornate ceramic decoration, completed in 1603 as a mausoleum for Archbishop Wolf Dietrich.

On the path to the chapel lie the graves of Mozart's father, Leopold, and his widow, Konstanze. To the west of the church is a passage leading to the Loreto Convent (Loretokloster) and Paris-Lodron-Strasse.

Address: Linzer Gasse 41, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

With its Rococo facade and iconic tower, the Old Town Hall makes for one of the most attractive sites in Salzburg. It served important roles throughout history: sounding the bell when curfew was near, keeping time for the public, and as a watchtower.

Today, its purpose is mainly to share local culture with tourists and provide a space for bureaucratic offices. Check out rotating exhibitions of works from Salzburg artists in the City Gallery , located on the first floor. While the second floor is primarily used for city council meetings, it also displays Franz Kulstrunk's famous painting The Town of Salzburg in 1916 , on view for the public.

Address: Kranzlmarkt 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

Just past St. Sebastian's Church and Cemetery are catacombs carved into the face of the Mönchsberg rock. The attraction, estimated to be about 1,000 years old, served dual purposes as both a hermitage and a burial site. You may recognize it from The Sound of Music as the place where the Trapp family sought refuge before fleeing to Switzerland.

To reach the two levels of the catacombs open to the public, you'll need to climb a set of old, steep stone steps (grippy shoes are a must!). The first level contains the "Gertrauden Chapel," while the upper part houses the "Maximus Chapel," which is thought to be even older. You can also see an incredible view of Salzburg from the windows and balcony.

The Untersberg, a popular recreation area with a rugged peak, draws outdoors lovers from around the world. You can reach the top by taking a ride on the Untersbergbahn (cable car), located about 10 kilometers south of the city and easily reached by bus. The 8.5-minute ride in one of the two gondola-like cars is a delight, offering dazzling views of Salzburg, the Rositten Valley, and the entire Berchtesgaden region.

The best vistas, however, can be found when the cable car drops you off near the Geiereck 1,805-meter-tall Geiereck summit and you're looking down on the fluffy white clouds and the snowcapped Alps. It's no surprise that many couples get engaged in this beautiful spot.

Spend an hour or two exploring the stunning high Alpine terrain, and when you're ready to refuel, simply pull up a seat at the mountaintop café for coffee and strudel.

Address: Dr.-Friedrich-Oedl-Weg 2, 5083, Austria

Official site: https://www.untersbergbahn.at/

The old Celtic town of Hallein on the River Salzach, a 10-minute-drive from Salzburg city center, is one of the several interesting places to visit near Salzburg. The town is especially popular for its picturesque narrow streets, gateways, and statues, as well as the historic homes built in typical Salzach style.

Hallein is the birthplace of organist Franz Xaver Gruber, composer of Silent Night. It's also where you'll find the Celtic Museum (Keltenmuseum Hallein), one of the largest and most complete museums of Celtic art and history in all Europe. Set in a former 17th-century orphanage, this reconstructed Celtic farmstead includes buildings and tools used by Celt settlers, as well as an ancient burial chamber.

Other highlights include displays of finds from the Hallstatt and La Tène (Iron Age) periods from 800-15 BC. There are also exhibits portraying local customs and the history of town guilds.

Address: Pflegerplatz 5, Hallein, Austria

Perfect for touring on foot, the picturesque streets of Salzburg's old town, almost directly under the walls of the formidable Hohensalzburg fortress, contain the cathedral; St. Peter's Abbey; and the palace, with its state apartments and museums. The funicular to the fortress is nearby, and just across the river is Mirabell Palace and gardens. Here are some highly rated hotels close to these Salzburg attractions:

Luxury Hotels :

• Spacious rooms at Hotel Goldgasse offer historic charm and modern facilities in the center of the pedestrianized old town.
• Equally well-located, within steps of attractions, is the elegant Hotel Goldener Hirsch , a Luxury Collection Hotel.
• Sister hotel to the landmark Hotel Sacher Vienna, the lavishly furnished Hotel Sacher Salzburg overlooks the river, and is just a short walk from the old town and from Mirabell Palace.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Across the river, a block from the bridge leading directly into the center of the old town, Stadtkrug Hotel is also close to the Mirabell.
• Boutique Hotel Am Dom is in a restored historic building in the center of the pedestrianized old town.
• If old town charm is not important, IMLAUER HOTEL PITTER Salzburg is located near the train station, behind Mirabell Palace, and a 15-minute walk from the main attractions.

Budget Hotels:

• Star Inn Hotel Salzburg Zentrum has pleasant, plain rooms in a residential neighborhood on the other side of the Hohensalzburg fortress, a 10-minute walk to the old town through a pedestrian tunnel.
• The nearby family-run Haus Wartenberg has the character and charm of a traditional building with modern facilities and larger rooms that are ideal for families.
• Close to the rail and bus station, Pension Adlerhof has limited free parking and free continental breakfast, but you'll have a 30-minute walk or a bus ride to the Old Town.
• Sound of Music Tour : If you're a fan of The Sound of Music, you can reminisce about your favorite scenes at some of the movie's best-known locations and sing along to the soundtrack on The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg . But you don't have to be a fan of the movie to appreciate the history and beauty of Salzburg's top attractions and architectural gems, which are also included on this tour. Top it off with a visit to the beautiful Lake District and the quaint town of Mondsee, where the movie's wedding took place.
• Eagle's Nest Tour : To soak up some fascinating history and see the spectacular scenery of the Bavarian Alps at the same time, sign up for the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden Tour from Salzburg . On this half-day guided tour, you'll see Hellbrunn Castle and the Königsee River Valley before heading up to the Eagle's Nest, Hitler's former mountain retreat in Bavaria, where you can learn about its history and admire the views. Before heading home, you'll have a chance to explore the quaint German mountain town of Berchtesgaden.
• Mountains and Mining Tour : Another tour that blends history with striking scenery is the Bavarian Mountains and Salt-Mines Tour . After a scenic drive along the King's Lake River, this half-day guided tour takes you deep into an underground salt mine, where you can learn about its 450-year old history, take a tour on a mini-train, and cruise around a subterranean salt lake. This tour also ends with a stroll around Berchtesgaden before you head home.

Salzburg sits close to the border between Austria and Germany , almost equidistant from Munich and Innsbruck . Passau, in northern Bavaria , is about the same distance to the north, and farther east on the Danube is Linz . Just across the border to the west, the German town of Berchtesgaden and the idyllic Königsee are easy day trips from Salzburg . To the southeast is the beautiful town of Hallstatt and the Hallstätter Sea, part of the Dachstein/Salzkammergut Alpine UNESCO World Heritage Site. About halfway between Salzburg and Innsbruck is the Austrian ski resort of Kitzbuhel .

More on Austria

17 BEST Places to See & Things to Do in Salzburg, Austria (+Map & Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: June 2, 2024

Thinking of visiting Salzburg in Austria and wondering what there’s to see and do in the city? In this guide, we cover all the musts, top sights, most important landmarks, and things to do in Salzburg that are worth your time the most. For each place, we also include our experience-based tips and useful information for your visit. Take a look!

Instantly recognizable as the beautiful backdrop to the iconic movie ‘The Sound of Music’, the romantic city of Salzburg is steeped in history and rich in culture. Mozart was born here and the city’s tradition of music remains strong. There are numerous performances and concerts every night and various festivals held annually.

But there is so much more to this charming city than its musical heritage. From its scenic location in the foothills of the Alps to its exquisite architecture and wonderful food, Salzburg is a destination that has a lot to offer to any type of traveler.

In this guide, we share all the main sights and attractions in Salzburg , as well as useful tips for visiting this beautiful and vibrant city for the first time. We also created a map indicating all the top places to see in Salzburg – you can find it at the bottom of this article.

TIP: Be sure to buy the Salzburg Card to last the duration of your visit. It gives you free and fast access to many of the city’s main attractions and includes free public transportation too. It will quickly pay for itself, even if you only visit a few of the main highlights in Salzburg in one day! If you spend 2-3 days in the city and surroundings, this card offers incredible value.

READ ALSO: Salzburg 1 Day Itinerary & Salzburg 2 Days Itinerary

These are the very best places to see and things to do in Salzburg:

1. Mirabell Palace & Gardens

Built early in the 17th century by prince-archbishop Wolf Dietrich for his wife, Mirabell Palace and Gardens is one of the most beautiful places in Salzburg. The palace, the manicured gardens, the fountains, the views – everything is so beautiful. A visit here is like stepping into a fairytale !

Mirabell Palace is home to the Angel Staircase and the famous Marble Hall , considered one of the most beautiful wedding halls in the world. Mozart once made music here, and these days, you can attend a Mozart concert here almost every evening .

Good to know: Normally, you can visit the Angel Staircase (daily from 8 am to 6 pm) and the Marble Hall (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 am to 4 pm and Tuesday and Friday from 1 pm to 4 pm), and the entrance is free of charge. However, the Marble Hall is frequently used to host weddings and other important ceremonies, in which case it’s closed to visitors. So if you absolutely want to see this beautiful hall from the inside and it’s closed, see if you can book concert tickets instead.

The real attraction here, though, are the gardens . Designed in a geometrical Baroque style, they are so beautiful, especially in the warmer months when all the flowers are blooming.

You can see the Pegasus Fountain here, along with the palace Chapel consecrated in 1726. You can also see a Dwarf Garden containing 17 dwarves made from white Untersberg marble, plus an Orangery and an ornamental Rose Garden.

Good to know: If the Pegasus Fountain looks familiar to you, that’s probably because it was used as another location in the ‘Sound of Music’. It was here that Maria and the children danced as they sang ‘Do Re Mi’.

2. Old Town

Salzburg Old Town is filled with stunning architecture, grand squares, and picturesque streets and alleys. It’s here that you’ll find most of the city’s historic buildings, landmarks, and museums. At the same time, it’s also a very lively place with lots of shops, cafes, and restaurants.

It would be impossible to list every place that’s worth seeing here, and the best way to experience the historic old town is to simply walk around and see ‘everything’. The good thing is that the historic old town is quite compact and so it’s actually quite easy to do.

Below, you can find some information about the main places not to miss in Salzburg’s old town, and we also indicated all of them on our map further below.

Some of the main places not to miss include the major squares around the cathedral: Alter Markt , Residenzplatz , Mozartplatz , Domplatz , and Kapitelplatz . They all interconnect and so you basically just walk from one to the other, trying to absorb the incredible atmosphere around you.

On the Alter Markt , you’ll find the historic Café Tomaselli, the oldest café in Austria. On Mozartplatz – the statue of Mozart, and on Kapitelplatz – a huge golden ball with a sculpture of a man standing on top of it. In the middle of Domplatz , right in front of the cathedral entrance, stands a statue of the Virgin Mary with a Child and four allegoric statues around it.

Residenzplatz is home to the impressive bell tower of Salzburg Carillon ( Salzburger Glockenspiel ) – its 35 bells play various songs three times a day (at 7 am, 11 am, and 6 pm). Here, you’ll also see the impressive baroque fountain with horses.

This is also the place where horse-drawn carriage rides start. Residenzplatz is also home to some lesser-visited museums that might be worth it if you have lots of extra time for sightseeing.

You also really can’t miss Getreidegasse , the most beautiful pedestrian shopping street in Salzburg. Every store here has a really unique sign on its facade, making the street really picturesque. Another charming old street to check out is the Goldgasse that connects Alter Markt with Residenzplatz.

Be sure to also check out the Franziskanergasse , a small street where the Franciscan Monastery is located. The gothic interior of the church is very impressive.

And finally, I also recommend a small detour to Marstallschwemme – Pferdeschwemme . The fountain with big murals depicting horses stands at the base of Mönchsberg, with the steep cliffs of the mountain right behind it. This is one of the two preserved horse baths in Salzburg.

3. Mozart’s Birthplace

Mozart’s Birthplace is one of the city’s main tourist attractions and definitely a ‘must see’ when you visit Salzburg. It was here – in this bright yellow building at Getreidegasse 9 – that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on 27 January 1756.

He lived here throughout his childhood and much of his youth (until the age of 17) in a middle-class apartment on the third floor. You can take a stroll through the apartment itself, which has been reconstructed as accurately as possible with items from everyday life and 18th-century furniture.

Pieces on display include original letters and certificates documenting Mozart’s life, several portraits painted during his lifetime, and his own clavichord and violin. There is even a lock of hair – believed to be Mozart’s – attached to a letter he wrote in 1777!

Although the museum is small and the number of exhibits quite limited, it feels very special to stand in the footsteps of the great composer and get a glimpse of life as he may have seen it.

TIP: Try to visit early in the morning, before the tour groups arrive. Alternatively, come here an hour or 30 minutes before the closing time. As you can imagine, the museum gets VERY busy!

Practical information: Mozart’s Birthplace is open daily, with hours varying a bit per season. More info here . Free entry is included on the Salzburg Card .

4. DomQuartier Salzburg

A UNESCO World Heritage site, DomQuartier Salzburg is a stunning attraction made up of a complex of baroque buildings built around three courtyards.

It was created by the prince-archbishops of Salzburg more than 400 years ago. Originally it contained both their residential quarters and a Cathedral, as an expression of their claim to rule both the heavens and the earth.

These days it is home to three interconnected museums – among the most compelling in the city! You can walk through the beautiful baroque state rooms and visit the impressive Residenz Gallery , containing artworks by 16th- to 19th-century painters such as Rembrandt and Rubens.

Also not to be missed are the awesome views of the city mountains and the Salzburg historic district from the terrace above the Cathedral Arches .

The Cathedral Museum is interesting to see too, from the elaborate stuccowork of the rooms of the Northern Oratory to the views of the cathedral’s magnificent interior from the organ loft.

You also visit the Museum of St. Peter’s Abbey , and the Long Gallery , the oldest gallery in Salzburg that was the prince archbishops’ painting gallery.

Good to know: DomQuartier Salzburg is a large museum and if you want to see everything in detail, you should set aside 2 to 3 hours for your visit. However, if your time is short it would be possible to walk through the best of the exhibits in around an hour.

Practical information: DomQuartier Salzburg is open daily except on Tuesdays. For more details, see the official website . Entry here is also included with the Salzburg Card.

5. Hohensalzburg Fortress

Dating back to the 11th century, Hohensalzburg Fortress is one of the largest and best-preserved fortresses in Europe.

A key landmark of Salzburg and an integral part of its skyline, the fortress is located high on Festungberg Hill. You can either walk to it or take a funicular from the old town, which is far quicker and much easier.

When you get there, the views from the various lookouts are magnificent. With the Salzach River winding its way throughout the city and the soaring mountains in the background, it looks like something from a postcard. But it is even more impressive when the sun goes down and the city lights illuminate the scene.

Throughout its life, Hohensalzburg has been a fort, a military barracks, a prison, and home to the prince archbishops. Now it houses several museums and has the look and feel of a medieval village within its protective walls.

The Fortress Museum is especially interesting as it includes access to the staterooms , including the Princes’ Hall, the Golden Chamber, and the Golden Hall. These contain original furnishings from the early 16th century that are very much worth seeing!

TIP: If you are traveling with children, be sure to visit the Arsenal building. It contains several interactive games that the entire family can enjoy.

Practical information: Hohensalzburg Fortress is open daily. From May to September, from 9 am to 8 pm, the rest of the year – from 9.30 am to 5 pm. You could spend 2-3 hours here, or just see the ‘musts’ in about 1.5 hours.

The funicular and museums are included with the Salzburg Card , except for the staterooms (unless you visit before 11 am). If you have to pay a few euros extra to see them, do it – it’s totally worth it!

Good to know: In the evenings, you can attend a Mozart concert inside the state rooms at the Hohensalzburg Fortress. You can choose between concert-only or concert and dinner options – see all the ticket options here .

6. Mozart Residence

Mozart Residence is another place that deserves a mention on any list of the best things to do in Salzburg. Not to be confused with the earlier-mentioned Mozart’s Birthplace, this is a house at No. 8 Makartplatz, on the other side of the river. This is where Mozart lived with his family from 1773 until he moved to Vienna in 1781.

A large part of this house was destroyed during an air raid in the second world war. It was later reconstructed according to the original building plans and opened as a museum in 1996.

A visit here gives you another wonderful insight into Mozart’s life. You can see a portrait of Mozart and his family in the large ballroom – an image considered to be one of the most accurate depictions of the composer anywhere. The room also contains Mozart’s original piano from the family estate.

The audio guide (included with free entry using the Salzburg Card) explains the significance of the rooms you visit and tells the stories of each family member.

Practical information: Mozart Residence is open daily from 9 am to 5.30 pm. In July and August, it’s open from 8.30 am to 7 pm. The entrance here is also free with Salzburg Card. You need 30-45 minutes for a visit here.

7. St. Peter’s Abbey Site

Located beside DomQuartier is the Abbey of St. Peter , a Benedictine monastery and former cathedral. You can’t enter the Abbey itself, although a visit to the interior of its ‘Long Gallery’ is included as part of the DomQuartier tour.

But you might want to stop and take a moment to appreciate the wonderful smell of fresh bread coming from Stiftsbäckerei St Peter, Salzburg’s oldest bakery . You can still see the old water wheel originally used to power the monastery’s mill just as you enter the abbey site.

The Abbey of St. Peter’s main attraction, however, is its beautiful, ancient cemetery (Friedhof St. Peter) and St. Peter’s Catacombs .

Fans of the ‘Sound of Music’ movie flock to see the cemetery , as it was here that one of the final scenes was filmed. If you’ve seen the movie, you definitely remember how the von Trapp family was hiding here during their escape from the National Socialists.

But there are many other points of interest, including St. Margaret Chapel ( Margarethenkapelle ) and the vaults and burial sites of some of the city’s most notable residents. Mozart’s sister and her husband are buried here as well.

The Early Christian catacombs – hewn from the rock of the Mönchsberg mountain during the 1100s – are the oldest and best-maintained in Austria. Two different levels are open to the public – the ‘Gertrauden Chapel’ and the ‘Maximus Chapel’, located 40 steps higher.

Here you can see the preserved remains of ancient tombs, altars, relics, and murals. You can also enjoy beautiful views of the city from the balcony around halfway down the stairs.

Good to know: The steps inside the catacombs are very steep and there is no handrail, so it helps to wear walking shoes with a good grip.

Practical information: The cemetery is free to visit and a ticket for entry to the catacombs is free with the Salzburg Card. The Catacombs are open daily except for some public holidays. They usually close for lunch between 12.30 and 1 pm. Count 15-30 minutes a visit here.

8. Salzburg Cathedral

The impressive Cathedral is one of the most notable landmarks in Salzburg. Standing right in the heart of the old town and surrounded by the most beautiful and important town squares, you’ll inevitably pass here at least a few times during your visit.

A cathedral was first built on this site in 774. Throughout the centuries, a series of fires led to it being entirely rebuilt three times. The last major reconstruction dates from 1628 and the towers – 40 years later. The central dome, however, was destroyed entirely by bombing during WWII and the basilica we see now was eventually completed in 1959.

The cathedral houses the font where Mozart was baptized in 1756 and contains five organs, one of which – the Hoforgel – he later played. Most spectacular of all is the view of the dome’s interior, featuring 16 frescoes in 2 rows depicting Old Testament scenes.

Good to know: A visit to the earlier-mentioned DomQuartier Salzburg includes a look at the inside of the cathedral, including a close-up view of its impressive organ. This means that you don’t need to plan a separate visit to see it unless you want to explore everything inside.

But it is certainly worth taking the time to view this magnificent building from the outside too. This baroque masterpiece is visually stunning, featuring two spires and an imposing copper dome. There are four huge statues at the main entrance, depicting the apostles Peter and Paul and the two patron saints Virgil (who built the very first cathedral) and Rupert.

TIP: If you are a music lover, then perhaps the best way to enjoy the cathedral is to attend one of the 30-minute organ recitals that take place just after noon every day, except for Sunday. You can find more information and get the tickets here . If it’s not too busy, you can normally get a ticket on the spot as well – the Cathedral is huge and there’s lots of space inside.

Practical information: Salzburg Cathedral is open daily, with hours varying per season. No visits are allowed during mass and during the concerts at noon. There’s a small fee to visit the cathedral, and this is one of the few of the main sights in Salzburg that are not included with the city card (you do get a discount though).

9. Views from Kapuzinerberg

Located on the Salzach River’s eastern bank, Kapuzinerberg is the highest point in Salzburg. However, the viewpoint at the monastery is just a bit uphill, so you won’t have to climb far. The short uphill walk is a bit steep, but the unmissable views awaiting you make it very worthwhile. This is one of the best viewpoints in the old town of Salzburg!

Along the trail, you will come across the Stations of Cross ( Kalvarienbergkapellen Kapuzinerberg ), Franziskischlössl (a small 17th-century defense tower), a small church that you can visit, and the monastery for Capuchin friars from which the hill took its name.

From the viewing platforms at the top, you can enjoy sweeping views of Salzburg , taking in the old town, the fortress, the river, and the surrounding mountains.

There are two times of the day that are particularly good to visit. One is at noon, when you can hear all the church bells across the city ringing – a wonderful sound that really enhances the experience. Alternatively, visit towards the end of the day for some truly spectacular sunset views.

Good to know: There are two ways to get to the top of Kapuzinerberg – by stairs from Steingasse or via the road with the cross stations starting at Linzer Gasse. The latter is much easier than the stairs, so I recommend that way up and then taking the stairs down – that way, you can also enjoy the nice views in the direction of the river and the fortress.

10. Views from Mönchsberg

Another place from which to enjoy exceptional city views in Salzburg is at the top of Mönchsberg hill .

You can reach the viewing platform – also known as Winkler Terrace – by taking a short elevator ride from Gstättengasse street, near the river. The cost of the ride is also included in the Salzburg Card. Alternatively, you can hike to the lookout point using the Mönchsberg hiking path on the other side of the hill.

There is a museum of modern art at the top of the hill, although you don’t need to buy tickets for it in order to access the viewing platform. You’ll find the platform just through the glass doors to the right of the elevator. The panoramic views are some of the finest in Europe and were featured in some of the most famous scenes of ‘The Sound of Music’.

Right at the viewing platform, there’s also a restaurant with a big outdoor terrace. This could be a nice place for a drink. Mönchsberg also has several walking trails, and you’ll see locals walking dogs or jogging here.

TIP: From the viewing platform at the museum, take the stairs on the right-hand side and follow the path until you reach a second viewpoint from which you can see another angle of the city. Yet a bit further down the dirt path and then a sharp right down the stairs, you’ll find a viewpoint at Humboldtterrasse . The views here are also very nice, with yet another angle on the river and the old town.

11. Hellbrunn Palace

Located just a bit outside the city center, Hellbrunn Palace is another place that’s well worth including in your Salzburg sightseeing itinerary if you have at least 2 days in the city. This magnificent Baroque palace took just 3 years to build, from 1612 until 1615. That would have been considered record time at the start of the 17th century!

Intended as a summer retreat, it was constructed for the enjoyment of the prince-archbishop Markus Sittikus. Over the years, it became a getaway spot for all sorts of rulers who enjoyed good food, the exotic foliage, and the palace’s famous trick fountains!

These remain a popular attraction today, with hidden water jets soaking – yet delighting – its visitors. It is funny to think of all the aristocratic members of society from the past also getting sprayed by these secret fountains!

There is lots more to see at this pleasure palace, including the water-powered Mechanical Theater with almost 200 moving wood carvings, the beautifully landscaped gardens, and a large adventure playground for children. There is also an exhibition inside the palace where you can learn lots more about its fascinating past.

You can also see the gazebo in which Liesl and Franz sang to each other in ‘The Sound of Music’. Another interesting place is the Stone Theatre in the forest – a natural rock quarry that Markus Sittikus had converted into a stage.

Practical information: Hellbrunn Palace is open daily from the beginning of April till the end of October. You can easily get here by public transport from the city center in about 15 minutes. Transport, as well as the entrance to the palace, are also included with Salzburg Card .

Alternatively, you can also visit here with a hop-on hop-off bus (entrance to the palace not included) or this river cruise that brings you to the palace and includes the entry tickets. Some other (Sound of Music) tours stop here as well, but usually do not visit the grounds of the palace.

TIP: If you are visiting Salzburg before Christmas, a visit to this palace is a must! The entire courtyard and old driveway are completely transformed into a magical and festive Advent Market.

12. Nonnberg Abbey

Founded at some point between 712 and 715, Nonnberg Abbey is the oldest Benedictine nunnery in the German-speaking region. But that isn’t its only claim to fame!

The true story of a novice from the nunnery – Maria Kutschera – was the inspiration behind the now world-famous movie, ‘The Sound of Music’.

Maria was sent by her abbess to be a governess to the children of the widowed Baron Georg Ritter von Trapp. She later married the baron and – as the movie portrays – founded a family choir. It’s pretty amazing to visit the spot where the story started! The Abbey was also used as one of the filming locations for the movie.

Peaceful and pretty, it contains frescoes at the high altar and in the “Paradise” under the nuns’ choir that can be illuminated.

Practical information: Both the church and the cemetery are open to visitors every day from 6.45 am, although visits are not permitted during services. Located at the foot of the Festungsberg, Nonnberg Abbey can be reached from Kaigasse via the Nonnbergstiege staircase.

Good to know: If you are an early riser, consider coming here in the morning when the beautiful sound of the nuns’ choir fills the Nonnberg Abbey Church at 6.45 am. You can also hear them sing in the afternoon (weekdays at 5.15 pm, Saturdays at 5 pm, Sundays and public holidays at 4.30 pm), although these times are subject to change.

13. Salzach River Cruise

Taking a slow cruise along the Salzach River is another popular thing to do in Salzburg for tourists. It gives you a great opportunity to view the city from a different perspective, but also to rest your legs and enjoy the scenery in comfort.

Although there are various cruises available – romantic cruises, for example, or those including visits to particular attractions – a regular boat tour is free with the Salzburg Card .

Taking around 40 to 50 minutes, it includes a commentary in both German and English to help you learn more about the places you’re seeing. Eight kilometers long in total, the route takes you towards Hellbrunn, slightly beyond the limit of the city, then returns the way you came. The tour ends with the boat ‘waltzing in the river’ which is quite fun and definitely the most exciting part of this easy-going tour.

Good to know: Unless you book a timed ticket at an extra cost, you may not be able to find a spot for the next available cruise. So if you want to use the Salzburg Card for this, you have to stop by their ticket office by the river to reserve a place. We were lucky to just get on the next boat, but we were visiting outside the main season and we literally got the last spots. The boats quickly fill up in the summer.

While I find that a river cruise is something nice to do in Salzburg if you have plenty of time, it’s definitely not a must if your time is limited. I think it would be more enjoyable if you do it as part of this tour that includes the Hellbrunn Palace visit.

14. The Sound of Music Tours

It is hard to visit Salzburg without acknowledging its deep connection to the famous Hollywood movie ‘The Sound of Music’.

But even if you are not a fan, the bus tours are well worth taking as they include so many lovely places outside the city. Bicycle tours are also available, although these tend to concentrate more on the city itself and will often include places you will already see anyway.

Whilst there are several options available, most tours will take in iconic locations like Mirabell Gardens (with the Pegasus Fountain), Leopoldskron Palace (where the boating scene was filmed), the rebuilt Gazebo at Hellbrunn Palace, Nonnberg Abbey, and the wider Salzburg Lake District Area. The final destination is often Mondsee, where you can see the church in which Maria and Baron von Trapp were married in the movie.

TIP: This highly-rated bus tour is the most popular original Sound of Music tour in Salzburg.

15. Mozart Concerts

Mozart concerts with or without dinner are among the most popular things to do in Salzburg. You can opt for an all-in experience that includes a concert and a nice dinner, or just attend a concert (usually, in a very beautiful setting).

There are various options, and most of them are available almost daily throughout the year.

Here are the best Mozart concerts in Salzburg :

• Mozart classical concert at the Marble Hall of Mirabell Palace . This option doesn’t include dinner.
• Mozart Fortress concert with dinner at the staterooms inside the Hohensalzburg Fortress . You can also opt for the concert-only option here (so no dinner).
• Mozart concert with dinner – inside the Baroque Hall of St. Peter Abbey . If you are looking for a really good food experience too, this is the best option. Also, this is a more special experience with opera singers in costumes, etc.

16. Traditional Beer Gardens & Restaurants

While not something you can compare with visiting the famous landmarks, just as fun – and must-do in Salzburg – are the traditional beer gardens and restaurants .

This is just something so typical to the region and no trip would be complete without at least a quick drink at a Biergarten (beer garden) or a traditional Austrian meal at a Bierkeller (beer cellar).

One of the easiest-to-visit beer gardens in the center of Salzburg is Sternbräu , located between the main shopping street Getreidegasse and the river. Another popular choice (also a restaurant) is Augustiner bräu at an old cloister.

One of the oldest beer cellars in Salzburg is PitterKeller (1926) located in the basement of Imlauer Hotel Pitter. With dark-wood walls and traditional murals, it’s a real institution in Salzburg, a popular dining place for locals and tourists alike. If you plan to come for dinner (and definitely on weekends), it’s best to reserve in advance.

TIP: As an absolute minimum, you really can’t leave Salzburg without trying some pretzels . Locals seem to eat them at all times of day, and you’ll even find them served for breakfast at the hotels in the area. You can buy pretzels in bakeries, street-food stands, cafés etc. all over the city.

17. Salzburg Museums

In addition to all the main sights and attractions in Salzburg mentioned above, there are also many museums in the city. Many of them are included with the Salzburg Card as well and could make a nice addition to your itinerary.

However, I’d only recommend visiting most of them if you have more than 2 days in the city and/or are really interested in a specific museum. It’s also something nice to do in Salzburg when it rains or in winter when you might want to spend more time inside.

We visited a few of them and found that they weren’t really worth it on a short visit. Often, it’s better to spend more time in fewer places rather than trying to ‘see it all’. But if you do indeed have time to spare, here are some of the best museums in Salzburg (and included with the Salzburg Card):

• Salzburg Panorama . Located on Residenzplatz, this museum houses a giant 26 meters – long panorama painting depicting the city as it looked in 1829.
• Salzburg Christmas Museum. If you love Christmas, you’ll love this museum. Most exhibits date from mid 19th to the beginning of the 20th century.
• Salzburg Museum. Located in the Neue Residenz on Residenzplatz, this museum gives you insights into the art and history of Salzburg through a somewhat eclectic mix of exhibitions and multimedia installations.
• Museum of Modern Art at Mönchsberg . Contemporary art museum with works from the 20-21st centuries.
• Toy Museum. This interactive museum can be fun if you are looking to fill a few hours in Salzburg with kids.

17+. Explore beyond the city

No trip to Salzburg would be complete without seeing the beautiful surroundings. The area is stunning, with palaces and medieval castles, incredible mountain landscapes, and too many beautiful places to see to even try to mention them here.

Here are some of the most popular (half) day trips from Salzburg for first-time visitors:

• Hallstatt & Salzkammergut. Hallstatt is probably the most-photographed mountain village in the world, instantly recognizable for its picturesque lakeside church with a stunning mountain backdrop. This is one of the most visited places in Austria and the most popular day trip from Salzburg. See all the tour options here .
• Eagle’s Nest and Berchtesgaden. This is Adolf Hitler’s famous vacation home in the Bavarian Alps, right at the Austrian – German border, a very short ride from Salzburg. See tour options here .
• Berchtesgaden Salt Mines and underground lake. This is a really fun tour for the whole family. Not only do you get to visit the old salt mines, but also take a raft tour on the subterranean lake. You also see some amazing scenery of the Bavarian Alps (just over the border in Germany). See tour options here .

These are just the most popular options that you can visit with organized tours from Salzburg. If you have a car, the possibilities are almost endless.

Our kids absolutely loved Eisriesenwelt , the biggest ice cave in the world, as well as the birds of prey show at the Hohenwerfen Castle (tickets and more info here ). You can also visit the ice cave with a tour , but it’s rather expensive.

Another nice free attraction in Salzburg is Hangar-7 (aka Red Bull Hangar), just outside the city center. You can also consider Salzburg open-air museum which showcases 100 rebuilt farmhouses from the 16th century onward and includes a short train ride through the grounds (free with Salzburg Card ).

TIP: If you are visiting Salzburg in winter and are looking for something special to do in the beautiful area nearby, check out this horse carriage sleigh ride experience . In summer, there are also rafting tours available (both – beginner-level and white-water rafting). And, of course, you can simply visit the mountains, go hiking, and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Map of the Best Places to Visit in Salzburg

To help you plan your time in Salzburg, we created a map indicating all the best places to see in the city – see below.

TIP: If you are planning a short city trip to Salzburg and want to make the most of your time, take a look at our sample itineraries via the links below!

READ ALSO: 1 day in Salzburg & 2 days in Salzburg

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

Where to Stay for Sightseeing in Salzburg

Salzburg city center is really compact and walkable, so if you stay in the center, you can just walk to almost all the main sights. If you are traveling by train, you may want to stay closer to the station. And if you are visiting by car, make sure that your hotel offers car parking and reserve it in advance if possible.

One of the most convenient areas to stay in Salzburg for sightseeing is the area around the Mirabell Palace. This is also where we stayed – at IMLAUER HOTEL PITTER . The location is excellent, the hotel has a fantastic rooftop terrace, and a really nice traditional restaurant. We loved it.

Below are some of the& best-rated hotels in Salzburg for various budgets :

• €€€€€ Hotel Sacher Salzburg – the most luxurious hotel in the city (+ amazing river views).
• €€€€ Radisson Blu Hotel Altstadt – excellent price/quality in the heart of the old town.
• €€€+ Hotel Stein (adults only) – a nice 4* luxury hotel by the river (+wodnerful rooftop bar).
• €€€ Star Inn Gablerbräu – a very nice and simple 3* hotel – a great mid-budget option.
• €€ H+ Hotel Salzburg – a modern 4* hotel, with great customer reviews.
• € a&o Salzburg Hauptbahnhof – one of the nicest budget options.

TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels, apartments, and short-term rental accommodations in and around Salzburg. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see what’s available for your stay. Check it out!

So, this is our guide to the very best of Salzburg for first-time visitors. Whatever your passion – whether it be spectacular scenery, history, architecture, or music – you will find it all in this captivating Austrian city.

Have a great trip!

More travel inspiration for Austria:

• Best Things to Do in Tirol with Kids
• Top of Tyrol – Stubai Glacier
• Tiroler Zugspitz Arena in Summer
• Seebensee & Drachensee Hike
• Zillertal in Summer
• Olpererhütte Hike
• Hintertux Glacier & Nature’s Ice Palace
• Stubai Valley in Summer
• Schlick 2000 in Summer
• Almabtrieb in Austria

If you found this post useful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

More travel inspiration for European cities:

If you are visiting other European cities and are looking for in-depth information for your trip, take a look at some of our city guides:

• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Antwerp, Belgium
• Barcelona, Spain
• Bern, Switzerland
• Bologna, Italy
• Brasov, Romania
• Brussels, Belgium
• Bruges, Belgium
• Bucharest, Romania
• Colmar, France
• Edinburgh, UK
• Florence, Italy
• Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Krakow, Poland
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Liverpool, UK
• Lucerne, Switzerland
• Madrid, Spain
• Manchester, UK
• Milan, Italy
• Naples, Italy
• Paris, France
• Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
• Ravenna, Italy
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Rome, Italy
• Seville, Spain
• Siena, Italy
• Sintra, Portugal
• Toledo, Spain
• Venice, Italy
• Verona, Italy
• For more… check our destinations page.

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Friday 18th of August 2023

I love your blog posts and have used them many times! This one for Salzburg is perfect! Thank you for all the information and wonderful recommendation! Take care!!

Friday 25th of August 2023

Glad to help, Aliza, and thank you for the kind feedback. Happy travels!

21 of the Best Things to Do in Salzburg, Austria

Written By: Asher X Travel

Updated On: January 23, 2024

Whether you’re a music aficionado, a museum devotee, or a hiking enthusiast, Austria’s fourth-largest city, Salzburg offers something to captivate every traveler. There are so many things to do in Salzburg. This quaint, elegant, and picturesque city is known for being the birthplace of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as well as the primary filming location for the classic film, The Sound of Music. So are you ready to explore Salzburg? Let’s Go!

Table of Contents

Top Things to Do in Salzburg

With attractions such as the world-class Salzburg Old Town, The Golden Hall of Fortress Hohensalzburg, and iconic Mirabell Palace and Gardens, there are truly so many things to do when visiting Salzburg – so let’s get exploring.

Planning Your Trip To Salzburg Right Now?

Below are some of the top tours in Salzburg. Don’t forget to plan ahead when  visiting Salzburg!

Top Activities and Tours in Salzburg:

• Sound of Music Tour – Most Popular in Salzburg
• Half Day to Hallstatt – Best Day Trip
• Amphibious Audio Guided Tour – Likely to Sell Out
• Mozart Concert at Mirabell Palace – Highly Rated

1. Salzburger Altstadt (Old Town Salzburg)

Salzburg’s Old Town, also known as Salzburger Altstadt, is easily one of Europe’s most impressive old towns. Located on the left bank of the Salzach River , visitors can get lost for hours marveling at Salzburg’s beautifully preserved medieval and baroque architecture, as well as its narrow winding streets, vibrant atmosphere, and pastel-colored buildings.

With highlights such as Getreidegasse, Mozart’s Birthplace, Salzburg Cathedral, and Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburger Altstadt is filled to the brim with architectural treasures, charming boutiques, and important religious sights.

If you’ve also come to Austria to dabble in culinary delights, here’s the place to do it – as some of the country’s best cafes, restaurants, and beer gardens are located right here. In comparison to other old towns in Austria, such as Vienna, I can safely say that Salzburg’s Old Town is my favorite.

2. Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Mirabell Palace and Gardens is a striking Baroque palace complex loved by visitors for both its beauty and historic importance. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace was built as early as 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau and later expanded in the 18 th century. The Mirabell Palace currently serves as the municipal office for the Mayor and City Council of Salzburg but was originally used mostly as a pleasure palace.

Like many of Salzburg’s attractions, Mirabell Palace was designed with a few architectural styles in mind – namely, the Late Renaissance and Early Baroque styles. With eye-catching features such as its grand arched windows and use of marble as one of the palace’s primary materials, the exterior of Mirabell Palace is one of Salzburg’s impressive buildings.

Speaking of marble – inside the palace, visitors can find Marble Hall (otherwise known as Marmorsaal) – one of the Palace’s highlights. With its exquisitely gilded walls, stunning chandeliers, and tastefully decorated marble floor, the Marble Hall is regarded as one of the most beautiful halls in the world and is frequently used as a wedding hall and performance venue.

Pegasus Fountain

While strolling through Mirabell’s immaculately kept gardens, don’t forget to visit the Pegasus Fountain – an iconic symbol of Salzburg itself. The Pegasus Fountain features a statue of a mythical winged horse surrounded by the water fountain and is a popular spot for photographers. Other things to see around the Mirabell Gardens include the Rose Garden, Dwarf Garden, Hedge Theatre, and its many flowerbeds, sculptures, and enchanting pathways. You cannot visit Salzburg and not pay a visit here.

You might recognize the grounds of Mirabell Palace and Gardens if you’ve ever watched the 1965 movie, ‘The Sound of Music’. It’s here, at the grand staircase and the Pegasus Fountain, where the film’s famous ‘Do-Re-Mi’ scene was shot. Due to its appearance in the film, the Mirabell Palace and Gardens has gained international recognition as an instantaneously recognizable Hollywood location. If you are a fan of the movie then this Sound Of Music tour is right up your alley.

3. Fortress Hohensalzburg

Salzburg is a city full of breathtaking viewpoints, and Fortress Hohensalzburg is one of the best places for a truly unforgettable view. I visited around sunset time and as the sun began to set, the sky unfolded into a dreamy blend of purple, pink, and blue colors. From up there, you’ll also be able to witness Salzburg’s magical surrounding Alpine scenery, serving as the perfect background to the city’s stunning buildings.

With its origins tracing back as early as the 11 th century, history buffs will be left satisfied after visiting its extensive complex featuring chapels, dungeons, courtyards, and living quarters. Inside the Fortress, you can also explore the Fortress Museum – an opportunity to learn about the fortress in more depth by examining a range of artifacts, objects, weaponry, and historical exhibits.

Other highlights within the Fortress include the Marionette Museum, State Rooms, and Golden Chamber. Dedicate at least a few hours to explore these in detail, as they all represent an important piece of the city in Salzburg’s jigsaw puzzle of history.

Fortress Hohensalzburg, also known as Festung Hohensalzburg, is accessible by a short funicular ride or a steep hike. As a hiking enthusiast, I hiked it all the way to the top and would totally recommend it if you’re looking for a scenic workout.

4. Salzburg Cathedral

Known as Salzburger Dom by German speakers, the Salzburg Cathedral is an imposing baroque cathedral centrally located in the city’s Old Town. Because of its grand façade, rich history, and religious significance, it’s easily one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.

Salzburg Cathedral was originally constructed back in the 8 th century as a church dedicated to Saint Virgil of Salzburg, an Irish churchman known for his religious works during that time. The cathedral’s twin towers reach a height of approximately 81 metres (265 feet), and can be seen as a prominent feature of Salzburg’s skyline.

While the cathedral’s exterior is certainly memorable, visitors would be missing out if they didn’t enter inside. Featuring soaring ceilings and ornate decorations, the interior of Salzburg Cathedral is truly awe-inspiring (Especially since the roof did suffer damage in World War II). In particular, the opulent high altar, designed by artist Santino Solari, is considered a Baroque masterpiece.

The Salzburg Cathedral also has strong ties to music history, as one of its attendees, Mozart was baptized here in 1756. In fact, some of his early works were also performed in front of the church congregation – making it one of the first venues where Mozart’s pieces were ever unveiled. Salzburg Cathedral continues to serve as an active place of music and worship today as regular masses and religious ceremonies frequently take place here.

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of this fascinating cathedral, you can also visit the Cathedral Museum, which showcases a collection of religious art, historical artifacts, including objets d’art from the Salzburg archdiocese and liturgical items related to the Cathedral.

5. St Peter’s Abbey

Another religious building worth visiting, St Peter’s Abbey (also known as Stift St. Peter) differs from Salzburg Cathedral as it’s an ancient monastery that’s one of the oldest monastic establishments in the German-speaking world. In fact, St Peter’s Abbey’s origins trace back to the early 7 th century when it was established by Saint Rupert, the patron saint of Salzburg.

Although it looks relatively unassuming from the outside, St Peter’s Abbey is full of hidden treasures inside. A walk through the abbey’s complex would take you through to impressive structures such as the Abbey Church, Cemetery, Library and Long Gallery.

I found St Peter’s Cemetery and Catacombs to be especially interesting to visit. Not only was it a peaceful place to generally experience and stroll through, but it’s here that you can also find the final resting place for some of Salzburg’s most distinguished individuals – such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sister, Nannerl Mozart. 

St Peter’s Library is also well worth a visit as it houses some of Salzburg’s most important texts, such as medieval manuscripts, significant religious books, and other historic documents that have lasted multiple centuries. At various points of the year, St Peter’s Abbey also hosts artistic performances and other classical concerts.

6. DomQuartier Salzburg (UNESCO World Heritage site)

If you love museums, then the DomQuartier Salzburg should be one of the top things on your list of things to do in Salzburg. A series of interconnected buildings (including the Salzburg Cathedral), DomQuartier is also where you’ll find the Residenz, the former residence of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg.

As you tour the residences, take note of the intricate stucco work, beautiful tapestries, and immaculate furnishings. It’s here that visitors can also explore an extensive collection of European paintings from the Middle Ages right up to the 19 th century. For example, in the Residenz Gallery, art lovers will get the opportunity to examine artworks from names such as Rembrandt, Rubens, and Veronese, as well as local Salzburg artists.

In the Long Gallery, you’ll be able to find a collection of valuable sculptures and artifacts. A short walk through the terrace will lead you to panoramic views of Salzburg’s Old Town. While the elevation here isn’t quite as high as you’ll find in Fortress Hohensalzburg, this view offers a different perspective of Salzburg that you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the city.

DomQuartier was one of the most extensive museums I explored in all of Austria, and I found that it was extremely well-equipped to inform visitors of all languages through its use of audio guides, informative panels with different translations and helpful, knowledgeable staff.

7. Franziskanerkirche

Salzburg has no shortage of intricate religious buildings, and Francizkanerkirche, or the ‘Franciscan Church’, is yet another one. Built in the 8 th century, Franciscan Church displays a blend of architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque – a feature that it shares in common with other Salzburg icons such as the St Peter’s Abbey. This makes the church quite a unique one, as visitors will be able to notice the slight differences by examining features such as the stone carvings, soaring ceilings, graceful arches, stained glass windows and altars. 

The Franciscan Church was founded by St Maxiumus and his fellow monks and over the years has gone through major restoration and transformation, particularly between the 14 th and 15 th centuries.

The Franciscan Monastery (Franziskanerkloster) can be found right next to the church. As an active monastery, the Franziskanerkloster currently houses friars and continues to be a place of contemplation and study. A crypt also lies beneath the church, where the remains of noble families and distinguished individuals from Salzburg’s history are kept.

8. Mozart’s Birthplace

Known as ‘Mozarts Geburtshaus’ by locals, Mozart’s Birthplace is another must-do in Salzburg simply because of its historical significance. The birthplace of one of the world’s greatest composers and contributors in the history of music, this quaint yellow townhouse has since been transformed into an informative museum where visitors can explore Mozart’s personal belongings, musical instruments, family portraits, and other significant items across all three floors.

Mozart’s family townhouse was built in the 12 th century but was purchased by Mozart’s father, Leopold, much later in 1747. You can find the house on Geitreidegasse, a popular street that’s also on this list of 21 Things to do in Salzburg,

At Mozart’s Birthplace, you can even explore the very room where Mozart was born on 27 January 1756. The museum is well-aided by audio guides, informative displays, and other presentations which offer an even greater insight into Mozart’s stories life and musical development. I spent about an hour here learning about Mozart’s life – definitely a worthwhile stop.

Visitors are also able to buy a souvenir of their visit in the small gift shop, located within the townhouse. At the gift shop, you’ll be able to find a wide range of Mozart-related items, such as music recordings, books, and replicas of Mozart’s musical instruments.

9. Linzergasse

As one of Salzburg’s main pedestrian-only streets, Linzergasse is known for being a shopping haven amongst Salzburg’s historic buildings and picturesque architecture. You’ll find some of the city’s best boutiques, art galleries and speciality stores as you stroll down this famous street.

Along Linzergasse, visitors will also have the choice to dine at some of Salzburg’s most well-known cafés and restaurants. These include Café-Konditorei Fürst, Café Bazar and Triangel Restaurant. In particular, Café-Konditorei Fürst is known for inventing the original ‘Mozartkugel’, a chocolate covered confection consisting of pistachio, marzipan and nougat. It’s alternatively known as the ‘Mozart-Bonbon’, and is yep – you guessed it – dedicated to Mozart and his contributions to Salzburg.

It’s important to note than Linzergasse is more than just a street for shopping. It also served as a historically important trading route between Salzburg and the city of Linz. In fact, an exploration of Linzergasse’s surrounds may also lead you to encounter other Salzburg landmarks such as St Sebastian’s Church and Mozart’s Residence (Mozart-Wohnhaus). 

10. Old City Hall

Salzburg’s Old City Hall (‘Altes Rathaus’ in German) is an icon of Salzburg that you definitely can’t miss when exploring the Old Town. Constructed in the 14 th century, the Old City Hall is adorned with beautiful ornate windows and intricate decorations, as well as a prominent clock tower. It’s also another great example of both the Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles, a common theme among important buildings in the city.

The Old City Hall is traditionally where important business meetings and other administrative matters are handled, and it currently serves as the seat of the Salzburg City Council. It’s here that important historical assemblies, public announcements, proclamations, dignitary visits and historical celebrations have taken place (and continue to take place).

One of the Old City Hall’s highlights is the Carillon, a musical instrument comprising of a series of bells played by a keyboard mechanism. This striking feature can be found in the Old City Hall tower, specifically on the front façade facing the Mozartplatz. The Carillion is popular with visitors due to its collection of large bronze bells, each a different size and tuned to a specific pitch.

11. Mozartplatz

Salzburg boasts a lot of famous city squares, but Mozartplatz is my favorite because it features a grand bronze statue of Mozart at the center of the square. It’s transformed into somewhat of a pilgrimage site for music lovers and is an important reminder of just how valued Mozart and music are to the city.

The bronze statue was created by Austrian sculptor Ludwig Schwanthaler in 1842, and although it is the main attraction in Mozartplatz, there is still plenty to see and do here. Throughout the year, the square hosts open-air concerts, cultural festivals, and seasonal markets, attracting locals and tourists who visit to enjoy the charming atmosphere.

12. Residenzbrunnen and Residenzplatz

Yet another lively square in Salzburg worth visiting, the Residenzplatz is where visitors can find the Residenzbrunnen, also known as the Residenz Fountain. This fountain was designed by Italian sculptor Tommaso di Garone in 1661 and is today considered one of the finest baroque fountains in the country.

Visually striking the moment you see it, the Residenzbrunnen displays a stunning central marble column adorned with statues and figures that represent various mythological figures. At the top of the column, you’ll find a statue of a male figure holding a gold basin as water cascades down into the base of the fountain, creating an impressive show for onlookers. 

If you’re visiting close to Christmas time, the Residenzplatz is an excellent place to check out the famous Christmas markets in Austria. Also known as the ‘Christkindlmarkt’, the markets stretch out from the Residenzplatz through to the Cathedral Square (Domplatz) and other nearby squares. Also, be sure not to miss the Salzburg Christmas Museum if you love Christmas.

13. Glockenspiel

Founded on the façade of the New Residence building, which also houses the Salzburg Museum in Mozartplatz, the Glockenspiel is a unique musical instrument that has delighted visitors for centuries. Catch a scheduled performance and you’ll be treated to a presentation of familiar tunes and animated figurines.

More than just an entertaining show, watching the Glockenspiel is also a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Salzburg’s past. This is because the animated figurines depict scenes from Salzburg’s history and folklore, and they sometimes even include notable figures such as Mozart.

The Glockenspiel performs multiple times a day usually at the top of the hour – although you might have to hang around a few minutes, as when I visited, it played about 5 minutes later than it was expected to.

14. Salzach River

The Salzach River is a jade-colored waterway flowing through Salzburg that can be seen from various points in the city, including the Hohensalzburg Fortress and Winkler Terrace. Aside from being a pretty river to photograph, it serves as a natural border between Salzburg’s Old Town and the more modern parts of the city.

About 225km (140 miles) long, the Salzach River originates from the Austrian Alps, where it flows through picturesque valleys and towns before reaching the city of Salzburg. One of the best ways to experience the Salzach River is to embark on a riverboat cruise. These cruises typically take you through green spaces, recreational areas, and bridges and offer a unique perspective of Salzburg’s Old Town.

A popular way to experience the beauty of the Salzach River is to walk along Salzach Promenade. Also referred to as ‘Salzachufer’, the promenade is a scenic pedestrian pathway that runs along the perimeter of the river. Stretching several kilometres, visitors can enjoy the promenade’s pretty trees, decorated benchworks and greenery while taking in the riverside atmosphere.

15. Getreidegasse

Wander down the Getreidegasse, one of Salzburg’s most visited streets, and you’ll feel like you stepped back in time. Celebrated for its charming townhouses, elegant boutiques and enchanting cafes, a stroll through Getreidegasse’s cobbled streets gives you a good feel of what Salzburg is all about – architectural treasures and a whimsical atmosphere.

It’s at Getreidegasse where you’ll also find a collection of street performers, musicians and artists. Seeing that Salzburg is one of the world’s most famous musical cities, it should be no surprise that these street performers here are sometimes at a world-class level.

Getreidegasse is also home to other worthwhile Salzburg attractions such as Mozart’s Birthplace (previously mentioned on this list), the historic Goldener Hirsch Hotel, and The Old Pharmacy. You can also find unique house signs and facades along the street, making it a popular photography location too.

16. Café Tomaselli

Café Tomaselli is not just a pretty café in the heart of Salzburg – it’s practically an institution and an icon in its own right. This quaint café has been around for some 150 years and is one of the oldest establishments that still exist in the city.

Originating in 1705, Café Tomaselli has been delighting visitors for centuries through its delicious pasties, renowned coffee and peaceful ambiance. Designed with an elegant, old-world charm in mind, guests are immediately transported to an era gone by as they sit down and enjoy the Café’s famous food.

This is a great spot to people-watch, read the newspaper and just hang out. It’s been said that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself spent a lot of time here working on his music. I would recommend ordering the café’s delicious cakes, such as its Esterhazy cake and apple strudel, along with a cup of wonderful Austrian coffee.

Just opposite Café Tomaselli, you can also find Kiosk Tomaselli, an extension of the café. With its leafy trees and colourful umbrella shades, dining at Kiosk Tomaselli is perfectly suited for the summer.

17. Winkler Terrace/M32 Café

Formerly known as Winkler Terrace, this panoramic viewpoint is now known as the M32 Café. One of the most trendy café and rooftop bars in Salzburg, the M32 Café can be found on the top floor of the Museum der Moderne Salzburg and is truly a must-see for any visitor in Salzburg.

Although the views from Hohensalzburg Fortress are equally as amazing, the main point of difference in comparison to the view at M32 Café is that you can actually see the grandeur of the fortress from the latter viewpoint.

Hence, this is possibly the most scenic viewpoint in all of Salzburg as from this vantage point, you’ll be able to see Salzburg’s Old Town in its entirety. I’ll admit that the food and drinks at M32 Café are a little expensive, but given the magnificent panorama in front of you, it’s still totally worth it to spend a few hours here. My recommendations at M32 Café include their apple strudel, sachertorte and their range of cheesecakes. The café offers both indoor and outdoor seating areas, making it a great choice no matter the season.

Once you’re done taking in the views, spend some time exploring the Museum der Moderne Salzburg on the lower floors. This renowned museum features contemporary artworks from the 20 th and 21 st centuries – showcasing a diverse range of sculptures, installations, photographs, and paintings from both Austrian and international artists. The Museum der Moderne Salzburg is quite unique in the sense that it features modern work, in contrast to other nearby Salzburg museums which feature more historical works.

18. Love Lock Footbridge/Makartsteg

The Makartsteg, also known as the Love Lock Footbridge, is a pedestrian bridge that serves as a sort of entry point into Salzburg’s Old Town. Named after the celebrated Austrian painter Hans Makart, the bridge serves as one of the best ways to see the Salzach River.

Because of its beautiful surroundings that include both Salzburg’s charming buildings and the gorgeous Salzach River, there is an undeniable romantic atmosphere as you cross the bridge. Over the years, couples started to attach colorful padlocks onto the railings of the bridge as a symbol of their everlasting love.

These ‘love locks’ have become so popular that the railings of the bridge are now completely covered in colorful locks, serving as a heart-warming reminder of Salzburg’s romantic qualities.

19. Collegiate Church

The Collegiate Church has many different names so it can be a little tricky to find if you’re just inputting one name into your navigation app. Just for reference, it’s also referred to as the ‘Kollegienirche’ or ‘Holy Trinity Church’ (try all of them if one of the names doesn’t work). This Baroque church was first constructed in 1694 and wasn’t finished until 1707. Characterized by its curved forms, specific ornamentation, and use of lighter colors, the Collegiate Church is one of the few examples in Salzburg of architecture that is distinctively Baroque – as opposed to other churches in Salzburg, which were built with a blend of architectural styles in mind).

One of the differences between the Collegiate Church and other churches such as Salzburg Cathedral or the Franciscan Church is its use of marble columns and specific types of ceiling frescoes. The ceilings were painted by renowned artist Johann Michael Rottmayr and depict very detailed visuals relating to the Holy Trinity.

Additionally, the Collegiate Church is especially known for its great acoustics for choral singing and classical music, making it a popular venue for musical performances and concerts in Salzburg.

20. Hallstatt

One of the most popular day trip spots from Salzburg, the charming lakeside town of Hallstatt is only 75 kilometres, or 46 miles, from the city. Hallstatt can be reached after a 1.5 hour car ride, and is an unmissable destination if you’re staying in Salzburg for more than a few days.

Undoubtedly in the top echelon of things to do in all of Austria, Hallstatt has garnered mass popularity across social media platforms over the years for its ridiculously picturesque town, Alpine scenery, enchanting lake and range of activities on offer. In fact, you may have already seen images of Hallstatt already on wallpapers, screensavers or framed print photos – that’s how beautiful it really is.

When in Hallstatt, don’t miss out on doing the Hallstatt Skywalk – a scenic viewpoint offering 360-degree vistas of Hallstatt’s surroundings. Another must-do attraction is the Hallstatt Salt Mine. The town has historically been an important hub for salt trading, and the Salt Mines provide a great opportunity for visitors to explore its underground tunnels, wooden slides and learn more about the salt extraction process.

For a slightly more macabre – but extremely interesting experience – visit the Hallstatt Bone House (Beinhaus), where you can find a collection of intricately decorates bones and skulls housed in a picturesque small chapel.

Of course, it’s impossible not to take in the breathtaking sight of Hallstatt Lake from Hallstatt town. Commonly regarded as one of the prettiest lakes in the country, the lake is perfect for boating, swimming and other water activities in the summer. It’s also easy to take a tour of the lake by boat, where you’ll be able to take in the beauty of Hallstatt town from the water.

21. Saint Gilgen

Given its strategic location in Austria, Salzburg serves as a fantastic jumping point to some of Austria’s best destinations. Some of these day trip options include charming Alpine villages such as Zell am See, Wolfgangsee and Mondsee. Although all these destinations are worth a visit, my favorite was the quaint village of Saint Gilgen.

Less than a 40-minute bus ride from Salzburg, visiting Saint Gilgen is the perfect way to get properly acquainted with Austria’s one-of-a-kind alpine scenery. With Wolfgangsee Lake as its majestic centerpiece, the village of Saint Gilgen elegantly unfolds itself all the way to the towering mountains.

Its well-preserved historic village center features some of the prettiest architecture I have seen in Austria, and I spent hours just strolling through the charming traditional buildings and colorful facades.

In the summer, Saint Gilgen is another popular place to go boating or engage in other water sports activities. Because of its natural beauty and crystal-clear lake water, kayaking, paddleboarding, row boating or swimming are all recommended during this season.

How to get to Salzburg?

The easiest way to get to Salzburg is to fly to W. A. Mozart Airport, which is just 4 kilometers away from the city center. Salzburg Airport is well-connected to larger European cities such as London, Berlin , Düsseldorf, Istanbul, and Frankfurt, and you can readily find flights on popular airlines such as Lufthansa, British Airways, SAS, and Turkish Airlines.

However, given its location close to the border of Germany in Austria’s west region, Salzburg is actually most easily accessible from the German city of Munich . Munich Airport is a much busier airport than Salzburg Airport and offers many more connections to destinations not just in Europe, but around the world. From Munich, taking the train takes you less than 2 hours to get to Salzburg.

Salzburg is also well-connected by international train services from major cities such as Zurich , Budapest, Prague and Bratislava.

If you’re arriving from Austria’s capital, Vienna, there are a range of train options you can take. Trains typically take around 2.5 or 4 hours and can be purchased online beforehand on the ÖBB Website .

Final Thoughts on Salzburg

Salzburg is a uniquely beautiful city that has undoubtedly captured my heart. With its rich musical roots, elegant architecture, grandiose religious structures, and charming streets, there is truly no shortage of things to do in Salzburg.

To get a true sense of Salzburg’s beauty, I would recommend staying at least 4 days in the city. This will give you the opportunity to spend a couple of days exploring Salzburg’s treasures while also allowing enough time to venture out on some unforgettable day trips in the surrounding area.

The easiest way to get around Salzburg is by renting a car, although Austria’s excellent public transportation system should be easy enough to navigate that you’ll be able to see most of the city’s sights without a car – it just might require a bit more time and planning.

The 24 Best Things to do in Vienna, Austria

• Best Day Trips from Munich
• Best Places to Celebrate Christmas Around the World

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they have the best flight deals.

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor.

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Safety Wing - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About Asher X Travel

Avid writer, hiking enthusiast, daydreaming lyricist and perennial traveller with chronic wanderlust. Asher is a lawyer who traded writing contracts for crafting travel guides and itineraries on his blog,  Beyond The Bay.  A full-time travel content creator that’s been featured on several award-winning travel websites, Asher’s motivation is to make travel easier for those on a busy working schedule .  When he’s not blogging, you can probably find him chilling on a tropical beach or writing a song - or both!  Connect with Asher on Instagram   / Facebook   / TikTok   / YouTube  

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1 thought on “21 of the Best Things to Do in Salzburg, Austria”

Austria is my one of the favorite place because I like spend lot of my time on there local stress and visiting unique place have you mention in your blog. This blog send me to my Austria vacation memories and I recollecting them so nice days.!!

Must-see attractions in Salzburg

Schloss Hellbrunn

A prince-archbishop with a wicked sense of humour, Markus Sittikus, built Schloss Hellbrunn in the early 17th century as a summer palace and an escape…

Festung Hohensalzburg

Salzburg's most visible icon is this mighty, 900-year-old clifftop fortress, one of the biggest and best preserved in Europe. It's easy to spend half a…

The crowning glory of Salzburg's DomQuartier, the Residenz is where the prince-archbishops held court until Salzburg became part of the Habsburg Empire in…

Salzburg Museum

Housed in the baroque Neue Residenz palace, this flagship museum takes you on a fascinating romp through Salzburg past and present. Ornate rooms showcase…

Schloss Mirabell

Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich built this splendid palace in 1606 to impress his beloved mistress, Salome Alt. It must have done the trick because she…

Rising above Salzburg and straddling the German border is the rugged 1853m peak of Untersberg. Spectacular views of the city, the Rositten Valley and the…

Erzabtei St Peter

A Frankish missionary named Rupert founded this abbey-church and monastery in around 700, making it the oldest in the German-speaking world. Though a…

Museum der Moderne

Straddling Mönchsberg’s cliffs, this contemporary glass-and-marble oblong of a gallery stands in stark contrast to the fortress, and shows first-rate…

Gracefully crowned by a bulbous copper dome and twin spires, the Dom stands out as a masterpiece of baroque art. Bronze portals symbolising faith, hope…

Mozart-Wohnhaus

Tired of the cramped living conditions on Getreidegasse, the Mozart family moved in 1773 to this roomier abode, where the prolific Wolfgang composed works…

Mozart's Geburtshaus

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg’s most famous son, was born in this bright-yellow town house in 1756, and spent the first 17 years of his life here…

Stift Nonnberg

A short climb up the Nonnbergstiege staircase from Kaigasse or along Festungsgasse brings you to this Benedictine convent, founded 1300 years ago and made…

Residenzplatz

With its horse-drawn carriages, palace and street entertainers, this stately baroque square is the Salzburg of a thousand postcards. Its centrepiece is…

The Dommuseum is a treasure trove of sacred art. A visit whisks you past a cabinet of Renaissance curiosities crammed with crystals, coral and oddities…

On the right bank of the Salzach River, this narrow, cobbled lane was, incredibly, the main trade route to Italy in medieval times. Look out for the 13th…

Haus der Natur

Kids can bone up on dinosaurs and alpine crystals in Haus der Natur's natural history rooms, gawp at snakes and crocs in the reptile enclosure, and spot…

Friedhof St Sebastian

Tucked behind the baroque Sebastianskirche (St Sebastian’s Church), this peaceful cemetery and its cloisters were designed by Andrea Berteleto in…

Freilichtmuseum

Outside Salzburg, near Untersberg, the open-air Freilichtmuseum harbours around 100 archetypal Austrian farmhouses, evoking the crafts and trades of yore…

Schloss Leopoldskron

The grand rococo palace of Schloss Leopoldskron is where the lake scene was filmed in The Sound of Music. Its Venetian Room was the blueprint for the…

Spielzeugmuseum

On the arcaded Bürgerspitalplatz, the Spielzeugmuseum takes a nostalgic look at toys, with its collection of dolls' houses and Steiff teddies. There’s…

Sound of Music World Museum

If you're mad about The Sound of Music, this museum will appeal. It spills the beans on different aspects of the making of the movie, as well as providing…

Domgrabungsmuseum

Map out the city’s past with a look at the rocks in this subterranean archaeology museum beside the Dom. Particularly of interest are fragments of Roman…

Mozartplatz

On this stately baroque square, Mozart is literally and metaphorically put on a pedestal. The square hums with street entertainers and the clip-clop of…

In the heart of the Altstadt, the Rupertinum is the sister gallery of the Museum der Moderne and is devoted to rotating exhibitions of modern art. There…

Dreifältigkeitskirche

Baroque master Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach designed this graceful church on the city's right bank. It's famous for Johann Michael Rottmayr’s dome…

Franziskanerkirche

A real architectural hotchpotch, Salzburg’s Franciscan church has a Romanesque nave, a Gothic choir with rib vaulting and a baroque marble altar (one of…

Salzburg Zoo

Kids can come face to face with lions, flamingos and alpine ibex at the Salzburg Zoo, near Schloss Hellbrunn at the foot of Hellbrunn's cliffs. The zoo is…

Christmas Museum

If you wish it could be Christmas every day, swing on over to this museum. The private collection brings festive sparkle in the form of advent calendars,…

Residenzbrunnen

The showpiece of baroque Residenzplatz is this enormous marble fountain ringed by four water-spouting horses and topped by Triton bearing a conch shell.

Pferdeschwemme

Designed by Fischer von Erlach in 1693, this is a horse-lover’s delight, with rearing equine pin-ups surrounding Michael Bernhard Mandl’s statue of a…

A real attention-grabber on Kapitelplatz, this gigantic golden globe by German artist Stephan Balkenhol is topped by a statue of a man.

Spirit of Mozart

An ode to Salzburg's most famous son, this public artwork puts Mozart on a pedestal – well, metaphorically speaking anyway. The work of Serbian…

Mozart – Eine Hommage

Tucked away on Ursulinenplatz is Markus Lüpertz’ Mozart – Eine Hommage. This abstract sculpture shows the composer with one arm and a pigtail. What…

Festungsbahn

The fast route to the hilltop fortress, the Festungsbahn funicular whisks you up to Festung Hohensalzburg in a matter of minutes, saving you the legwork…

Mozart Ton-und Filmsammlung

Under the same roof as the Mozart-Wohnhaus, but accessed separately, is this film and music archive of interest to the ultra-enthusiast, with some 25,000…

Kollegienkirche

Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach’s grandest baroque design is this late-17th-century university church, with a striking bowed facade. The high altar’s…

Numbers in the Woods

Hidden in the trees atop wooded Mönchsberg, these 21 neon numbers are the handiwork of Italian artist Mario Merz, who created them in 2003. They glow…

Constanze Mozart Memorial

Look out for the memorial plaque at No 8, the house where Mozart’s beloved wife Constanze died. It's tucked away in the corner of Mozartplatz.

This oval-shaped tower with a window to the sky is the brainchild of American artist James Turrell, whose work reveals an obsession with light and space.

Making a graceful leap across the Salzach River, the Art Nouveau–style Mozartsteg is named after the city's most famous son.

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Visit Salzburg: Top 17 Things To Do and Must-See Attractions

Things to do in salzburg : the 17 best places to visit and highlights.

You want to visit Salzburg , in Austria , and you’re looking for the best places to visit?

You’re at the right place!

The hometown of Mozart is famous for its historical center listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , castles and many museums .

In order to help you plan your stay , I have prepared for you this guide of the 17 best places to visit in Salzburg , with all points of interest and must-see attractions.

In addition to this list of things to do and activities, I will also give you itineraries to visit Salzburg in 1, 2, or 3 days as well as my selection of the best accommodations depending on your budget.

So, what are the best things to do in Salzburg? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

1. Hohensalzburg Fortress

2. nonnberg abbey, 3. st peter’s abbey, 4. salzburg st. rupert cathedral, 5. the domquartier in salzburg, 6. mozart’s birthplace, 7. getreidegasse, 8. mirabell castle, 9. hellbrunn palace, 10. best things to do in salzburg with kids: visit the salzburg zoo, 11. salzburg museums, 12. the salzburg festival, 13. boat trip on the salzach, 14. best things to do in salzburg at night, 15. hohenwerfen castle, 16. hallein salt mine, 17. daytrips from salzburg, 18. sports activities in and around salzburg, how many days to spend in salzburg, salzburg in 1 day, salzburg in 2 days, where to stay in salzburg, where to eat in salzburg, how to get to salzburg, salzburg tourist map, you’re traveling in austria these articles will help you, visiting salzburg: 17 must-see attractions.

When it comes to the must-see attractions in Salzburg, Hohensalzburg Fortress unquestionably takes the top spot.

Overlooking the entire city , this fortress whose construction began in the early 11th century (and ended five centuries later) is one of Europe’s most well preserved castles.

Originally serving as protection for the entire principality and the archbishops against hostile attacks. It perfectly fulfilled its purpose since it remained untouched during its ten centuries of existence!

Nowadays, you can visit the inner part of Hohensalzburg and discover among others the Golden Hall and Golden Chamber . An absolute must-see for its magnificent Gothic wood carvings!

Oh, and if you’re looking for thrills, you can also take a look at the dungeons and torture chambers .

Two museums , the Festungsmuseum and the Rainermuseum within the Castle will also teach you about the life of the princes archbishop and Austrian army over the centuries.

You’ll also enjoy a perfect view of all of Salzburg from the fortress .

Finally, if you’re wondering what to do at night in Salzburg , you really should attend one of the many classical music concert given in the fortress. You should <a1>book your tickets by clicking directly here</a1> !

Hohensalzburg Fortress is located on top of a hill so feel free to catch the funicular from the Festungsgasse alley to get there. The view is really nice. You’ll also find a path that gets you directly to the top of the fortress… if you’re the energetic type.

If you plan on visiting Salzburg, you should get the Salzburg Card (I’ll explain it in detail further below). It includes the Funicular ride and visit to Hohensalzburg Fortress .

Save time and purchase it in advance by clicking on the green button below:

If you don’t want to get the Salzburg pass, you should still buy your entrance ticket to the fortress in advance by clicking here !

Nonnberg Abbey , another major tourist site in Salzburg is a 10-minute walk from the fortress, at the base of the hill.

The baroque-style abbey houses sumptuous 12th century frescoes and offers a stunning view of the Alps.

It is however mostly famous around the world for having inspired the hugely popular Hollywood flick “The Sound of Music” .

The film focuses on the true story of Maria, a Nonnberg convent’s novice sent to Baron Von Trapp, a wealthy widower, to look after his 7 children.

After breaking her vows, Maria would eventually marry him and become Baroness Von Trapp. If you want to know the rest of the story, you should then give a go to this classic piece of cinema.

The film brought international recognition to Salzburg and every year more than 300,000 visitors wander the city in search of the filming locations.

Besides the abbey, “The Sound of Music” was also shot at Mirabell Castle and Leopoldskron Castle .

To experience the story of the Von Trapp family during your visit to Salzburg you should definitely book a guided tour of the filming locations now .

Another must-see edifice in Salzburg is St. Peter’s Abbey.

Founded in 696, it’s one of the oldest Austrian Benedictine monasteries .

Just next to the abbey, you’ll find St. Peter’s Church . Throughout the centuries, it has undergone multiple rebuilds due to fires, resulting in a captivating fusion of Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles. The overall look is extremely appealing, both inside and out.

Within the Abbey, you’ll also find “Stiftskeller St. Peter,” a remarkable restaurant featuring a stunning hall where delightful dinner concerts showcasing the musical genius of Mozart are regularly performed by artists dressed in period costumes. A truly immersive experience!

The restaurant’s menu consists of traditional recipes from the 17 th and 18 th centuries . If you are interested in experiencing an original and quality evening during your trip in Salzburg, you should book your seats by clicking the button below :

During your stay, you should also pause by the cemetery right next door, where you will find the tombstones of famous Austrian artists, scholars and celebrities , including Mozart’s sister .

Don’t forget to explore the fascinating local catacombs that date back to the classical era.

To stay on the topic of religious monuments not to be missed in Salzburg , you should also give Salzburg St. Rupert’s Cathedral a go.

It’s the most important religious edifice in the city .

The cathedral, built from the seventeenth century onwards in the Baroque style, is actually the place where Mozart was baptized .

He also volunteered there as the church’s organ player for a few years. Nowadays it holds the relics of St. Rupert and many archbishops’ graves .

With its imposing marble facade and two towers , it is also a very photogenic place to check out in Salzburg. So don’t hold back, and spend some time there during your stay in this city.

Admission is included in the Salzburg Card but if you don’t want the card, you can also book :

• A ticket for the cathedral visit + audioguide
• A guided tour of the cathedral
• Your seat for the organ concert in the cathedral at midday (concert + entrance ticket)

Another must-see place of interest in Salzburg, the DomQuartier . Located just 2 steps from the cathedral at the Residenzplatz , it’s one of Salzburg’s major cultural and tourist attractions.

The DomQuartier is a distinctly modern touristic area as it brings together several museums in various historical sites . A single admission ticket gives you access to 5 museums .

Visiting the DomQuartier allows you to discover:

• The Princes Archbishop’s Residence and its sumptuous ceremonial rooms.
• The Residence Gallery and its fine collection of European paintings.
• The terrace on the arcades with its unique viewpoint of Salzburg.
• The gallery of the organ of the Dome
• The Dom Museum
• The Cabinet of curiosities
• Saint Peter’s Museum.

The tour is extremely well organized and exceedingly interesting . It allows you to explore the historical sites and learn more about the history of Salzburg and its princes archbishop.

Allow about 2 hours for the visit. Admission is free with the Salzburg Card .

If you don’t take the card, you should still book your ticket + audio guide to visit the DomQuartier by clicking here !

You’re going to Salzburg?

You probably know it: the hardest part of planning your trip is to find an hotel offering a good value for money!

The closer you get to your travel dates, the harder it will be to get a good deal. Lots of people will be visiting Salzburg on the same dates as you , so you can be sure that the best deals are booked extremely quickly!

Hopefully, there is a pretty simple solution to this problem: do like me and book your hotel as early as possible!

So, my best advice is to take 5 minutes (now) to have a look at the list of travelers’ favorite hotels in Salzburg.

And if you see a good offer, book it!

Most hotels offer free cancellation, so it’s quick, easy, and you will avoid the the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.

To check the current best deals for your hotel in Salzburg, simply click on the green button below 😎:

Once you’ve booked your hotel, it will be time to continue reading this guide and find out more about the best things to do in Salzburg!

During your Salzburg tour, go take a look at #9 on Getreidegasse . There you’ll find Mozart’s birthplace .

His parents moved there in 1747 and it was on January 27, 1756 that his mother gave birth to the not-yet-but-soon-to-be famous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He would spend all of his childhood and part of his adolescence in this house before moving with his parents a little further down the road to Mamkartplatz.

Mozart later moved to Vienna , where he died on December 7, 1791.

The house is now a 3-story museum .

Here you will find portraits of the famous composer, musical instruments that belonged to him as well as varius furniture and artefacts re-creating a classical interior from the 18th century period.

Admission is included with the Salzburg Card .

If you have an interest in Mozart’s life , you also grab the opportunity to book a reservation (click on the orange link for info):

• A private Mozart-themed tour including admission to his birthplace.
• A guided walking tour of Salzburg featuring an introduction to the old city and the history of Mozart.

One of the most beautiful streets in the old town of Salzburg is the Getreidegasse , and this is where you’ll find Mozart’s birthplace (as mentionned above).

With its hand forged iron signs (even the local McDonald’s has its own!), traditional houses and arched passageways, the street has a very authentic feel to it and is the perfect place to stroll in Salzburg.

There you’ll find many traditional stores, major fashion brands , boutiques selling the region’s local and typical products and obviously loads of cafes and restaurants .

The perfect place to go for a little shopping break in Salzburg .

If you want to thoroughly visit Salzburg and in particular want to learn more about its history , you can also book a guided walking tour of the city .

The tour lasts 2 1/2 hours , enough time for you to wander around the old town and especially the Getreidegasse. 

Visiting Salzburg also means discovering Mirabell Castle and its gardens . You can get there from Getreidegasse by taking the Makartsteg pedestrian bridge .

It’s construction started in 1606 by order of Prince Archbishop Wolf for his mistress Salome Alt. The name “Mirabell” meaning “admirable” and “beautiful”, the Prince was definitely a seducer!

This sublime Baroque structure now houses the mayor’s and the city’s administration offices. You can still get in to gaze at the Marble Hall , a majestic room ranked among the most beautiful wedding venues in the world (if you know a Prince that wants to get married, tell him about the place).

Mozart gave a few concerts there in his days and the castle also served as a decor for the world-renowned “The Sound of Music” movie.

To perpetuate its musical tradition it now hosts philharmonic orchestras like Vienna’s or Berlin’s.

If you want to hear Mozart’s works played by talented musicians in a sumptuous setting , don’t wait any longer and book your tickets in advance here .

You can also get a combo with dinner at the Grand Sheraton’s Mirabell Restaurant + classical concert night at Mirabell Castle. Just click on this link to book !

It’s not only the castle you get to enjoy at Mirabell, the gardens are just as magnificent . Along with the view over the cathedral and fortress , the place is truly a must-see in Salzburg .

As you walk through the gardens, you’ll be able to enjoy:

• The Pegasus Fountain
• The Great Fountain and its 4 statues as symbolic of the 4 elements.
• The hedge theater , one of the oldest theaters of greenery in existence.
• The rose garden
• The orangery
• The Dwarf Garden , consisting of 28 white marble dwarves, the garden’s main attraction at the time.

To visit Salzburg and easily get from one place of interest to another, you should book a ticket for the multi-stop bus that runs throughout the city.

It passes by Mirabell Castle and the Hellbrun Palace .

You will also be provided with an audio guide .

Book your ticket for the Salzburg sightseeing bus now by clicking here!

Hellbrunn Palace lies south of Salzburg, at the foot of the Hellbrunner Berg.

Built in 1612 to serve as the summer residence of one of the princes archbishop , it is one of the most lavish examples of Renaissance-style architecture .

You can visit the Palace’s interior but there’s not much to see. The main attraction is its immense garden and hugely popular water games .

To impress and especially entertain his guests the archbishop had a whole mechanized show on the theme of water installed in his garden .

There you’ll find many animated fountains and more than 200 automated machines handling tools or musical instruments in an attempt at reproducing the city’s everyday life of the time. The caves of Neptune and Venus are a must-see.

The garden is the perfect place for a family outing in Salzburg. In addition to the water features, there is a large playground for kids and plenty of trails to walk around or just relax.

Access to the garden is free.

Voyage Tips - Advice To get to Hellbrun Castle, take bus line 25 . You’ll find one of this line’s bus stop next to Mozart’s birthplace. The journey to the garden takes about 15 minutes.

The Salzburg Zoo is adjacent to Hellbrunn Palace. It was built on the former archbishop’s game park grounds.

The zoo will be a delight for the whole family with over 1,200 animals and 140 different species .

You’ll be able to say hello to a few lions, linx and even white rhinos if you’re lucky. The 14 hectares (35 acres) park is well designed and divided into different areas for each continent. It is well maintained and the animals do not seem (too) cramped.

Following the visit to the water works, this is the perfect place to carry on your family day out . Allow approximately 2 hours for the visit.

Admission to the zoo is included with the Salzburg Card .

The city of Salzburg boasts plenty of other interesting museums in addition to the ones I’ve already mentioned.

I have prepared a list to help you organize your visits in accordance with your own personal preferences:

• The Natural History Museum and its exhibits ranging from the dinosaurs to the human body, physical sciences and even aeronautics. A very entertaining and interactive museum.
• The Salzburg Museum of Modern Art and its collection of works from the 20 th and 21 th centuries.
• The Salzburg Museum focusing on the history of the city and its residents.
• Hangar-7 and its collection of planes, helicopters and even Formula 1 cars.

If you were wondering what to do in Salzburg when it’s raining , you now have a good set of options!

The Salzburg Festival is one of the most famous festivals in the world .

Held annually in the summer, it features opera/theater performances and classical music concerts. The world’s top artists perform here each year to the delight of the spectators.

With more than 200 performances given over a 90-day time frame, it’s a marathon! Its richness and diversity are internationally praised.

You could attend “The Magic Flute” by Mozart or a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra during this spectacular event.

Shows are performed primarily in the Grand Palace of Festivities, Mozart’s House, the Felsenreitschule (litteraly rocks riding school) and on the Cathedral plaza .

If you have decided to go to Salzburg in the summer it’s a must-see!

For a little quiet stroll in Salzburg, I recommend taking a mini-cruise on the Salzach, the river that winds through the city. An excellent way for you to discover the city’s numerous monuments from another angle .

Several Salzburg cruises available: 1) The classic tour which takes about 40 minutes. Book this Salzburg boat trip here:

2) Mini-cruise + visit to Hellbrunn Castle package.

Departing from Salzburg, the boat will take you to the Hellbrunn quay where a double-decker bus will be waiting to drop you off at the castle entrance. Interior tour + 1 priority access to the garden fountains included in the package .

After your visit, you will be taken back to Salzburg the same way you came.

Book your boat ride in Salzburg + visit to Hellbrunn now by clicking on the button below:

3) Cruise + dinner and concert in the Hohensalzburg Fortress

This package includes a 40 minutes cruise and the funicular ride to the fortress. You’ll then be seated in the panoramic restaurant to enjoy an exquisite dinner followed by a concert dedicated to Mozart .

You can also book your cruise + concert only (dinner not included) by clicking here !

4) Cruise in an amphibious vehicle (+ audio guide)

If you want an alternative suggestion for a night activity in Salzburg , you should definitely try out the ghost-themed tour !

You’ll get to know all the dark legends of the city as you set out on a witch hunt and learn more about the fun and inventive torture methods they used in medieval times.

To book this activity in Salzburg, click here!

Best things to do in Salzburg

If you’ve decided to stay for a few days in Salzburg , you can also use the time you have to visit the neighborhood .

Here’s my advice on the best things to do around Salzburg

At this point, if you are not fed up with visiting castles then you should definitely check out Hohenwerfen Castle .

It’s a 40-minute drive south of Salzburg.

You’ll find among other things the royal apartments, the arsenal, a chapel, the dungeon and the torture room of this 11th century castle . It also features several exhibits including one on its history and a digital, interactive exhibit on the wizarding world.

Unique feature: the castle is also home to the historic Salzburg Falconry . It houses a dedicated museum and offers flying demonstrations of birds of prey such as eagles and falcons.

Since the castle is a really touristy site and one of the most visited around Salzburg, remember to book your entrance ticket in advance . You’ll have the choice of going up with or without the funicular and the audio guide is included:

It’s a must-see around Salzburg, especially if you’ve decided to bring your kids along in Austria . The Hallein Salt Mine is a 20-minute drive from Salzburg.

The mine visit provides an opportunity to learn all about the salt extraction process through a guided tour of the tunnels. All and all a very fun and playful visit since you’ll first ride the mine train that will take you into the depths of the mine.

You’ll then go down a 50-meter slide to access the underground lake where a boat awaits you for a small cruise embellished by a digital sound and light show .

You’ll wrap up the experience with a tour of the Celtic village of Hallein .

Purchase your tickets to the salt mine by clicking the button below:

When departing from Salzburg, you’ll be spoilt for choice if you want to go on a day trip in the surrounding area.

They all include return transportation to Salzburg and guide for 1 day.

I’ve selected the best ones for you below. Just click on the links highlighted in orange to get all the information, rates and proceed with the reservation :

• Half Day Excursion to Hallstatt – Stroll through this charming, picturesque village and get to enjoy its superb lakefront.
• From Salzburg: lakes and mountains in the Salzkammergut – Explore the mountainous region around Salzburg and discover Lake Wolfgang on a boat trip.
• Combined excursion to Hallstatt and Salzkammergut – A perfect blend of the previous 2 excursions, without the lake cruise.
• Tour of Berchtesgaden salt mines and underground lake – Transportation included. Same as for the Hallein Salt Mine with a guide here to tell you all about the salt extraction process. Mine slides and boat ride on the underground lake included.
• From Salzburg: visit Kehlsteinhaus and Berchtesgaden – Discover the Bavarian Alps and the “Eagle’s Nest”, vacation home of the infamous Adolf Hitler.
• Combined excursion of the salt mines + Eagle’s Nest – A combination of the 2 excursions above.
• Combined excursion to salt mines + Salzkammergut – Sightseeing in Berchtesgaden + cruise on Lake Wolfgang.

In addition to the typical tourist visits, you can take advantage of your stay in Salzburg to indulge in some great activities :

• A 15 to 30 minute paragliding initiation to contemplate the Austrian landscape from way up above
• A paragliding flight from Mount Gaisberg starting at 1,287 meters above sea level
• A paragliding initiation flight from Mount Bischling at an elevation of 1,834 meters
• A paragliding initiation in thermal flight with twists and turns and acrobatics (still at Mount Bischling)
• Canyoning – Beginner Level 
• Canyoning – Intermediate level
• Canyoning – Advanced Level / And for the experts among you, you should absolutely try canyoning in the Fischbach Gorge. Book here !
• A rafting trip down the Salzach River – Beginner level / For those who’ve done it before, the “athletic” variant can be booked here !
• Supsquatch on the Salzach River , a kind of giant paddleboard that you ride on with several people.
• A zip line descent : 1,600 meters long and 143 meters off the ground! With a top speed of 130 km/h it is one of the fastest in Europe!

Another exceptional activity: ever thought about booking a private helicopter tour ? Do it in Salzburg! All information is available here !

You should spend 2 days in Salzburg to be able to visit all the places of interest I’ve told you about in this top 17 things to do and see.

All the monuments are in easy reach and you can tour the entire city on foot . Except for Hellbrun Castle , where you should grab the bus since it’s a bit outside the city center.

If you also plan on discovering the city’s surroundings you should stay at least 3 days in Salzburg.

You should also get the Salzburg Card .

As mentioned above, it will give you access to most of the monuments for free, the funicular, Hohensalzburg Fortress and the DomQuartier .

The card also includes unlimited access to public transportation and a scenic boat tour + discounts on a variety of tours around Salzburg .

It will quickly pay for itself. Since I’ll always try to make it easy for you, you can get it directly from the button below:

To visit Salzburg in 1 day you should try the following itinerary:

• Cable ride to Hohensalzburg Fortress and tour of the fortress’ interiors
• Make a stop at Nonnberg Abbey and experience some of the memorable scenes from the movie “The Sound of Music” once again
• Take a tour of the DomQuartier to see St. Peter’s Church, the cathedral, and the former residence of the princes archbishop.
• Lunch break
• Discovery of the famous Mozart’s birthplace and Getreidegasse , the street with a thousand signs.
• End your day at Mirabell Palace and its splendid gardens .

In the evening, you can also join a Ghost Tour .

Your guide will take you to the “dark side” of the city by telling you all the witch stories and legends , explaining medieval torture methods , and relating various strange events that have occurred.

And for those who may be in a hurry or cannot walk too much, do not hesitate to take a hop-on-hop-off tourist bus. It truly is the best way to see everything in a day without getting tired .

You can buy your Hop-On Hop-Off city tour here !

To visit Salzburg in 2 days , you should follow the one-day above itinerary and add:

• The discovery of Hellbrunn Palace and its water games .
• Visit to the zoo located right next door.
• Remaining afternoon in one or more of the city’s museums such as the Salzburg Museum or the Museum of Natural History (a must if you travel with your kids).

To help you prepare your stay, I have selected for you the best accommodations in Salzburg according to your budget .

Here are the best places to stay in Salzburg:

• Stadtalm Naturfreundehaus : Hostel located near the Salzburg Museum of Modern Art. Dormitory beds from €25, breakfast included. Access is not very easy as it is on top of a hill, and the rooms are a bit small, but the view, on the other hand, is extraordinary. This is the best price for a hostel in Salzburg. Other ones start at €50, which is a bit expensive for a simple dormitory bed.
• Motel One Salzburg-Süd : Hotel located 4 km from the center of Salzburg. A bus stop right in front allows you to reach the center in just 10 minutes (and remember, with the Salzburg Card it’s free). Spacious and modern double room from €100 per night, breakfast at €9.5. Strong Points: quiet location, comfortable bedding, excellent breakfast. It’s my favorite for its excellent value for money !
• H+ Hotel Salzburg : Located 15 minutes walk from Mirabell Palace. Modern and comfortable double room from €120 per night, breakfast at €17. Strong points: breakfast room with mountain views, comfortable beds, shops, and restaurants nearby.
• Hotel Sacher Salzburg : 5-star hotel located in the heart of Salzburg’s old town and by the river. Comfortable and spacious double rooms, each uniquely furnished, from €400 per night, breakfast at €35. Strong points: central location for walking to all sights, very friendly staff, excellent bedding, high-quality and plentiful breakfast, view of the fortress. The best hotel in Salzburg for a luxury stay !

• Gablerbrau : Located at 9 Linzer Gasse. This restaurant offers traditional Austrian dishes in a cozy atmosphere. The dishes are generous and varied. Great value for money.
• Barenwirt : Located by the river at 8 Mullner Main Street. Here, too, typical Austrian cuisine is on the menu! The portions are more than generous and very delicious, and the prices are quite low. If you’re looking for an authentic restaurant, this is the right choice. Reservation is highly recommended and even a few days in advance.
• Organic Pizza Salzburg : If you’re a bit tired of Austrian cuisine, nothing beats a good pizza! Located at 24 Franz-Josef-Strasse, this small establishment offers very good organic pizzas with homemade dough. Vegans can also enjoy their meal here.

If you want to learn how to cook some Austrian specialties like the emblematic dessert, apfelstrudel , you should book this cooking class .

The workshop lasts 1h30 during which you will prepare a strudel and a Salzburger Nockerl (a soufflé served as a dessert). Lunch also includes a soup before you get to enjoy your desserts.

Book your cooking workshop in Salzburg directly with the button below:

To reach Salzburg from France , you can take a flight from Paris. No other direct flights from France. If you’re departing from another city, you’ll have at least one layover.

You can also choose to first land in Vienna and then head to Salzburg. Allow:

• Approximately 3 hours by car
• At least 7 hours by bus for about €30, not the fastest and not even most economical option!
• 2h20 for €20 by train, which is the best option if you don’t want to rent a car.

You should check the train schedules and fares before leaving and book your tickets here :

Flight prices to Austria can vary greatly, so it’s a good idea to compare them as early as possible. For this, you can use our flight comparison tool, in partnership with Skyscanner. This ensures you get the best price.

Once on the results page, don’t hesitate to compare several websites to make sure no fees are added to the final prices.

To help you visualize the city a bit better, I’ve created a tourist map of Salzburg listing the places to visit that I talk about in this top 17 things to do. You can display the map legend by clicking the button with a small arrow at the top left corner.

Discover all my articles about Austria : All my articles to help you plan your trip to Austria are listed there.

• 20 Best Things to Do in Austria : all best places to visit and activities
• Itinerary: One week in Austria – The perfect itinerary for your 7-8 days trip to Austria
• Graz: TOP 10 best places to visit
• Hallstatt: TOP 6 things to do during your stay
• Innsbruck: The 15 best things to do and see
• Linz: TOP 12 places to visit and must-see attractions
• Salzburg: The 17 best things to do
• Vienna: TOP 25 tourist attractions  

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Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

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Things to See in Salzburg – The Top 10 Tourist Attractions

Experience the top attractions in Salzburg and be enchanted by the beauty and charm of this historic city. From magnificent castles to famous museums, here are the best sights that Salzburg has to offer.

Discover Salzburg conveniently and flexibly with our HOP ON HOP OFF buses . Get on and off at the most famous tourist attractions whenever you want!

1. Hohensalzburg Fortress

The Hohensalzburg Fortress is one of Salzburg's landmarks and the largest fully preserved castle in Central Europe. It offers a breathtaking view over the city and the surrounding area.

HOP ON HOP OFF stop, yellow line : Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz

2. Mozart's Birthplace

In the heart of Getreidegasse is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Today, it is a museum that provides insights into the life and work of the musical genius.

HOP ON HOP OFF stop, yellow line : Hanusch-Platz

3. Mirabell Gardens

The Mirabell Gardens, with their artistically designed flower beds and impressive statues, are a perfect place for a relaxing walk. Scenes from the famous movie "The Sound of Music" were also filmed here.

HOP ON HOP OFF stop, yellow line : Mirabellplatz/Mozarteum or Mirabellplatz/St. Andrä

4. Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains

Hellbrunn Palace is known for its fascinating trick fountains and extensive park. It is a popular excursion destination offering a mix of culture and fun.

HOP ON HOP OFF stop, yellow line : Schloss Hellbrunn

5. Salzburg Cathedral

The baroque Salzburg Cathedral impresses with its magnificent architecture and significant history. The cathedral is a spiritual center and a cultural highlight of Salzburg.

6. Getreidegasse

Getreidegasse is one of Salzburg's most famous shopping streets. In addition to numerous shops and boutiques, you will also find historic buildings and charming courtyards here.

Experience the most beautiful sights of Salzburg with the HOP ON HOP OFF bus. Get on and off as you please and explore the city in a comfortable way!

7. Mozarteum

The Mozarteum is one of Europe's most prestigious music universities. Attend a concert or explore the building to learn more about Salzburg's musical history.

8. House of Nature

The House of Nature is an interactive museum focused on natural sciences and technology. It offers exciting exhibitions for all ages and is ideal for a family outing.

9. Salzburg Zoo

Salzburg Zoo is located at the foot of Hellbrunner Mountain and is home to over 1200 animals from around the world. A visit to the zoo is an experience for the whole family.

10. Salzburg Festival

The Salzburg Festival is an annual highlight for music and theater lovers from around the world. It takes place in various historic venues in Salzburg and offers a top-class program.

Frequently Asked Questions about Salzburg's Attractions

What can you do in salzburg.

Salzburg offers a variety of activities and attractions, including Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart's Birthplace, Mirabell Gardens, and the Salzburg Festival. The city also features numerous museums, historic buildings, and charming squares.

When was Hohensalzburg Fortress built?

Hohensalzburg Fortress was built in 1077 and expanded and fortified over the centuries. It is one of the largest and best-preserved castles in Europe.

Where is Mozart's birthplace?

The birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is located at Getreidegasse 9 in the old town of Salzburg. Today, it is a museum that offers insights into the life and work of the famous composer.

What are the must-see attractions in Salzburg?

The must-see attractions in Salzburg include Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart's Birthplace, Mirabell Gardens, Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg Cathedral, and the Salzburg Festival. Getreidegasse and the House of Nature are also highly recommended.

What is typical for Salzburg?

 Salzburger Nockerl and Mozartkugeln! Salzburger Nockerl are airy soufflés that resemble the snow-covered mountains of the region. Mozartkugeln, named after the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, are delicious pralines made of marzipan, nougat, and dark chocolate. These two specialties are a must for every visitor and embody the charm of Salzburg.

Experience Salzburg in all its splendor and diversity and be enchanted by the many things to see. Whether for a day trip, a weekend getaway, or a longer vacation – Salzburg has something to offer everyone.

Salzburg’s Highlights: 15 Must-See Places You Can’t Afford to Miss

Explorer’s note: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a booking through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep providing tours and top-notch travel advice.

Are you planning a trip to Salzburg and wondering what the Must-See Sights in Salzburg are? Don’t worry. We got you covered. No matter if you join the Free Walking Tour or not, Salzburg is the perfect destination for independent sightseeing.

The old town of Salzburg is walkable, and it’s easy to find the must-see sights on your own. Things to do and see in Salzburg are plenty, even if the city is small. In this article, we will cover 15 must-see sights and some of our favorite things to do.

How many days should I spend in Salzburg?

One day in Salzburg is enough to cover the most important places. If you have more time, however, you won’t get bored either. In two or three days you could cover the old town in more detail and include some off-the-beaten-path places.

And then. If you are lucky to have even more time, you should plan day trips to the most popular places in the surroundings of Salzburg. Even if a day or a few hours is fine to explore the old town, and cover the must-see places in this article, consider staying longer in case you have more time!

Read this, if you want a detailed breakdown of how long to stay in Salzburg .

What are the top tourist attractions in Salzburg?

This list contains the same sights as the printed Free Walking Tour city map of Salzburg. The list of sights in Salzburg is inexhaustible. This list contains some of the most popular things to see as well as some of our favorite places. Some of them are less known but none of them is really off the beaten path. They are must-visit tourist attractions.

The order in which we present these sights to you doesn’t reflect their importance. It’s the same order as on our printed City Maps, the order in which we visit the sights on our walking tours and it’s the order in which you can visit the must-see sights during your exploration of Salzburg.

1. Mozart Residence

The left side of the Salzach River is where most of the important sights are in Salzburg. Mozart too was born in Getreidegasse, on the left side of the river but he and his family moved to the other side when he was 17 years old. When Mozart was 25, ten years before his death, he moved to Vienna. Salzburg was too small for an ambitious artist. His father, however, lived in the house on Makartplatz, that known as Mozart Residence today, until he died.

Even if the Mozart Residence looks like from the times of Mozart, it harbors a secret. During World War II, half of the building was destroyed by bombs. They then replaced it with an office building which was only taken down at the end of the 20th century. If you inspect the building, you will see a white line between the Austrian flag and the “Mozart Wohnhaus” sign. That’s where the old building ends and the recent building, reconstructed according to old plans, starts. The right side of the building is new, while the left side of the Mozart Residence is original.

Both the museum inside the residence and the museum inside Mozart’s birthplace, I would recommend if you are a genuine fan of Mozart or if you are in possession of a Salzburg card. For everyone else, it’s enough to pass by and notice the historic sight.

Mozart’s Residence and Mirabell Gardens are the only famous sights on the left side of the river. The train station is on the left side of the river. Therefore you can cover both Mirabell and the Mozart Residence, while you walk from the train station and before crossing the river.

2. Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Mirabell Palace was built as a countryside residence for one of the most important archbishops from history, Wolf Dietrich, for his mistress and for their 15 children. I know, I know. Archbishop, mistress, children. A countryside residence because when he built Mirabell, at the end of the 16th century, it was still outside of the city walls.

Mirabell Castle as you see it today was rebuilt after a fire and also the garden was added much later. Historians are unsure what the castle looked like when it was initially built.

Inside the castle, the marble hall is the only place you can visit. It’s famous for weddings. If there is no wedding happening while you are visiting Mirabell, the Marble Hall is open and free to have a look at. Enter the castle and take the stairs up to the first floor. The rest of the castle is the city government.

Therefore Mirabell is more about the gardens, but the gardens are a special place of interest in Salzburg. Not only were they one of the primary filming locations of the Sound of Music, but there are lots of minor details worth noticing. The dwarf garden, the palm house, and the hedge theater, just to mention a few.

Mirabell Gardens is only 10 minutes walk from the train station. When you arrive in Salzburg you either arrive at the train station or at Mirabell Square by bus from the airport. Therefore Mirabell could be the beginning of your sightseeing in Salzburg.

3. Mozart’s Birthplace

Mozart’s birthplace might be the most famous place in Salzburg besides the Hohensalzburg fortress. Everybody knows that Mozart was born in Salzburg, and Mozart was famous long before the Sound of Music. The birthplace of Mozart is in the most busy shopping street of Salzburg, Getreidegasse, which is a must-see on its own.

Getreidegasse is the most popular place in Salzburg. It’s a shopping street famous for the old signs in front of the shops. Even if most of the shops are homes to international brands nowadays, these signs are not to be replaced. All the old town on the left side of the river is part of the UNESCO world heritage nowadays. Strict rules preserve the appearance of the buildings.

The birthplace itself is a house like all the other houses in Getreidegasse. There is a small square in front of Mozart’s birthplace. During the tourist season, Hagenauerplatz is constantly filled with a crowd photographing the yellow building which houses a supermarket on the ground floor.

The museum on the upper floors is one of the most visited museums in the world. On the first floor, the museum replicates the living conditions at the time of Mozart, the second floor is dedicated to his music, and on the third floor, where the family lived for 26 years, you will find instruments, documents, family letters, and portraits.

Here is another article, if you would like to find out when Mozart was born and how we celebrate his birthday .

As mentioned with the Mozart Residence, I recommend a visit if you are a genuine fan of Mozart or if you are the owner of a Salzburg card. Otherwise, it’s enough to snap a picture and move on.

4. University Church

The University Church, also known as Collegiate Church, was built as a part of the University around 1700. You might have heard that Salzburg is famous for its baroque architecture. The university church is one of those baroque buildings, the most significant one after the cathedral.

While Italians built the cathedral of Salzburg, an Austrian architect built the University church. Fischer von Erlach was the same architect as Schönbrunn Castle. Schönbrunn is a palace in Vienna and the most visited sight in Austria.

Fischer von Erlach built four churches in Salzburg, of which the university church was the last one. Because Salzburg is surrounded by mountains and space was limited, the University church was in fact the last historic building erected in the old town.

It’s not a popular sight, but stunning. The University church might be the most unique church you ever visited, especially with baroque churches. There are no paintings on the walls and no church benches. The plain white walls make it seem even more marvelous.

I recommend lying down on one of the diagonal benches in the crossing to adore the magnificent. I generally recommend visiting churches in Salzburg , no matter if you are religious. All of them are free (at least at the time of writing) and most showcase more art than any museum.

In front of the church, there is a daily market. Grünmarkt (green market) is the daily market in Salzburg. It happens daily except for Sundays. For an authentic farmers market, however, you would have to be lucky enough to visit Salzburg on a Thursday and head to Mirabell square.

5. Concert Hall

Behind the University church, you find the cultural epicenter of Salzburg. The Salzburg festival emerged during a time of crisis. In the middle of the 19th century, they rediscovered Mozart, but the first festival only happened after the First World War in 1920 about 100 years ago.

Today the Salzburg Festival is the biggest classical music festival in the world. With 250.000 tickets sold during the six weeks in July and August, the Salzburg Festival is a force to reckon with. If you visit Salzburg during the festival, it will be a lot busier and more expensive.

We even call the area where the concert hall is the festival district. But don’t think of the Salzburg festival like you would of other festivals. Tickets are expensive, and the popular operas sell out at the beginning of the year. Most of the year there are no concerts and even if there are concerts they happen behind closed doors.

You could see people in fancy dresses, before or after the shows, on the square in front of the concert hall, but free concerts to attend are the recordings on the screen at Kapitelplatz. You won’t notice the festival and the festival district is not the crowded area of the city unless people are gathering before or after a show.

The festival hall itself contains of three-part. Two of which are from the 20th century, while another part is from the horse riding school the concert hall originally was. That oldest part of the concert hall was in the Sound of music. Remember the concert at the end? The Edelweiss song? Not only was the concert hall a filming location. The Trapp family actually performed for the festival before escaping from the Nazis.

If you would like to see the inside of the concert hall, the only way is a guided tour. I would, however, recommend that guided tour. It would be included in the Salzburg card and in case you are not getting a Salzburg card, it only costs a few euros.

6. Saint Peter’s Monastery

Saint Peter’s Monastery is the founding place of Salzburg. Salzburg was founded in 696 by a Bavarian bishop. Saint Rupert founded Salzburg as a monastery, and that monastery has existed ever since. Saint Peter’s Monastery, therefore, is the oldest active monastery in the German-speaking region.

You can’t visit the inside rooms of the monastery. Only the two yards between the festival hall and the church of Saint Peters. But you can and must see the church and the cemetery.

If you followed my previous recommendation and visited the University church, you are about to find out why I called the University church unique. Saint Peters is the opposite. Dimly lit and covered in gold and paintings, it’s the jewel of Salzburg’s churches.

Saint Peter’s church combines centuries of art history.

In the corner next to the entrance of the church you find two more entrances. Above the one entrance, you will notice a number. 803. That’s the entrance to the restaurant of Saint Peter’s which claims to be the oldest restaurant in Europe.

The entrance to the left is the entrance to the cemetery of Saint Peter’s which actually is one of the oldest cemeteries in Europe. They already used the grounds as a cemetery in 696 after the Christians first settled.

The cemetery may also be familiar to you from the film the sound of music. Saint Peter’s cemetery is supposed to be the place where the family hides after the concert. However, the producers of the film could not film at the cemetery and therefore rebuilt Saint Peters in Hollywood.

The caves on the side of the mountain are catacombs, but not catacombs as you know them from other cities. Historians believe the early Christians used these catacombs as prayer caves. I only recommend entering the catacombs with a Salzburg card because. With a Salzburg card, the entrance is free. But go to the entrance either way, because you will find the grave of Mozart’s sister!

When you walk through the cemetery starting at Sankt Peters church, you can either keep right or left. If you keep to the right, you will come to the funicular to the fortress while you will find the oldest bakery in Salzburg, if you leave the cemetery on the left.

7. Franciscan Church

Not only Benedictine monks live in the monastery of St. Peter but also Franciscans. These Franciscans have had their own church since they came to Salzburg around 1600.

The Franciscan Church, however, was built long before. It is believed the Franciscan Church dates back to the 8th century and that they built the church even before the consecration of the cathedral in 774.

That is why the Franciscan Church, like the Church of St. Peter, unites centuries of art history. The Franciscan Church is part of my four favorite churches in Salzburg and one of the must-see sights in Salzburg. 

You will find the entrance on the western side of the building. The side entrance when you come from Saint Peter is often closed.

Just like the Benedictine monastery, the inside rooms of the Franciscan monastery cannot be visited. Sometimes, however, the Franciscan monks open their gardens to the public. The entrance is next to the cross when you leave the church on the left. In summer dozens of different plants are growing there.

8. Salzburg Cathedral

Catholic church ruled Salzburg. More precisely, Archbishops ruled Salzburg, and a cathedral is the archbishop’s church. That is why the Salzburg Cathedral is the most important church in a city full of churches.

Let alone the imposing baroque architecture, they Baptised Mozart in the cathedral and he performed there. The cathedral houses 5 organs which sometimes can be heard in paid or free concerts. Furthermore, the archbishops were buried in the basement where also one of the works of art of the Salzburg Foundation is exhibited.

If you only visit one church while in Salzburg, make it the Salzburg Cathedral! As of now, in 2020, the entrance is still free. At the entrance, there is a counter, but donations are voluntary.

Explore the compelling reasons why the Salzburg Cathedral is a must-visit in our detailed article about the Cathedral .

9. Hohensalzburg Fortress

As the symbol of Salzburg, the fortress, at least in my opinion, is the most important sight. The fortress dominates not only the appearance of the city but also offers the best views over the city and over the surroundings. From the old town, the view to the Alps is blocked by Mönchsberg, one of two city mountains. From the fortress, however, you can also see the surrounding area and the higher mountains.

If there is only one sight, you pay an entrance fee for, let it be the fortress! Walking up is cheaper, but the funicular is more comfortable. Whether you save money or take the funicular is a personal preference but the funicular is fun. And again. The Salzburg card is worth considering if you want to visit the fortress and one or two more sights.

Inside the fortress, Hohensalzburg are museums, viewpoints, a restaurant, a church, and more. Visit all three of the main viewpoints! Each of them offers a different angle.

In case you are on a budget and don’t want to spend any money, go to the fortress right after closing time! The museums close at closing time, but the building remains open for another hour and a small door that you can only open from the inside allows you to stay as long as you want. This works best in summer because the fortress closes long before sunset.

In this article, you find the brief history of the Hohensalzburg fortress so you can prepare for your visit.

10. Nonnberg Abbey

You guessed it. Nonnberg Abbey is the Abbey from the Sound of Music. But there is more to Nonnberg Abbey than that. In fact, founded at the beginning of the 8th century by Saint Rupert, the founder of the city of Salzburg, Nonnberg is the oldest active nunnery in the world.

Nonnberg is the monastery at the beginning of the film when the nuns sing. In actual life, Maria and the captain got married at the Nonnberg church, but in the film, the wedding took place in Mondsee, in the lake district, and not at the abbey.

The abbey is closed to visitors, but you can visit the church. If you are an early riser, I would recommend the nuns’ prayer at 6.45am. Most of the nuns live in a retreat and never leave the monastery. Therefore, you cannot see them during the prayer and the singing but only hear them.

I don’t consider Nonnberg an absolute must, but it’s a special place. Few tourists find their way up. To get to the abbey you either climb stairs called the “Nonnbergstiege” or you start on the way to the fortress and instead of turning right after about 100 meters, you continue straight.

11. New Residenc e

Wolf Dietrich built the new residence as part of the redesign of the city. Wolf Dietrich was the archbishop who built Mirabell Palace. Remember? The one with the 15 children.

Only 100 years later, around the year 1700, they added the bell tower to the new residence. The carillon plays three times a day at 7 am, 11 am and 6 pm. If you head to Residence Square to hear the bells, don’t panic! They are always five minutes late.

If you would like to know more about the carillon, I have written an article about the carillon and the possibilities of a tour to the carillon. That’s not a must, but I am a fan of the tower.

Opposite the new residence is the old residence, which was the archbishop’s residence from the 12th century. hence the square between the two buildings is called the Residence Square.

Every event in Salzburg takes place here and/or in front of the cathedral. the traditional festival, the Christmas market, or the opening of the festival.

In the middle of the Residenzplatz is the largest Baroque fountain north of the Alps. Maybe this sounds familiar from the sound of music.

The residence building itself is only interesting if you like museums or have a Salzburg card. The new residence houses the Salzburg Museum, the oldest history museum in the city. I am a big fan of the Salzburg Museum and recommend the museum to anyone who wants to learn more about the history of the city. Furthermore, it’s a must if you get a Salzburg card. Same as all the other museums the Salzburg museum is included. Walk through even if you don’t care about museums!

12. Old Residenc e

Same as the new residence, the old residence is interesting as a museum and for its historical context.

However, this building is much larger. The old residence dates back to the 12th century. Back then it already served as the archbishop’s residence. They expanded and rebuilt it several times. If you visited the Franciscan Church you were next to the new residence. Inside the Franciscan church are windows from which the archbishop could attend mass without leaving his residence.

The museum in the old residence opened in 2014 and is unlike the Salzburg Museum over 150 years ago. The “Domquartier” museum includes the residence gallery and the state rooms and allows you to enter areas of the cathedral and Saint Peters Monastery that you otherwise could not enter. The exclusive areas of the cathedral and the arches connecting the buildings on the Residence Square are especially worth visiting.

However, if you are not interested in museums at all or do not want to spend money, it’s enough to notice the building, to know what it was, and why we call our main square the residence square.

13. Mozart Square and the Mozart Statue

Mozartplatz is where you want to click that selfie. A selfie together with Salzburg’s most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus, even if we don’t think Mozart actually looked like that.

Long before the Sound of Music was filmed, Salzburg was already famous for Mozart. The Mozart myth in Salzburg began 50 years after his death in the middle of the 18th century.

50 years after Mozart’s death, Salzburg decided to erect a monument for him. Mozart Square had been called Saint Michael’s square at the time and there was a fountain for Saint Michael. For most people, the saint was more important than Mozart. Most people were against replacing Saint Michael with Mozart.

The statue was built nevertheless but only finished for the 51st anniversary of Mozart’s death because a Roman mosaic was found during the construction. You can find a replica of the Roman mosaic on the ground on the right side when you are facing the statue.

The statue was inaugurated in the presence of Mozart’s two sons. a three-day festival took place. That’s when not only classical music was rediscovered and the initial idea of a music festival was born, but clever businessmen also realized there was money to make from Mozart.

That’s why he’s everywhere nowadays.

Sidenote: A place that should also be mentioned as a must-see is the old market. That’s where Salzburg’s oldest coffee shop, Tomaselli, and the Fürst Konditorei, where the original Mozart chocolate was invented, are. You will pass by the old market, “alter market”, at some point anyway. It connects all of the main squares with the famous shopping street and University Square .

14. Mozartsteg Bridge

There are many more sights on the left side of the river Salzach, in the actual old town, but we have visited the most important ones. Now it’s time to cross the river again and explore an area less popular than Mirabell and Mozart’s residence, but no less significant.

Mozartsteg is a pedestrian bridge that connects the two sides of the river at Mozartplatz.

Why do I like this bridge and why do I count Mozartsteg as a must-see sight? In the case of Mozartsteg, it is a personal preference. it is one of the favorite sights of a local in a city for tourists.

They built Mozartsteg in the second half of the 19th century. Have you seen the Eiffel Tower before in person or in a picture? Of course, you have. The Mozart footbridge is the same era and the same style. The style of art nouveau. Now that you know that, I bet the similarities become obvious.

Do you know who paid for the construction of the Mozartsteg? A cafe owner on the other side. the other side’s population was poorer than that of the archbishop’s side. the cafe owner wanted to attract more visitors with money.

However, the construction of the bridge also costs a lot of money. his glorious idea was therefore to charge a toll. The tiny house on the left side of the river that now houses the cafe “We Love Coffee” was the toll station. Their coffee is excellent if you need a caffeine boost. For the best Cafes in Salzburg, read this article!

And last but not least, I don’t want to withhold from you that the Mozartsteg also occurred in the Sound of Music.

In case you crossed Mozartsteg from Mozartplatz, find your way into Steingasse! Steingasse can be reached by crossing the street a few meters to the left and then immediately turning right again to get to the foot of the mountain. Steingasse means stone alley and is the best example of a simpler life on the right side of the river.

15. Saint Sebastian’s Cemetery

Saint Sebastian’s differs from all the other places on this list. Of all the sites listed here, it might be my favorite.

Not that I like cemeteries, but I like Saint Sebastian. It’s a peaceful place. Steeped in history. Architecturally and artistically significant, but unknown among the majority of tourists.

Or unpopular. You would find out if you read enough about Salzburg. After all, Mozart’s father and Mozart’s widow, as well as Wolf Dietrich, the archbishop with the 15 children, were buried there. The mausoleum in the middle of the cemetery is the grave of Wolf Dietrich.

I recommend taking the whole round in the arcades to rest and enjoy the silence. Mozart’s family grave can be found between the entrance and the mausoleum.

And watch out. Sometimes the main entrance is closed. Especially in winter. If the main entrance is closed, go around the building and find the entrance in the Bruderhof next to the Institute Saint Sebastian! Ask someone if you are unsure!

This list of must-see sights in Salzburg is a carefully crafted selection, but far from complete. It covers the most touristy sights, as well as some favorites of a local tour guide and a few lesser-known attractions. We visit many of these places on our Free Walking Tour of Salzburg, but you should revisit all of them to have a closer look.

You can visit these must-see places in the order I presented them to you but you can also use this list to tick off places as you wander. Distances in Salzburg are short, and I would prefer getting lost instead of worrying too much about sights. The vibe and the surrounding nature will impress you, anyway.

Do you want to join a guided tour along these famous landmarks? Have a look at the Free Walking Tour Calendar to find out if our tours are currently available. Or would you like a printed map to navigate these old town attractions and get tips on the must-eat dishes in Salzburg and where to find them? In case you join one of our tours, you will receive a printed map, anyway. In case our tours are not available or you are not available to join, read this article on the Free Walking Tour city map to find out how to get the printed map for free. Is this list of sights not enough guidance for you? Would you like an actual plan to help you organize your time in Salzburg? Firstly, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that sightseeing in Salzburg is easy. easier than in most cities. the sights are very close, everything is within walking distance, there are no tourists falling and as long as you are in the area of ​​the Mirabell garden, near the cathedral and around Getreidegasse you will find most of the sights by chance.

If you would like to have an exact plan, more useful tips, or a list of places to eat, we got you covered with this in-depth article on what to do in one day in Salzburg or this article on the best restaurants and must-eat Austrian dishes in Salzburg .

My name is Gerhard, Founder of Free Walking Tour Salzburg. I am an intrepid traveler myself and understand the passion for adventure that independent travelers feel. I love to interact with travelers, share stories, answer questions, recommend places to eat, and offer ideas of things to see and do.

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19 Top Tourist Attractions in Salzburg, Austria

By Carl Austin · Last updated on May 4, 2024

One of the most stunning cities in all Austria, Salzburg is set in a picture-perfect spot amidst the Alps. Besides its beautiful architecture, old town and alpine setting, all its sites relating to The Sound of Music film only add to its already considerable charm.

Once known as the ‘Rome of the North’, the city was completely transformed in the fourteenth century under the rule of the influential Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich. Since then, its atmospheric Altstadt has instead been famed for its picturesque and well-preserved Italian Baroque-style buildings.

Map of Salzburg

Lying alongside the scenic Salzach river amidst snow-capped mountains, its historic heart contains loads of elegant churches, squares and palaces. Exploring the handsome hilltop castle, which dominates the city skyline, is one of the most popular things to do in Salzburg while world-class concerts and operas are held in its countless theaters below.

It’s possible to see a few of the attractions in Salzburg on a quick day trip from Munich or Vienna, but spending a few days allows visitors to take in more sights and soak in the atmosphere of this delightful city.

Although now synonymous with the famous musical starring Julie Andrews, the city is also the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. With melodies ringing in the air and romantic views and cityscapes wherever you go, it is no wonder Salzburg is one of the country’s main tourist destinations.

19. Mozarts Wohnhaus

A fascinating place to visit, Mozarts Wohnhaus lies just across the Salzach river from the older house he was born in. Actually, destroyed during the Second World War, the renowned composer’s residence was rebuilt and opened as a museum in 1996.

From 1773 to 1780, he and his family lived here in the ‘Dance Master’s House’ along Makartplatz. Their airy eight-room apartment now has a handful of instruments used by him for you to peruse. Some original portraits and music sheets are also on show.

Although it is quite small in comparison with the other museum dedicated to Mozart, music lovers will still appreciate its unique artifacts and exhibits. These also present more information on Wolfgang’s family and their lives in Salzburg.

18. Alter Markt Square

Just a short walk from Mozarts Wohnhaus is the attractive Alter Markt Square which has acted as the center of the city for centuries. Enclosed by pretty pastel-colored townhouses, it is located right next to Residenzplatz and the Salzburger Dom.

Set at the foot of the castle, not far from the riverfront, the old square has served as a market and meeting place since the thirteenth century. Lined by loads of stylish cafes and chic tourist shops, its charming cobblestones also contain the ornate St. Florian Fountain. Erected in 1488, its striking statue, coat of arms and marble steps make for some fine photos.

Asides from taking in its architecture and ambience, you can see the city’s narrowest house and an old apothecary. There is also the classic Viennese-style Cafe Tomaselli coffee house to stop by and fun markets to explore.

17. Stiegl Brauwelt

Other than seeing the city’s attractions and scenic surroundings, one of the main things to do in Salzburg s visit its top-class breweries. At the historic Stiegl Brauwelt just outside of the center, there are terrific tours and tastings for you to enjoy.

One of the most popular and commonly found beers in Austria, Stiegl has remarkably been family-owned since 1492. On their very well-run tours, you’ll learn all about their history and how beer production has changed over the years. In addition to exploring its modern brewhouse and bottling hall, there is a 270-degree film to see that covers the entire process from start to finish.

At the end, you can sit and sample some of the flavorful beers produced here in its brewpub or restaurant. There is also some tasty Austrian cuisine to try and a lovely beer garden to relax in outside.

16. St. Sebastian’s Church & Cemetery

Back over on the more modern side of town, not far from Mozart’s Residence, is the stunning St. Sebastian’s Church. It and its cemetery are wonderful to wander around with many famous historical figures having been buried here.

Instantly recognizable from its onion-dome, the Late Baroque-style church was built in 1753 to replace an early edition that had become derelict. Although a devastating fire later destroyed many of its artworks, its interior still boasts a beautiful high altar.

The real highlight however is its gorgeous graveyard which was designed to look like an Italian campo santo in 1595. Alongside its exquisite arcades, you can find majestic monuments and markings to Mozart’s father and wife among many others.

At the center of its immaculate, green grounds lies the elaborate St. Gabriel’s Chapel. The final resting place of the important Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Wolf Dietrich, the mausoleum really is an architectural masterpiece. For us, St. Sebastian’s easily rivaled the more popular St. Peter’s due to its cool carvings and rather eerie graves.

15. Getreidegasse

Getreidegasse, which translates as Grain Lane, is Salzburg’s most famous shopping street. Located in Old Town, Getreidegasse is filled with high narrow buildings that contain shops, boutiques and restaurants serving the city’s specialties, including mouthwatering desserts.

Some buildings have guild signs that indicate the type of work that took place here in centuries past. Jewelry and traditional costumes are among the popular items on shoppers’ lists. Note that No. 9 Getreidegasse is where Mozart was born. Visitors should take time to explore the passageways and courtyards off this street as there are even more enticing shops to separate visitors from their Euros.

14. Franziskanerkirche

Another hugely interesting church for you to check out is that of Franziskanerkirche (Franciscan Church) in the Salzburger Altstadt. Lying right next to St. Peter’s Abbey and the Domplatz, it has a fantastic vault ceiling, tall bell tower and intricately crafted high altar to admire.

While the first church to stand here was established in the eighth century, the current one dates to 1450. Now exhibiting an arresting mix of architectural styles, its slender steeple and steep roof are visible for many miles around.

Inside is the real showstopper though as its glorious Gothic vault ceiling is supported by soaring pillars that tower above its glimmering gold-decked altar. Its choir also has nine Baroque-style chapels to stroll about, all home to refined religious paintings and sculptures.

13. Haus der Natur

Towards the end of the Altstadt, alongside the Salzach river, is the equally impressive Haus der Natur. At the state-of-the-art science center, you can learn about everything from dinosaurs and technology to anatomy, evolution and our universe.

Founded in 1924, its interactive exhibits now cover eight levels across two buildings. Whereas some rooms focus on Arctic ecosystems or those of the rainforest, others look at life back in prehistoric times. You can also examine orbiting planets from up close or ogle at its amazing dinosaur models and sparkling spaceships.

Particularly popular are the museum’s innumerable aquaria and the glass tanks of its reptile zoo. Amidst its colourful coral reefs and verdant foliage, guests can spy shoals of swirling fish, live snakes and lizards.

12. Take a Sound of Music Tour

As the city is synonymous with the film, you really must take a Sound of Music Tour when in town. As well as taking you about all the main shooting locations, your guide provides in-depth info on the family and filming process.

Following the footsteps of the von Trapp family, it visits both the Mirabell Garden and Hellbrunn Palace among other stops. Here you’ll see where Maria and all the children danced and sang ‘Do-Re-Mi’ alongside other singing scenes. You can then explore the old Nonnberg Abbey where she served as a novice and drive out to the delightful Lake District nearby.

Options include not just brilliant bus and bike tours around Salzburg but walking ones and horse-drawn carriage rides too. Whichever one you opt for, you’re certain to see a lot of the city and learn everything there is to know about the magical musical.

11. Kapuzinerberg

Travelers with an interest in pre-historic sites may enjoy a visit to Kapuzinerberg. Sitting on a hill overlooking the Salzach River, human habitation of Kapuzinerberg dates back to the Neolithic period.

The hill is not fully developed, and small wild animals may be seen roaming the gardens and grounds. Kapuzinerberg is best known for its Way of the Cross chapels that tell the story of the Passion of Christ as they lead up the hill. The route ends with an impressive depiction of the crucifixion. A monastery, towers from an old fortress and lush gardens add to the site’s beauty.

10. Mozarts Geburtshaus

If you want even more insight into the life of the musical maestro, make sure to head to Mozart’s Geburtshaus. Much larger than the other museum dedicated to the famed composer, it lies along the lively Getreidegasse shopping street.

Now painted bright yellow, it was here in the twelfth century house that Wolfgang was born on January 27th, 1756. Up until the family moved in 1773, he spent much of his childhood in their apartment on the third floor. One room has since been restored to how it would have looked back during his lifetime.

Turned into a museum in 1880, the big building also contains unique old certificates, letters and memorabilia that document his life in the city. The highlight is of course its expertly crafted historic instruments, including a violin and clavichord actually played by Mozart. We ended up really enjoying all its well-done displays and even snapped some great pics with the museum’s large Playmobil model of Mozart!

9. Residenzplatz

Residenzplatz, or Residence Square, is located in the heart of Old Town Salzburg, This magnificent square is surrounded by archbishop residences, Salzburg Cathedral, the Old Residence and townhouses now filled with shops and eateries.

It is also the place where visitors can hop a horse0drawn carriage for a ride through the streets of Old Town. A fountain, said to be Salzburg’s most beautiful, punctuates the square. This unique fountain sports snorting horses, giants and dolphins. Many public events, including Salzburg’s Christmas fair, take place in the square today.

8. Hellbrunn Palace

Visitors to Hellbrunn Palace should wear clothes that dry quickly. That’s because the trick fountains the palace is famous for spray water on visitors.

One of the most famous family attractions in Salzburg, this early 17th century Renaissance palace was originally built as a pleasurable place where archbishops could relax for a day. Since they came only for a day, the palace has no bedrooms, though it was intended as a summer residence.

Sound of Music fans may recognize the pavilion where Liesl sang “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” to Rolfe, though it was located at another palace when the movie was filmed.

7. Hangar 7

Owned by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, Hangar 7 is a stylish, hangar-inspired museum with a collection of historical airplanes, helicopters and Formula One racing cars. It is one of those museums that is just as intriguing from the outside as it is from the inside.

The wing-like dome of the museum and adjoining cylindrical towers are built of a latticework of steel supporting a glass shell. The sleek, modern structure contrasts sharply with the Alps rising in the backdrop. Hangar 7 is also home to the Michelin starred restaurant Ikarus as well as two bars and a lounge.

6. Cable Car to Untersberg

For the most incredible views imaginable of Salzburg and the surrounding Alps, make sure to take the cable car up Untersberg. Set just southwest of the city, the legendary mount has all kinds of fun outdoor activities for you to enjoy.

Easily reached by bus, the funicular’s cable cars whisk guests up to its summit in just over eight minutes. From St. Leonard station in Gartenau, you slowly rise over 1,300 meters to Geiereck’s jagged peak, high up amidst the clouds.

On the way, you bask in breathtaking panoramas of Hohensalzburg Castle watching out over Salzburg and the Rositten Valley. At its 1,806-meter-high peak, there is some magnificent hiking and biking to be had amongst its alpine landscapes.

5. St. Peter’s Abbey

One of our favorite places in the city, St. Peter’s Abbey, its cemetery and catacombs are nestled right at the foot of the fortress. Located alongside a sheer rock face, all its grand rooms and gardens are very interesting and attractive to wander around.

Long the spiritual heart of Salzburg, it was founded in the seventh century though the current church ‘only’ dates to 1130. Later redecorated in a Rococo-style, it contains several exquisite altars and the tombs of both Mozart’s sister and Johann Michael Hayden. There is also a very elegant library to see, though this is unfortunately only accessible on rare occasions.

Perhaps even more impressive however are the intricate, iron-wrought graves in the lush green cemetery outside. You can also visit the cool catacombs and chapels that are carved in the rugged rock right by the abbey. Coupled with its unique setting, look and atmosphere, we thought this made St. Peter’s very special to visit.

4. Salzburger Dom

Rising dramatically above the Altstadt are the big bronze dome and two tall towers of the Salzburger Dom. One of the city’s most important places of worship, the basilica boasts loads of lovely architecture and twinkling artistic treasures.

Originally erected in 774, it was later rebuilt in the seventeenth century under the rule of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau. Once past its arresting Baroque facade with its ornate gates, portals and statues, you can explore the cathedral’s immense interior. Besides an imposing organ, there are fine frescoes to see beneath its dome and the baptismal font where Mozart was baptized.

The Domplatz in front also contains the marvelous Marian Column with the city’s fun Christmas market taking place here in wintertime. The Cathedral Museum is also well worth checking out if you like old religious artworks.

3. Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Just one of Salzburg’s many unmissable tourist attractions is the magical Mirabell Palace and its gorgeous gardens.

The building’s front is plain compared to other Salzburg palaces, but visitors will find lush gardens, featuring statues of mythological people, on the grounds. Is pretty flowerbeds and fountains make for some absolutely phenomenal photos, with the charming castle looming in the background.

Again, built by the Prince-Archbishop in 1606, the vast Neoclassical-style palace was designed for his beloved courtesan Salome Alt. It was later rebuilt in Baroque and Neoclassical styles, and served as the 1815 birthplace of the future King Otto of Greece.

Highlights include the amazing ‘Angel Staircase’ which is adorned with dozens of cute cherubs and the grand, gold-decked Marble Hall. At the palace, you can also hear Mozart concerts almost everyday – over 200 years since he performed there himself.

Outside though amidst its terraced gardens where the famous musical was filmed is where visitors spend most of their time. Asides from the distinctive Pegasus Fountain around which Maria and the children danced, there are some divine viewpoints to see too. We really loved ambling about the blooming gardens, snapping pictures with the castle and church spires in the distance.

2. Hohensalzburg Castle

Sprawling across a huge hilltop, the spectacular Hohensalzburg Castle completely dominates the city’s skyline. After a steep climb up either on foot or via its funicular, you can explore its countless courtyards, museums and sturdy fortifications.

The largest, fully preserved castle in Central Europe, the colossal complex’s current appearance mostly dates to the 1500s. Perched atop Festungsberg Hill, it acted as an important seat of power for the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg for centuries. As well as seeing all its sumptuous stately rooms and their fine furnishings, guests can walk around its old dungeons, towers and battlements.

Other than the glittering Golden Hall, the antiquated Salzburg Bull organ is another of its main sights. The castle’s museums also house armour and weapons while exhibits shed more light on the lives of the Prince-Archbishops. From up here, you can also enjoy panoramic views of the city, old town and endless mountains all around you.

1. Salzburger Altstadt

An absolute treat to stroll around, the atmospheric streets of Salzburger Altstadt are undoubtedly the highlight of most people’s time in town. Lined by lots of beautiful old buildings, its grand squares contain most of the city’s main sights.

Overlooked by the hulking great Hohensalzburg Castle, the historic heart of the city straddles the banks of the Salzach river. As Salzburg was once the capital of a very wealthy independent state, eye-catching churches, squares and merchants’ houses all sprung up over the centuries.

Getting lost amidst the narrow lanes of the Judengasse before again emerging at one of the Altstadt’s picturesque squares like Alter Markt or Residenzplatz is a wonderful way to spend the day. Along the lively Getreidegasse, you can shop til you drop while taking in its fetching facades and wrought-iron guild signs. Here too you’ll find some excellent art galleries, chic boutiques and, of course, Mozart’s birthplace.

As the cathedral, castle and St. Sebastian’s Church are all found here, not to mention Mirabell Palace and St. Peter’s Abbey, it really is the heart and soul of life in town. An enchanting place, it made Salzburg and its scenic surroundings our favorite stop in all Austria.

Best Time to Visit Salzburg

As the weather is warmest and its mountain landscapes are at their most magnificent, June through September is the most popular time to visit Salzburg. Temperatures range from 19 to 23°C (66 to 73°F) with the world-famous Salzburg Festival taking place in July and August.

As the operas, plays and concerts draw such huge numbers, the city’s hotels and restaurants are at their busiest and most expensive. Once you escape the center though, lovely lakes and mountains have loads of epic outdoor activities to enjoy. These months do see the most amount of rainfall however, with rain at least a little on 13 to 19 days on average.

If you want to avoid the crowds, high prices and rain (well, the worst of it at least), then the spring and autumn seasons may be better options. While April and May see the flowers back blooming, October’s autumnal foliage is every bit as enchanting.

Outside of these months is the low season with average temperatures dropping to just 2 to 8°C (35 to 46°F). The expectation is December when many visit for its Christmas market or to ski in the nearby mountains.

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'The Sound of Music' was filmed in Salzburg 60 years ago. Locals say, so what?

Olivia Hampton

Despite a big anniversary, many locals don’t feel connected to 'The Sound of Music'

The Von Trapp children, their father Georg and then-nanny Maria appear in a Salzburg Marionette Theater production of The Sound of Music story. George Kaulfersch/Copyright Salzburg Marionettentheater hide caption

SALZBURG, Austria — Dhananjay Raval first saw The Sound of Music , as a young child. This summer, he traveled from his hometown of Ahmedabad in western India with his own adult son to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the breathtaking sites where the film was shot six decades ago in Salzburg.

"Time is going on, 60 years, but the story and song is forever," he said, standing in front of the gazebo where Liesl and Rolf sing "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" in the musical drama. "This story I show [to] my children and grandchildren so they... know what is the value of family."

This city at the foot of the Alps is gearing up for major celebrations next year, marking six decades since the theatrical release of the story of a rebellious would-be nun who charmed a stern naval captain and his seven children.

A music special will feature new arrangements of the songs performed by stars like Baby Face, Pentatonix and Thalía. Von Trapp family members and other celebrities will mingle at a gala dinner. There will be seminars, flash mobs and Leopoldskron Palace — depicted as the Von Trapp home in the film — plans a "captain's ball." In town, a maker of traditional dirndl dresses will stage an exhibit on the film’s costumes.

Nearly 3 million people from around the world visit each year this city of just 160,000 residents. The Salzburg Festival and sites related to Mozart, who was born here, also rival for attention, with the city pulling in around a billion euros (a similar amount in dollars) per year from tourism, according to local government statistics.

The 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music 's theatrical release next year won't be song and dance for everyone. The special occasion could spell another peak in visitors for a city already grappling with overtourism.

The costs, and benefits, of overtourism

Raval is part of a Sound of Music pilgrimage of sorts that includes walking tours, bike tours and bus tours to visit sites like the Pegasus Fountain at Mirabell Gardens (site of the finale of the "Do-Re-Mi" song), Nonnberg Convent (where Julie Andrews' Maria was once a novice) and St. Gilgen, where Maria frolics through the hills in the opening scene. And palaces like Hellbrun and Leopoldskron evoke a bygone era. Panorama Tours , which once transported the film's stars and crew in 1964, now brings around 140,000 people to the sites each year.

Traditional dirndl dresses and lederhosen breeches, which feature prominently in The Sound of Music , have seen growing popularity in recent years. Here, people walk through the historic center of Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to attend the Salzburg Festival's opening ceremony. Olivia Hampton/NPR hide caption

But Sound of Music mania has not rubbed off on locals here. "We were not aware of the movie and of the impact it has to so many families until we actually were exposed to it and questioned by it through our tourists. And now it's become part of our DNA," said Christine Schoenhuber, CEO of Tourismus Salzburg GmbH CEO.

Visitors, she says, come from as far as Australia, South Korea, the Middle East, Mexico and of course the United States to take in the sights.

Salzburgers disconnected from the film

Despite the global appeal, many Salzburg locals haven't seen the film or feel little emotional connection to the story filled with uplifting plotlines and catchy Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes.

“I'm typical of the Salzburg people because I don't know anything about the film until I was an adult," said Peter Husty, chief curator and head of exhibitions at the Salzburg Museum.

For one, the venues are completely mixed up. What was made to seem one location, say the Von Trapp home, was in fact numerous ones.

The Untersberg Mountains, part of the Alps, appear in the distance from the back of Leopoldskron palace. In The Sound of Music , a rowboat carrying Maria and the children capsizes in the lake here. Olivia Hampton/NPR hide caption

A much larger replica of Leopoldskron palace's Venetian Room was created in Hollywood to shoot scenes for The Sound of Music. None of the interiors were shot at Leopoldskron. Richard Schabetsberger./Courtesy Salzburg Global Seminar. hide caption

Most views of the back of the home and the scene where Maria and the children fall out of a rowboat into the lake was filmed at the rococo Leopoldskron Palace . But the entrance was shot a couple miles away at a different palace, Frohnburg, built in the 17th century as the summer residence of Prince-Archbishop Max Gandolph. The actual Villa Trapp is in Aigen, on the outskirts of the city, and doesn't appear in the film. And all the interior scenes were actually shot on sets in Hollywood.

People travel from all over the world to take pictures at sites where The Sound of Music was shot, such as the Mirabell Gardens here. Olivia Hampton/NPR hide caption

"The story was too romantic. It was tears cutting out of your eyes," Husty said. He notes that the real family managed to escape Austria thanks to their wealth and connections, while many others had no such choice during World War II. "And then all the other people in the film seemed to be Nazis. So a lot of small problems that were disgusting for the Salzburg people," Husty added.

Where are the Von Trapps now?

Husty has also been named chief curator of a new museum that Salzburg plans to open in 2026 dedicated to the film near the reconstructed gazebo where Liesl and Rolf and later Maria and the captain profess their love for each other. The structure is now located in the gardens of Hellbrunn Palace. A larger version was rebuilt in Hollywood for the interior shots.

"I want to tell on one side the success of the film where it is coming from, where is it going," said Peter Husty, who will serve as the new museum's curator. "And on the other side, I want to inform the visitors that the background of the Hollywood film is the story of a real family in Salzburg, and what have they really done and what was their life?”

Because before the film, there was the Broadway musical, the West German movie and the story of a real family first told by Maria von Trapp after she married Georg von Trapp. With so many iterations of the story, disentangling fact from fiction can be challenging. But one thing's for sure: the von Trapps' musical talents helped spare them the worst of the horrors of World War II.

Elisabeth von Trapp is the daughter of the late Werner von Trapp, depicted as Kurt in the film. Maria was her step-grandmother. Hannelore Kirchner./Courtesy Elisabeth von Trapp. hide caption

Elisabeth von Trapp, the daughter of Werner von Trapp — depicted as "Kurt" in the film — plans to start next year her own walking tour that will focus on highlights of Salzburg, The Sound of Music and the von Trapp family.

"I think my relatives were very much about being creative and problem-solving... how to resonate together and harmonize. And when you do that not only musically but as a team building their new life — there's so many people that are being displaced around the world — it is a source of inspiration," she said.

Sitting at a café near the Mirabell Gardens after getting certified as a tour guide, she pondered her family's legacy.

"It just is, perchance, that my grandmother's story was chosen to come on Broadway," she said.

Of the initial Von Trapp children's generation, only Johannes, 85, still lives. He's one of three children born to Maria and Georg after their marriage, bringing the family total to 10 children.

Salzburg's cinematic beauty

Salzburg and its surroundings naturally lend themselves to cinematic grandeur, steeped as they are in tradition and alpine beauty.

Leopoldskron palace served in part as the exterior of the Von Trapp family home in The Sound of Music . The interiors were recreated in Hollywood. Olivia Hampton/NPR hide caption

Leopoldskron was commissioned as a family estate in the 18th century by the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, Leopold von Firmian, whose heart was buried in the chapel of the palace he "loved so dearly," so reads an inscription there.

The site is so well preserved, that "the view that we have here is basically the same that the archbishop had in 1736 when he built this Schloss," or palace, said Martin Weiss, president and CEO of the Salzburg Global Seminar based at Leopoldskron. "You have a really stunning beauty untouched for hundreds of years."

Across the lake, the Untersberg Mountains are shrouded in fog. Hollywood fiction has the family fleeing the Nazis there. But that itinerary would have landed them in Hitler’s mountain retreat, the infamous Eagle’s Nest. The real Von Trapps knew their geography and initially left Austria for a concert tour. From Italy, they found their way to Vermont, where their Austrian-inspired lodge remains a major tourist attraction in the town of Stowe.

Leopoldskron, from archbishop's passion project to center of creativity

SGS, which Weiss describes as a "platform that brings people together," has called the palace home since 1947. Its previous owner, Jewish theater producer Max Reinhardt inspired The Sound of Music 's "Uncle Max." And the palace also served as the launching pad for the Salzburg Festival, which Reinhardt cofounded with writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal and composer Richard Strauss.

"It was really in this Schloss, in the Red Salon, where the three of them did their brainstorming and came up with this idea after this terrible devastation of World War One. Millions of people killed. Europe really at its knees," recalled Weiss, a Salzburg native and former Austrian ambassador to the U.S. "Their philosophy was, we have to bring people together. What language can we possibly use? Of course, the arts."

The Nazi government confiscated the palace in 1938 as “Jewish property.” Reinhardt was working in Hollywood at the time and never saw Leopoldskron again.

The Sound of Music, marionette version

Another art form also endures in Salzburg — marionettes. Anton Aicher founded the Marionette Theater here in 1913 and invented the "Salzburg cross" to manipulate the figurines, part of a technique that Austria's UNESCO commission has designated as an intangible cultural heritage. Everything is handmade, from the puppets to the costumes and sets.

Hundreds of marionettes hang in what's dubbed the "holy chamber" at the Salzburg Marionette Theater. Olivia Hampton/NPR hide caption

The theater inspired the film’s “Lonely Goatherd” puppet scene, where Maria and the children put on a show for the captain, the baroness he had initially been due to marry and Uncle Max in the Venetian Ballroom.

Performances now include a Sound of Music -themed show, in both original and shortened versions, in a plush hall where cherubs fill frescoes decorating an ornate stucco ceiling.

"We can see it with all of our shows that from the child from three or four years on up to big, strong men, they are touched by the movement, the story and the ability, what is possible and shown on stage by the marionette," said general manager Susanne Tiefenbacher.

Salzburg Marionette Theater puppeteers manipulate marionettes for their Sound of Music show. George Kaulfersch/Copyright Salzburg Marionettentheater hide caption

The Von Trapp children play while their then-nanny Maria looks on in the Salzburg Marionette Theater's production of The Sound of Music . George Kaulfersch/Salzburg Marionettentheater hide caption

Backstage, around 600 hand-carved wooden puppets fill a room dubbed the "holy chamber." There are characters from productions of The Nutcracker, The Magic Flute, The Carnival of the Animals, Alice in Wonderland, The Tales of Hoffmann and of a new Romeo and Juliet production that will premiere at the theater's puppetry festival in October. Each show requires multiple versions of the same character, which means 30 to 90 puppets and nine to 11 puppeteers each time.

"The wood by itself is a dead piece of material. But through the art work and the empathic work of the puppeteers... with movements so delicate and so fine they move like human human beings, you will forget that it's puppets," said Tiefenbacher.

She pauses to reflect on why The Sound of Music still resonates, more than half a century since the film.

"There is the love, there is the family, collective singing and there is also the drama of the political background," she said. "And the political background, unfortunately, is coming up again. You can feel it worldwide and especially also in Europe that times are changing in a way, and to have to move your family from one place to another, forced by political circumstances."

The broadcast version of this story was produced by Kaity Kline. The digital version was edited by Obed Manuel.

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Not Hollywood Royalty? Here’s How to Enjoy Lake Como on the Cheap.

Stars like George Clooney frequent this scenic corner of northern Italy, but you might be surprised by how affordable it can be. Here’s an insider’s guide.

By Valeriya Safronova

Lake Como, in northern Italy, conjures images of glistening blue water, opulent villas and villages where celebrities like Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and Amal and George Clooney try to dodge the paparazzi.

But you don’t have to be Hollywood royalty, or a billionaire, to enjoy the famous, mountain-ringed lake.

In the decade that my family has been visiting Lake Como in the summers, we’ve discovered a range of ways to save money: Stay farther away from the water, for example, and take advantage of free or low-cost activities like hiking, visiting museums and riding bikes.

Here’s how to sample the sparkle of Lake Como without breaking the bank.

SWITZERLAND

Spiaggia di Lierna

switzerland

Avoid A-list destinations

Lake Como, a one- to two-hour drive north of Milan, is shaped like an upside-down Y. To get a sense of distance, consider that the drive from the town of Como, at the southern end of the western branch, to Colico, at the northern end of the lake, takes a little over an hour.

Prime lakeside destinations include Lecco, a small city at the southern end of the eastern branch; the town of Bellagio, in the fork of the Y; and Varenna, a village on the eastern shore. These towns tend to have the priciest accommodations and restaurants, so you’ll get more bang for your buck if you look to other villages and towns instead.

Stay at guesthouses and farms

Guesthouses, a less expensive option than hotels, may lack certain amenities, but make up the difference with authenticity and welcoming hosts.

About an hour’s drive north of Como, Le Radici Agriturismo offers comfortable accommodations on a hillside farm that grows much of the food served by its on-site restaurant. Rooms, available April through October, start at €90, about $98, a night with breakfast.

In the mountains between the branches of the lake, a 40-minute drive from Como or Lecco, you’ll find Da Mara, Lago di Como, where an apartment with a living room, bedroom and kitchen, breakfast included, starts at €40 a night.

Agriturismo La Vecchia Chioderia , a property that raises its own pork and trout near the midlake town of Menaggio, also offers double rooms, with breakfast included, starting at €60. It’s also near Parco Val Sanagra, a local park where you can take an easy, scenic hike and return for a lunch of freshly caught fish.

In Colico, a cozy double room with a water view at Rosina House e Chalet starts at about €98, and rooms at the chic bed-and-breakfast Foresteria Ca Di Nadin start at €110. Both are within walking distance of Spiaggia Ontano and Spiaggia di Piona , two public beaches.

Float away from the masses

Avoid the crowds in Como, Lecco, Varenna and Bellagio by hopping on a ferry to a postcard-worthy destination like Tremezzina. An adult ticket for a ferry will set you back €6 to €13 , depending on distance. Remember, the lake, mountains and piazzas look just as beautiful from a ferry as they do from a yacht — and there’s sometimes a bar on board, too.

Once you’re there, walk along the Greenway, a six-mile path that winds from the village of Colonno, around farms and over creeks, past gelaterias, cafes and cobblestone alleys, to the village of Griante. Alternatively, rent a regular or an electric bike from the many shops nearby and pedal at your own leisure.

Go jump in the lake

You don’t need to stay at a five-star hotel to get access to a five-star beach. Many towns, including Bellagio , Lenno and Lecco , have their own municipal beaches — just ask locals to direct you to a spiaggia libera, or free beach.

Spiaggia di Lierna , in Lierna, among the top public beaches on the lake, is a 30-minute train ride from Lecco. There, you can enjoy the cool, crystal clear water or rent a catamaran. A nearby cafe, Riva Bianca Bar Pizzeria, serves pizzas for as little as €6.

In Colico, you’ll find the bucolic Spiaggia di Piona , a grassy beach on a secluded bay. Nearby are hiking paths of varying difficulty with views of the lake, the 1,000-year-old Piona Abbey and the Del Risti winery , which offers tours and tastings paired with local cheeses and cold cuts. Book your tour online for €48 per person; the winery has a minibus that picks up visitors near the beach.

Head for the high country

Though the lake is the region’s main attraction, the surrounding mountains offer hikes of varying difficulty, altitude and length.

Sentiero Spirito del Bosco , or Spirit of the Woods Trail, in Canzo, near Lecco, is an easy, entertaining trail that takes about an hour and is lined with quirky wooden sculptures of animals and mythical characters, like elves and gnomes.

Along the trail, two farms, Agriturismo in Valentina and Rifugio Terz’Alpe , offer hikers a chance to refuel with a rustic meal of homemade cheese and salami, polenta and a flat local buckwheat pasta called pizzoccheri. Two main courses and a cheese plate at either place will set you back a total of €25 to €30.

For those who would rather skip the sweaty walk and cut straight to the views, the lake abounds with funiculars and cable cars , including one that ascends about 1,600 vertical feet from the town of Como to Brunate every 30 minutes until midnight and costs €6.60 round-trip.

In Lecco, the Piani d’Erna Funivia cable car takes visitors about 2,600 feet up to a grassy mountaintop with panoramic views of the water. Nearby, the adventure park Parco Avventura tempts thrill seekers with ropes courses, zip lines and more. Tickets for the cable car start at €12 round-trip, and entry to the park starts at €12 (depending on how many adventure routes you want to try).

Explore a grand villa and gardens

The Villa del Balbianello and its surrounding gardens, in Tremezzina, have a rich history going back hundreds of years. Built for a cardinal in the 18th century, the villa was once owned by Guido Monzino, a count who led the first Italian expedition to the summit of Mount Everest. Art and objects that he collected on his travels adorn the glamorous Neoclassical building, including an 18th-century Venetian globe, a collection of Inuit ivory carvings and the sled in which the count reached the North Pole in 1971. Now run by the National Trust of Italy, it has been a setting for movies like “Casino Royale” and “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones.”

Entry includes a 45-minute tour and costs €24 for adults. You must book online — and well ahead of time. The villa is one of Lake Como’s most popular attractions.

In Bellagio, wander the peaceful 19th-century Gardens of Villa Melzi , which feature a photogenic lily pond and a blue-and-white pavilion with views of the lake, as well as 250 different types of camellias and a large tulip tree. Entry is €10.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Lake Como, Italy:  Stars like George Clooney frequent this scenic corner of northern Italy, but you might be surprised by how affordable it can be. Here’s an insider’s guide .

South of France:  Horses, bulls and birds of all types live among the pink marshes of the Camargue, a rugged landscape shaped  by the relentless push and pull of sea and river.

Disney Theme Parks:  As Disney has raised the cost of tickets and hotel rooms at its theme parks, and added pricey, difficult-to-navigate tools, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves  if they should rethink their vacations.

Helsinki, Finland:   Explore the stunning architecture  of the new central library, browse treasure-filled shops in the Design District, sweat in a wood-burning sauna, sip cocktails on a schooner and trek across islands in the surrounding archipelago.

Salzburg, Austria:  The compact Austrian city of medieval alleys, majestic Alpine views and just 150,000 residents bursts to life in the summer .