Salzburg holidays

The daily Grünplatz market, which takes place in the University Square, is a great place for local produce. The third-largest market in Austria, Schrannenmarkt, also takes place once a week in front of St Andrew’s Church, selling everything from flowers to leather goods and local delicacies. If you want to shop like a local, head to Linzergasse for small – and significantly cheaper – independent shops.

Salzburg is known for being quite pricey, but you can find some reasonably priced goods if you know where to look. The Europark Mall, near the station, is home to 130 high street shops, while the traditional Getreidegasse has a huge selection of local manufacturers selling foods, clothes and bits and bobs for the house. If you have a chance, make sure to check out Baroque Court Pharmacy, the oldest bookshop in the German-speaking world.

Designer goods aren’t hard to find in Salzburg. There’s the Designer Outlet Center near the airport selling discounted items from big-name brands like Michael Kors and Hugo Boss. Plus, the Old Town is home to designer boutiques and jewellery shops, perfect for a bit of high-end retail therapy.

There’s only one way to spend a low-key evening here, and that’s seated in one of the city’s 10 breweries. Augstiner Brau is one to add to your list – it serves beer by the pitcher and has a huge garden where you can watch the sunset. Plus, there’s sparkling wine and spirits on the menu for any non-beer drinkers.

You won’t find a big nightlife scene in Salzburg, but that doesn’t mean there’s nowhere to party. You’ve got a few clubs, trendy bars and authentic Irish pubs dotted around the city. Most are on Rudolfskai, a mile-long street famous for its late-night venues.

You can’t go wrong with schnitzel. It’s an Austrian classic made of thinly sliced meat – like chicken or pork, and sometimes veal – that’s simply breaded and fried until golden brown. For something different, try a Salzburger schnitzel. They come stuffed with mushrooms, ham and cheese.

These bread dumplings are a staple in Austrian cuisine. You’ll find them soaking up the sauce in a hearty stew or – if you’re ordering spinach-flavoured ones called spinatkodel – served as a side with cheese and butter. There are also sweet versions made with apricots and cinnamon.

This one’s like an Austrian version of a hot dog. It typically consists of grilled sausages, onions, curry powder and mustard, all sandwiched between two slices of white bread. Grab one between attractions and you’ll soon see their appeal – they’re warm, filling and super easy to eat on-the-go.

Chocaholics are in luck – sachertorte is all over restaurant menus in Salzburg. For those who haven’t tried it before, it’s made of layers of light apricot jam-covered chocolate sponge cake topped off with dark chocolate ganache, and usually served with a generous helping of whipped cream. No wonder it’s Austria’s most popular dessert.

Here’s another one for sweet-toothed city-breakers. As you might’ve guessed from the name, Mozartkugel was created as an homage to Mozart all the way back in the late 1800s. Notes of pistachio, marzipan and nougat harmonise in these little round chocolates, creating a classically Salzburg-ish sweet.

Environmentally friendly trolleybuses running on overhead power lines are commonplace in Salzburg. More than 20 lines run every 10 minutes from bus stops across the city – timetables are available from the tourist information office. Regular buses, known as Postbuses, also connect Salzburg with lots of local towns nearby.

Jump on a local ferry and sail down the River Salzach. It’s the most relaxing way to enjoy the city’s beauty. Several companies operate the river cruises and they can be booked at the many kiosks in the city.

The Mönchsberg lift, which departs from the Gstättengasse in the city’s Old Town, transports you up to the Stadtberg – one of the six mountains that surround Salzburg – in just 30 seconds. Once at the top, you can explore the Museum der Moderne or take a gentle stroll through the nature preserve.

Salzburg’s main train station is located a 20-minute walk from the centre of the city. From here there are frequent services to Vienna, Innsbruck and Zell am See, as well as more international destinations like Munich, Zurich and Budapest. It’s also a hub for southbound trains through the Alps and into Italy. The S-Bahn – a suburban rail line connecting to Salzbug’s surrounding villages – also has services running every 30 minutes.

With lots of open squares, pedestrianised shopping streets and wide pavements, Salzburg is pretty simple to get around on foot. All the major attractions are pretty close together, too, so you can walk from the Neustadt (New City), across the river and over to the Altstadt (Old City) in under 15 minutes.