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Unmissable Salzburg: what to do when you visit

When it comes to history and culture, Salzburg is one of Austria’s standout cities. In the centre is the UNESCO-protected Old Town, where elegant town houses sit alongside domed palaces and churches.

Castles, cathedrals and bloom-filled gardens – there’s something worth seeing around every corner in Salzburg. The city’s café scene is on point too, so you’re never far from a tasty treat. And you can’t forget its musical heritage – from Mozart to The Sound of Music. If this sounds like a city that’s singing your tune, we’ve got your back with this guide to all the best bits.

Where is Salzburg?

Salzburg’s built on the banks of the Salzach river and is the capital of the Salzburgerland region in central Austria. You can catch a direct train from Zell am See and Bad Hofgastein to get there in under two hours, or visit by bus from lakeside spots like St Wolfgang and St Gilgen in around 30 minutes. If you fancy being picked up from your hotel and seeing the sights with a local guide, you can add a Salzburg day trip to your alpine getaway. And of course, you can also stay in the city itself.

Can’t-miss things to see and do in Salzburg

Must-see sights

Gardens

Museums

Shopping

Food and drink

Fortress Hohensalzburg

Fortress Hohensalzburg looks impenetrable thanks to its clifftop setting, but it’s actually easy-peasy to get inside – just hop on the funicular train to be whizzed up to the main gates. Inside, check out the ornate interiors in the bedrooms and The Golden Hall. Then swing by the Salzburg Bull to see a 500-year-old mechanical organ that’s still played three times a day.

The castle also carries on the musical them in the Marionette Museum. It’s home to puppets used in The Sound of Music and Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute, and you can even have a go at puppeteering yourself.

Salzburg Cathedral

With its turquoise-coloured copper dome and twin spires, Salzburg Cathedral takes centre stage on the city’s skyline. Set in a grand square, the outside is decorated with columns, statues and a trio of giant doors that are well worth a closer look. Cast from bronze, each one’s covered from top to bottom with detailed designs showing stories from the Bible.

Things are just as impressive inside too, from the painted panelling and stone scrollwork to a 71m high central dome that’s bound to stop you in your tracks as you walk down the main aisle.

St Peter’s Abbey and catacombs

This centuries-old spot dates way back to 696AD, making it the oldest church in the German-speaking world. Outside is a cemetery that’s more garden than graveyard thanks to the flower-decked headstones. And in Mönchsberg hill that overlooks the abbey is a tunnel that you can explore by climbing steps carved into the cliff face. Head inside and follow the winding passageway past ancient shrines to a small chapel, where you can look out over the city rooftops below.

Salzach river boat trip

Set sail down the Salzach river to see the sights on one of Austria’s best boat trips. Cruises usually last around 40 minutes and take in views of Salzburg’s waterfront, before leaving the city behind and gliding past riverside villas, with mountains dotting the horizon beyond. To make a day of it, you could combine it with a visit to the nearby Hellbrunn Palace gardens, a short bus ride away.

Hellbrunn Palace Gardens

The grounds at this grand palace serve up more than just manicured lawns. At the centre is a mock Roman theatre where trick fountains spring up from the most unexpected spots – sit in the wrong place and you may get wet. Nearby are underground grottoes where imitation birdsong plays through a network of pipes. And on the edge of the gardens, look for the water-powered mechanical theatre. Filled with over 200 moving figurines, it shows a detailed city scene complete with builders, street musicians and even a barber shaving a customer.

©SalzburgerLand Tourismus

Mirabell Palace and gardens

This is a must-stop if you’re on the trail of the Von Trapp family – the Pegasus fountain outside the palace played a starring role in the iconic Do-Re-Mi scene from The Sound of Music. But there’s way more to these beautiful gardens than just their famous film connection. Smell blooms in the secluded Rose Garden, and wander among miniature statues in the Dwarf Garden. Then head to the western side of the grounds to find a hidden theatre at the centre of a hedge maze, before popping into a glasshouse filled with tropical plants.

Mozart museum

No day in Salzburg would be complete without a trip to see the birthplace of its most famous son, Mozart. This bright yellow building was home to the composer until he was 17 years old. Inside, you can learn more about the story of his life, see original manuscripts and some of the instruments he used when creating his masterpieces.

Salzburg Open-Air Museum

Swap city streets for village vibes at this museum on the outskirts of Salzburg. Backed by the peaks of the Untersberg Nature Park, this collection of over 100 buildings tell the story of rural life in the region. The huge site is dotted with shops, farmhouses and barns, as well as a blacksmith and a working sawmill – there’s even an old railway to get you around. Daily demos of traditional crafts help bring everything to life and you can pop into the village store to pick up a traditional keepsake, like handmade tools for your garden.

Interior of a traditional cobbler's workshop.

The Old Town

Running through the heart of Salzburg Old Town is Getreidegasse, a popular shopping street with a distinctive look. Hanging above pretty much every business is an elaborate sign, which helped to catch the attention of customers in days gone by. Fast forward to now, and it’s filled with high-end shops selling furniture and traditional fashions, as well as places to pick up souvenirs, like music boxes and Mozart balls – Salzburg’s popular chocolate treat.

Goldgasse street

A few streets away from Getreidegasse is a winding lane called Goldgasse. Curving between the market square and Salzburg Cathedral, it got its name from the goldsmiths who set up shop here back in the Middle Ages. And it’s still a go-to place to buy jewellery today. Even if you’re not on the hunt for a new bit of bling, it’s a pleasant place to potter, with its tall, Medieval townhouses, arched doorways and colourful shutters.

The best places to eat and drink in Salzburg

Café hopping, beer clinking and ice-cream licking – it’s all on the menu in Salzburg. Here are the spots you just can’t miss when it’s time for a pick-me-up.

Irresistible cakes at Café Sacher

When it comes to Austria’s most famous dishes, a traditional Sacher-Torte is a treat that’s all kinds of moreish. Invented by Franz Sacher in 1832, it’s a rich chocolatey sponge, filled with apricot jam and encased in thick chocolate ganache. There’s nowhere better to try it during a trip to Salzburg than the café at Hotel Sacher. Tucking into the original recipe surrounded by red velvet upholstery, marble tabletops and chandeliers in the hotel that’s still run by the family just feels right.

Centuries of history at Café Tomaselli

The Tomaselli family have run this coffee house on the edge of the old market square for over 150 years, making this Austria’s oldest café. Nowadays, it’s a popular lunch spot, but whatever the time of day, it’s well worth popping by to try their signature treat of Erdbeerschüsserl, which is a type of redcurrant sponge topped off with strawberries and cream.

Frothy steins at Stiegl-Keller

If you’re after a mug of Austria’s favourite thirst-quencher, you can’t beat this bar that’s run by one of the country’s best-loved brands, Stiegl. Take your pick from seasonal batches flavoured with things like juniper, coriander, cinnamon and honey, or stick with a classic märzen – a refreshing lager with a malty flavour.

Ice-cream with a difference at Eisl Eis

Tucked down a passageway just off bustling Getreidegasse street is this pick that puts a spin on the sweet dairy treat. Owners Christine and Sepp Eisl use milk from their flock of sheep to make ice-cream that’s extra smooth and creamy. And with options like sesame cherry and apricot curd, the flavours are anything but average too – extra scoop anyone?

These are a few of our favourite things, but there’s so much more to see and do on a holiday to Salzburg.

And with everything from concerts to guided tours, adding a TUI experience to your trip is a perfect way to make it even more special.

Head to our Lakes & Mountains homepage to discover more about our favourite holidays.

Author: Mathew Robinson

Last updated: 11.04.2024