In co-operation with the Austria Tourist Board
Today we're sharing 15 things to do in Salzburg, Austria. We've spent a few intense days in this beautiful city, doing everything from cable cars and castles to beer, shopping and a Mozart Candle Light Dinner. Here are our top tips for visiting this beautiful Austrian city!
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Things to see and do in Salzburg
Salzburg in Austria is a fantastic city and offers plenty to see and do, whether you prefer culture and history or great nature experiences. Here are our top 15 tips for things to do in Salzburg.
1. get the Salzburg Card
We found it very affordable to get a Salzburg. Card. The card can be purchased for 24, 48 or 72 hours and gives free entry to many museums and attractions and allows you to travel on buses, cable cars, etc. at no extra cost. Moreover, with this card we were able to bypass queues several times!
2. join a guided tour
We like guided tours because you get a lot of interesting information in an easy way. We went on a two-hour guided city walk, which was very interesting. Other ways to discover the city include Hop On Hop Off buses, amphibious tours or City Cruises. You can read more on Salzburg info.
3. Visit Mozart's birthplace
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on 27 January 1756 in Salzburg, in the yellow house pictured here. He wrote his first piece of music for piano at the age of 3, and at the age of 6 he also started playing the violin. The prodigy Mozart produced over 600 works before he died in Vienna at the age of 35. Today you can visit both the birthplace and the Mozart Wohnhaus - the house Mozart lived in between 1773 and 1787.
4. See Salzburg in the past - on a panorama deck
If you have the Salzburg Card, and therefore free entry, it's worth checking out the Panorama Museum, which shows what Salzburg used to look like on a large panoramic canvas. The rest of the museum deals with the great fire that destroyed large parts of the city about 200 years ago.
5. Take the mountain railway to Hohensalzburg fortress
Fort Hohensalzburg is the largest fully preserved castle in Central Europe and sits high above the city of Salzburg. It was built in 1077 and reconstructed to its current appearance around 1500. You can walk up here if you want, or make it a little easier on yourself and take a nice ride up by cable car.
Up at Hohensalzburg, you can stroll around the courtyards, eat at one of the outdoor restaurants or perhaps visit one of the museums located here, such as the Puppet Museum.
6. Visit Mirabell Gardens
Mirabell Castle was built in the 17th century and survived a major fire in the city. Today you can come here to stroll through the beautiful gardens, filled with flowers and fountains. There is also a stunningly beautiful staircase, the Angel Staircase, leading up to the marble hall. Here you can book yourself into various classical music concerts.
7. Enter the catacombs of St Peter's cemetery
St Peter's Cemetery is a beautiful cemetery in the centre of Salzburg, where many famous Salzburgers are buried, such as Mozart's sister. There are also catacombs carved directly out of the rock, including a small chapel inside the rock chamber. It's fascinating that they built it this way!
8. Walk along the Mönch mountain
The area around Mönch's mountain is lushly beautiful, and you can walk above the city with countless opportunities for great views. This is a great opportunity to get out of the city, experience nature and get away from the most touristy areas.
You can get to the Mönch mountain by walking up, near St Peter's cemetery, or by taking the lift at the Modern Museum. If you want, you can stop for a bite to eat, along with great views, at the Stadt Alm restaurant.
9. Travel in the footsteps of the Sound of Music
If you like the musical The Sound of Music, you should definitely travel to Salzburg. The Trapp family, the subject of the musical, once lived here, and the classic film was also shot here.
The visit to the Sound of Music museum wasn't really worth the money for us (you get a discount with the Salzburg Card, but it's not free), but it might be worth it for those with a keen interest in the film. If you want, you can also go on special guided tours that take you to the film's shooting locations.
10. Shopping for clothes and chocolate
The Old Town (Altsadt) of Salzburg is full of shops selling Austrian clothing, such as lederhosen and the women's dress dirndl. The clothes come in all price ranges - from more expensive, good quality garments to slightly cheaper souvenirs. It is also an experience to walk on Getreidegasse, where all the shop signs are in the old traditional style.
Was there any shopping for us then? Yes, Peter actually went shopping with a black hat! Of course, you can also buy chocolates, like the classic Mozart balls, and if you want the real thing - the blue wrappers (labelled "original") are the way to go!
11. Hang out in the city's cafés
Salzburg is full of nice cafés and the city is also famous for several different sweets, including the dessert Nockerl (a sweet soufflé) and various pastries. We're not big on sweets, so for us it was a beer in a café instead ...
12. Drink beer at the Augustiner Bräu monastery
The brewery Augustiner Bräu is a cosy and relaxed brewery with a beer hall and beer garden. Here you can get your beer refilled in large mugs and buy simple food from a number of stalls. In the large indoor beer hall, regulars have signs showing what time they have booked which table. Outside there is a large garden where you can enjoy beer and food in a relaxed environment.
13. Enjoy the Mozart Candle Light dinner
If you want to have a real Mozart experience, you can book a "Mozart Dinner Concert", organised in the baroque hall of St Peter's Stiftskeller. We attended this one evening, and it was a special experience!
We were served a three-course dinner (based on historical recipes) and between each course we were treated to classical music and singing by musicians in traditional dress. A wonderful overall experience that took us to another time! We were also joined at the table by a young Australian couple who had been travelling around Europe for a number of weeks.
14. Take the cable car to the top of the Untersberg.
On the outskirts of Salzbzurg is the Untersberg mountain and you can take a lift to the top for breathtaking views, and possibly for further hiking. Read more in our post about taking cable car to the top of the Untersberg.
15. Get to the world's largest ice cave
About half an hour south of Salzburg by car is the town of Werfen. Here you can visit the world's largest ice cave! Read more in our post about Ice giant world.
More things to do in Salzburg?
We have had several nice days in Salzburg, but of course we did not have time for all. In addition to what we have done, you can visit the castle. HellbrunnenSee the city's fine theatres, climb the Kapuzinerberg or perhaps visit the Stiegl brewery. Among other things.
Living in Salzburg?
If you are travelling with a motorhome or caravan, we highly recommend Camping Panorama, located on the outskirts of Salzburg. This is a well-run campsite with good service and great views, and it's an easy bus ride into town.
If you come by plane, there are of course lots of different options. One interesting option that our guide told us about is the monastery of St Benedict's College. Here you live very centrally - without TV, but with a bible by the bedside.
See and do in Salzburg - a film
Peter has also put together a film from our visit to Salzburg. Please check it out!
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This post is written in co-operation with the Austria Tourist Board. The texts, images and opinions are, as usual, our own.
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JoY says:
You have done a lot in these days, including pilsner at Augustiner Bräu???
Hugs
20 July 2018 - 7:35
Helena says:
We have not been idle right away 🙂 And yes, even a beer at Augustiner Bräu! Very nice! 🙂 Thanks for all the tips!!!
20 July 2018 - 8:13
Lena - gott för själen says:
Guys, that really seems like an area worth visiting! Have a great Friday!
Hug Lena
20 July 2018 - 7:54
Helena says:
Really! Salzburg had more to offer than we realised! A very nice and exciting destination!
20 July 2018 - 8:14
Ama de casa says:
Oh! A castle! Sometime in the future I hope to visit a castle as well... 😉.
There really seems to be so much to do there. Visited the city once, but only a short day so we mostly strolled around. Not wrong either 🙂
So you didn't buy a summer dirndl?
20 July 2018 - 13:36
Helena says:
Here it was very comfortable with a mountain railway up to the castle 🙂 And haha, no summer dress in the motorhome 😉.
20 July 2018 - 16:49
Mias Mix says:
There are many exciting and beautiful things. Would definitely have taken the cable car to the top and hiked there. Love hiking in Austria, so much better than for example Italy where the signage is bad.
20 July 2018 - 13:40
Helena says:
Austria is fantastic! How sad that you had such bad signage in Italy!
20 July 2018 - 16:50
Ditte says:
Great tips! Some of them I have tried when I was here and some are still there. But it was a long time since I was in Salzburg so maybe soon time again. But there is much that attracts and this summer I want to see more of Sweden. Wonderfully enticing pictures.
20 July 2018 - 16:05
Helena says:
You can't be everywhere at the same time ... but I recognise the feeling that there are many attractions!
20 July 2018 - 17:04
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
Many great tips for a wonderful city! Some I remember since my visit 30 years ago, while others sound completely unfamiliar. Hop on hop off buses we often use in big cities, city cards are not wrong either!
20 July 2018 - 16:06
Helena says:
Glad you were here 30 years ago Britt-Marie! 🙂 City maps are handy, especially if you want to see and do a lot!
20 July 2018 - 17:05
Steve says:
There is an impressive range of activities in Salzburg and you won't hesitate to 'help yourself'.
20 July 2018 - 16:17
Helena says:
Really! This city pleasantly surprised us! 🙂
20 July 2018 - 17:15
BP says:
There really is a lot to do in Salzburg! Both your pictures and films show how wide the range is.
I can see why you didn't wear a dirndl. These characteristic Austrian and Bavarian clothes have been around for hundreds of years. And they still look the same, so to speak. The cool hat - such hats are in right now - was a much better choice.
PS. Just wondering if you fell asleep during the "Mozart Dinner Concert". I did;-) DS.
20 July 2018 - 20:54
Helena says:
We really liked Salzburg! A beautiful city that has a lot to offer! We could have stayed a few more days! (But have some other things planned too;)) Feels good that you like our clothing choices 🙂 And haha, no we did not fall asleep at all! On the one hand, we like classic (a little just right anyway) and on the other hand, it was perfectly planned with a moment's performance between each dish. Then we were lucky to get very nice company at the table too, so it was a very nice evening!
20 July 2018 - 22:35
Maria / Magnolia Magis says:
Here I am again after grandchildren's days! 😉 Wow! Sound of Music is really something for me!!! My children grew up with the film and music... There was a lot worth seeing that is written on the list! Have been to Salzburg but not a fraction of what you have seen! Funny!
20 July 2018 - 21:24
Helena says:
If you grew up with the Sound of Music, there is a lot to see and experience in Salzburg! I myself have not seen the film, so then it will not be the same thing ... But many people travel here just for this!!!! And yes, there is an incredible amount to see and do in Salzburg! 🙂
20 July 2018 - 22:37