Salzburg

Salzburg is a compact, courtly city where Julie Andrews once sang and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born, but there's far more than The Sound of Music. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is one of the best-preserved baroque city centres in the German-speaking world, crowned by the Hohensalzburg fortress and filled with Italianate architecture from the 'Rome of the North' transformation under Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau in the late 16th century. Visitors can explore 100+ km of bike paths along the Salzach River, hike nearby Alpine peaks like the Untersberg, or use the city as a base for day trips to Hallstatt, Berchtesgaden, or the Eisriesenwelt ice caves.

Salzburg has been inhabited since the Neolithic period and was a Roman establishment in 45 AD. The Bavarians took over in the 6th century, and at the end of the 16th century, under Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, the transformation of the medieval town into the 'Rome of the North' began with new buildings following the Italian baroque style. The buildings from this era are mostly in the Old Town, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Salzburg became part of the Austrian Empire in 1816 and frequently ranks favourably in quality of life rankings.

Salzburg W.A. Mozart International Airport (IATA: SZG) is about 20 minutes from the city centre, with direct connections from Amsterdam Schiphol, London, Paris, Vienna, Zurich, and all big German cities. Connections to the city are provided by a trolley bus from the airport. The main train station offers connections to Vienna (about 2 hours), Munich (about 2 hours), and other Austrian and German cities.

The best way to get around Salzburg is by foot. There is a network of city buses called the StadtBus, with numbers from 1 to 10, 12 and 14 (electric trolley-buses) and 20-27 (fuel-powered). A single ticket costs €3 from the bus driver, or €11.50 for a 5-ticket strip bought in advance. A 24-hour ticket costs €4.70 when bought at the vending machine. The Salzburg Verkehr app allows you to buy tickets from your mobile phone. From May 2025, overnight guests will pay a mobility contribution of initially 50 cents per day (€1.10 from May 2027) and can use all public transport in the state of Salzburg free of charge. An excellent option is renting a bike—Salzburg has over 100 km of bike paths.

Salzburg is a year-round destination, though summer (June-August) brings the famous Salzburg Festival with classical music and opera performances. The annual Christmas Market (Christkindlmarkt) opens at the end of November and closes on Christmas, featuring traditional fast food, hot potatoes, doughnuts with kraut, and Christmas decorations at the three squares around the dome (Domplatz, Kapitelplatz, Residenzplatz). Winter offers fewer crowds and the possibility of skiing in nearby Alpine areas.

Budget travellers have several hostel options: YoHo International Youth Hotel (Paracelsusstraße 9) offers rooms from €19-29, A&O Hostel Salzburg Hauptbahnhof near the main train station has rates starting from €11, and the Youth and Family Guesthouse (Josef Preis Allee 18) ranges €15.50-43 including breakfast and linens. Mid-range options include Hotel Weisse Taube (Kaigasse 9) in the Old Town from €68-98, and Hotel Auersperg (Auerspergstraße 61) with free rooftop sauna and breakfast buffet from €85-180. For the Sound of Music experience, some hostels show the film nightly.

A typical dessert from Salzburg is the Salzburg Nockerl, a tasty baked soufflé best served with ice cream, berries and whipped cream—good places make it to order, which takes at least 30 minutes, and one Nockerl is easily enough for four. For street food, try the hotdog stands: Salzburger Würstelkönigin (Ferdinand-Hanusch-Platz 5), Heisse Kiste (Schwarzstraße 4) famous for Leberkäs and Käsekrainer, or Würstelstand Alter Markt (Alter Markt 3). Augustiner Bräustübl (Lindhofstrasse 7) is Austria's largest beer hall, serving Märzenbier straight from the barrel at €3.60 for half a litre since 1621. The famous Mozartkugeln (Mozart balls) can be bought at Fürst (Brodgasse 13) for €1.80 each.

The Hohensalzburg Fortress (Festung) offers breathtaking views of Salzburg and the Alps from a mountain top—take the funicular (adults €13.60) or hike up (adults €11.70). Schloss Hellbrunn (Fürstenweg 37) was the summer palace of the Archbishops with clever trick fountains; adults pay €13.50. Mozart's Birthplace (Getreidegasse 9) costs €10 for adults, and Mozart's Residence (Makartplatz 8) is €10 or €17 combined. The Toy Museum (Bürgerspitalgasse 2) has the largest collection in Austria of European toys. For nature, take the Untersbergbahn cable car to Geiereck peak (1,776 m) or hike the Lammer Gorge (Free).

Mozartkugeln (Mozart balls) are the most famous souvenir—confectioneries of chocolate, marzipan, pistachio and sometimes hazelnut. Try the original version by Fürst, handmade and only available at their four shops in Salzburg at €1.80 each. The cheaper Mirabell brand is available throughout Austria at regular grocery stores. Reber has three chocolate shops in the Old Town (Alter Markt 5; Griesgasse 3; Getreidegasse 26). The annual Christmas Market at Domplatz, Kapitelplatz, and Residenzplatz opens end of November through Christmas with traditional crafts and festive food. Europark is an indoor shopping mall for poor weather days.

Salzburg has 4G coverage from all Austrian carriers. As of September 2021, 5G has not yet reached the city. WiFi is widely available in public places. Austria uses Type F power plugs with 230V/50Hz. The local language is German, though English is widely understood in tourist areas.

Salzburg is generally a very safe city for travellers. Standard precautions against pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas and on public transport are advisable. The main train station area and some nightlife districts may see occasional petty crime. The city is walkable even late at night, though taking a taxi is recommended for late-night travel.

Budget travellers can get by on €60-80 per day in Salzburg. Accommodation in hostels ranges €11-29 per night. Street food like sausages costs €4-8. Bus tickets are €3 single or €4.70 for 24 hours. Major attractions like Hohensalzburg Fortress (€11.70-13.60) and Hellbrunn Palace (€13.50) offer student discounts. The Salzburg Card (available at tourist offices and hotels) provides free entry to many attractions and public transport.

Hallein (22,000 inhabitants) is 22 km south with the Hallein Salt Mine (Salzbergwerk Dürrnberg), an ancient underground salt mine with over 2,600 years of history. Bad Reichenhall and Berchtesgaden in Germany are nearby. The Eisriesenwelt ice caves south of Salzburg are accessible. Oberndorf has the Silent Night Chapel where the famous Christmas carol was composed. Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage city, can be reached in about 2 hours by bus through Bad Ischl, or 3 hours by train. The Untersberg mountain (1,776 m) is less than 16 km from the city and accessible by cable car.

Salzburg is about 2 hours from Munich and Passau in Germany, and 2 hours from Vienna. The Alps are immediately accessible. Freilassing in Germany is just across the border, 10-15 minutes by train, where some locals shop as goods are slightly cheaper. The Königssee in Germany and the Salzkammergut lake region are popular nature destinations. For skiers, the nearby Austrian Alps offer excellent skiing opportunities.