Salzburg: 13 tips on what to see and do here
In today’s trip tip, we’ll take you to Austria’s fourth-largest city, historic Salzburg. Thanks to the surrounding mountains, nearby lakes, and the Salzach River, it’s considered one of Europe’s greenest cities. You can look forward to a pleasant blend of landscape and architecture, art and culture, tradition and modernity, all in a surprisingly small space, which gives Salzburg its unique charm.
Although Salzburg is known as Mozart’s birthplace and the setting for The Sound of Music, it can offer you more experiences than just its famous reputation. We’ll walk through the narrow streets and wide squares of this baroque city, which rightfully earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In its historic center, we’ll admire breathtaking views at every turn.
Choose your accommodation in Salzburg according to the map:
Parking in Salzburg
If you’re planning to visit Salzburg by car, like we did, it’s good to plan ahead for where you’ll park. There are few parking spaces in the city, mainly due to the historic center. But we have a simple solution for you. Use one of the Park & Ride parking lots located on the city’s outskirts.
You can leave your car there and comfortably reach the center by public transport. We personally found the Park & Ride at Messezentrum Salzburg exhibition center to work well. A big advantage is that the parking fee includes an all-day public transport ticket, so you can move around the city without any worries.
Accommodation in Salzburg
Another option for parking in Salzburg without trouble is choosing the right accommodation. If you’re planning an extended weekend in the city, it’s definitely worth choosing accommodation that offers parking, whether for a fee, at a discount, or free.
However, if you arrive in Salzburg by bus or train, or plan to stay only in Salzburg, we recommend staying near the center, where you’ll have everything within walking distance.
Where to stay in Salzburg?
✅ Right in the historic center
✅ Stylish 13th-century building CHECK AVAILABILITY
✅ Traditional Salzburg hotel
✅ 10-minute walk from center – ideal without a car CHECK AVAILABILITY
✅ Modern design and Alpine views
✅ Great choice for train travelers CHECK AVAILABILITY
✅ Boutique hotel on a romantic street – excellent rating
✅ Rooms with original décor CHECK AVAILABILITY
✅ Budget option for families and groups – when you want to save
✅ Good connection to the center CHECK AVAILABILITY
None of our recommended hotels caught your interest? Search for one that meets your requirements:
>> FIND ACCOMMODATION IN SALZBURG
What to see in Salzburg?
1. Mirabell Palace and Gardens
After parking at the exhibition center, we took a short bus ride to the Mirabell Gardens, which we were most looking forward to during our trip. Mirabell Palace and Gardens were built in 1607, and the building itself now serves primarily administrative purposes. Apparently, the city mayor’s office is located here.
Mirabell Palace and Gardens / (c) Tourismus Salzburg
The main attraction, however, is the manicured gardens with fountains and views of Hohensalzburg Fortress. I recommend arriving on a sunny day when you can really enjoy the garden walk. The gardens are freely accessible and are among the most peaceful places in the city center.
Mirabell Palace is just a few minutes’ walk from the historic center, making it a great trip tip even if you stay right in the city center.
Fun fact: The gardens are also famous thanks to The Sound of Music, specifically the “Do-Re-Mi” musical scene.
Mirabell Palace and Gardens / (c) Tourismus Salzburg
2. Hohensalzburg Fortress
Hohensalzburg Fortress towers over the city and is visible from practically anywhere in town. We head here right after our walk in the gardens. You can reach the top on foot or by the Festungsbahn funicular. Since the weather is nice, we walked up. If you prefer the funicular, the station is next to the restaurant and you don’t need to reserve tickets in advance.
Hohensalzburg Fortress is one of the best-preserved castle fortresses in Central Europe and offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding area. After the hike or funicular ride, you’ll find not only a viewing terrace but also a restaurant and freely accessible castle grounds.
You can also plan a tour of the museum and local interiors. However, the main attraction remains the viewing tower. We recommend setting aside about 2 hours for the visit.
Hohensalzburg Fortress is worth visiting during the Christmas markets too:
3. Mönchsberg Trail
This walk is another pleasant experience in Salzburg on a nice day. It offers several beautiful views and minimal elevation gain, making it suitable for active families with children. It’s a great escape from the busy city streets. Our destination was the Old Town, but along the way we made a short stop at the Museum of Modern Art. The building has a pleasant restaurant with a large sun terrace and unique panoramic views.
- The Mönchsberg Trail is a popular recreational area in Salzburg that’s full of greenery and locals like to come here too.
4. Old Town (Altstadt) Salzburg
We return via the trail along the river and have the Old Town (Altstadt) planned for the afternoon, which is listed on UNESCO. Here you’ll find the greatest concentration of historical monuments. From the Mirabell Gardens, you can reach the old town via the Lovers’ Bridge (Makartsteg). From the bridge, you can enjoy romantic views.
The Old Town will win you over with its atmosphere. There’s usually a relaxed atmosphere here and street performers often play. Among the historical monuments you can see here, we’ll mention Mozart Square with Mozart’s statue from 1848, the square with the famous golden sphere weighing 3.5 tons, and also Salzburg Cathedral, which gained its current baroque character through reconstruction between 1614-1628. Mozart was allegedly baptized here and you can take a guided tour for a fee.
- The cathedral stands on the site of an original 7th-century church that was destroyed and rebuilt several times.
Salzburg Cathedral / (c) Tourismus Salzburg
5. Café Tomaselli / Salzburg
In the historic city center, we recommend visiting the most iconic café with over three hundred years of history, which is a symbol of traditional Austrian café culture. It’s located right at Alter Markt and offers classic pastries and coffee in an authentic setting. Expect higher prices, but the visit is worth it.
6. Café Bazar
If you prefer less touristy places, visit this traditional café located right by the Salzach River, which is more popular with locals than tourists. It’s ideal for a quiet coffee with views of the old town and Staatsbrücke bridge.
7. St. Peter’s Monastery and Cemetery – Salzburg
A peaceful place that provides a pleasant contrast to the busier parts of the center. St. Peter’s Monastery is considered the oldest functioning monastery in Austria. The complex also includes a historic cemetery, which is among the oldest in Austria.
8. Mozart’s Birthplace – Salzburg
We can mention many historical and natural beauties here, but one thing is clear. Many tourists are attracted to Salzburg precisely because of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born here. You’ll find his birthplace on Getreidegasse, where today there’s a museum dedicated to his life and work. The exhibition focuses not only on the composer himself but also on his family and the historical context.
The tour is well-organized and you can manage it even during a shorter city visit.
9. Salzburg Zoo
Not only children will appreciate a visit to the Zoo on the outskirts of the city. The visit is ideal as a separate trip. It houses about 1,200 animals in enclosures designed to correspond as closely as possible to their natural environment.
10. Volksgarten Park / Salzburg
Another pleasant place is Volksgarten Park. This spacious park located by the Salzach River is popular mainly among locals. It serves for relaxation and sports and offers a swimming pool, rose garden, and plenty of shade during summer days. You’ll find many benches for sitting or SalzBeach with a sandy beach for sunbathing.
- If you’re looking for a quieter place off the main tourist routes, this is a good choice.
11. Hellbrunn Palace
Hellbrunn Palace is beautiful in summer and winter, during Christmas markets. The palace originally served the Salzburg prince-archbishops. This primarily summer residence was meant to serve for entertainment and relaxation. Today tourists come here to admire the local architecture and water features that aesthetically complement the palace garden. Come here for pleasant walks.
12. Trip to Lake Fuschlsee
Are you staying in Salzburg and would like to take a trip from the city to the surrounding lakes? One of the nearest Austrian lakes is our beloved Fuschlsee. We recommend planning a whole day here, during which you can walk around the lake on the trail that goes all the way around, and on hot days you can swim at some of the freely accessible or paid beaches.
You can find the complete trip tip in the article on our website:
13. Trip to Lake Wolfgangsee
Another Austrian lake that’s at a pleasant distance from Salzburg is the popular Wolfgangsee. We’ll be honest with you – one day is not enough here, but if you can’t afford a longer vacation time-wise, I recommend choosing one of the most popular attractions at Wolfgangsee:
- Historic cog railway to Schafberg – experience from the ride and beautiful views from the summit
- Boat trip on Lake Wolfgangsee – circular ride by steamboat or boat trip from one town to another
- Trail around Bürglstein mountain from Strobl
- Walk in the town of St. Wolfgang
Get inspired for a vacation at Wolfgangsee:
- Wolfgangsee: Austrian lake with spa atmosphere
- Strobl: trail around Bürglstein to St. Wolfgang and back by boat
