What to Do in Salzburg?

Salzburg in Austria is the birthplace of Mozart, but it is far from being the only attraction of this charming city with unparalleled romanticism. During a two-day weekend, if you are searching for things to do in Salzburg, you absolutely must discover the list of must-see places I propose in this article. The agenda includes cultural visits, nature walks, and discovering traditional architecture in the old town! <-️

The first thing to do when you arrive in Salzburg is to wander the narrow streets of the old town. The heart of the historic center and the most famous of its streets is Getreidegasse, literally meaning 'Grain Lane'. In this medieval street, once the main commercial artery of the city, it is still possible to shop in charming boutiques with wrought-iron signs

On either side of Getreidegasse, there are hidden passageways, so don't miss them! In summary, you truly feel like you are traveling back in time; it's magical! If you are organizing this little weekend during the holiday season, you will have even more of this feeling and make sure to visit the Christmas markets in the various squares of the city

If you want to know more, particularly little anecdotes about this maze of alleys and squares, you can join a guided walking tour of the old town of Salzburg for 45 € per person

I was just talking about the squares in the old town of Salzburg, and you can start at Residenzplatz The 'Residenz Square', was once the government quarter of the archbishops (from the 12th to the 19th century).

It is here, more precisely in the conference hall of the Residenz, that young Mozart performed for the first time for Prince Colloredo! Today, it is possible to visit the Residence as it has been transformed into a museum. You will discover ceremonial rooms where the decoration has remained intact and the Residenz gallery, housing a beautiful collection of paintings dating from the 16th to the 19th century ️

Depending on the time you visit the Archbishop's Residence, you may also access St. Rupert's Cathedral through a walkway that also offers an exceptional view over Residenzplatz and the nearby Domplatz

Not far from the Residenz is the Neugebäude, literally the 'New Building'. It was erected in 1607, several centuries after the Residence, which is why it inherits this name

It was meant to become the guesthouse of the archbishop, but today the building has many other functions. Indeed, the Neugebäude today houses the offices of the provincial government and the Salzburg Museum.

The true point of interest of this building is its carillon (the 'Glockenspiel') of 35 bells constructed in 1702 They chime in the city three times a day: at 7 AM, 11 AM, and 6 PM, playing, of course, Mozart melodies! You can even visit the carillon where you can hear the organ of Hohensalzburg Palace harmonizing with the carillon A truly unmissable musical interlude in Salzburg

The fortress is the symbol of the city as it towers above it, standing over 100 m high. Built from the 11th to the 16th century, it is one of the best-preserved fortresses in Europe. You can visit both the exterior and interior of the fortress with a ticket for the Hohensalzburg Fortress! This ticket costs 13.60 € per person.

By taking the Mönchsberg lift from Anton Neumayr Square or walking up, you will discover a truly stunning panoramic terrace where you can enjoy a coffee ☕️ while of course enjoying the view of Hohensalzburg Fortress

The advantage of the Mönchsberg lift is that you will reach the top in record time, just 30 seconds. However, access is charged and costs 3 € for a one-way trip or 4.40 € for a round trip. You can book a ticket in advance on the official website, but know that the ride is included in the Salzburg Card

The Mönchsberg lift is accessible on Monday from 8 AM to 7 PM and the rest of the week from 8 AM to 9 PM.

Salzburg is also home to Austria's oldest Benedictine monastery, I am of course talking about St. Peter's Abbey. Founded by St. Rupert in the 1st century, it later became one of many residences of archbishops until the 12th century. Today, the entire monastery has been renovated, and only the tower remains to testify to the architectural style of the time of its construction.

Within the monastery, there is also a church, whose organ was used by Mozart, a beautiful fountain ⛲️, and catacombs where several Austrian celebrities and natives of Salzburg are buried.

Mozart almost always has a connection to any place you visit in Salzburg, which is why I invite you to go to the source What I mean is that you should definitely visit Mozart's birthplace at Getreidegasse, number 9!

Young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born in 1756, spent his first 17 years in this house in Salzburg. Today, the house turned museum will guide you through the stages of Mozart's life. You can admire his instruments, handwritten letters, or even period paintings. On the upper floor of the house, you will also discover a miniature illuminated exhibition of Mozart's works

Both young and old can enjoy a performance of Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Salzburg Marionette Theatre! I admit that I wasn't very excited about this attraction as I'm slightly frightened of puppets, but I was absolutely surprised and can only recommend it

The Salzburg Marionette Theatre was created in 1913 and is one of the oldest of its kind. It stages great opera works daily, and the puppets, ultimately quite amusing, put on a show lasting 2 to 3 hours, which is very impressive Both the sets and the special effects plus the performers handling their puppets are remarkable. The baroque-style performance hall is also very impressive and can accommodate up to 350 people!

To attend, it costs 33 € per person.

Mirabell Palace, or 'Mirabell Schloss', is simply a stunning neoclassical building, but this hasn't always been the case! Indeed, before its renovation in the 18th century, the palace featured a baroque style. People mainly come here to admire this architecture and attend a concert or dinner concert in the Marble Hall

Also take the time to explore the Mirabell Garden, the palace garden! It is renowned for its large fountain, which served as the backdrop for the film The Sound of Music, its rose garden , and its sculptures. The garden also offers a clear view of the cathedral and Hohensalzburg Fortress

P.S.: if you visit Salzburg in winter, the place looks straight out of a fairy tale under a blanket of snow (like the rest of the city) ❄️

Hangar-7, conceived by the Austrian founder of Red Bull (Dietrich Mateschitz), is multifunctional and has nothing to do with a hangar in the literal sense In fact, this place houses a museum featuring a collection of 25 airplanes and helicopters, as well as Formula 1 racing cars ️

Under this glass and steel dome, there are also two bars and one of the best Austrian restaurants, Ikarus, which is Michelin-starred *️ and changes its chef (and thus its menu) every month! Currently, it's Thomas Schanz, who will be followed by Franck Putelat in November and Thitid Tassanakajohn in December 2024.

You will, of course, find all the practical information (hours, reservations, prices) on the official website of Hangar-7

As I mentioned, Mozart is an icon in Salzburg, and you will even find him on the packaging of these delightful traditional chocolates that even bear the composer's name: the Mozart Balls, or Mozartkugel in German

The Mozartkugel is made from pistachio, marzipan, and praline (hope you love sweets). It was the confectioner Paul Fürst who originated this chocolate, which has become iconic in Salzburg since 1890. To taste them, head directly to the confectionery or the Fürst pastry shop in the old town of Salzburg

Beware of scams; the real Mozart Balls are always wrapped in a silver foil, and Mozart's portrait appears in blue ⚠️

On the other bank of the Salzach River, which separates Salzburg in two, you can enjoy a walk in the utmost serenity! Indeed, this part of the city is much less touristy and there isn't much to do but stroll around

However, by searching a bit, and especially by climbing up Kapuzinerberg, you will discover a brand new viewpoint of the city of Salzburg that will leave you speechless Once again, I was lucky enough to experience this place under the snow, so maybe you won't have the same sensation as I did... But this landscape with the Alps as a backdrop truly impressed me!

If you still don't know where to stay for this two-day weekend in Salzburg, here are two heart ❤️ recommendations:

Hotel Turnerwirt: A family-run 3-star hotel located 2 km from the old town of Salzburg, in a typically Austrian dwelling. The rooms are simple and comfortable, while the reception and restaurant of the hotel are very welcoming. For a night, budget starting from 75 €.

NH Collection Salzburg City: The 4-star hotel located in the heart of Salzburg's city center, just a few meters from the castle and Mirabell Garden. It offers spacious and comfortable rooms to its guests, as well as a spa and sauna to relax after a day of walking in the Austrian winter cold. For one night for 2 people, budget starting from 109 €.

Salzburg has an airport on its outskirts, and there are regular flights from Paris operated by Lufthansa and low-cost KLM, but prices remain quite high (starting from 250 € per person in low season). There's nothing stopping you from comparing flight prices for your travel dates on the Ulysse comparator ✈️

Personally, I live in the east of France, and Salzburg is very easily accessible by car in just under 6 hours! If this is also your case, don't forget to obtain the Austrian vignette to travel on the highways, available on this site and at service areas on the highways before the border into Germany

We are now coming to the end of this guide on the best things to do in Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace If you still have any questions, feel free to ask me in the comments, and I will try to respond as quickly as possible