- Salzburg's historic center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 for its exceptionally preserved townscape.
- The city's name derives from the medieval salt trade, as the 'Salzach' river was the primary route for transporting salt from nearby mines.
- Despite its compact size, the city operates one of the most efficient trolleybus networks in Europe, dating back to 1940.
- Salzburg has officially banned neon signs and modern advertisements in the Altstadt to protect its historical aesthetic.
- The local 'Salzburger Nockerl' is a unique, cloud-like soufflé dessert designed to represent the three major mountains surrounding the city.
About Salzburg
Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is defined by its Baroque architecture and dramatic Alpine setting along the Salzach River. The city skyline is dominated by the medieval Fortress Hohensalzburg, which stands as one of the largest and best-preserved castles in Europe. Visitors frequently explore the manicured Mirabell Gardens and walk through the historic rooms of Mozart's Birthplace. The city serves as a global hub for classical music, notably during its annual summer festival.
Highlights of Salzburg
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Historical places
Take the funicular to reach this massive medieval castle for an aerial perspective of the city.
Historical places
Admire the Marble Hall, considered one of the most beautiful wedding venues in the world.
Museums
View original instruments and family artifacts in the house where Mozart was born.
Museums
Discover a unique collection of historic flying machines and Formula 1 cars housed in a glass hangar.
Temples
Experience the early Baroque design and the baptismal font used for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Natural attractions
Travel by cable car to the Untersberg summit for panoramic views of the Austrian and Bavarian Alps.
Places of interest
Tour the brewing facility to learn about the long history of Stiegl, Austria’s largest private brewery.
Parks
Walk through the geometric flower beds and fountains that gained international fame from film appearances.
Top things to do in Salzburg
The 310 highest-rated places in Salzburg, ranked by travellers.
1
Historical places
Fortress Hohensalzburg is one of the largest fully preserved medieval castles in Europe, originally commissioned by Arch...
2
Historical places
Mirabell Palace was commissioned in 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau for his mistress Salome Alt. Th...
3
Museums
Mozart's Birthplace (Hagenauer Haus) is the yellow building where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756. The house fe...
4
Museums
Hangar-7 is a multifunctional exhibition space at Salzburg Airport housing the Flying Bulls aviation collection and a ro...
5
Parks
Mirabell Gardens is a Baroque-style garden complex designed in 1606 by Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau. The site i...
6
Museums
Haus der Natur is a comprehensive natural history and science museum located in a former Ursuline convent in Salzburg. T...
7
Temples
Salzburg Cathedral is an early Baroque ecclesiastical structure featuring a central dome and two symmetrical towers flan...
8
Zoos
Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn is built directly into the base of a sheer limestone cliff, creating a naturalistic enclosure sys...
9
Places of interest
The Seepromenade in Mondsee provides direct public access to the northern shore of Mondsee lake in the Austrian Salzkamm...
10
Natural attractions
The Untersbergbahn is an aerial cable car system in Salzburg that ascends to the Geiereck summit at 1,805 meters. It cov...
11
Places of interest
The Gollinger Wasserfall is a 75-meter, two-tiered waterfall located at the base of the Hagen Mountains in Salzburg, Aus...
12
Venues
Red Bull Arena is the home stadium of FC Red Bull Salzburg, serving as a modern all-seater venue in the Wals-Siezenheim...
13
Museums
The Mozart Residence, or Tanzmeisterhaus, is the house where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived with his family from 1773 to...
14
Places of interest
Stiegl-Brauwelt is the largest private brewery in Austria, situated at the site of the Stiegl brewery which has been fam...
15
Places of interest
Lammerklamm is a dramatic narrow gorge carved by the Lammer River through the Tennengebirge mountain range. Visitors tra...
16
Natural attractions
Wolfgangsee is an alpine lake in the Salzkammergut region of Austria, situated at an elevation of 538 meters. The lake s...
17
Beaches and ponds
Alpenseebad Mondsee is a public lakeside leisure facility situated on the northern shore of Lake Mondsee in the Salzkamm...
18
Places of interest
The Silent Night Chapel is the memorial site built on the exact location of the former St. Nicholas Church where the car...
19
Places of interest
Salzwelten Salzburg is the world's oldest salt mine, located in the mountain of Bad Dürrnberg near the German-Austrian b...
20
Places of interest
The Marko-Feingold-Steg is a pedestrian bridge crossing the Salzach River in Salzburg, connecting the Mülln district wit...
21
Temples
The Basilika St. Michael is a former Benedictine monastery church located in the center of Mondsee, Austria. Originally...
22
Temples
Maria Plain is a 17th-century Baroque basilica located on the Plainberg hill overlooking the city of Salzburg. Consecrat...
23
Museums
The Toy Museum Salzburg (Spielzeugmuseum) is located in the historic former Bürgerspital hospital building. It functions...
24
Natural attractions
The Zwölferhorn is a 1,522-meter peak in the Salzkammergut region of Austria, accessible via the Zwölferhorn Cable Car f...
25
Natural attractions
The FestungsBahn is the oldest funicular railway in Austria, having commenced operations in 1892. It functions as the pr...
26
Places of interest
Linzer Gasse Platzl serves as the gateway to the historic right bank of the Salzach River in Salzburg, acting as the ped...
27
Natural attractions
Vorderer Gosausee is an alpine lake in Upper Austria located at the foot of the Dachstein glacier. The lake is fed by gl...
28
Temples
St. Peter's Abbey, or Erzabtei St. Peter, is the oldest monastery in the German-speaking world, founded by Saint Rupert...
29
Museums
Lokwelt Freilassing is a railway museum housed within a former locomotive roundhouse dating back to 1905. It showcases 1...
30
Venues
The Salzburg State Theater is a prominent performing arts venue located in the historic center of Salzburg. The theater...
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Salzburg on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Salzburg
May to September, when mild weather allows for outdoor exploration and the major music festivals are in full swing.
2-3 days, providing sufficient time to tour the central historic district and visit nearby mountain lookouts.
The city center is highly walkable, supplemented by an extensive trolleybus system and regional trains for mountain access.
Stay in the Altstadt (Old Town) for immediate access to historical sites, or choose the area around the main train station for convenient transit links.
Mid-to-expensive; costs are comparable to other major Austrian tourist hubs, particularly regarding accommodation and dining.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 310 curated attractions in and around Salzburg, ranked by traveller ratings.
Fortress Hohensalzburg is the highest-rated place to visit in Salzburg right now.
The largest category is temples, with 74 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Vienna, Innsbruck, Ebbs.
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