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Salzburg
Austria

Things to do in Salzburg

211 attractions · Austria

Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0

Salzburg, Austria · 47.800, 13.033

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.

Good to know

  1. 1

    Salzburg's historic center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 for its exceptionally preserved townscape.

  2. 2

    The city's name derives from the medieval salt trade, as the 'Salzach' river was the primary route for transporting salt from nearby mines.

  3. 3

    Despite its compact size, the city operates one of the most efficient trolleybus networks in Europe, dating back to 1940.

  4. 4

    Salzburg has officially banned neon signs and modern advertisements in the Altstadt to protect its historical aesthetic.

  5. 5

    The local 'Salzburger Nockerl' is a unique, cloud-like soufflé dessert designed to represent the three major mountains surrounding the city.

Plan your visit to Salzburg

Best time to visit

May to September, when mild weather allows for outdoor exploration and the major music festivals are in full swing.

How many days

2-3 days, providing sufficient time to tour the central historic district and visit nearby mountain lookouts.

Getting around

The city center is highly walkable, supplemented by an extensive trolleybus system and regional trains for mountain access.

Where to stay

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.

Budget

Mid-to-expensive; costs are comparable to other major Austrian tourist hubs, particularly regarding accommodation and dining.

Top things to do in Salzburg

The 211 most popular places in Salzburg.

Filtered by
  1. 1 Fortress Hohensalzburg
    Historical places Very popular

    Fortress Hohensalzburg

    Fortress Hohensalzburg is one of the largest fully preserved medieval castles in Europe, originally commissioned by Arch...

  2. 2 Mirabell Palace
    Historical places Very popular

    Mirabell Palace

    Mirabell Palace was commissioned in 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau for his mistress Salome Alt. Th...

  3. 3 Hellbrunn Palace
    Historical places Very popular

    Hellbrunn Palace

    Schloss Hellbrunn is a 17th-century Mannerist summer palace commissioned by Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus von Hohene...

  4. 4 Mozart's Birthplace
    Museums Very popular

    Mozart's Birthplace

    Mozart's Birthplace (Hagenauer Haus) is the yellow building where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756. The house fe...

  5. 5 Red Bull Hangar-7
    Museums Very popular

    Red Bull Hangar-7

    Hangar-7 is a multifunctional exhibition space at Salzburg Airport housing the Flying Bulls aviation collection and a ro...

  6. 6 Mirabell Gardens
    Parks Very popular

    Mirabell Gardens

    Mirabell Gardens is a Baroque-style garden complex designed in 1606 by Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau. The site i...

  7. 7 Haus der Natur
    Museums Very popular

    Haus der Natur

    Haus der Natur is a comprehensive natural history and science museum located in a former Ursuline convent in Salzburg. T...

  8. 8 Salzburg Cathedral
    Temples Very popular

    Salzburg Cathedral

    Salzburg Cathedral is an early Baroque ecclesiastical structure featuring a central dome and two symmetrical towers flan...

  9. 9 Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn
    Zoos Popular

    Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn

    Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn is built directly into the base of a sheer limestone cliff, creating a naturalistic enclosure sys...

  10. 10 Mozartplatz
    Historical places Popular

    Mozartplatz

    Mozartplatz is a central public square in Salzburg's UNESCO World Heritage old town, distinguished by a prominent bronze...

  11. 11 Untersbergbahn GmbH
    Natural attractions Popular

    Untersbergbahn GmbH

    The Untersbergbahn is an aerial cable car system in Salzburg that ascends to the Geiereck summit at 1,805 meters. It cov...

  12. 12 Red Bull Arena
    Venues Popular

    Red Bull Arena

    Red Bull Arena is the home stadium of FC Red Bull Salzburg, serving as a modern all-seater venue in the Wals-Siezenheim...

  13. 13 Mozart Residence
    Museums Popular

    Mozart Residence

    The Mozart Residence, or Tanzmeisterhaus, is the house where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived with his family from 1773 to...

  14. 14 Residenzplatz
    Places of interest Popular

    Residenzplatz

    Residenzplatz is the largest public square in Salzburg's historic center, acting as a grand open-air corridor connecting...

  15. 15 Stiegl-Brauwelt
    Places of interest Popular

    Stiegl-Brauwelt

    Stiegl-Brauwelt is the largest private brewery in Austria, situated at the site of the Stiegl brewery which has been fam...

  16. 16 Aussichtspunkt Gaisbergspitze
    Places of interest Popular

    Aussichtspunkt Gaisbergspitze

    Aussichtspunkt Gaisbergspitze is a prominent panoramic viewpoint located at 1,287 meters above sea level on the summit o...

  17. 17 Marko-Feingold-Steg
    Places of interest Popular

    Marko-Feingold-Steg

    The Marko-Feingold-Steg is a pedestrian bridge crossing the Salzach River in Salzburg, connecting the Mülln district wit...

  18. 18 Toy Museum Salzburg
    Museums Popular

    Toy Museum Salzburg

    The Toy Museum Salzburg (Spielzeugmuseum) is located in the historic former Bürgerspital hospital building. It functions...

  19. 19 Great Festival House
    Venues Popular

    Great Festival House

    The Great Festival House (Großes Festspielhaus) is a primary venue for the Salzburg Festival, carved directly into the M...

  20. 20 Maria Plain Pilgrimage Basilica
    Temples Popular

    Maria Plain Pilgrimage Basilica

    Maria Plain is a 17th-century Baroque basilica located on the Plainberg hill overlooking the city of Salzburg. Consecrat...

  21. 21 FestungsBahn
    Natural attractions Popular

    FestungsBahn

    The FestungsBahn is the oldest funicular railway in Austria, having commenced operations in 1892. It functions as the pr...

  22. 22 Linzer Gasse Platzl
    Places of interest Popular

    Linzer Gasse Platzl

    Linzer Gasse Platzl serves as the gateway to the historic right bank of the Salzach River in Salzburg, acting as the ped...

  23. 23 Volksgarten Salzburg
    Parks Popular

    Volksgarten Salzburg

    Volksgarten Salzburg serves as the city's primary hub for public year-round sports and outdoor recreation. The facility...

  24. 24 Stift Nonnberg
    Temples Popular

    Stift Nonnberg

    Stift Nonnberg is the oldest continuously existing convent of Christian nuns in the world, founded around 715 AD. Locate...

  25. 25 St. Peter's Abbey
    Temples Popular

    St. Peter's Abbey

    St. Peter's Abbey, or Erzabtei St. Peter, is the oldest monastery in the German-speaking world, founded by Saint Rupert...

  26. 26 Salzburg State Theater
    Venues Popular

    Salzburg State Theater

    The Salzburg State Theater is a prominent performing arts venue located in the historic center of Salzburg. The theater...

  27. 27 Lokwelt Freilassing
    Museums Known locally

    Lokwelt Freilassing

    Lokwelt Freilassing is a railway museum housed within a former locomotive roundhouse dating back to 1905. It showcases 1...

  28. 28 Richterhöhe
    Places of interest Known locally

    Richterhöhe

    Richterhöhe is a scenic viewpoint situated on the Mönchsberg ridge in Salzburg, offering an elevated perspective of the...

  29. 29 DomQuartier Salzburg
    Museums Known locally

    DomQuartier Salzburg

    The DomQuartier Salzburg creates a unified museum circuit linking the Salzburg Residenz, the Cathedral, and St. Peter’s...

  30. 30 Schloss Hellbrunn Garten
    Parks Known locally

    Schloss Hellbrunn Garten

    Schloss Hellbrunn is a 17th-century Mannerist villa world-renowned for its 'Wasserspiele' or trick fountains, which have...

Around Salzburg

Worth the short trip out of the city.

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Salzburg on the map

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Frequently asked

How many attractions are there in Salzburg?

Aventuro lists 211 curated attractions in and around Salzburg, sorted by popularity.

What's the top attraction in Salzburg?

Fortress Hohensalzburg is the most popular place to visit in Salzburg right now.

What kind of attractions does Salzburg have?

The largest category is temples, with 52 places to explore.

Which other cities are worth visiting nearby?

Travellers also explore Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck.