Things to Do in Salzburg

1. Visit Hohensalzburg Fortress: Located atop Festungberg Hill, Hohensalzburg Fortress is the magnificent site that must be on the top of your bucket list of what to do in Salzburg. The fortress is an architectural marvel of ancient Austrian style and served as a citadel, military barrack, prison, and temporary home of the prince archbishops.

Plan a visit to this grand landmark of the city and explore its impressive structure to learn about the rich past and witness the panoramic views of the city and the surroundings. Do visit the on-site Fortress Museum and Rainer Regiment Museum that have great collections of weapons and artifacts belonging to the old Salzburg home regiment.

Location: Mönchsberg 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

2. Explore the Old Town: Opt for a city tour to explore the splendor of Salzburg’s Old Town aka Altstadt Salzburg, the historical and navigational heart and a preserved UNESCO World Heritage site. Most of the attractions of the city are located along the medieval streets that stretch beside the banks of the Salzach River.

A walking tour of this Old Town area lets you stroll through the alleys and visit old merchant homes, wrought-iron shops, old courtyards, numerous galleries, cafés, Kapitelplatz, Salzburg Cathedral, the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter’s Abbey, Kollegienkirche, Mozart Geburtshaus, Getreidegasse, and many more beautiful sites.

3. Stroll at Mirabellgarten: Discover the beauties of this 17th-century paradise of Salzburg and be amused by the impressive baroque landscape design, winding paths, lush lawns, brilliant sculptures, and dramatic ambiance. The park is also home to the grand Pegasus Fountain, Dwarf Garden, and Angel Staircase where Julie Andrews and company practiced "Do-Re-Mi" in "The Sound of Music."

Other highlights include the Rose Garden, the Hedge Theater, the Grand Fountain, and Schloss Mirabell (Mirabell Palace). Visiting this fab garden is indeed worth it and amongst the best things to do in Salzburg.

Location: Mirabellplatz, Salzburg, Austrian Alps 5020, Austria

4. Visit Salzburg Cathedral: An epitome of the city's religion, power, and wealth, visiting the Salzburg Cathedral is one of the most fascinating activities in Salzburg. Visitors get awe-struck by the beauty of its turquoise domes, majestic facade, 79-meter towers, and Baroque ecclesiastical architecture and feel fascinated.

During your visit, do discover the grace of the statues of apostles Peter and Paul as well as the murals on the copulas. Also, explore the cathedral's prominence in Mozart's life as the building served as the great place of the musical prodigy's baptism.

Location: Domplatz 1a, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

5. Explore Hellbrunn Palace: Visit Hellbrunn Palace to get a preview of the lives, wealth, and power of Salzburg's archbishops. The palace was built during the 17th-century and is unique in itself with squirts of water that emerge from various Wasserspiele (trick fountains) hidden in the garden. These were placed on the behest of the archbishop who wanted to use these as pranks.

The tour to Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens is amongst the most fun-filled activities in Salzburg and is loved especially by children and those who don't mind getting wet.

Location: Fürstenweg 37, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

6. Go to Augustiner Bräu Beer Garden: Relish the flavors of local gastronomy amidst a historic ambiance at the Augustiner Bräu Beer Garden, which is one of the most refreshing and tasty things to do in Salzburg. Make your trip to Salzburg more delightful with delicious Augustiner beer and mouth-watering Austrian snacks and dishes and collect cherishable memories of this Austria's largest beer garden.

With choices like a beautiful garden, cozy veranda, rustic halls, and impressive parlors, you will find the right place for you where you can have fun with your partner, friends, or family.

Location: Lindhofstraße 7, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

7. Explore Salzburg Marionette Theatre: Are you a puppetry fan and thinking of what to do in Salzburg? Fret not! Plan a visit to Salzburg Marionette Theatre, one of the world’s oldest marionette theaters, to celebrate the city’s rich puppetry tradition.

Be part of any opera show hosted at this magnificent theatre such as Mozart’s Magic Flute, Alice in Wonderland, Hansel and Gretel, The Sound of Music, etc., and be amazed. Each and every show is truly fascinating and presents a famous tale impressively using a cast of over 500 wooden puppets.

Location: Schwarzstraße 24, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

8. Go to Untersberg Mountain: Discover the Untersberg Mountain with your partner, family, or friends and enjoy some remarkable moments on this highest mountain located next to Salzburg City. The mountain stretches to the German border and lets the hikers touch the summit at an elevation of 1853 m.

Amongst the most thrilling activities in Salzburg, reaching the top of Untersberg is full of excitement and adventures. The mountain becomes a paradise for skiers in winter, while hikers, climbers, and paragliders love being there in summer. The mountain is easily accessible with a cable car trip, which is another attraction offering great views of the city and the surroundings.

Location: Untersbergbahn, Dr.-Friedrich-Oedl-Weg 2, 5083 Gartenau, Austria

9. Visit Panorama Museum: Tour the Panorama Museum to enjoy an extraordinary experience of witnessing the portraits of Salzburg and the surrounding areas. The portraits offer precise details of the areas as observed from the top of Salzburg castle. This cyclorama of the city was painted in 1829 by great artist Johann Michael Sattler and displays an awe-strikingly beautiful and 26 meters diameter painting-in-the-round.

Stand on a central platform and witness the great views through telescopes and computer screens, highlighting several regions’ detailed descriptions of 19th-century Salzburg. It’s indeed overwhelming to relate the present Salzburg with the past as viewed in the panorama.

Location: Residenzpl. 9, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

10. Take a Sound of Music Tour: Have a remarkable experience with a Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg, Austria that lets you explore original shooting locations either by bus, bicycle, and rickshaw or on foot. No matter what you choose, it’s bound to be an unforgettable journey.

On this extraordinary tour, you will be exploring great original shooting locations from the world-famous Sound of Music movie, including Mirabell Gardens, the Pegasus Fountain, Schloss Leopoldskron, Hellbrunn Palace, Nonnberg Convent, St. Gilgen / Wolfgangsee, and Mondsee Basilica. Include this one of the most interesting activities in Salzburg to have everlasting reminiscences.

1. Enjoy Skiing or snowboarding at Schmittenhohe: Take a cable car to the summit of Schmittenhohe Mountain located on the eastern edge of the Alps. Offering 77 piste km, the mountain is great to feel the thrills of snow skiing and snowboarding through the tunnels, waves, and steep curves.

2. Hiking to Untersberg: Sitting at the border between Germany and Austria, Untersberg mountain has six different peaks, offering elevations ranging from 1,805 m to 1,973 m. Hiking through its well-marked but challenging trails to the summit is indeed one of the most adventurous activities in Salzburg and leaves you with awe-striking natural scenery and hair-raising experiences.

3. Exploring the caves of Eisriesenwelt: Discover a wide network of frozen tunnels and caverns at Eisriesenwelt with a guided tour and feel thrilled. Travel deep through the ice, facing the freezing temperature and air, and be amazed by imposing stalagmites, dangling stalactites, including a 23 m tall behemoth centerpiece.

4. Enjoy Paragliding: Fly like a bird with paragliding and feel a rush in your adrenaline while soaring over Salzburg. Amongst the most thrilling things to do in Salzburg, paragliding comprises a flight with an experienced pilot and offers Austria's enchanting landscape from an absolutely distinct perspective.

1. Visit Augustiner Braustubl: Taste fine and renowned Austrian beer at Austria’s largest tavern, Augustiner Braustubl. Plan a visit to this place at night and enjoy a lifetime experience of having a local beer and dishes in an amazing and lively ambiance.

2. Attend Mozart Dinner Concert: Enjoy dinner at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, one of Europe’s oldest restaurants, located in the heart of Salzburg Old Town. Have your traditional three-course meal amidst a picturesque setting while getting entertained by live classic Mozart concert performances.

3. Mozart Concert at Fortress Hohensalzburg: Be amused as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most exquisite pieces of music come to life amidst the dramatic surroundings of the famous Salzburg Fortress. Moreover, witness and capture the panoramic views of the twinkling city in the evening darkness.

4. Explore The Salzburg Whiskey Museum: Plan a visit to this amazing place located in the heart of Salzburg to relish the ultimate flavors of fine whiskeys from all over the world.

Touring The Salzburg Whiskey Museum to try some distinct flavors from its collection of hundreds of whiskeys, gins, rums, and beers is indeed one of the most delightful things to do in Salzburg and absolutely worth it.

1. Visit Alpentherme Gastein: Plan a visit to Alpentherme Gastein, renowned for its hot spring-fed pool, Water Cinema, and heat cabins. Offering many distinct areas such as quiet pools, sunbathing lawns, massage jets, a rafting slide, a lazy river, etc., the place is perfect to spend some relaxing and romantic moments with your partner.

2. Relax at Tauern Spa: Relax in a modern spa atmosphere while soaking in the stunning panorama of the nearby mountains at the Tauern Spa and enjoy an ultimate experience with your partner. Or, submerge in any rooftop pools and have some pleasurable moments amidst an artistic and romantic ambiance.

3. Evening stroll around Fuschlsee Rundweg: Stroll around one of the most beautiful lakes in Austria with your partner and witness captivating scenery of illuminated skyline and pristine water. Take a private boat cruise to enjoy some romantic moments while sailing through the azure waters.

4. Witness Gollinger Wasserfall: Visit this amazingly gorgeous waterfall in Austria with your partner to endure one of the most romantic things to do in Salzburg. The scenery at the waterfall is not only poetic but truly romantic.

1. Ploom: If you are looking for a place to shop for traditional costumes, then head to Ploom. Run by designer Tanja Pflaum, the place is a one-stop destination for all your apparel needs and specializes in feminine dresses such as bodices, blouses, or silk evening gowns.

2. Fürst: An excellent destination to savor and shop a wide range of Austrian chocolates, Fürst offers flavors like dark, fruity to full of pistachio, nougat, and resins. These chocolates are exclusively handmade, following original 1890 recipes, and popular amongst locals to visitors. Here you will definitely find something for your taste and budget.

3. Salzburger Heimatwerk: No trip can be complete without buying a gift or souvenir and Salzburg offers a range of traditional and locally made items that you can take as per your likings. Explore the popular Salzburger Heimatwerk store to select your pick from a wide collection of traditional costumes and fabrics, handicrafts, schnapps, preserves, chocolates, honey, and much more.

4. Spirituosen Sporer: If you are looking for a place to buy authentic Austrian wines, herbal liqueurs, or famous Vogelbeer schnapps, tour the Getreidegasse’s narrowest residence home to the famous Spirituosen Sporer. Shopping of wine at this popular store is amongst the best things to do in Salzburg and lets you enjoy true Austrian flavors even back home.

By Air: Mozart Airport is the entry point for international visitors and is about 7 km from the city center that can be easily covered by a hired cab or bus.

By Train: Hauptbahnhof train station is just a 10-minute walk from the Old Town.

By Road: Salzburg is well connected by roads to major cities like Vienna and Munich. Choose from self-driven rental cars, hired cabs, or buses and enjoy a scenic ride to the city.

The best time to visit Salzburg is between September and October. These months are good to enjoy the beautifully pruned gardens and other attractions without much crowd and comfortable temperatures. During this time you will also get great deals on flights and hotels.

Salzburg is a very safe city. Even lone and female travelers can stroll without any trouble at night. However, common precautions need to be followed.

Salzburg is known for its ancient structures, gardens, and as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is enriched with a musical heritage that is reflected in its various attractions, including the museum in his family home, annual festivals playing his music, and even various dinner and fortress concerts.