Must See~£15
Hohensalzburg Fortress
Mönchsberg
A medieval fortress on a hill above the old town, with museums and sweeping views.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Daily, roughly 9:00–17:00
Salzburg
Mozart’s birthplace, baroque lanes and a fortress above the river.
Plan your Salzburg trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Salzburg
Salzburg is a compact baroque city beneath a mighty fortress, famous as Mozart’s hometown and the setting for The Sound of Music. The Alps and lakes are on its doorstep.
- Where
- Salzburg, Austria
- Recommended stay
- 2–3 nights
- Best time to go
- May–September for sunshine and festivals; December for Christmas markets.
- Approx. daily budget
- £75–145 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Salzburg cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£70–100a day
- Mid-range traveller£130–190a day
- Luxury traveller£260+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 13 Top picks in Salzburg
Must See~£14
Getreidegasse and Mozart’s Birthplace
Altstadt
A narrow shopping street with wrought-iron signs, leading to Mozart’s childhood home.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Museum daily, roughly 9:00–17:30
Must SeeFree
Salzburg Cathedral
Altstadt
A grand baroque cathedral with a huge dome and a large organ used by Mozart.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Local FavouritesFree
Mirabell Gardens
Neustadt
Baroque gardens where The Sound of Music was filmed, with a view of the fortress.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families · Couples
Open daily
Hidden Gems
See all 4 Beyond the checklist
Family~£45
Sound of Music Locations
Various
A guided tour of the locations used in the famous film, including Leopoldskron lake.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Families · Couples
Tours daily
ViewpointsFree
Mönchsberg Viewpoint
Mönchsberg
A wooded hill above the old town, with paths and the best free city view.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Open daily; lift runs to the top
Day Trips~£20
Hallstatt Day Trip
Hallstatt (75 km)
A picture-postcard village beside an Alpine lake, a UNESCO site.
- Suggested time: Full day
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Buses run daily; busy in summer
Viewpoints~£30
Untersberg Cable Car
Grödig (10 km)
A cable car up the mountain behind Salzburg, with big Alpine views.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Photographers
Daily; weather dependent
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Salzburg
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Mid-Range Hotel
Example listingUntersberg Alpine Lodge
Grödig, Salzburg
Excellent valueValue score 87 out of 100
Rated 8.5/10, about 19% below typical 4★ prices in Salzburg, with a pool.
From £105 per night · check current availability
Best Location
Example listingAltstadt Mozart Hotel
Altstadt, Salzburg
Excellent valueValue score 81 out of 100
Rated 8.9/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Salzburg, in a central location.
From £130 per night · check current availability
Best Budget Choice
Example listingMirabell Garden Inn
Neustadt, Salzburg
Good valueValue score 63 out of 100
Rated 8.6/10, priced above typical 3★ hotels in Salzburg, for a higher-end stay, in a central location.
From £95 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 5 Where to eat
Café Tomaselli
Salzburg’s oldest coffeehouse, open since 1700, where waiters bring a tray of cakes to your table.
Known for: Coffee and cake, Apfelstrudel
About £17–35 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Café Bazar
A traditional coffee house on the river, popular with locals and festival visitors.
Known for: Coffee, cakes, breakfast
About £17–35 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Augustiner Bräustübl
A vast monastery-run beer hall and garden, where beer is poured from wooden barrels.
Known for: Beer, roast pork, pretzels
About £17–35 per person
Local favourite Good for Groups · Couples
Café-Konditorei Fürst
The original maker of Mozartkugeln, chocolate-covered marzipan-and-nougat balls, since 1890.
Known for: Original Mozartkugel
Under about £17 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
A suggested Salzburg itinerary
3 nights Couple
Salzburg · Highlights
Salzburg in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Salzburg picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Getreidegasse and Mozart’s Birthplace, Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg Cathedral, Mönchsberg Viewpoint
- Day 2 · Hallstatt Day Trip, Hohensalzburg Fortress
- Day 3 · Hellbrunn Palace Trick Fountains
Plan Salzburg your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.