SALZBURG, AUSTRIA
A charming and picturesque city with a small-town feel, Salzburg is perfect for a slow and leisurely holiday. Compared to the bustling Vienna, Salzburg is more relaxed and laidback with just enough to do. The Salzach River divides Salzburg down the middle, with Altstadt (Old Town) on its left bank and Neustadt (New City) on its right. Old Town is really the heart of Salzburg and the centre of its heritage - lined with Baroque architecture, cobble-stoned streets, narrow passageways, and quaint boutiques. It's small, charming, and mostly pedestrian; and makes for an enjoyable destination both summer and winter.
TO STAY
PLACES TO VISIT & THINGS TO DO
RESIDENZPLATZ
Right in the centre of Old Town, Residenzplatz is a large state square surrounded by most of Salzburg's major landmarks. It's the ideal place to start exploring, just steps away from almost everything there is to see - including the Salzburg Cathedral, DomQuartier, and Stift St Peter's. At the heart of it also stands a beautifully ornate fountain and a line-up of horse carriages to trot around town.
Located at Residenzplatz, DomQuartier is one of Salzburg's main historical & cultural landmarks. A large Baroque complex that houses the Salzburg Residenz Gallery, State Rooms & Imperial Exhibitions; it then leads onto a terrace with a beautiful panorama of the town, down to the organ gallery of the Salzburg Cathedral (for a unique view from above), followed by exhibitions of cathedral treasures; and finally St Peter's Abbey & Museum. It's a long, extensive tour but a convenient way to explore several sites in one go. Worth an hour or two's visit; usually closed on Tuesdays.
SALZBURG CATHEDRAL
Just behind Residenzplatz and around the corner from DomQuartier is the city's official state cathedral. Home to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg, it is the spiritual heart of the city and really the most significant religious building. Grand and spacious with magnificent Baroque interiors, it's truly breathtaking. For a unique bird's eye view of the cathedral, the DomQuartier tour leads up to the organ gallery above the navel.
ST PETER'S ABBEY & MONASTERY
Considered one of the oldest monasteries in the German world and certainly the oldest in Salzburg, dating back to the 7th century. There are a few things to visit at St Peter's Monastery: the cemetery and chapel, the monastery library, and Salzburg's oldest bakery (which still makes bread in its original wood-fired oven) - let the smell of warm rye & sourdough lead the way. Then there's St Peter's Abbey, a beautiful Romanesque building just a short walk away.
KOLLEGIENKIRCHE & FRANZISKANERKIRCHE
Also located in the centre of Old Town, Kollegienkirche and Franziskanerkirche are worth a quick visit for their unique Baroque interiors. Kollegienkirche is just across Grünmarkt at the University Square. Franziskanerkirche is closer to DomQuartier and St Peter's.
GETREIDEGASSE
Salzburg's busiest and most iconic shopping street. Getreidegasse is a long strip of boutique and speciality shops, branching out into other popular streets like Altermarkt, Goldgasse, and Universitätsplatz as well as smaller alleys. Start anywhere on Getreidegasse and wander through its many side streets. Getreidegasse is also known as Mozart's birthplace and this is where the composer's first home still stands.
Mozart's birthplace and family home stands at No.9 Getreidegasse, now a museum of his life's history and musical genius. This is the biggest homage to Mozart in Salzburg for a look into his life and legacy.
GRÜNMARKT
Set across Universitätsplatz and Kollegienkirche, this is a local farmer's market for fresh produce, artisan bread & cheese, handmade crafts, flower stands, and some of the best pretzels in Salzburg. Nice for an afternoon browse or some snacks to go.
On the right side of the river bank, the beautiful Mirabell Palace & Gardens is an easy and enjoyable place to visit. The exterior gardens are a joy to stroll through, with the famous entrance gate and hedge tunnel from the Sound of Music. The palace is open daily for visitors, where the Angel Staircase and Marble Hall (open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) are its most notable highlights. Classical concerts are often held in the Marble Hall as well.
A gorgeous Roccoco palace perched on an idyllic lake with wonderful views of Salzburg's mountains, Schloss Leopoldskron was once a family residence of a prince archbishop. It's now celebrated as the birthplace of the Salzburg Festival for performing arts and the most iconic shooting location for Sound of Music. The palace itself is well worth a visit for its luxurious State Rooms and their unique interiors; make sure to visit all six! The palace is just a few minutes outside the historic centre.
HALLSTATT DAY TRIP
Just a short drive from Salzburg (around 1.5 hours), Hallstatt is a charming little town nestled on the lake - famous for its idyllic location, 16th-century alp houses and salt production. It's an easy and enjoyable day-trip from Salzburg, where you can stroll through its lakeside town, enjoy panoramic views of the alps, and ride up to the historic salt mines and the breathtaking Skywalk Terrace. The easiest and fastest way to get to Hallstatt is by car. The alternative is to take bus 150 from Salzburg to Bad Ischl, change to a train to Obertraun and ride a boat across the lake (a cheaper option but it will take longer).
FOOD & DINING
CAFÉS & CONFECTIONERY
A traditional family-run coffeehouse in the heart of Altstadt, Café Tomaselli is a beloved institution with a history of over 300 years. With wood panelled interiors, classic newspaper racks, waiters in white aprons and dinner jackets, coffee served on silver trays and a display of homemade desserts... Café Tomaselli's old-world atmosphere is charming and nostalgic. For breakfast, lunch, or a leisurely coffee break, it's a lovely place to while away.
For a taste of the original Sacher Torte, which is now a national pride of Austria and one of its most famous desserts, look no further than the home of its creator. Sacher is a quintessential experience in Salzburg. With classic interiors in Sacher's signature red and an idyllic outdoor terrace overlooking the river, Café Sacher is delightful inside and out. They serve an array of speciality desserts like strudel, Salzburgerknockerl, and an excellent kaiserschmarrn; as well as a breakfast and lunch menu of traditional cuisine. Reservations recommended, but they do take walk-ins upon availability.
The home of the original Mozartkügel - a dark chocolate truffle stuffed with marzipan. First created in 1890 by the confectioner Paul Fürst in dedication to the great Mozart, this chocolate bonbon became part of Salzburg's heritage. Most confectioneries sell an imitation of it but nothing quite compares to the original. The original shop can be found around the corner from Altermarkt and just across Café Tomaselli.
A small and quaint dessert shop tucked away on one of Getreidegasse's side streets. Schatz offers a selection of traditional cakes, desserts and confections, and a few tables to enjoy something inside. Its vintage shopfront is especially charming. Closed Sundays & Mondays.
RESTAURANTS
For some of the best traditional Austrian cuisine, this rustic inn is a Salzburg favourite for comforting home-style food in a cosy atmosphere. The menu offers a large variety of typical dishes like beef goulash, roast pork with semmelknödel, käsnocken, weiner schnitzel and grilled bratwurst; all of which are excellent and very generous in portion too. They're also particularly famous for serving 'the best backhendl (fried chicken) in town' and deservedly so. Order one to share. Go with an appetite and book a table in advance to avoid disappointment.
A brewery-restaurant for traditional food and quality beer in an atmospheric garden, just on the edge of Altstadt on Griesgasse. The menu serves a variety of typical dishes like schnitzel, tafelspitz and goulash; but the grilled bratwurst and krautfleckerl (cabbage pasta) are two of the best options to try. Sternbräu is very spacious with multiple seating areas, but go for the cosy Bürgersaal (indoor restaurant) if it's cold or the atmospheric Arkadengarten (courtyard-garden) outside when it's warm. Crowded with locals and a buzzing atmosphere at lunch, it's a great spot to eat & drink like a Salzburger.
Sacher has three dining options for guests and visitors, each offering a unique menu and setting. The most traditional and atmospheric is Zirbelzimmer - a lodge-style dining room with warm wood-paneling and plaid interiors for a rustic charm; the menu serves traditional classics with a few international options. Just next door in a more contemporary space and a beautiful terrace in the summer, the sophisticated Sacher Grill focuses on grilled specialities alongside the same traditional classics. For a more casual lunch or afternoon break, Café Sacher serves a menu of small snacks, salads and desserts as well as traditional dishes like weiner schnitzel and tafelspitz. An excellent experience across all.
For traditional Austrian cuisine in a contemporary bistro setting, Meissl & Schadn is a decent option in the heart of Altstadt. Almost wholly dedicated to the weiner schnitzel, this is their main specialty. A plate-sized cutlet breaded and fried in an open-kitchen for all to watch, optionally fried in butter or lard, and served with a choice of sides (go for the the potato salad). The menu serves a few other dishes as well, like Tafelspitz and Viennese roast beef with onion gravy, which are just as good. Reservations recommended.
SALZBURGER BRÄTWURST
For a quick lunch or snack on the go in Altstadt, a street-stall brätwurst is simple yet satisfying with a side of tangy sauerkraut, pretzel or soft roll. These are the three best stalls to try: Balkan Grill Walter, tucked away on Getreidegasse (famous for its spiced bosna sandwiches, expect a queue); Salzburger Grill Imbiss, between Universitätsplatz and Residenzplatz (variety of sausages + sides; the grilled brätwurst is great); Würstelstand Alter Markt, near Tomaselli (mostly weekends only).
SALZBURGER BREWERY
Visiting a traditional brewery is a great way to experience Austria's beer culture and to sample some of Salzburg's best. Stiegl Brewery and Augustiner Bräu both offer a full experience of brewery tours, beer tasting, and gastropub dining. They're both a little outside the centre but worth visiting if you're big on beer.
TRAVELING TIPS
1. If you plan an active itinerary, you can easily enjoy most of Salzburg in two-three full days. It's a relatively small city and the Old Town can be explored on foot in a few hours.
2. For first visits, staying in or near Altstadt is a great convenience. This is where you'll be spending most of your time for sight-seeing, dining and shopping; and that means you'll be within walking distance to almost everything.
3. Plan your trip around the weather. Salzburg is equally wonderful in the winter as it is in spring/summer; bear in mind that a lot of it relies on being outdoors or on foot, but there's enough to enjoy in colder weather as well. It really depends on the activities and atmosphere you're looking for.