Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart, is a city in central Austria, near the German (Bavarian) border with a population of some 150,000 in 2013. If you have seen the movie The Sound of Music, you may think you know all there is to see in Salzburg.
It is difficult not to spontaneously burst into song when you're walking along the Salzach River, or climbing up to the Hohensalzburg fortress which looms over the city. But there is a lot more to this compact, courtly city than Julie Andrews.
Salzburg, literally means salt castle, is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of Federal State of Salzburg.
Its historic centre Altstadt is renowned for its baroque architecture and is one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps, with 27 churches.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The city has three universities and a large population of students. Tourists also visit Salzburg to tour the historic centre and the scenic Alpine surroundings.
Salzburg was the birthplace of the 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In the mid‑20th century, the city was the setting for the musical play and film The Sound of Music.
Salzburg is the fourth-largest city in Austria after Vienna, Graz and Linz and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg.
Its Old Town, with its world famous baroque architecture, is one of the best-preserved city centers in the German-speaking world and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
The name Salzburg literally means Salt Fortress, and derives its name from the barges carrying salt on the Salzach river, which were subject to a toll in the 8th century.
After World War II, Salzburg became the capital city of the Federal State of Salzburg. On 27 January 2006, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, all 35 churches of Salzburg rang their bells after 8:00 p.m. local time to celebrate the occasion. Major celebrations took place throughout the year.
As of 2017 Salzburg had a GDP per capita of €46,100, which was greater than the average for Austria and for most European countries.
Salzburg was the capital of an independent state from the early 14th century until 1805. It was ruled by prince-archbishops, who became rich from the salt mines located in the south of the city.
This led to the architectural gem you see today as not only materials, but also architects, were imported from Italy and other European countries. This is also the reason why, compared to other Austrian cities, sacred monuments outnumber the few secular buildings.
This is how Salzburg got its nickname as "the Rome of the north". Everywhere you go in this city, you see and read about the legacy of the Archbishops.
Salzburg is on the banks of the River Salzach, at the northern boundary of the Alps. The mountains to Salzburg's south contrast with the rolling plains to the north. The closest alpine peak, the 1,972‑metre-high Untersberg, is less than 16 kilometres (10 miles) from the city centre.
The Altstadt, or old town, is dominated by its baroque towers and churches and the massive Hohensalzburg Fortress. This area is flanked by two smaller hills, the Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg, which offer green relief within the city.
Salzburg is approximately 150 km (93 mi) east of Munich, 281 km (175 mi) northwest of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and 300 km (186 mi) west of Vienna.
Salzburg is part of the temperate zone. The Köppen climate classification specifies the climate as a humid continental climate, however, with the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm for the coldest month, Salzburg can be classified as having four-season oceanic climate with significant temperature differences between seasons.
Due to the location at the northern rim of the Alps, the amount of precipitation is comparatively high, mainly in the summer months. The specific drizzle is called Schnürlregen in the local dialect. In winter and spring, pronounced foehn winds regularly occur.
Salzburg's official population significantly increased in 1935 when the city absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city.
New residential space was constructed for American soldiers of the postwar occupation, and could be used for refugees when they left. Around 1950, Salzburg passed the mark of 100,000 citizens, and in 2016, it reached the mark of 150,000 citizens.
The Romanesque and Gothic churches, the monasteries and the early carcass houses dominated the medieval city for a long time. The Cathedral of Archbishop Conrad of Wittelsbach was the largest basilica north of the Alps.
The choir of the Franciscan Church, construction was begun by Hans von Burghausen and completed by Stephan Krumenauer, is one of the most prestigious religious gothic constructions of southern Germany.
At the end of the Gothic era the Collegiate church Nonnberg, Margaret Chapel in St. Peter's Cemetery, the St. George's Chapel and the stately halls of the Hoher Stock in Hohensalzburg Fortress were constructed.
Salzburg is a tourist favourite, with the number of tourists outnumbering locals by a large margin in peak times.
In addition to Mozart's birthplace noted above, other notable places include:
Old Town
- Historic centre of the city of Salzburg, a World Heritage Site
- Baroque architecture, including many churches
- Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom)
- Franciscan Church (Franziskanerkirche)
- Holy Trinity Church (Dreifaltigkeitskirche)
- Kollegienkirche
- Nonnberg Abbey, a Benedictine monastery
- St Peter's Abbey with the Petersfriedhof
- Hohensalzburg Fortress (Festung Hohensalzburg), overlooking the Old Town, is one of the largest castles in Europe
- Mirabell Palace, with its wide gardens
- Salzburg Residenz, the magnificent former residence of the Prince-Archbishops
- Residenzgalerie, an art museum in the Salzburg Residenz
- Residenzplatz
- Großes Festspielhaus
- House for Mozart
- Mozart's birthplace
- Getreidegasse
- Sphaera (Salzburg), a sculpture of a man on a golden sphere.
Outside the Old Town
- Schloss Leopoldskron, a rococo palace and national historic monument in Leopoldskron-Moos, a southern district of Salzburg
- Hellbrunn with its parks and castles
- The Sound of Music tour companies who operate tours of film locations
- Hangar-7, a multifunctional building owned by Red Bull, with a collection of historical airplanes, helicopters and Formula One racing cars
Greater Salzburg area
- Anif Castle, located south of the city in Anif
- Shrine of Our Lady of Maria Plain, a late Baroque church on the northern edge of Salzburg
- Salzburger Freilichtmuseum Großgmain, an open-air museum containing old farmhouses from all over the state assembled in an historic setting
- Schloss Klessheim, a palace and casino, formerly used by Adolf Hitler
- Berghof, Hitler's mountain retreat near Berchtesgaden
- Kehlsteinhaus, the only remnant of Hitler's Berghof
- Salzkammergut, an area of lakes east of the city
- Untersberg mountain, next to the city on the Germany-Austria border, with panoramic views of Salzburg and the surrounding Alps
Skiing is an attraction during winter.
Salzburg itself has no skiing facilities, but it acts as a gateway to skiing areas to the south. During the winter months its airport receives charter flights from around Europe.
Salzburg Zoo, located south of the city in Anif
Salzburg is well connected to both Vienna (Wien) and Munich (München), Germany via the autobahns A8 (Munich - Salzburg) and A1 (Salzburg - Vienna). There is an Austrian Motorway "Vignette" you have to purchase. The price varies, depending on whether you buy a yearly or 10 day vignette.
Driving around Salzburg can be a pain. The road names are small and written in a traditional German font which can be hard to read. The best bet is to get into the city, find a parking space, and travel by foot.
If you are driving in cold weather, be prepared for snow, and snow chains are recommended in extreme weather. From October to April, the law requires all cars to have snow tires or Winterreifen.
Salzburg's railway station, the Hauptbahnhof, is located to the north of the Salzach River within the New Town of Salzburg. The train ride from Munich to Salzburg takes about an hour and a half yet Regional trains take about 2 hours, and international trains operate from Zurich, Zagreb, Ljubljana and Budapest to name just a few destinations.
Inter-city trains operate very frequently especially to Vienna, where services are almost hourly. The station was completely renovated between 2009 and 2014 and now has a modern look. The station is operated by both the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and the German Federal Railways (DB).
Both concerns have ticket offices and machines in the station. The popular train pass for Bavaria sold by DB or Bayern Ticket also covers train rides between Bavaria and Salzburg, but it is only valid for Regional trains (code RE and RB).
The rail pass can be brought from DB ticket offices as well as DB Ticket Selling Machines in the station.
A new train service WESTbahn travels from Vienna to Salzburg via Linz in around 3 hours. It has operated since 2011 and offers competitive pricing.
Czechshuttle - Shuttle bus from / to Cesky Krumlov. 2.5 hours. offers door - to - door Shuttle bus to Salzburg from Cesky Krumlov and back.Price from 900 CZK (32 EUR) per person. Private transportation available by CAR or VAN.
Bean Shuttle - Cheapest shuttle between Salzburg and Cesky Krumlov. offers direct shuttle bus between Salzburg and Cesky Krumlov for 800 CZK (35 EUR) per person and between Salzburg and Ceske Budejovice for 900 CZK (39 EUR). €35.
ShuttleCeskyKrumlov.com - Shuttle bus from/to Cesky Krumlov. 2.5 hours. offers door-to-door shuttle bus and private car/van transportation to Salzburg from Cesky Krumlov, Linz and back for 1.090 CZK (48 EUR) per person. See the timetable. €44.
CK Shuttle - Cesky Krumlov shuttlebus service. offers a door-to-door transportation service from Cesky Krumlov to Salzburg and back for 1.100 CZK (44 EUR) per person. The ride takes about 3 hours. €44.
Budweis-shuttle - Cheapest shuttle bus transfer between Salzburg and Cesky Krumlov. shuttle bus transfer between Salzburg and Cesky Krumlov for 1100 CZK (43 EUR) per person.
Westbus.at.Bus connection from Prague,Cesky Krumlov,Linz.From 29 Eur from Prague.westbus.at
Eurobusways - Shuttle bus from / to Budapest. 5 hours. offers door to door bus transfer between Salzburg and Budapest with possible stop in Vienna.
Salzburg W.A. Mozart International Airport, Innsbrucker Bundesstraße 95. The Salzburg W.A. Mozart International Airport, is situated about 20 minutes from the center of the city. Connection with the city is provided by a trolley bus. The trip from the airport to the train station is approx. 20 minutes and costs €2.50 for an adult.
The airport has direct connections from Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Birmingham, Exeter, London, Istanbul, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Vienna, all big German cities, and Zurich. For more connections you may prefer flying to Munich and taking the train to Salzburg.
The best way to get around Salzburg is on foot. There is a network of city buses, the StadtBus, with numbers from 1 to 8 trolleybuses and 20-27 diesel buses. A single trip ticket on the bus is €2.60, a single short trip ticket €1.30 maximum 3 stops, a 24 h ticket €5.70 which covers the whole city.
If you travel by bus, make sure you catch none of the last buses. They will take you several miles out of town with your only way back being on foot or by taxi. If you need to get somewhere late at night, it may be best to take a taxi.
Conveniently, bus tickets can be bought on the buses from the bus driver. However, if you have time, buy the tickets in advance at a"Trafik, since they are then significantly cheaper.
But you have to buy the tickets in blocks of 5, 5-single-ticket package costs €9 means €1.8 each, 5-short-trip-ticket package costs €4.5 means €0.9 each and Day Ticket Single tickets is €3.7. Single tickets and 24-h Day ticket are also available from automatic machines at central bus stops.
The Lokalbahn train has a separate station under the main railway station and travels in the direction of Oberndorf and Lamprechtshausen. Tickets can be bought on the train.
Another option for exploring areas around the main city Bad Ischl, Fuschlsee, etc. are the Postbuses. These also leave from the main railway station; tickets can be bought from the driver. Also you can rent a car from €35 and drive in the surrounding of the city.
Finally, another excellent option is renting a bike, or a Road Bike. Salzburg has over 100 km of bike paths, and using this mode of transportation is often faster than bus, car or foot.
There are also excellent bike paths on either side of the river, which you can follow to either Freilassing (35 min), Oberndorf or Hallein each about an hour away.
Having arrived at the airport Flughafen Salzburg, it is very easy to make your way into the town centre by trolleybus or other modes of transport.
Tickets for these services can be bought easily from the bus driver and you can travel from here to the Hauptbahnhof main station where you can reach many destinations, predominantly in Austria, but also across the whole of Europe.
Schloss Hellbrunn, Furstenweg 37. Open 1 Apr-1 Nov, Apr, Oct 9AM-4:30PM; May, Jun, Sep 9AM-5:30PM; Jul, Aug 9AM-9PM only trick fountains from 6PM. Once the summer palace of the Archbishops of Salzburg it has lots of clever fountains and pretty gardens.
There is a 45-minute guided tour of the fountains and an audio guide available for the house. Wear sensible shoes, as the ground is often wet near the fountains.
Hellbrunn is surrounded by vast gardens, including a good children's playground with swings and flying fox, and a cold wading pool, and is a perfect place for a picnic or a long walk through the park. In the Steintheater Stone Theate), the first opera in Middle Europe was conducted.
If you're traveling with children, this is the place to visit, because children and adults alike are amused. There is a zoo within the grounds, but a separate ticket is required for entry. Price: family ticket: € 25.
Getreidegasse, [10]. - A long and narrow street running parallel to the river in the centre of town, with lots of shops, famous for the old (or old-style) signs of profession outside each store.
Hohensalzburg Fortress (Festung), Mönchsberg 34. Located on top of a mountain, the Festung offers breath-taking views of Salzburg and the Alps. One area of the fortress offers visitors the chance to look down on a field below to find only one house, the executioner's residence.
It was believed to live anywhere near the executioner was bad luck. Inside the fortress are rooms showing medieval weapons, life on the fortress, and torture instruments. Public concerts are often held here in the evenings, reservations are recommended.
On nights with concerts, it is possible to remain within the walls past dark. To avoid the vertical hike up to the Fortress, a funicular is available to ride, for a fee.
Adults: €11 (Funicular) €7.8 (walking up), Children and youths (6-19 years, groups only): €5.10, Children individual (6-14 years): €5.60, Family ticket: €22.60, after 7pm the entry by foot is free, however you can't see the inside of the castle, but you can walk around it and see the beautiful views.
Alter Markt Square. Various shops in this area are quite old and impressive. For instance have a look at the interior of the pharmacy called Fürsterzbischöfliche Apotheke. No pictures though, this is a pharmacy not a tourist attraction.
Mozarts Geburtshaus Mozart's birth house, Getreidegasse 9. Open daily 9AM-6PM Last admission: 5:30PM, open until 7PM Jul-Aug. The Mozart family lived in this house in the heart of Salzburg from 1747-1773, where W.A. Mozart himself was born on 27 January 1756.
The house is now a popular museum devoted to Mozart and his family, with interesting memorabilia and letters. Well worth a visit. For die-hard Mozart fans, the same organisation also runs the Mozart Residence museum which holds a Pictures of Mozart exhibition, containing portraits of the man, as well as portraits of doubtful provenance.
Separate entrance fee. Adults: €10, Seniors €8.5, Youths and school groups 15-18: €2, Children and school groups 6-14: €1.50.
Mozarts Wohnhaus Mozart Residence, Makartplatz 8
Schloss Mirabell.Located right next to the Salzach river and the Mozarteum University of Music and Arts lies a beautiful castle with gardens, built by an archbishop for his beloved courtesan. Watch out for the Garden of Dwarfs and the Garden of Roses.
Inside, you find the marble stairs of Raffael Donner, and the world's most beautiful wedding hall, the Marble Hall. If you plan to marry there, reservations should be made at least a year in advance.
Weddings in English are only held on Tuesday and Friday. If you don't speak German, you can't get married any other day! The gardens are free.
Dom zu Salzburg or Salzburg Cathedral, Residenzplatz. In Cathedral Excavations Museum you can see objects excavated from a Roman villa and foundations of the west towers of the Romanesque cathedral both of which stood in the area of today's cathedral.
Salzburg Museum, Mozartplatz 1. Very new, trying really hard to tell you about Salzburg's history.
Toy Museum (Spielzeugmuseum), Burgerspitalgasse 2. Founded in 1978, the Toy Museum has the largest collection in Austria of European toys. The "Kasperltheater" puppet show is held every Tuesday and Wednesday at 3PM for the past 25 years. Adults: €2.70, Seniors, Children, youth (16-26): €2, Students (6-15): €0.80.
Museum of Natural History or Haus der Natur Salzburg, Museumsplatz 5. Open daily 9AM-5PM. Adults: €4.50, Seniors (60+) or with a pass: €4, Students (Under 27) and Children (4+): €2.50.
Salzburg Museum of Modern Art or Museum der Moderne Salzburg, Two locations: Wiener Philharmonikergasse 9, and Monchsberg 32. Open Tu-Su 10AM-6PM, W 10AM-8PM, closed M. The Salzburg Museum of Modern Art is on the cliff overlooking the old town. It houses contemporary art works from the 20th and 21st centuries, along with rotating international art displays.
Residenzgalerie or Residence Gallery Salzburg, Residenzplatz 1. A modest but interesting collecion of mostly Baroque paintings and some modern ones, intelligently displayed.
St. Sebastian Cemetery - Holds not only the graves of Mozart's wife Constanze Weber-Nissen, but also the must-see Mausoleum of Archbishop Wolfdietrich.
St Peter's Church, Cemetery, and Catacombs - Perhaps most remarkable are the very small catacombs ) carved into the nearby cliff side. Climb up for a couple of small chapels and a nice overlook.
Salzburg Zoo, Anifer Landesstr. 1. 9AM-11PM daily. The zoo is in south Salzburg and is open 365 days a year. It also has a petting zoo for children. There is a restaurant on site serving traditional Austrian dishes. Price adults: € 10.10, family: € 26.50.
The Untersberg. The mountain is perennially popular with tourists due to its proximity to the city of Salzburg, less than 16 km (10 mi) to the north of the mountain and within easy reach by bus.
A variety of paths lead to the top, but most people use the cable car that lifts passengers over 1300m to the Geiereck peak. The cable car runs from the 'St Leonhard' station in the town of Gartenau to the station at the Geiereck peak.
Kapuzinerberg. This steep hill can be accessed through Linzergasse in the old part of town. Once you're in you're in deep forest. There are several paths that bring you to the top where the Franziskischlössl fortification stands - today it's a restaurant via either a paved road -no traffic, though- or a forest track with steps.
There are several viewpoints along the way. The views of the city, and the Alps, are spectacular, the air is fresh and it makes for a superb little excursion without leaving the city.
Stiegl-Brauwelt, Brauhausstraße 9. daily from 10 AM-5 PM (July & August 10 AM-7 PM Last admission: 1 hours before closing. Stiegl-Brauwelt is a must see for all beer lovers. The beer experience starts with a unique 270° brew cinema and the exhibition shows you beer in it's whole variety.
In the admission fee included is a beer tasting and gift from the brewery shop. Guided tours in English daily at 3PM. After the tour you can enjoy a tipical Austrian meal in one of the restaurants at the Stiegl-Brauwelt.
It's easy to reach with bus number 1 and 10, stop Brauhausstrabe. Adults: €11.00, Children: €6.00, free entry with Salzburg Card.
Casino Salzburg, 5071 Wals-Siezenheim. Open daily except for December 24. Slot machines: noon-3AM, Live games: 3PM-3AM. Free admission.
Chess — Giant chess board painted onto the ground, past the cathedral traveling away from the river. You'll have to wait your turn, but it's worth it.
A number of companies run coach tours in and around Salzburg. By far the most popular of these are dedicated to the locations featured in The Sound of Music.
Panorama Tours: Sound of Music. Daily, leaves at 9:15AM and 2PM, 4 hrs duration. Adults €42, children (4-12) €21. Panorama also offers tours to other locations: the Bavarian Mountains and to Berchtesgarden as well as up to the Eagles Nest. More tours with Panorama Tours you´ll find on the Website.
Rikschatours Salzburg: Salzburg up-close: A very funny way to discover the city. The bicycles have access to all the squares and sights of Salzburg. Tours starting from € 10,-. May-October daily from 10.30 AM at Residenzplatz Square.
Bob's Special Tours: Sound of Music. Daily, leaves at 9:00AM and 2PM, 4 hrs duration. Adults €48, Students and Senior citizens €108, children (2-14) €103.
Be Special Tours also offers tours to other locations: the Bavarian Mountains and to Berchtesgaden as well as up to the Eagles Nest, Sound of Music including Hallstatt, Grossglockner Großglockner and Zipling Tours.
Be Special Tours: Sound of Music Insider. Daily, leaves at 9:00AM, 8 hrs duration. Adults €135, children (4-12) €40. Be Special Tours also offers tours to other locations: the Bavarian Mountains and to Berchtesgaden as well as up to the Eagles Nest, 4 or 8h duration.
Adults 54€, or 99€, senior citizens and students 43€, or 81€. Sound of Music including Hallstatt, Hallstatt Tour includes Hallstatt 8h our, Adults 99€, Senior citizens and students 81€, Grossglockner Großglockner, 8h tour, Adults 115€, Senior citizens and students 100€ and King Ludwig Tour Neuschwanstein.1-2 day tour.
Ice Caves, The world's largest ice cave lies just south of Salzburg. Take the train to Werfen, about a 40 minute ride. Outside of the station is a shuttle bus it costs €7 and they only accept cash that is not essential but highly recommended, as you will otherwise be walking for quite some time up a very high mountain.
It will bring you to the ticket building, which gives you a ticket for the lift to the top and a tour of the caves. Bring good shoes because there is an additional 20 minute walk up the mountain, and bring something warm because the caves are below freezing and the tour lasts 30 minutes.
Salt Mines. There are a few different salt mine tours available in Salzburg's immediate surroundings. A good one is Salzwelten Salzburg in Bad Durrnberg. Getting there is easy with the Salz Erlebnis Ticket, available at the train station; it covers the local train and a bus transfer round-trip, admission, and the required Salzwelten tour.
The 90-minute tour is great for families, although children under 4 are not allowed on the tour. Put on white coveralls, ride a trolley into the mine, and use wooden slides to descend into the lower levels.
A café and picnic benches are available on-site, as well as a small reconstructed Celtic village that includes a playground. Allow about 2 1/2 hours for the tour and the Celtic Village. Open 9AM-5PM Apr-Oct; 10AM-3PM Nov-Dec. Adults €21; Children €10.00. Family and Group tickets are available.
For almost a century, Salzburg has hosted the world famous Salzburg Festival, with operas, concerts, and theater plays in different locations throughout the city. It was founded by Hugo von Hoffmansthal, Max Reinhardt and Richard Strauss in 1920.
It takes place in July and August, the most famous piece is the Jedermann ("Everyman") by Hugo v. Hoffmansthal, being conducted in front of the Dom (Cathedral) every year.
More recently, festivals also take place during Easter time with mostly Baroque music, and in autumn.
Salzburg Card. Depending on how long you want to stay in Salzburg and how much you want to pack into one day, the Salzburg Card could be a good investment, it includes:
- Free single admission to all the city's attractions.
- Free use of public transport throughout the city, including fortress funicular, panorama boat & cable car Untersberg.
- Attractive discounts for cultural events.
- Discounts for various tours and excursions.
Mozartkugeln or Mozart balls are chocolate-covered marzipan candy balls inspired by the famous composer, Salzburg's most famous son, Mozart. Try the original version at Cafe Fürst; be aware, though, they are rather expensive, with a small box costing as much as €7.
The more widespread Mirabell brand is sold in many tourist shops, but they are also available at most local grocery stores for a lot less. The Reber brand sits between Furst and Mirabell in terms of quality, it is however made in Germany and thus not authentic; its price is in line with Mirabell's.
There's a Reber chocolate shop in the Altermarkt with a wide range of chocolates, Kugeln and pastettes.
The annual Christmas Market or Christkindlmarkt, located at the three squares around the dome - Domplatz, Kapitelplatz, Residenzplatz features traditional fast food, such as hot potatoes, doughnuts with kraut, and candies, as well as christmas decorations, winter clothes, and craftmanship. It opens end of November and closes on Christmas.
Archides - Wohnraumuhren (Archides Uhren GmbH), Neutorstrasse 17, 5020 Salzburg near Monchsberggarage. Mo-Fr:10:00-12:30 & Sa: 10:00-13:00. Archides - the first and only specialist store for mechanical clocks in Austria
Salzburger Nockerl
A typical dessert from Salzburg is the Salzburg Nockerl. Don't try to eat it on your own, it's too heavy for one person!
Wilder Mann, Getreidegasse 20. Wilder Mann offers traditional Austrian cuisine. The restaurant provides large portions and friendly-service. Smoking is allowed in the restaurant.
Augustiner Bräustübl, Lindhofstrasse 7 near Muller Hauptstr, or Augustinergasse 4, On the Mönchsberg, bus stop Landeskrankenhaus. Beer garden with self-brewed beer, and market-like shops to buy food. You can bring your own food but not drinks if you want.
If you access via the rear entrance off Muller Hauptstr, it doesn't look like a restaurant but be brave and head through the doors and stairs and you`ll soon be rewarded.
Saran Essbar — Judengasse 10, Altstadt / Mönchsberg. Great schnitzel, as well as the dumpling. Touristey on the outside - menu is in 4 or 5 languages. Run by a very nice guy. Also, surprisingly excellent Indian fare for central Salzburg. 2nd opinion: decent, not excellent, chicken curry. And avoid the noodle soup: it seems like it came out of a can.
Maroni-Salzburg, Hanuschplatz 1. Have roasted chestnuts and a glass of glühwein in the winterseason right before you start off to the Christmas Market.Maronibraterei Salzburg.
Barenwirt, Müllner Hauptstraße 8. Traditional food, traditionally furnished restaurant, rather cheap, fabulous beer from the close by Augustiner Brau.
Raschhofer's Rossbrau, Alpenstraße 48. Traditional, yet somewhat updated, Austrian fare. They serve excellent Kaiserschmnarrn a breakfast yet really a dessert.
Zirkel Wirt, Papagenoplatz, Old Town. Delicious traditional and some not-so-traditional food, vegetarian-friendly, great beer, good atmosphere.
Gabler Brau, Linzergasse 9. Traditional food of high quality, a big selection of salads from the self-service-menu for aproximately €7.
SOG, Erzabt Klotz Straße 21. Excellent and affordable Italian food.
Der Schmuggler, Laufenerstrasse 7, 83395 Freilassing. This is a cafe/pub across the border in Freilassing offering good beer and a hearty meal. Good value. Popular with the locals. There is also a pool table.
Restaurant Mediterrane, Moostraße 36. This restaurant is the best Italian in Salzburg, better than the high end place like Pan y Vin. Nothing over €15 or so and the quality is excellent. Try the shrimp pasta or the calamarreti pasta and a mix green salad. This is a small and elegant restaurant, hidden and 5 minutes from Alt Stadt.
Stiegl Keller Festungsgasse 10 Phone +43 662 84 26 81 A cellar up on a mountain, serving traditional food and the famous Stiegl beer right from the barrel.
Franziskischlossl, Kapuzinerberg 9. On top of the Kapuzinerberg mountain. In what used to be a fortified castle, you find a superb restaurant serving traditional food and excellent fresh fish. Try the Gröstl for a hearty lunch and wash it down with Stiegl Weisse beer. Great views to the Alps.
Café Sacher Salzburg, Schwarzstraße 5-7, A-5020 Salzburg. Trying the original Sacher-Torte is a must for all chocolate lovers out there. But there's more to Café Sacher than just cake.
They also serve delicious hot food at prices cheaper than other touristy places listed here - plus you enjoy the service and ambiance of the Sacher Hotel.
Obauer, Markt 46, Werfen. World renown Chef Rudi Obauer was awarded 4 toques. The restaurant is located 45 minutes south of Salzburg, but many claim that it is well-worth the effort! Prices range from €19-45.
Hangar 7, Wilhelm Spazier Straße 7a. If you seek a special environment for your dinner this is the place, a top-cuisine restaurant and a great bar close to the airport.
K+K Restaurant, Waagplatz 2. Excellent Austrian fare in a romantic intimate setting. Just steps away from the Salzburg Cathedral on Mozart Plaza. A 3 course meal for two people with a bottle of wine was about €90.
Augustiner Braustuberl, Lindhofstrasse 7. Beer garden with self-brewed beer the delicious Marzenbier, and market-like shops to buy food. You can bring your own food not drinks if you want.
On the Mönchsberg, bus stop Landeskrankenhaus, or a 20 minute walk from the Altes Rathaus - just follow the river with the hill to your left and when you see the Augustinerkloster abbey on top of the hill, take the stairs going up.
The Denkmal, Hellbrunner Strasse. Near the Justizgebaude bus stop. The Denkmal is a private club, so expect to pay a few Euro for a one-night temporary membership just ask the bartender. Small, cozy, fun atmosphere, popular with university students. Sometimes has live music.
The Shamrock, Rudolfskai 12, Judengasse 1. Guinness, cider, German and Austrian beer as well, occasional live music, and a nice atmosphere. Popular with local university students. Expect the place to be packed on a weekend night.
Stiegl Brauwelt, Brauhausstrasse 9. Bus stop Brauhausstrasse on line 1. Tour the brewery and museum and have a Stiegl in the brewery's own pub and beer garden. The tour costs €9 and it includes three 20cl drinks and a gift.
Stieglkeller, Festungsgasse 10. 11am-11pm. The Stieglkeller is open from May to September. It offers a small choice of traditional dishes, Stiegl beers, Radler and other drinks. It is most recommendable for its fantastic panoramic view over the city. The lower terrace is with service, though you are expected to consume food there. The upper two terraces are self-service areas.
O'Malley's. Everyone goes here. Great bartenders. Open late for real drinkers.
Die Weisse, Rupertgasse 10 near Linzergasse. Located in one of Salzburg's most historic breweries, this is where all the locals hang out. It's best to make reservations Wednesday through Saturday as it can get crowded. They also serve treats from Bavaria and Salzburg.
Tomaselli, Alter Markt 9. A traditional Viennese coffee house, the oldest in Salzburg. Try the Einspänner and Sacher cake.
Café Bazar, Schwarzstrasse 3, legendary Viennese coffee house with terrace overlooking the river Salzach and the city, where artists and businessmen alike and yes, tourists as well sip a Kleiner Brauner and discuss last evening's Festival-performance.
Fürst, Brodgasse 13. Exquisite pastries, and the place to buy the original Mozartkugel, invented by confectioner Paul Furst in 1884.
Republic, Anton-Neumayr-Platz 2. A modern café with good breakfast, and a variety of cultural events Jazz Brunch, Clubbing, special theme parties at night. Turns into one of the most popular places to be during night.
Shakespeare, Hubert Sattler Gasse 3 close to Mirabell castle. Art café with good Chinese cuisine, cheap lunch menu during the week.
Anifer Muhlenbrot, Markatplatz. A tiny bakery with a tasty selection of sweets and snacks, and serves cheap breakfast, even though there is only one table. Try the Berger chocolates.
Afro Café, Bürgerspitalgasse at the end of Getreidegasse. A funky, modern café with decoration inspired by urban African style. Offers a variety of unconventional and great food and drinks.
Café Sacher Salzburg, Schwarzstraße 5-7, A-5020 Salzburg. Excellent coffee try the Wiener Melange if you like your cappuccinos and great cakes/desserts. The Sacher-Torte hardly requires an introduction. But there are more cakes and tortes.
The Strudel is great, and if you have a big appetite the Kaiserschmarrn a huge pancake-like dessert with plum confit and lots of sugar. will not disappoint you. And it's not as expensive as you might imagine given this is a 5 star hotel. In fact, you'll spend the same, if not more, in any other café in the old part of town.
Nord-Sam, Samstraße 22a. Decent sized site with a pool, shop, washing facilities, and on a bus route. By car via A1 Salzburg-Wien (Vienna), exit Salzburg-Nord. Follow signs to Nord-Sam after the traffic lights. Takes about 20 minutes to get into the city and is in a peaceful residential area with a supermarket (Spar) a short walk away.
Hotel Lasserhof Salzburg, Lasserstrasse 47. This family-run hotel is located within walking distance of the Mirabell Castle and Gardens. Breakfast is included, and is served from 7AM until 12PM. There is also free Internet access.
Youth and Family Guesthouse Salzburg - Hostelling International, Josef Preis Allee 18. Newly renovated hostel. Breakfast and linens included. Amenities included: internet, café/bar, and a common room. The Sound of Music is shown nightly at 8PM in the common room. €15.50-43.
YoHo (International Youth Hotel Salzburg), Paracelsusstraße 9. checkin: 11; checkout: 10. The Youth Hotel offers guests clean rooms at reasonable prices. They also show 'The Sound of Music' every morning at 10:30AM. €19-29.
Landesberufsschülerheim Aigen - Hosteling International, Aignerstaße 34. This hostel has 156 beds and a fitness room.
Landesberufsschülerheim Haunspergstraße - Hosteling International, Haunspergstraße 27. This hostel is comprised of 24 rooms all with an attached wash room and Internet access.
Eduard Heinrich Haus - Hosteling International, Eduard-Heinrich-Straße 2. The hostel is open 365 days a year, and offers its guests Internet and a TV room. Most of the rooms have an attached washroom. Prices start from €16.
Muffin Hostel Salzburg, Hegigasse 9. The hostel is opened from 7th July till 31st August and offers wide range of facilities, great location and superb prices starting from €21.
A&O Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, Fanny-von-Lehnert-Straße 4. Rooms for couples, groups and families for very cheap rates. Close to the main train station. Prices starting from 11€.
Pension Elisabeth Salzburg, Vogelweiderstraße 52. Located behind the train station and can be reached from there in ten minutes on foot or by car in 2-3 minutes from the Salzburg North highway exit.
The Pension has 24 rooms of different types full bathroom, shower in the room and WC in the hall or shower and WC in the hall. Rooms start from €37 and all the rooms include breakfast with exception of the apartement and the motel rooms.
Gasthaus Hinterbruhl, Schanzlgasse 12. Edge of old town in a building constructed in 1380, the plumbing is slightly more modern. €37-70 without breakfast or €42-85 with breakfast.
AllYouNeed Hotel Salzburg***, Glockengasse 4b. The hotel is open from 1 July to 30 September and has 69 non-smoking rooms en-suite with hairdryer, flat-TV with cable access, telephone and free internet, 1 handicapped accessible room, breakfast buffet and breakfast room with a panorama terrace overlooking the rooftops of Salzburg, lift, lobby with seating, parking , luggage storage, concierge service.
StudioApartments Salzburg, Schwedenstraße 18. Apartmenthouse, reservation necessary
Hotel Gasthof Kamml, Brückenstraße 5.
Amadeo Hotel Schaffenrath, Alpenstraße 115–117. Located in the southern section of Salzburg, this hotel is comprised of 48 rooms and 28 apartments. Rooms start from €75 and include breakfast.
City Hotel Wolf-Dietrich, Wolf-Dietrich-Straße 7 Old Town. The hotel has rooms decorated in a classic style. Each room has a private bathroom and minibar. The hotel also offers its guests an organic breakfast buffet. Rooms start from €75 and vary according to season.
Hotel Haus Arenberg, Blumensteinstraße 8. checkin: august 10, 2013; checkout: august 13, 2013. Quietly located on a slope of the Kapuzinerberg this Hotel Garni "House Arenberg" offers a special kind of stay.
The view of the City with its breathtaking mountain panorama as well as the sophisticated atmosphere of the Salzburgian lifestyle give the feeling of country-live in the midst of the city.
Hotel-Pension Adlerhof, Elisabethstrasse 25. A small family-run bed & breakfast, very close to the train station. The hotel offers free wireless internet and bike rentals. 24-hour reception. €48-120 (low season) to €59-140 (high season).
Hotel Auersperg, Auerspergstraße 61. Part of the Golden Tulip chain but with an independent feel, this hotel is just off the Linzergasse, close to all old town sights and a pleasant 5-10 min walk into the city centre.
Free mulled wine, a fantastic rooftop sauna/spa/winter garden complex (also free) and free wi-fi internet access all over the hotel. Breakfast buffet included and served until 11AM. €85-180 (low season) to €120-240 (high season).
Hotel Trumer Stube, Bergstraße 6. Family-run three-star hotel just off the Linzergasse, close to all old town sights. Hosts are exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable. Breakfast buffet included. €89-125 (low season) to €133-161 (high season).
Ambiente-Hotel Struber, Nonntaler Haupstrasse 35. Family-run hotel, set in a central location, with spacious rooms, near the old town, yet surrounded by meadows. Rooms reflecting Salzburg tradition, feature shower (or bath tub), toilet, phone, satellite TV and radio.
Some rooms have balcony with view of Salzburg Castle.Car park right in front of the hotel. According to the website, they are closed as of December 2010. €90-126 (low season) to €138-168 (high season).
NH Salzburg City, Franz-Josef-Strasse 26. This 4* hotel offers comfortable rooms and is located in the heart of the city. The hotel itself is very modern and offers many amenities to make the stay very comfortable. Rooms from 65€.
Hotel Weisse Taube, Kaigasse 9. Situated in the very center of the old town, Hotel Weisse Taube has been owned by the same family for over a hundred years. Now a four star hotel and fully renovated, it has retained the spirit of the 700 year old citizen house. €68-82 (low season), €85-98 (high season).
Hotel Zur Goldenen Ente, Goldgasse 10. Comfortable 3* hotel situated in the heart of Salzburg's Altstadt center, features a hotel restaurant, double and superior rooms and inclusive breakfast buffet. From €95.
Gasthof Brandstätter, Münchner Bundesstraße 69.
Hotel Amadeus, Linzergasse 43-45.
Jugendsporthotel Ennstalerhof, Lackengasse 270, a-5541 Altenmarkt.
Hotel Bergheimat, Mandlwandstraße 159.
Hotel Garni Binggl, Mauterndorf 91.
Alpengasthof Lämmerhof, Lammertal 13.
Hotel Latini, Kitzsteinhornstraße 4.
Hotel DIE Sonne, Altachweg 334.
Hotel Miramonte, Reitlpromenade 3.
Kinderhotel Felben, Felberstraße 51.
Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Getreidegasse 37. This 65-room hotel is situated across from the Festival Hall and down the street from Mozart's house. The friendly staff is happy to help with all one's business needs. The hotel also has a 24-hour in room dining and nightly turndown services. €200 per night.
Hotel Schloss Mönchstein, Mönchsberg Park 26. This hotel is comprised of 24 rooms, each equipped with a minibar and a wireless internet power point. There is also a restaurant on site; reservations are recommended. Prices vary according to the season.
Best Western Hotel Elefant, Sigmund-Haffner-Gasse 4. One of Salzburg's most ancient buildings, over 700 years old. The hotel is situated in a quiet alley off the world famous Getreidegasse. Over the hotel's 400-year history, its purpose was, and still is, to serve its guests according to the best in Austrian tradition.
Schwärzler Hotel Neutor, Neutorstrasse 8. Schwärzler Hotel Neutor, known as the artists' meeting place, is located close to the city center. Breakfast is served until 1PM in your room or until 3PM in the hotel's 'Artist Cafe.'
Hotel Hölle, Dr -Adolf-Altmann-Str 2. Hotel Hölle is comprised of 15 rooms, and is on the edge of the city center. The hotel has various sized rooms to suite your level of comfort. The on site restaurant, A la Carte, serves the best of Austrian cuisine, and is open daily from 8AM-12AM.
Romantik & SPA Hotel Gmachl, Dorfstrasse 14 - 5161 Elixhausen. - On the green outskirts of the city, just about an 8 km drive from Salzburg’s historic heart, you will find the Romantik Hotel Gmachl, the oldest family-run establishment in all of Austria (established in 1334).
The hotel offers 35 luxurious rooms, an accredited restaurant and an exclusive Spa & Beauty area, boasting a bio-sauna, infrared cabin, aroma steam bath, fitness room, mist grotto, tanning studio and an outdoor pool heated year-round.
Hotel Bergrose, A-5350 Strobl Weissenbach 162. Hotel Bergrose is a very romantic hotel at the legendary Wolfgangsee close to Salzburg.
Hotel Sacher Salzburg, Schwarzstraße 5-7.
Hotel Stein, Giselakai 3-5.
Hotel Europaischer Hof, Miesbichlstraße 20.
Salzburg is the most dangerous city in Austria - but literally all of these crimes are just pickpocketing cases. The most crime occurs at the train station.
Violent crimes such as murder and armed robbery is incredibly rare. Tourists are targeted the most, so make sure that you keep your wallet/purse safe.
So far, no terrorist attacks have happened in Salzburg at all - however, the risk of one happening is increasing. Multiple attack plans have been foiled by the police. Make sure to keep a watchful eye for anything suspicious - if you feel unsafe, just leave as soon as possible.
Salzburg has a growing number of options available for email and Internet access:
- Internet Cafe at the YOHO Hostel, Paracelsusstrasse 9, Happy Hour € 0,10 per hour is from 6PM - 9PM.
- Starbucks, opposite Mozart's birthhouse on Getreidegasse. Has plenty of power sockets and wifi
- McCafe, also on Getreidegasse. Has power sockets and better seating upstairs though the wifi is slow and it can be pretty noisy.
Places to visit in Salzburg:
- Hallein (22 000 inhabitants) with the Hallein Salt Mine also known as Salzbergwerk Dürrnberg.
- If you get tired of the city you can visit the ice caves south of Salzburg, or the salt mines in the nearby city of Hallein.
- Oberndorf bei Salzburg, a small city next to Salzburg where Silent Night, Holy Night, the famous Christmas song, was composed and premiered. You can see the Silent Night Chapel there.
- For people who prefer nature to sights, hiking on the Untersberg, a trip to Salzkammergut or the Königssee, a visit to Bad Ischl may be interesting.
- The town of Golling is a small quaint farm town that is a 35 minute train ride to the south. It features a nice waterfall, closed in the winter, but there's nothing to stop you from going unless the path is icy, scenic gorges, small alpine lakes and mountain views in the Bluntautal Valley, along with several other attractions.
- Freilassing is a small German town just across the border, 10-15 minutes by train. Some locals prefer to shop here as goods are slightly cheaper than in Austria.
- Salzburg is about 2 hours from Munich and Passau, 4 hours from Vienna, and is only a stone's throw from the Alps.
Tourism Observer