This list of essential places to visit in Salzburg, will help you to know one of the most beautiful cities in Austria and Europe, which we are sure, will surprise you and exceed all your expectations.
Mozart's hometown of Salzburg will make you go back several centuries in time while walking through the streets and squares of the historic center while confirming the many reasons why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Based on our experience during the days we spent in the city during our trip to Austria in 11 days, we have made a list of what we believe are the 10 essential places to see in Salzburg. We start!
1. Hohensalzburg Fortress
The Hohensalzburg fortress, which protected from attacks by foreign troops thanks to its walls and towers, is the largest, best preserved in Europe and one of the essential places to visit in Salzburg and although its construction began in 1077, it was not until 1500 that it acquired its current appearance.
Former residence of archbishops, it has an interior with medieval-style rooms, which highlights the Golden Hall and views of the city and the Salzach River, from the top of the fortress at sunset, which will be one of the magical moments of the trip .
Visiting hours: every day from May to September from 9am to 7pm. In the rest of the months it closes at 5pm.
A different option to enjoy the fort is to book this Mozart concert that includes dinner.
Hohensalzburg Fortress. Essential places to visit in Salzburg
2. Getreidegasse
Getreidegasse, the most famous street with more tourists in the city, is another of the most essential places to see in Salzburg. In this commercial street of the historic center, declared a World Heritage Site, it is located at number 9, the house where the musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and lived for 17 years and another of the places you can not miss.
For us the highlights of the street are the beautiful old houses of medieval style, in which fashion and traditional shops are located, which will surprise you with their huge wrought iron signs, which have become one of the symbols of Salzburg .
If you are interested in the history of the city it is advisable to book this guided tour in Spanish or this free tour of Salzburg Free! for the most interesting places in the old town.
Getreidegasse
3. Salzburg Cathedral
Although Salzburg is a city full of churches, we cannot deny that the one that stands out among the rest, without a doubt, the baroque cathedral of Salzburg, from the 17th century.
Located in the historic center, it was the place where Mozart was baptized, who later became the organist of the cathedral for several years. Some of its most interesting places are the dome, the Old Testament frescoes, the organ, the seven bells and the cathedral museum.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from May to September from 8 am to 7 pm. Sundays and holidays from 1pm to 7pm. The rest of the months close 2 hours before.
Cathedral, one of the places to see in Salzburg
4. Mozart's Birthplace, one of the places to visit in Salzburg
At number 9 on Getreidegasse Street, he was born in 1756, one of the most important and influential musicians in history, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This house has become one of Austria's most visited museums and one of the places to visit in Salzburg. During the tour of the interior of the house with 18th-century furniture, you will relive Mozart's life in the city through letters, portraits and objects such as the children's violin and the harpsichord.
For the followers of the composer and pianist it can be very interesting to book this Mozart tour, for the places in the city related to this genius of music.
Visiting hours: every day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. In July and August it closes at 7pm.
Mozart's Birthplace
5. Mirabell Palace and Gardens
The Mirabell Palace, a World Heritage Site, is one of Austria's legendary buildings and another one of the must-see places in Salzburg. This palace of the early seventeenth century, located near the old center, impresses with its interior full of details, with a staircase and a Marble Hall that will leave you speechless.
In addition, the visit to the Mirabell gardens, in the Baroque style, is a perfect complement, which we are sure will sound like being one of the best known musical stages "Smiles and tears"Among the most beautiful places in the garden stands the Pegasus Fountain, the Heckentheater or"Hedge Theater", the garden of the roses and that of the dwarves.
To take into account that from the Mirabell Square this tour leaves the locations where the film was shot "Smiles and tears", considered one of the most beautiful in the city.
Visiting hours of the gardens: every day from 6 in the morning until dusk.
Visiting hours of the palace: every day from 8 am to 6 pm. The Marble Room opens Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, from 8 am to 4 pm; Tuesdays and Fridays from 1pm to 4pm.
Mirabell Gardens
Our recommended hotel in Salzburg
Although there are many accommodations in the city, our accommodation in Salzburg was the Hotel IMLAUER & Bräu, located in the city center, very well located, near the Mirabell Palace and perfect to know all the places to visit in Salzburg essential. It has a good varied breakfast and a restaurant with traditional Austrian food, paid parking and a good quality / price ratio.
6. Kapitelplatz and Alter Markt
Kapitelplatzes is one of the most beautiful squares in Salzburg, from which you will enjoy good views of the Hohensalzburg Fortress and where you can see the famous giant chess on the ground and a large golden sphere with the figure of a standing man Above, so well known in the city.
Kapitelplatz is also a very popular place among the locals who choose it as a meeting place for different celebrations during the year, such as the beautiful Christmas market that is set up in winter.
Another of the places to visit in Salzburg is the Alter Markt, located between the Cathedral and the Getreidegasse, where you can see a beautiful fountain in addition to baroque buildings, among which some stand out as the old pharmacy of the court or Café Tomaselli .
Kapitelplatz, one of the places to visit in Salzburg
7. St. Peter's Church and cemetery
The church of San Pedro, located in the old town, was founded in 696 by the missionary of Franconia Rupert and is part of the Benedictine monastery of San Pedro, which is worth entering only to enjoy its Rococo interior .
Although for us the most interesting place is the cemetery of San Pedro, one of the oldest in the world and another of the must-see places in Salzburg, where you can see the tombs and mausoleums of important personalities of the city of the cemetery, next to the ancient catacombs excavated in the stone, form a unique set.
Church visiting hours: every day from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Cemetery visiting hours: every day from April to September from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. In the other months it closes at 6pm.
Visiting hours of the Catacombs: every day from May to September from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. In the other months they close at 5pm.
Entry included in the Salzburg Card. Buying this card you will have free admission to all Salzburg attractions, including the funicular of the fortress, the panoramic boat and the Untersberg cable car.
St. Peter's Church
8. Residenzplatz
Residenzplatz is one of the most popular squares in the old town of Salzburg where there are two palaces of bishops. In this square at the end of the 16th century, it also stands out for the cultural events that are held throughout the year and for having the largest fountain in Salzburg that also appeared in the musical "Smiles and tears"At Christmas, a Christmas market is set up, full of craft stalls and local food accompanied by the typical mulled wine.
Residenzplatz
Recommended travel cardsRemember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
9. Hellbrunn Palace
The Hellbrunn Palace located 5 kilometers south of the city center is another of the most beautiful places to see in Salzburg. This monumental Renaissance-style ensemble was built as a summer residence for the Salzburg prince-archbishop Markus Sittiku who designed the "Water games", a series of caves, figures and hidden sources of water for the fun of your guests and now all of your visitors.
Visiting hours: every day in March, April, October and November from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The other months closes at 5:30 p.m., while in July and August at 6 p.m. Entry included in the Salzburg Card.
Hellbrunn Palace
10. Kapuzinerberg
The Kapuzinerberg hill, located in front of the Mönchsberg mountain and crowned by a Capuchin monastery, is our last Recommended place to visit in Salzburg. The climb to the hill must be done on foot and although it is quite steep, the views you will have from the top make it worth the effort. We recommend climbing a time before sunset to enjoy the views of the entire city day and night.
Kapuzinerberg
How to get to Salzburg
Although we visit it by rental car, during our trip through Austria, which we started at Vienna Airport, this is not the only way to travel to the city, being able to reach Salzburg by train, in a journey of about two hours and a half that covers the 300 kilometers that separate it from Vienna.
Another option to get to know it, if you are in Vienna and you only have one day and also want to know the history of the city better, is to book this bus tour with a guide in Spanish.
And if you are in Munich, another city from which you usually make a trip to Salzburg and do not want to rent a car, you can arrive by train or car in a journey of about an hour and a half or book this excursion by bus or bus train excursion
The two proposed excursions are day trips and are done with a guide in Spanish.
For more information about the transfer you can consult this post on how to go from Vienna to Salzburg.
Help us complete the list of the 10 places to see in Salzburg, adding your recommendation in the comments.
Do you want to organize a trip to Salzburg?
Get it here:
The best flight deals to Austria here
The best hotels at the best prices in Salzburg here
Book the best tours and excursions in Salzburg in Spanish here
10 essential tips for traveling to Austria
Rent your car in Vienna at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
The best flight deals to Austria here
The best hotels at the best prices in Salzburg here
Book the best tours and excursions in Salzburg in Spanish here
10 essential tips for traveling to Austria
Rent your car in Vienna at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
