Things to do in Salzburg

Activities, attractions and tours

Kapuzinerberg Hill which includes a city, heritage elements and château or palace
Kapuzinerberg Hill featuring a city and forest scenes
Residenzplatz Square showing a fountain, a city and a square or plaza
Salzburg which includes railway items and interior views as well as an individual male
Salzburg showing heritage elements and a church or cathedral
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Top places to visit

1. Mirabell Palace

In Italian, ‘mirabile’ means amazing. And the Mirabell Palace, tucked up between the Salzach River and the rising peak of the Kapuzinerberg, is certainly that. Built, as so many of Salzburg's palaces were, by one of the city's Prince Archbishops, it has been a lovers' hideaway, a Baroque glory and a neoclassical summer-home for the Emperor. The Palace remains a sumptuous temple to love inside—its famed Marble Staircase the ultimate prop for many weddings. But it's the outside that grabs the attention first. The Mirabell gardens are some of the most elegantly arranged in Salzburg.
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Mirabell Palace and Gardens showing heritage architecture, a statue or sculpture and a fountain

2. Mozart's Birthplace

Mozart’s Birthplace (Mozarts Geburthaus) is the childhood home of one of the world’s most famous and prodigious composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Following his birth in 1756, Mozart lived here with his family until 1773. Mozart’s Birthplace became a museum in 1880 and has acquired numerous original artifacts from the composer’s widow and children. It presents a fascinating insight into the upbringing, life and talent of a musical genius.
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Mozart\'s Birthplace showing interior views

3. Salzburg Cathedral

In a city of dramatic vistas and astounding buildings, it takes a church of epic imagination to stand out amongst all the spectacle. Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) manages that challenge with consummate ease—a cathedral scaled to fit in among Salzburg's rearing mountains and fortresses, while quietly outshining them with its bold Baroque design. Best-known for its superb 70-metre high copper-green dome, the Dom has always been at the heart of city's religious and social life.
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Salzburg Cathedral showing heritage elements, religious aspects and interior views

4. Hellbrunn Palace

Salzburg definitely has grander (and more historically important) palaces than the Hellbrunn Palace. But it's unlikely you'll find any as playful as this 17th century Baroque villa. Not that the 'Schloss Hellbrunn' is lacking in architectural significance—it is one of the finest examples of the early Baroque styles in Austria. And its historical connections are pretty strong too—the Prince Archbishops of Salzburg built, and then used this palace, from 1612.
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Hellbrunn Palace showing a square or plaza, château or palace and heritage architecture

5. Getreidegasse

At one end: a sheer climb up, to a mountain of green and grey. At the other: a road that is swallowed by a building, before leaping across the Salzach River. And in between, a crowded corridor of ancient shops, busy boutiques and antique stores–all squeezed tightly beneath a narrow sliver of Salzburg's sky. Welcome to Getreidegasse, the merchant street that has had a thousand years of trade and barter echoing around its narrow alleys and iconic squares.
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Getreidegasse featuring street scenes, a city and signage

6. Fortress Hohensalzburg

The Festung Hohensalzburg is a picture-perfect ideal of a medieval castle. With its many turrets and towers, broad walls and fluttering flags—all standing proud atop the forest-clad Festungsberg mountain—it begs to be snapped. The castle's towers soar another 30 metres above the 240-metre mountain, dominating the skyline of Salzburg's Altstadt (or Old Town quarter). This is a fortress that looks impregnable. And it probably was. It only ever came under serious siege by irate townsfolk, in 1525, during the German Peasants War. They failed to breach the Festung Hohensalzburg, and the 'High Salzburg Fortress' survives to this day, undefeated, and relatively unscathed by war.
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Fortress Hohensalzburg showing château or palace and landscape views

7. Mozartplatz Square

Mozart may not have spent much time in Salzburg as an adult (leaving for the bright lights of Paris and Vienna when he was 21) but this city was both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's home town and his birthplace. The refined area around Mozart Square, part of a complex of squares at the heart of Salzburg, is where the city pays homage to its most famous son. It's a square that would have familiar to him – Mozart was born around the corner at 9 Getreidegasse, and even lived on the square with his wife, in the 1770s when it was still called Michaelsplatz.
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Mozartplatz Square showing a square or plaza, a monument and a statue or sculpture

8. Old City Hall

The Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus) is a stunning medieval building in Salzburg’s historic center. Visit this historic site where the city council’s court of justice and watchtower were once located. The building features an ornate Rococo façade and a tall bell tower, which has served as a landmark in the city for centuries.
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Salzburg showing signage, street scenes and a city

What to do in Salzburg

Popular places to visit

Mirabell Palace

Mirabell Palace

4.5/5(107 reviews)

Conceived as a palace for a mistress, the Mirabell Palace remains a splendid setting for love matches, its elegant lawns often decked with brides and grooms.

Mirabell Palace
Mozart\'s Birthplace which includes music and interior views

Mozart's Birthplace

4/5(64 reviews)

Learn about the life, family and work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart via exhibitions in the rooms of the house where he was born.

Mozart's Birthplace
Salzburg Cathedral showing heritage elements, religious aspects and interior views

Salzburg Cathedral

4.5/5(90 reviews)

The spiritual heart of Catholic Salzburg has had its fair share of turbulence—and of genius—throughout its 1200-year history.

Salzburg Cathedral
Hellbrunn Palace showing a square or plaza, château or palace and heritage architecture

Hellbrunn Palace

4.5/5(49 reviews)

The summer-time 'pleasure garden' for the Prince Archbishops, where nothing is quite as it seems.

Hellbrunn Palace
Getreidegasse featuring street scenes, a city and signage

Getreidegasse

4.5/5(42 reviews)

Salzburg's prettiest street is a long line of top-class shops and boutiques with old-time signs which thread together a fascinating history.

Getreidegasse
Fortress Hohensalzburg which includes landscape views

Fortress Hohensalzburg

4.5/5(83 reviews)

The medieval fortress that stepped out of the fairy-tale and onto one of Salzburg's brooding forested mountains.

Fortress Hohensalzburg
Mirabell Gardens

Mirabell Gardens

Explore the great outdoors at Mirabell Gardens, a lovely green space in Salzburg. Visit the shops and top-notch restaurants in this family-friendly area.

Mirabell Gardens
Mozartplatz Square which includes a monument, a city and cycling

Mozartplatz Square

5/5(1 review)

Mozart was born and grew up a stone's throw from the square that bears his name, which now has a memorial to the maestro as its centrepiece.

Mozartplatz Square
Salzburg showing signage, street scenes and a city

Old City Hall

Find the heart of the city in Salzburg’s 14th-century town hall, featuring a beautiful Rococo façade, magnificent original clocktower and refurbished interior.

Old City Hall

Areas of Salzburg

Mirabell Palace and Gardens showing a castle, a park and a city

City Centre Salzburg

4.5/5(128 area reviews)

Gourmet restaurants interesting history and top sights from Linzer Gasse to Old City Hall – discover City Centre Salzburg, a destination also famous for its shopping.

City Centre Salzburg
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Altstadt Salzburg

5/5(35 area reviews)

Historical sites, museums and live music highlight some of the noteworthy features of Altstadt Salzburg. Make a stop by Mozartplatz Square or Old City Hall while you're exploring the neighbourhood.

Altstadt Salzburg
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Neustadt

If you're spending some time in Neustadt, Mirabell Gardens and Linzer Gasse are top sights worth seeing.

Neustadt
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Elisabeth-Vorstadt

4/5(81 area reviews)

Historical sites, shopping and restaurants are some highlights of Elisabeth-Vorstadt. You might stop by Mirabell Palace or Mirabell Gardens while you're in the area.

Elisabeth-Vorstadt
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Schallmoos

3.5/5(10 area reviews)

Schallmoos is popular for its abundant dining options, and you can check out Kartworld, a top attraction in the neighbourhood.

Schallmoos
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Riedenburg

Unique features of Riedenburg include the shopping and historical sites. Make a stop by Stiegl's World of Brewing or Leopoldskron Swimming Pool while you're exploring the area.

Riedenburg

 

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Frequently asked questions

Is Salzburg worth visiting?
With a blend of watersports and cycling, there's no shortage of things to do in Salzburg. While you're here, head to Mirabell Gardens, a top attraction in the area.
How do I spend a day in Salzburg?
Once you've visited leading attractions like Mirabell Gardens and Salzburg Zoo, spend some time exploring the food and retail options in Salzburg.
What is the top tourist attraction in Salzburg?
You can't leave without visiting Mirabell Gardens, rated the top tourist attraction in Salzburg.
Is three days enough to stay in Salzburg?
Three days in Salzburg is plenty of time to visit the city's key attractions. Many guests book for two days on average. Mirabell Gardens, Untersberg Cable Car and Salzburg Zoo are top-rated sights. Like to discover more? Stick around a bit longer to explore nearby hotspots such as Salzkammergut.
Is Salzburg a walkable city?
It all depends on what you plan to do and see in Salzburg. Several key attractions, such as Mirabell Gardens and Salzburger Landestheater, are reachable on foot. If you're up for a wander through some of Salzburg's neighbourhoods, City Centre Salzburg is 0.16 kilometres away from downtown, while Elisabeth-Vorstadt is 2 kilometres away from the city centre and also within walking distance.
What are some activities to do in Salzburg with kids?
If you're searching for sights and tours for all ages, we've got some excellent ideas for what to do in Salzburg with kids.

What to do in Salzburg for adults?
There are loads of things to do in Salzburg, with experiences for adults of all ages. Cap off your day with a visit to Hofbrau Kaltenhausen Brewery or Stiegl's World of Brewing.
Are there free things to do in Salzburg?
One of the top ways to learn about free things to do in Salzburg is to ask a local tour guide. You'll get insider tips on interesting neighbourhoods, parks and other hotspots you can visit without reaching for your wallet. Mirabell Gardens is one sight that doesn't have an admission fee.