Salzburg
Salzburg is worth 2 days — small enough to walk end to end, dense enough with sights that you won't run out. The Altstadt (old town) is a UNESCO World Heritage site: Hohensalzburg Fortress towers above it, Mozart was born here, and yes, several Sound of Music scenes were filmed in and around the city. Add the Mirabell Gardens and a short trip into the Salzkammergut lake district if you have a third day.
Salzburg is Vienna's smaller, prettier cousin — a compact Baroque old town wedged between a river and a fortress-topped hill, small enough to properly 'get' in two focused days without ever needing a car or a subway.
How many days in Salzburg?
Two days covers it well: one for the Altstadt (Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart's birthplace, the cathedral) and one for Mirabell Gardens plus either a Sound of Music tour or a half-day trip into the Salzkammergut lake district. Salzburg works well as a 2-night stop between Vienna and Hallstatt on the classic Austria route.
Hohensalzburg Fortress
One of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, sitting on a hill above the Altstadt and reachable by funicular (about a 1-minute ride) or a steep 15-minute walk. The view over Salzburg's rooftops and the surrounding Alps alone justifies the trip up.
Sound of Music sites
Salzburg leans hard into its Sound of Music fame (the film was largely shot here and in the surrounding lake district), even though the movie is far better known abroad than in Austria itself. A half-day minibus tour covering Mirabell Gardens, Leopoldskron Palace (the film's 'von Trapp villa' exterior), and Mondsee (the wedding church) is the easiest way to see the actual filming locations — book a day or two ahead in summer.
What to do
- Mozart's Birthplace (Mozarts Geburtshaus) — a small, well-curated museum in the house where Mozart was born in 1756.
- Mirabell Gardens — Baroque gardens with a fountain made famous by 'Do-Re-Mi,' free to walk through.
- Salzburg Cathedral (Dom) — a striking Baroque cathedral in the heart of the Altstadt, free entry to the main nave.
- Getreidegasse — the old town's main shopping street, known for its ornate wrought-iron guild signs.
What it costs
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Mid-range guesthouse, per night | €90–150 |
| Hohensalzburg Fortress (with funicular) | €17–23 |
| Sound of Music half-day minibus tour | €45–60 |
| Casual restaurant meal | €14–22 |
Day trip: the Salzkammergut lake district
Salzburg sits right at the edge of the Salzkammergut, Austria's lake district — dozens of turquoise Alpine lakes ringed by mountains, Hallstatt being the most famous but far from the only one. If you have a third day, a rental car or an organized tour to Wolfgangsee or Mondsee is an easy add-on before or after a Hallstatt visit.
Where to stay in Salzburg — hotels
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