Visiting Salzburg: what are the best things to do and see in this Austrian city famous for being the birthplace of Mozart?
For those with a romantic soul, there’s a perfect destination: the fabulous city of Salzburg, Austria, steeped in history. Of course, when we think of this ancient city, we think of the genius composer Wolfgang Mozart, who lived here all his life. But can we limit this place to just one person? Of course not. So here are the must-see things to do in Salzburg!
For culture junkies, for those who love old-world charm and medieval nooks and crannies, for architecture enthusiasts, visiting Salzburg means stumbling across little nuggets. To help you organize your stay in Salzburg, we’ve listed the sights not to miss, the walks to take and the places to see!
1. Hohensalzburg Fortress
Photo credit: Pixabay – Hans
Its construction began in the 11th century and was completed in the 16th century. Today, it is one of the best-preserved castles in Europe. Easily identifiable from the heart of Salzburg, it towers over the city at over 100 m above sea level, and the view is nothing short of magnificent. Numerous rooms can be visited, including the gilded drawing room, the hall with marble pillars, the torture chamber, the dungeon, the terrible dungeons…
The cathedral is a must-see monument in Salzburg, the spiritual center of the entire city. With its marble facade, imposing dome and precious artefacts, it’s easy to see how such an edifice has stood the test of time throughout the successive reigns of the prince-archbishops. The cathedral is surrounded by three squares that are well known to the locals: the cathedral square, known as Domplatz; to the south, the Place du Chapitre, with its Neptune fountain and magnificent waterfalls; and to the north, the Place de la Résidence, where you’ll find the largest Baroque fountain in all of Europe (excluding Italy, of course).
2. Residenzplatz
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Eric T Gunther
Talking of the Residence, here’s another of the city’s landmarks, known for its splendor over the centuries. From the 12th century to the early 19th, it was here that the prince-archbishops ruled. It was in the Sala dei Conferenzi that the young Mozart, aged just 5 or 6, gave his first recitals, notably before Prince Colloredo, and that the whole world was able to discover the precociousness and genius of this child. You can also visit the various state rooms on the second floor and the gallery on the third floor. Finally, the inner courtyard leads directly to the famous Hercules fountain.
3. Getreidegasse, in Salzburg’s Old Town
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Andreas Praefcke
Salzburg has many little streets, especially in the Old Town. It’s in this landscape between rivers and mountains that Getreidegasse, also known as « grain street », has developed its reputation. Once the town’s main shopping street, it has lost none of its splendor today, and is a popular destination for tourists. With its wrought-iron signs reminiscent of the Middle Ages, its old houses of 4 or even 5 storeys housing courtyards and passageways, this street will charm you and transport you to another time.
4. Saint-Pierre Abbey
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Zairon
On the west side of Salzburg’s Kapitelplatz is St. Peter’s Abbey. Founded by St. Rupert in 690 A.D., it is surely the oldest Benedictine monastery in Austria, and served as the residence of the archbishops until 1110. While the current buildings date mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries, they remain an impressive testament to ancient architectural skills, as can be seen in the building’s tower, one of the first of its kind in Europe.
Near the abbey is the abbey church of Saint-Pierre, built in 1130 and still the only Romanesque church in the town. Mozart played on the church’s great organ. In the monastery courtyard, you’ll find the St. Peter’s fountain, dating from the early 17th century. Last but not least, you can visit the Petersfriedhof, a cemetery where numerous Austrian and Salzburg personalities are buried, as well as the catacombs that lead to a grave where Mozart’s sister Maria Anna, nicknamed Nannerl, was buried.
5. Mozart’s birthplace
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Baumibua
Mozart’s birthplace is also worth a visit. It is located on the equally famous Getreidegasse, at number 9. Wolfgang Amadeus, born on January 27, 1756 (he died in Vienna on December 5, 1791), lived in this house until he was 17. Soak up the atmosphere of this life, where the Mozart couple gave birth to 7 children, of whom only Nannerl and Wolfgang survived. You’ll be able to imagine what life was like for the Mozarts, with the furniture, instruments, true-life letters, paintings and kitchen in the house. On the second floor is an exhibition entitled Mozart in the Theater, with a number of illuminated miniature stages illustrating his many achievements.
6. The Puppet Theatre
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Amiodarone
For those with a childlike spirit, or for those who like to marvel at simple pleasures, puppet theater is a world-renowned form of theater. It frequently features operas such as Mozart’s The Magic Flute. The puppets are large and expressive, and the sets, effects and techniques are breathtaking. And what can we say about the singing, the voices that invade the audience and send shivers down your spine! With a Baroque-style auditorium seating up to 350 people, you’re sure to have a great time for 2 or 3 hours. Founded in 1913, it’s one of the oldest puppet theaters in Europe.
7. Mirabell Castle and gardens
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Andrew Bossi
In Salzburg, on the charming Mirabellplatz, Schloss Mirabell was renovated in the Baroque style between 1721 and 1727, before being restored in the neoclassical style of the period after a fire in 1818. During a visit, you’ll admire the spectacular grand staircase, built in the 18th century, with a number of statues by Georg Raphael Donner and his pupils. The Marble Hall (still used for concerts) and the Schloss Mirabell Baroque Museum, located in the Gärtnergebäude, exhibit European art of the 17th and 18th centuries.
To the south of Schloss Mirabell lies the Mirabellgarten, an excellent example of Baroque landscaping laid out in 1690 with numerous terraces, marble statues and fountains. The former 18th-century aviary is now used for exhibitions, and in the southwest corner of the gardens is a small open-air theater. Another important villa from this period is Schloss Hellbrunn, the famous summer residence of Archbishop Sitticus, built in 1619 and popular for its exquisite gardens.
8. Hangar-7
Hangar-7, owned by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, is not a hangar in the strict sense of the word, but rather a multifunctional building with a collection of 25 planes, helicopters and Formula 1 racing cars. The elliptical glass hull with its curved steel roof is also home to the Flying Bulls, an aviation team also owned by Mateschitz. Hangar-7 is home to two bars and one of the country’s finest restaurants, the Michelin-starred Ikarus. Every month, a new top chef flies in from a different country to perform a high-flying act for the enthusiastic public.
9. Neugebäude and Salzburg Museum
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Andrew Bossi
On Residenzplatz stands the Neugebäude (New Building), erected in 1602 as the archbishop’s guest house and enlarged in 1670. Now home to the provincial government offices and the Salzburg Museum, the building is famous for its carillon (Glockenspiel). Built in 1702, it contains 35 bells that play tunes from Mozart’s vast repertoire three times a day (7am, 11am and 6pm). Guided tours of the carillon are available. One of the highlights of the experience is hearing the famous « Salzburg Bull », the organ in the neighboring Hohensalzburg Palace, answer the carillon with a choir. And don’t forget to visit St. Michael’s Church (Michaelskirche), just north of Residenzplatz, around the corner from Mozartplatz, with its 1842 monument to Mozart.
How to get to Salzburg
From Paris, you can fly direct to Salzburg with Eurowing from €50 return. The airline easyJet also serves Salzburg’s Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart airport, but not from France, so you’ll need to make a stopover in London, Berlin or Amsterdam, for example. To find a cheap flight to Salzburg, please visit our partner website Skyscanner.
Where to stay in Salzburg
From the historic center to the residential district, Salzburg offers a wide choice of accommodation to suit all budgets. To find a cheap hotel in Salzburg, use this hotel comparison tool.
Main photo credit: Flickr – Brandon Burns
Map of hotels and accommodation – Salzburg,at