15 Awesome Things to Do in Salzburg for First-Timers

15 Best Things to Do in Salzburg

1. Explore Fortress Hohensalzburg

Fortress Hohensalzburg is a medieval castle located on top of a hill right in the center of Salzburg, and it is one of the most well-recognized landmarks of the city.

Constructed in the 11th Century, the fortress is also one of the most well-preserved castles in Europe, featuring a beautiful mix of architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque.

One of the highlights of visiting the fortress is the panoramic views it offers. Since the castle is located on a hill overlooking the city, you will be able to see the city from one side and all the Sound-of-Music-like mountains and rivers, all from the castle's balconies and towers.

The castle itself is pretty big, with a spacious courtyard surrounded by all kinds of museums and buildings that you can explore. You can expect to spend around an hour or two just exploring the castle alone.

There are several ways to get to Fortress Hohensalzburg. You can take the funicular up from the funicular station, which will take about 5 minutes to reach the top. If you have the Salzburg Card, you will get access to the funicular for free.

You can also hike through the old town from the road east of the funicular station, and the path will take you up to the castle via a steep cobblestone road, which should take no more than 10 minutes to hike.

The fortress is open from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM in the summer and from 8:30 AM to 5 PM in other seasons. The views from the balconies are especially stunning at sunrise and sunset, so be sure to drop by during that time.

The balconies themselves are free to enter, but if you wish to see the interior of the castle and the museum, you can use the Salzburg Card to enter for free, or you can buy an individual ticket for 12 EUR per person excluding the funicular ride. Definitely one of the best things to do in Salzburg.

2. Check out the view from the Museum of Modern Art

One of the best viewpoints I found in Salzburg is from the Museum of Modern Art, a hilltop museum that offers an absolutely beautiful view over the city where you will be able to capture the beautiful houses, church spires, and the iconic fortress, all in one go.

I actually prefer this viewpoint over the one from the castle because, although taking photos of the view from the castle is nice, it also misses the most important landmark of the city: the castle itself. By being at this viewpoint, you get to see everything all at once, including the castle as well.

There are several ways to get to the Museum of Modern Art's viewpoint. One is from the elevator service located on the foothill, which is free if you hold the Salzburg Card or 4 EUR for a roundtrip ticket. The journey should take less than 2 minutes, and it is one of the fastest ways to get up there.

You can also hike up to the museum viewpoint from this trailhead through a beautiful park, which should take about 15-20 minutes. It is a lovely walk, and you get to see other parts of the city along the way as well.

I went up there both at sunrise and at sunset, and it was amazing both times, especially during the blue hour at sunset when the sky turns purple, and the artificial lights illuminate the city skyline. If you want the best light, I highly recommend you be here during sunset and the blue hour.

3. Admire the Beauty of Mirabell Garden

Mirabell Garden is a beautiful public garden located on the northern side of the Salzach River, just a few minutes' walk from the city center. It is one of the prettiest gardens you will see here, with all kinds of colorful flora and fauna laid out in intricate patterns, with the Salzburg fortress in the background.

The garden was created in the 17th century by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau as a private garden for the Mirabell Palace, and it features a number of beautiful and ornate features, including fountains, statues, and flower beds.

One of the most famous features of the garden is the Pegasus Fountain, which is a large fountain with a statue of Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology.

Mirabell Garden is a popular place for both locals and tourists to hang out, especially in the evening when there are often concerts and cultural events being held here throughout the years. You can also watch a Mozart Concert at Mirabell Palace if they are scheduled to play when you are there.

Mirabell Garden is open 24/7, and it is free for the public to enter, although it will look much prettier if you visit the garden in the summer, not so much in winter.

4. Explore Hellbrunn Palace

One of the highlights of visiting Salzburg for me is exploring the wonderful Hellbrunn Palace, a summer residence for the prince-archbishops of Salzburg built in the early 17th century, known for its pleasure gardens with grottos, novelty fountains, and a theater.

The palace is known for its beautiful gardens and parkland, which feature a number of outdoor sculptures and fountains. One of the most famous features of the palace is the "Trick Fountains," which is a series of hidden water features designed to surprise and delight visitors. It was probably the most interesting garden I've ever been to.

You see, Markus Sittikus, Salzburg's prince-archbishop at the time, was a trickster himself, an OG troll if you ask me, and he planned Hellbrunn Palace as a never-before-seen oasis of enjoyment and leisure.

He decided to create the Trick Fountains, equipped with hidden water jets all across the park, to prank his guests in a way that only he can do it. With the audio guide tour, you will go through 21 stations, each station with its own origin that will allow you to peek inside the mind of mischief Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus and see what he was up to.

It was the most fun audio-guided tour I had in a while, and I don't usually enjoy this type of guided tour. If you are in Hellbrunn Palace, definitely visit the Trick Fountain and get the audio guide. Trust me, you are going to love every moment of it.

The Trick Fountain operates in time slots that occur every 30 minutes to prevent tourists from crowding the place. As you move to each station, you won't have to rush through because you can spend as long as you like once you are already in the area.

There are also many cool things to do inside the palace as well after you are done with the Trick Fountains, like exploring the beautiful and vast garden of the palace. The garden is designed around the natural landscape it is in, instead of making it symmetrical for the sake of beauty like most palaces in Europe.

You can also visit the Sound of Music pavilion where they shot one of the scenes. For true Sound of Music fans, I also highly recommend going on a day trip around Salzburg and seeing all the filming locations in one go. The trip will take you to Hellbrunn Castle as well as St Gilgen and Mondsee, which are not as easy to visit independently.

There are also a few nice hikes you can do here, like the one that takes you to this viewpoint nearby, where you will be able to see the palace and its garden, as well as its surroundings, from above. There is also the Folklore Museum nearby, which is pretty fun to visit after the viewpoint.

All the attractions inside Hellbrunn Palace, as well as the Trick Fountains, are included in the Salzburg Card, so you should be able to get access to the area for free. Just make sure you get the free entrance ticket from the ticket booth before you wait in line. Without the Salzburg Card, the entrance fee is 13.50 EUR per person.

The palace is open between 9:30 AM and 5 to 7 PM, depending on the season. To get to Hellbrunn Palace, you can catch bus #25 from the city center, which will take you directly to the palace in 15 minutes. Definitely one of the best things to do in Salzburg.

5. Take Up the Mountain View at the Top of Untersberg Mountain

One of my favorite places to visit near Salzburg is Untersberg, a massive mountain, the highest in the region at 1,973 m, located in the Berchtesgaden Alps right on the border between Austria and Germany.

You can get up right to the top via a cable car in less than 30 minutes, and you will find yourself surrounded by breathtaking mountains straight out of the movie, "The Sound of Music".

At the top of Untersberg, you will find a platform where you can get a 360° panoramic view of the surroundings from 1,973 m above sea level. You can see all the way to Salzburg and even Germany from here. There are also many hiking trails you can partake in that will take you even higher without much effort.

To get to Untersberg, all you have to do is catch bus #25 or #28, and it will get you there in about 30 minutes before you reach the cable car station, where you will then have to take one to go up to the top, which takes another 20 minutes.

This is where buying the Salzburg Card is worth every penny because the roundtrip ticket for the Untersberg cable car is almost 30 EUR per person, whereas the Salzburg card, which includes the roundtrip cable car ride, can cost between 28 - 45 EUR. Moreover, it includes free public transportation as well as all the other tourist attractions. If you visit Untersberg and one other tourist attraction in Salzburg, you would have already gotten your money's worth. That's a great deal in my book!

The cable car station is open between 8:30 AM and 5 to 5:30 PM, depending on the season. If you are looking for a great vantage point to capture the landscapes around Salzburg, there is no better place to be than here.

6. Explore Werfen and Relive the Sound of Music's Famous Scene

One of the best day trips you can make from Salzburg is to visit Werfen, home to the picturesque Hohenwerfen Castle, Eisriesenwelt, the largest ice cave in the world, and the place where they filmed the famous "Do Re Mi" picnic on the hill scene from the Sound of Music.

The town is incredibly picturesque, located in a vast valley with a rushing river running through it, in between two massive mountains. Right in the middle of the valley, Hohenwerfen Castle stands mightily, overlooking everything.

Hohenwerfen Castle is a medieval castle located on a high rock outcropping overlooking the Salzach River, and it offers one of the best panoramic views of the surrounding area.

The castle was built in the 11th century and has a number of interesting architectural features, including a chapel, a keep, and several towers inside where you can walk around and explore.

The coolest thing about the castle is the fact that it was used to practice falconry back in the day, and today you can witness the training itself with its "Birds of Prey" shows that run three times a day in the summer at 11:15 AM, 2:15 PM, and 4:30 PM. For a more recent schedule, check out their website here.

I happened to catch the 11:15 AM show accidentally as I didn't know much about the castle except that the view is incredible, and I was taken by surprise at how impressive it was.

Very interesting to see these massive birds flying around to catch thrown food, while racing each other high in the sky, with the Alps in the background. It was definitely not easy to take photos of such fast-moving birds, but it was fun to try, haha.

After the show, you can also spend a few hours exploring the castle's beautiful interior, which features a number of exhibits and displays about the castle's history and the region's culture. The entry to the castle is operated using time slots that you will be assigned when you buy the ticket at the entrance.

The tour will take you through each section of the castle, and you will be guided through its history from beginning to end, as well as all the interesting stories associated with this medieval castle, via an audio guide.

The tour will end at the top of the castle, where you will be able to admire the beauty of the castle from above and the surrounding mountains. I think this view alone is worth the tour around the castle.

There are also other museums and exhibitions in the castle, as well, that you do not have to book a time slot to get in, like the witchcraft museum, which was surprisingly interesting, and a film exhibition that shows which movies were shot here.

To get to the castle, you can take one of the many trains from Salzburg to Werfen, and from the station, you can walk along the river to the foothill of the castle, which should take about 20 minutes. No need to walk on the road; there is a nice pedestrian walking path along the river with shaded areas all the way to the trailhead.

From the trailhead here, you will have to hike up to the top, which can get quite steep at times but shouldn't take longer than 20 - 30 minutes to get up there. You can also reach the top via the funicular if you don't mind paying extra. You can reserve the ticket to the castle + funicular from here.

Once you are at the castle gate, you will then have to buy a ticket, and they will assign you a time slot for the castle and inform you about the next Birds of Prey show. The ticket should cost about 10 EUR per person without the castle tour and 12 EUR per person with the tour. Unfortunately, since this castle is not in Salzburg, you can't use the Salzburg Card to get in for free.

Also, if you wish to visit the Eisriesenwelt, the largest ice cave in the world, you should reserve your spot prior to your arrival as it is a popular thing to do here if you can afford the price tag.

7. See the inside of Salzburg Cathedral

Salzburg Cathedral, found in the 7th century, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg and is one of the city's most important landmarks.

Featuring a mix of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles, Salzburg Cathedral is known for its beautiful stained glass windows, which depict scenes from the life of Jesus and the saints. The cathedral also features a number of beautiful artworks and artifacts, including frescoes, statues, and altars that are worth seeing.

For some reason, the cathedral looks much larger when you are inside than when you are outside. The massive columns and arches, painted in all white, with lines of wooden benches on both sides of the massive hallway, really put the scale of the church into perspective.

Surprisingly, the entrance to the cathedral requires a renovation charge of 5 EUR per adult and it is not included in the Salzburg card, the only attraction that wasn't included here. You can also attend a midday organ concert here since the place is known to have one of the best acoustics out there.

8. Visit Erzabtei St. Peter

Erzabtei St. Peter is one of the oldest monasteries in Austria, having been founded in 696 AD. The place is known for its rich history and cultural significance, and it has played a significant role in the spiritual and cultural life of Salzburg for over 1,300 years.

The monastery is home to a community of Benedictine monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict, a set of guidelines for monastic living that emphasizes a life of prayer, work, and study.

Inside the monastery, you will find a beautiful Gothic chapel called Mariazeller Kapelle, known for its stunning frescoes, stained glass windows, and other decorations.

There is also a museum, a cemetery, and a catacomb located inside Erzabtei St. Peter that are worth a visit, especially the cemetery and catacomb which were built in the 12th century. They are known for their picturesque surroundings and as the place where baroque tombs of nobility are held.

Erzabtei St. Peter is open from 6:30 AM to 6 PM every day, and both the church, the cemetery, and the catacomb are open to the public for free.

9. Hang Out at Residenzplatz

Residenzplatz is a public square located right in the center of Salzburg's historic city center. The square is surrounded by several important buildings, including the Salzburg Cathedral and the Residenz, which was the former residence of the prince-archbishops of Salzburg.

Right at the center of Residenzplatz, you will find a beautiful fountain called the Residenzbrunnen. The fountain is a large, ornate structure that features several statues and figures, including a depiction of the Greek god Apollo.

Due to how spacious the square is (it is very spacious), many events, festivals, and concerts are often held here throughout the year. When I was there, it was the beginning of the Summer Festival, and there was a fire dancing ceremony, which was very cool to see. For the latest event schedule, be sure to check out the official Salzburg festival website.

There are also many nice cafes and restaurants around the square, which makes it a popular place for locals and tourists to gather and socialize. If you are looking for a place to rest a bit after exploring the city, be sure to drop by Residenzplatz and check out some of the cafes here.

10. Check Out Salzburg Museum

If you want to learn more about Salzburg and its history through art, Salzburg Museum is a great place to stop by while you are here. The museum is known for its collection of art, cultural artifacts, and historical objects that tell the story of Salzburg and its surrounding region.

The museum has a wide range of exhibits, including art and artifacts from the Middle Ages, as well as more recent works from the 20th century. The museum also has a number of exhibits that focus on the history of Salzburg and the surrounding region, including displays of the city's Roman and medieval history, as well as its more recent past.

The museum is also included in the Salzburg Card, which is great for those who are looking to kill some time during rainy days. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9 AM and 5 PM, and the ticket price for those who do not hold a Salzburg Card is 9 EUR. You can also get a combination ticket for 10 EUR, which will also include Neue Residenz and Panorama Museum as well.

11. Enjoy a Nice Evening at Mozartplatz

If you didn't know, Mozart, a famous composer, was born here and lived the good parts of his life here in Salzburg. He played a big part in Salzburg's history, so much so that they built an entire square called Mozartplatz dedicated solely to him.

In the center of Mozartplatz, there is a statue of Mozart, which was erected in 1842 to honor the composer's contributions to music. The statue is definitely popular among tourists who want to commemorate the fact that they have finally visited Mozart's birthplace.

But for me, the coolest thing about the square is all the cozy restaurants and cafes surrounding it that I can indulge myself in. The square also attracts all kinds of street musicians and other performers ready to entertain any passerby. If you are looking for a nice spot for dinner, there is no better place to be than here.

12. Learn About Mozart at Mozart's Birthplace Museum

Of course, if you are visiting Salzburg, you have to check out Mozart's Birthplace, Mozart's old home turned museum where he was born and raised, located right in the heart of the historic city center.

The museum is dedicated entirely to preserving the legacy, life, and works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born right in this building in 1756.

The museum has a number of exhibits that showcase Mozart's life and career, including displays of his manuscripts, instruments, and other personal possessions.

The museum is very well presented, but it is quite cramped with narrow corridors, which is understandable given that it was in his old home. But combine that with the number of tourists visiting the museum per day, and you can spend quite some time in the queue to get the ticket.

Fortunately, if you have the Salzburg Card, you can skip the line instantly and get access to the museum for free, which I think is pretty cool. If you do not have the Salzburg Card, you are going to have to pay around 12 EUR per person. The museum is open from 9 AM - 5:30 PM every day.

13. Visit Mozart's Old Residence

While you are invested in the interesting life of Mozart, you might as well visit Mozart Residence, the Mozart family's residence-turned-museum located in a beautiful Baroque-style building in the heart of the Old Town area of Salzburg, a short walk from Mozart's Birthplace.

When the house where Mozart was born simply became too small for the family or to host social gatherings appropriately, the Mozarts moved to this new apartment where they lived from 1773 to 1787 before they sold it after Leopold Mozart's death.

The Mozart Residence has a number of exhibits that provide an array of interesting facts about the history of the house, Mozart's Salzburg years, as well as interactive shows that will immerse you even more into his world.

For Salzburg Card holders, the entrance fee is already included, so it is free to enter. For individual tickets, it should cost about 12 EUR per person to enter. The museum is open from 9 AM to 5:30 PM every day.

14. Shop through Linzergasse Street

Linzergasse Street is another great street you have to check out while you are in Salzburg. Linzergasse is a pedestrian-only shopping street that runs through the heart of the Old Town area, and it is lined with a mix of charming old buildings and modern shops and restaurants.

The street is also a popular spot for shopping and dining, as there are a number of boutiques, specialty stores, and restaurants located on both sides of the street.

The place really shows just how lively and vibrant Salzburg actually is, and if you are looking for a place to buy some souvenirs and a bar or a club to hang out at night, Linzergasse Street is where to start. If you are interested in the dark secrets of Salzburg, I can also recommend the "Salzburg Ghost Tour", a 1.5-hour city tour that will tell you all about the legends, facts, and centuries-old tales of the horror of Salzburg.

15. Spend a day in Hallstatt

If you have not been to Hallstatt, or you have a day to spare, spending a day in the picturesque lakeside town as a day trip from Salzburg is also a great option, especially if you don't mind taking the earliest train there to beat the crowds.

The first train from Salzburg leaves around 5:12 AM, and you should be at Hallstatt around 7:30 AM, just in time for the ferry crossing. This timing is perfect as it will be early enough for you to have the whole place to yourself and actually enjoy Hallstatt before everyone else arrives.

That's how I did it, and I had a solid 2-hour period of peaceful and quiet time in this idyllic lakeside town, without a single tourist in sight. If you are planning to visit Hallstatt from Salzburg, be sure to get there on the earliest train possible.

There are so many things to do in Hallstatt that it will be impossible to list them all here, but the main highlights are the Hallstatt Salt Mine, which was definitely the best thing I did on the trip, SkyWalk, Dachstein Giant Ice Cave, and so much more.

If you do not want to spend time on public transportation, you can also visit Hallstatt via organized tours. There are plenty of Hallstatt tours that run trips from Salzburg every day, ranging from half-day to full-day trips, so be sure to browse through some of the available tours here.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Hallstatt? Check out:10 Best Things to Do in Hallstatt

Further Reading for Austria

I hope you found this Austrian travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Austria, here are a selection of articles you might like:

• Looking for a complete itinerary for Austria? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Austria Itinerary.
• If you are visiting Austria, you cannot afford to skip Vienna. This city is jam-packed with beautiful sights and some of the prettiest landmarks in Europe. To help your visit, here are 16 Best Things to Do in Vienna.
• Probably one of the most picturesque towns in Europe, Hallstatt is so much more than just getting that perfect Instagram photo. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Hallstatt.
• Innsbruck is one of the best places to visit if you want to see the wonderful Austrian Alps up close and personal. Here are the 13 Best Things to Do in Innsbruck.
• One of the best hikes you can do in the Austrian Alps is the Olpererhütte hike, and you can do it all in one day from Innsbruck. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Olpererhütte from Innsbruck.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Austria, visit the Austria Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Western Europe Travel Guide, Central Europe Travel Guide, or Eastern Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.