Salzburg holidays

No holiday to Salzburg is complete without stopping by No.9 Getreidegasse, birthplace of the musical prodigy. Move on to the Mozart Residence where he’d grow into history’s most important composer. Mozart Week takes place at the end of January. Plan a winter getaway to hear artists from around the world at one of the most spectacular classical music events. 

Not only did the real Von Trapp family once reside here, but much of the 1965 Oscar-winner ‘The Sound of Music’ was shot in the city. Join Fraulein Maria’s Bicycle Tour to see key filming locations. Catch a performance at the Salzburg Marionette Theatre or sing for your supper at the Sound of Salzburg Dinner Show.

A holiday to Salzburg puts you within yodelling distance of the Alps, which you can climb via cable car. Learn how the city got its wealth at the Salzburg Salt Mine, riding the original mine train and sailing across a subterranean salt lake. Werfen, the world’s biggest ice cave, extends for miles into the mountain and is accessible from May to October.

Towering over the UNESCO-listed Altstadt (Old Town) is Hohensalzburg Fortress. To reach it, take the cable car up Festungsberg mountain. As you climb enjoy views of spires and cupolas poking over the Old Town and Alpine peaks in the distance. This is the best neighbourhood in Salzburg to immerse yourself in the city’s baroque beauty.

Good for: Mountain peaks, fortress, cable car

Located by the Salzach River, this small neighbourhood — named after the mills once found here — is a beer-lover’s paradise. It’s home to the historic Augustiner Brau, whose beer was first brewed by monks. Today the brewery has the biggest beer garden in Salzburg. Line your stomach at the impressive delicatessen arcade where food stalls offer pretzels, sausages, dumplings and more.

Good for: Beer garden, history, river walks

If you’re wondering where to stay in Salzburg on a budget, Elisabeth-Vorstadt is a smart choice. This neighbourhood is prized for its walkability and proximity to some of the city’s key attractions. You’ll also find a collection of shops and small parks. Don’t miss Jazzit, a jazz club housed in the former Salzburg communist party headquarters.

Good for: Parks, shops, jazz club

It may be one of Austria’s most expensive cities but you’ll still find free things to do in Salzburg. Check out Formula 1 racing cars at Hangar-7 Museum. Go to a student concert at Mozarteum University and you might catch another Mozart in the making. The Salzburg Walk of Modern Art brings a fresh contemporary edge to the city’s historic backdrop. 

Getreidegasse is the shopping capital of Salzburg. Here you can buy ‘Mozartkugel’, chocolate balls filled with marzipan, pistachio and nougat. These bite-sized delights were made to mark the hundredth anniversary of Mozart’s death. Pine schnapps is another local treat, made from a tree that grows at high altitudes.

Founded in 1920, the Salzburg Festival attracts 250,000 drama and music enthusiasts annually. The six-week extravaganza takes place between July and August. Get a Salzburg Card for one-time free entry into Salzburg museums. It’s also good for attractions like the catacombs of the 12th-century St Peter’s Abbey, carved into the Monchsberg mountainside.

For a memorable dining experience, book a table at St Peter Stiftskulinarium, one of the best restaurants in Salzburg for atmosphere. Located within St. Peter’s Abbey and carved into the mountainside, it’s reputedly the oldest restaurant in Europe. Leave room for the Salzburger nockerl, a sweet souffle shaped to resemble the hills surrounding the city.

Beer is the lifeblood of this city, and its 11 breweries are a major part of the nightlife in Salzburg. With its three beer gardens, two halls and five lounges, you could settle in for the night at Sternbrau. And if you feel like partying, head to Gstattengasse for bars and clubs.

The Trick Fountains at Hellbrunn Palace are a favourite during summer, and one of the best things to do with family in Salzburg. Built for the pleasure of Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus, the palace’s crowning jewel (from his majesty’s perspective) are the gardens’ hidden water jets, which he used to soak unsuspecting guests. Prepare to get wet!