16 Unmissable Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Salzburg

January 7, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 2459 Views

Salzburg is a city in Austria that sits on the banks of river Salzach and towards the north of the Alps. The city is renowned for baroque architecture and can be seen in the majority of the best places to visit in Salzburg. The old town of the city is listed among UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is considered one of best preserved cities north of the Alps. Salzburg sightseeing comprises of several historical buildings, castles, churches, palaces, and so on. The city is also well known for being the birthplace of legendary musical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The birth home and childhood home of Mozart are both among Salzburg tourist attractions.

The history of people in the region goes back to the Neolithic age. The region was a Roman settlement around the 15th century B.C. known as Juvavum. You can still find things to see in Salzburg regarding these settlements at the city’s museum. The town was established over this Roman settlement in 696 A.D. St. Peter’s Abbey, one of the Salzburg top attractions, was built upon a church established around that time. The region became the seat of the archbishop in 798. At that time, the city gained much of its income from trade, gold mining, and salt extraction. Hence it got the name Salzburg, which means Salt Castle.

The name also shows the biggest reason for which people visit Salzburg: Castles and Palaces. The Hohensalzburg close to the city is one of the largest in medieval castles in Europe. Aside from it, you also have Schloss Mirabell and Schloss Hellbrunn. The large complexes are among the top things to do in Salzburg, Austria. The city has equally wonderful churches and monasteries which are renowned for their exquisite architecture and designs.

If you are looking for outdoor activities, adventure, or nature exploration, there are quite a few places you can enjoy around the city as well. The city is close to the Alps and is quite popular for skiing during winter, which some consider to be the best time to visit Salzburg.

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Table of Contents

The Best 16 Tourist Places to Visit in Salzburg in 4 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Mirabell Palace (Schloss Mirabell)

This 1606 palace is one of the best places to begin Salzburg sightseeing. It was built by Prince Raitenau to express his love to Salome Alt. It is also well known being the location for “The Sound of Music”. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore this palace.

2. Mozart Residence (Mozart-Wohnhaus)

This place used to be the childhood home of renowned musical genius Wolfgang Mozart. It is one of the most popular Salzburg tourist attractions. You will need an hour to see this house museum.

3. Mozart Birthplace (Mozarts Geburtshaus)

This used to be the Mozart family home where the legendary composer was born. It is once again associated the film “The Sound of Music”. It will take an hour to explore this place.

4. University of Salzburg Church (Universitatskirche) / Collegiate Church (Kollegienkirche)

Also known as the Collegiate Church, this monumental church is among the most beautiful places to visit in Salzburg. It is renowned for its baroque design and architecture. It will take you 30 to 45 minutes for this place.

5. Alte Residenz & State Rooms (Residenzgalerie Salzburg)

This mansion was occupied by the archbishops of the city. It is also associated with some significant figures of history such as Napoleon III and Mozart. The mansion is decorated with furniture, decor and painting of 16th to 19th century. It is one of the lavish things to see in Salzburg. You would need an hour for this place.

Day 2

1. St Peter’s Abbey (Stiftskirche St. Peter)

Also known as Stiftskirche St. Peter, this benedictine monastery was founded in 696, though the present structure was developed in 1147. It is one of the oldest buildings among Salzburg attractions. You will come across some of the finest architecture and artwork in the city. You will need an hour or so for this church.

2. Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom)

This church was instigated by Bishop Virgil upon Roman Ruins in 767. This church was also the place where Wolfgang Mozart was baptized. This church is well known for its baroque design. You will need an hour’s time for this church when you visit Salzburg.

3. Salzburg Museum

This museum talks about the history of the city. It is obviously among Salzburg top attractions. The museum showcases artifacts, documents and artworks. You will need about 2 hours for this museum.

4. Panorama Museum

This museum is famous for 130 meters square panoramic painting of the city created by J.M. Sattler. The painting showcases how the city would have looked in 1829. It is one of the Salzburg must see attractions. You will need 30 to 45 minutes for this museum.

5. Hohensalzburg Fortress (Festung Hohensalzburg)

This castle looms over the city with a dominating presence. It was first built in 1077 and was later renovated, rebuilt and enlarged over the years. The castle is divided into many segments and has some of the best things to do in Salzburg, Austria. You would need 2 to 3 hours of time for this place.

Day 3

1. Glockenspiel (Salzburger Glockenspiel)

This church is known for its iconic bell tower, which is a musical instrument by itself. It is fitted with 35 bells which can be played in various combinations to create music. The winter festivals is among the best time to visit Salzburg as you get to enjoy full glory of this tower. You will need 30 to 45 minutes for this place.

2. Large Festival House (Großes Festspielhaus)

This concert hall is included among Salzburg tourist attractions for its rich history, its acoustics and architecture. You would need 30 minutes for this hall.

3. Toy Museum (Spielzeugmuseum) & Historic Musical Instruments Museum (Historische Musikinstrumente)

This museum features history of toys as well as evolution of a variety of musical instruments. You will need about 2 hours for this museum during Salzburg travel.

4. Museum of Modern Art

These two buildings exhibit artworks from 20th and 21st century. You will need 2 hours to explore this museum when you visit Salzburg.

5. Museum of Natural History (Haus der Natur)

This museum focuses on the evolution of life exhibited through historical fossils, exhibits, reptile zoo and aquarium. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore this museum.

Day 4

1. Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn)

This lavish palace goes back in history to 1619. There are so many Salzburg tourist attractions to explore within their palace complex. You will need 3 to 4 hours for this palace.

If you are looking for more tourist information on Salzburg, check out the section below. We have prepared an exhaustive list of places and activities you can enjoy in and around the city.

Things to do in Salzburg

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Salzburg

Fortress Hohensalzburg
Mirabell Palace
Schloss Hellbrunn
Mozart’s Houe Museum
Salzburg Cathedral
Museum der Moderne / Museum of Contemporary Austrian Art
St. Peter’s Archabbey
Casa della Natura
Salzburg Museum
Stift Nonnberg Church
St. Peter’s Cemetery
St. Sebastian’s Cemetery
Toy Museum
Panaroma Museum
Residenz Galerie
Freilicht Museum
Schloss Klessheim
Salzburger Burgen
FOTOHOF Art Gallery
Maria Plain Church
Salzburg Art Association
Schloss Frohnburg
Pferdeschwemme Horse House
Convent des Capucins de Salzburg
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church
Salzburg Glockenspiel
Folklore Museum
Galerie im Traklhaus
Festungs Museum
Festungsberg
Residenzbrunnen Fountain
Museo de la Navidad de Salzburgo / Museum of Christmas Artifacts
Plainburg Castle Ruins
Monats Schloss
Sigmundstor Tunnel
St. Sebastian Church
Schloss Glanegg
Museum Kunst der Verlorenen Generation
Berchtoldvilla
Dome Archeological Museum
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg
Dom Art Museum
Wasser Speigel Museum
Stille Nacht Museum Hallein

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Salzburg

Mount Gaisberg
Kapuzinerberg Hill
Mount Monchsberg
Saalach River
Mount Nockstein
Waldbad Anif lake
Glassenbachklamm Park
Mount Walserberg
Aigner Park
Plotz Waterfall
Leopoldskroner Weiher Lake
Mount Hellbrunner Berg
Mount Geiereck
River Wiestalstausee

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Salzburg

Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn
Hangar-7
Stiegl Brewery
Utersbergbahn Skiing Cable Car
Casino Salzburg

Shopping in Salzburg

Getreidegasse Street
Designer Outlet
Alter Market
Europark Shopping Center
Salzburg Schranne
Keisel Passage
Shopping Arena
Zetrum Heernau Shopping Center
Salzburg Old Town Market

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Salzburg

Hiking
Trekking
Paragliding
Bike trails
River Rafting
Kayaking
Mountain Railway Tour
Skiing
Canal Surfing
Horse Carriage Tour
Canal Boat Ride

Sightseeing in Salzburg

Residenz Platz
Mirabell Garten
Mozart Platz
Chapter Square
Alm Canal
Salzburg Volkgarten
Steingasse Lane
Mozart Monument
Sentiero Marko Feingold Bridge

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Salzburg

Hangar – 7
Senns
Augustiner Brau
Brunnauer
Carpe Diem Lounge
M32
Cafe Romaselli
The Glass Garden
Die Stadtalm
Blaue Gans
Konditorei Furst
Goldgasse
Afro Cafe
Fideler Affe
Barenwirt
Panzerhalle
Triangel
Elefant
Esszimmer
Gasthaus Drei Hasen
Die Weisse

Where to Stay in Salzburg?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-range and Budget Hotels in Salzburg. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Salzburg.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Salzburg

How to Reach Salzburg?

By Air

Salzburg travel is the easiest by flight. You would land at the city’s international airport also known as the W. A. Mozart airport. You can get direct flights to this airport from Dublin, Riga, Tallinn, London, Southampton, Amsterdam, Berlin, Bristol, Liverpool, Helsinki, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Oslo, Reykjavik, Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, New Castle, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Tel Aviv and more. You have to option of using buses and cabs to get to the city from the airport.

By Road

You can get direct trains to visit Salzburg from Zurich, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Budapest, Vienna, and Linz. The bus network connects you to several cities and towns in the country as well as in neighbouring countries.

If you are planning to go Salzburg sightseeing by road, you should head through routes A8, A1, or E55.

By Water

As Salzburg is a landlocked city, you won’t find a direct water route to reach here. Although you can enjoy boat rides and other activities in the river and lakes around the city. They are among the top things to do in Salzburg, Austria.

Image Reference

Mirabell Palace (Schloss Mirabell) – Leonhard Niederwimmer / PixaBay
Mozart Residence (Mozart-Wohnhaus) – Dennis Jarvis / Flickr
Mozart Birthplace (Mozarts Geburtshaus) – Hans Braxmeier / PixaBay
University of Salzburg Church (Universitatskirche) / Collegiate Church (Kollegienkirche) – Mark Hoogenboom / Flickr
Alte Residenz & State Rooms (Residenzgalerie Salzburg) – Zairon / Wikimedia Commons
St Peter’s Abbey (Stiftskirche St. Peter) – Yannic Meyer / Flickr
Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) – Cristina Raus Guerreiro / PixaBay
Salzburg Museum – Andreas Praefcke / Wikimedia Commons
Panorama Museum – Hans Braxmeier / PixaBay
Hohensalzburg Fortress (Festung Hohensalzburg) – Hans Braxmeier / PixaBay
Glockenspiel (Salzburger Glockenspiel) – Pixelteufel / Flickr
Toy Museum (Spielzeugmuseum) & Historic Musical Instruments Museum (Historische Musikinstrumente) – Dennis Jarvis / Flickr
Museum of Modern Art – Aleksandr Zykov / Flickr
Museum of Natural History (Haus der Natur) – Wolfgang Sauber / Flickr
Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn) – Andree Heidrich / PixaBay