Welcome to Salzburg – the charming Austrian city where the hills are alive with the sound of music, and the beer is colder than your ex’s heart. Whether you’re a fan of Mozart, Gothic architecture, or simply can’t resist a good strudel, Salzburg has got you covered. So grab your lederhosen or dirndl and let’s dive into all the reasons why you should visit Salzburg!
Table of Contents
How to get to Salzburg
Innsbruck to Salzburg
I had originally planned to take a Blablarcar to Salzburg but couldn’t find one for the day I was leaving. I also checked for Flixbus’s but it doesn’t look like Flixbus does this route. So I had to settle on a pricey train ticket from OBB Railjet for about 35 euros. I had booked this last minute which may be why this was so expensive, otherwise if I had booked this well in advance I’m sure it would have been cheaper. The train ride itself was very comfortable. I arrived at the Salzburg train station and from there the bus stops are right in front of the main station entrance. I caught a bus to my hostel from there, very quick and easy. The bus stop and train station area gets a bit sketchy at night so I was happy to get out of the area quickly.
Vienna to Salzburg
There are several OBB or Railjet trains going between Vienna and Salzburg ranging anywhere from $15USD to $50USD and more. There is also a Flixbus and a few other bus companies such as Wiener Linien that go from Vienna to Salzburg, however, the bus tickets look to be just as expensive as the trains. Blablacar is always a great option, but in my experience most rides are visible until 1 or 2 days before.
Munich to Salzburg
Munich to Salzburg will have the same options as above, however, I found there to be several Blablacars going between these two cities. So I’d recommend taking a Blablacar which will likely be cheaper than the train or bus.
Meininger Hotel Salzburg City Center
My first stay at Meininger went so well I decided to stay in another one in Salzburg. The hostel was a bit out of the way from everything but there are bus stops within 5 minutes walking distance of the hostel and I had no issue getting around. The hostel is connected to a mall and grocery store making it convenient to get anything you need. There is also a nice hiking area right next to it that can take you up to Franziskischlossl, and if you keep walking further you will reach Linzer Gasse Platzl and the Salzach River.
In typical Meininger fashion, the hostel is very comfortable and clean. I stayed in the female 6 bed dorm that had a bathroom in the room. There is one room for the toilet and sink, and another for the shower and sink. Lockers provided that look very similar to school lockers, but they were too small to fit my bigger backpack. There was also a small table and a few stools. There is breakfast available for a price, and there is also a small kitchen available for use. The kitchen does get crowded at times but I was able to store my groceries in the fridge with no problem. The hostel also has a bar that looks like it gets popular in the evenings. There are plenty of tables and chairs to lounge on or work from around the bar and kitchen area.
Overall a great place to stay for you visit to Salzburg.
Things To See
Hohensalzburg Fortress
This seems like the main landmark in Salzburg. Everyone at the hostel was raving about how beautiful the view is from here so I decided to check it out. The view is indeed spectacular. You can either walk up to the fortress or take the fortress railway for a cost to reach the fortress directly. The fee to enter just the fortress is about 10 euros, however, there are packages available if you would like to ride the railway and see the fortress, along with certain rooms inside the fortress, etc. I wasn’t too interested in seeing the paid area so I walked around the fortress and found myself on the Monchsberg Trail.
Monchsberg Trails
This area has several trails that allow you to wander from the fortress to several other landmarks on the property. One you should not miss is the Josefsturm. The building itself isn’t too impressive but the view from there is amazing. I was able to see the mountains and the valley below, it was all so stunning. I continued along the trails and came across two observation decks called Aussichtspunkt and Humboldtterrasse, both have incredible views of the fortress and the city below. These are two spots you cannot miss! From here I continued wandering along the trails until it started raining, which then I ran to the closest bus station and took a bus back to the hostel.
Getreidegasse and Mozart’s House
This is a nice street with a shopping area that also holds the house Mozart was born in. The house is called Mozarts Geburtshaus that has now been turned into a museum. The entry fee is 12 euros to enter. You are able to tour the house and learn more about Mozart’s life. I was not too interested in seeing the house so this is something I skipped.
Main squares (Mozartplatz, Residenzplatz, Kapitelplatz, Domplatz)
These are the main squares in the old city in Salzburg. Very beautiful and nice architecture. I went during Oktoberfest so I saw a lot of stands with food vendors and carnival games. It was a fun area to go for the day.
Mirabell Palace and Gardens
A beautiful palace with gardens built in the early 1600’s. There is no entry fee to walk the gardens or the palace, however, the palace was closed for visitors when I went because of an event. Nonetheless, walking the gardens is beautiful as well.
Franziskischlossl
Right behind the Meininger Hostel there is a small trail that leads to this closed fortress. The trail starts at what looks like the parking lot of a warehouse but you’ll be able to see a small, paved pathway going up into the mountain (also found here on Google maps). Following the trail I found the fortress, which I don’t believe you are able to walk in. However, I walked around the fortress and the views of the city are incredible.
There are several other trails in the area for exploring. I managed to wander my way to the Aussicht Kapuzinerberg Nord observation deck and captured a nice photo of the city below. Continuing the trail I eventually reached Linzer Gasse Platzl where there were several restaurant and boutique to shop from. This hiking area really doesn’t require much time. I was able to make my way across in less than 2 hours even while stopping for photos.
Hellbrunn Palace and Garden
Unfortunately the weather was too rainy and wet when I visited Salzburg so with the limited days that I had, I was unable to visit this palace or the gardens. From others at the hostel, I do believe this place is worth a visit. Tickets are 13.50 euros and they include the garden and the palace. There are buses that head to Hellbrunn Palace from Salzburg.
Day Trips
Berchtesgaden National Park – Konigssee, Obersee and Rothbach Falls
If you like being in nature, hiking, and seeing beautiful cows, one of the best things to do around Salzburg is visit Berchtesgaden National Park. I decided to visit Konigssee and Obersee, two beautiful lakes in the park, and make the hike to Rothbach Falls. The views of the mountains, the lakes and the hike itself was absolutely magnificent and I can’t recommend it enough during your visit to Salzburg.
Eagle’s Nest
Another of those places I wish I could have gone to but couldn’t because of the poor weather and limited time. Eagle’s Nest is a building built by the Nazi’s orignally as a meeting house for members of the Nazi party. It is said that Hitler has visited this building, which was in close proximity to his summer house, at least 14 times. You can visit here by taking the same 840 bus as above that will take you to Berchtesgaden, and from there catch the 838 bus to the Documentation Center in Obersalzberg. I’m sure day tickets can be bought using the same link used to get to Konigssee. From there I was planning on hiking to Eagle’s Nest, alternatively there is also a bus that can take you to the top.
Gaisberg Mountain
Not too far from the city center, Gaisberg Mountain can make for a nice before or after work spot for hiking or biking. The biking trails can be accessed from the city and there are also public buses that can take you to some of the trails. I found this link very helpful in finding the hiking trails, bus stops, and additional information: https://www.salzburg.info/en/travel-info/infos/hiking-paths-on-the-gaisberg_az_13413. I was unable to visit this mountain because of the rainy weather but next time I’m in the city I would love to try hiking here.
Where to Next?
Salzburg was a beautiful destination that is definitely worth a visit if you’re in Munich or the surrounding area. I wish I had more days to spend here but Oktoberfest in Munich was calling my name! My next, and very brief, stop was in Munich! Join me as I partake in the worldwide popular event, Oktoberfest in the famous Munich!
The landscape is so beautiful! I’d love to see Salzburg one day. Thanks so much for sharing!
awwww….this inspires me even more to get to Austria..so stunningly beautiful! the palaces and the outdoor gardens look so beautiful.
Gosh, this place is gorgeous! I’ve never been to Salzburg, but certainly knew it as the place of Mozart’s birth. I’d love to come here to visit. I’m glad to hear there is such a variety of things to do and see, including forts, gardens. And the view look stunning! What are some of the most common airlines servicing routes from the United States to Salzburg? Thanks for your post!
There’s many airlines flying to Salzburg that you can find on Google Flights but it might be cheaper and faster to fly into Munich and then take a train to Salzburg.
Salzburg looks amazing! I definitely see this as a destination to visit during Oktoberfest! And the hike to Rothbach Falls looks epic! You mentioned in the post about the falls that the tickets could be purchased online so that makes it easier for planning. I love all of the details you shared about Salzburg!
Sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I would certainly like to do some of the hikes. I’m sorry it was so rainy when you were there so you didn’t get to do several of them. Hopefully next time.
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