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Nestled in the foothills of the Austrian Alps, Salzburg is a picturesque city with a rich history and culture. Known as the birthplace of Mozart, the city boasts a thriving musical heritage, with nightly performances and annual festivals. Beyond music, Salzburg offers stunning natural scenery, well-preserved historical architecture, and delicious food. The city's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, charms visitors with its narrow medieval streets, arcaded courtyards, and spacious squares. The Mönchsberg mountain, towering at 504m, provides heavenly views of the fortress-topped Altstadt and the Austrian and Bavarian Alps. For art enthusiasts, the Museum der Moderne showcases contemporary art in a minimalist setting, while Hangar-7 blends aviation, art exhibitions, and culinary delights. Salzburg truly has something for everyone, from the serene cemetery at St. Peter's Abbey to the lively beer halls like Augustiner Brau, serving up traditional Austrian beer experiences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Famous for | Mozart, The Sound of Music, Alpine setting, Baroque architecture |
| Historical architecture | 11th-century castle, 17th-century cemetery, 16th-century buildings, 15th-century merchant homes |
| Natural scenery | Turquoise river, wooded cliffs, Mönchsberg (Monk Mountain), Austrian and Bavarian Alps |
| Squares | Alter Markt, Residenzplatz, Mozartplatz, Domplatz, Kapitelplatz |
| Food and drink | Pretzels, organic bread, traditional beer halls, modern coffee shops, sausage stands |
| Art and exhibitions | Hangar-7, Museum der Moderne, Blue Pearl – Skyspace |
| Music | Mozart concerts, orchestra concerts, Glockenspiel, Gregorian chorales |
| Transport | Cable car, funicular rail |
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What You'll Learn
Visit the Old Town Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Old Town Centre of Salzburg, also known as the Altstadt, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The area spans 236 hectares and includes around 1,000 unique objects. The River Salzach divides the Old Town Centre into two halves: the right side, including the Linzergasse, Platzl, and Steingasse, and the left side, which is the older section of the city and the UNESCO-listed area.
The Old Town Centre is characterised by its profusion of spires and domes, with the fortress of Hohensalzburg dominating the skyline. The area includes a mix of secular and ecclesiastical buildings from the late Middle Ages to the 20th century, with the former distinguished by their monumental size and the latter encompassing the Kaiviertel district, Festungsberg, and Mönchsberg mountains. The sacred buildings of the Old Town Centre captivate visitors with their Baroque beauty, while the bourgeois homes of the Middle Ages and the Italian-style plazas are also impressive.
The Old Town Centre's five squares—Residenzplatz, Domplatz, Mozartplatz, Kapitelplatz, and Alter Markt—are considered the most beautiful in Salzburg. The traditional shops in the famous Getreidegasse, one of the city's narrow lanes or "Durchhäuser", are also worth a visit. While in the Old Town Centre, you can also explore the Mirabell Gardens, with their perfectly manicured landscapes, or watch the Salzach River wind its way through the city from the surrounding mountains.
The Old Town Centre is a testament to the interchange between Italian and German cultures, resulting in the flowering of both and a long-lasting exchange. The Italian influence is evident in the Baroque appearance of the centre, largely due to the work of Italian architects Vincenzo Scamozzi and Santino Solari.
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Explore the Mönchsberg mountain and its catacombs
Mönchsberg mountain, or "Monk Mountain", rises 504m (1654ft) above Salzburg and is named after the Benedictine monks of St Peter's Abbey. The mountain boasts views of the fortress-topped Altstadt, with trails weaving through meadows and woodland. Along these trails, you'll find the Museum der Moderne, a contemporary art gallery with exhibitions of 20th- and 21st-century art. Outside, you can see sculptures such as James Turrell's Blue Pearl – Skyspace, an elliptical cylinder that reflects the changing weather, moods, and lights.
The mountain is also home to the Nonnberg Abbey, one of Europe's oldest working abbeys, founded by St Rupert, patron saint of Salzburg, in 715 CE. The abbey is off-limits except for its rib-vaulted church, where Romanesque frescoes can be seen. Visitors can hear the nuns chanting Gregorian chorales at 6:45 am, or at 5:15 pm on weekdays, 5 pm on Saturdays, and 4:30 pm on Sundays.
While there don't appear to be any catacombs on Mönchsberg Mountain, there is a mountain called Catacombs Mountain in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. This mountain, located in Jasper National Park, was named by Arthur O. Wheeler in 1921 due to an alcove formation that resembles the recesses found in catacombs.
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Enjoy Mozart concerts and visit his museums
Salzburg is a city steeped in history and culture, with Mozart concerts and museums dedicated to the composer being among the highlights of any visit.
Mozart Concerts
The International Mozarteum Foundation hosts concerts in the unique Great Hall, the musical heart of Salzburg. The Great Hall has recently been renovated and is once again open to the public. The concert calendar includes performances of Mozart's Il Re Pastore in the original venue, the Knights' Hall of the Residence. The Marble Hall at Mirabell Palace is another concert venue with a rich history, where the Mozart family performed for the Archbishops of Salzburg. The intense and atmospheric concerts here are a must-see for classical music enthusiasts.
Mozart Museums
Mozart's Birthplace, located at No.9 Getreidegasse, is a museum that attracts Mozart fans and history buffs from around the world. The house where Mozart was born in 1756 is now a three-story exhibition, providing an in-depth look at the composer's life, including his domestic circumstances, his friends and patrons, and his passion for opera. The museum features original rooms, an 18th-century middle-class apartment reconstruction, and historical instruments such as Mozart's own violin and clavichord. Visitors can also view original certificates, letters, memorabilia, and portraits of Mozart.
In addition to Mozart's Birthplace, the International Mozarteum Foundation is also responsible for preserving Mozart's legacy and making it accessible to the world. Their efforts include artistic interventions, such as the "Flying Notes" art project by Salzburg artist Andreas Feldinger, which adds a layer of creative lightness to the building's facade.
Salzburg, with its stunning natural and architectural beauty, offers a wealth of experiences for travellers. However, for those specifically interested in Mozart, the city provides a unique opportunity to enjoy his music in historic venues and explore his life through dedicated museums and foundations.
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Tour the Hellbrunn and Hohensalzburg palaces
Hellbrunn Palace, or Schloss Hellbrunn, is an early Baroque villa of palatial size, located in the southern district of Salzburg. It was built between 1613 and 1619 by Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, and was named after the "clear spring" that supplied the palace. Hellbrunn was only used as a summer residence, as the Archbishop would return to Salzburg in the evenings. As a result, there are no bedrooms in the palace. The palace is famous for its jeux d'eau (water games) in the grounds, which were conceived by Markus Sittikus as a series of practical jokes to be played on guests. These include hidden fountains that spray guests during their tour and stone seats around a dining table that spray water up through guests' seats. Hellbrunn Palace is also surrounded by a zoo, a stone theatre, and a small building known as the Monatschlössl, or the "little month-palace", which was built in just one month after a visitor commented that a building on the hill would improve the view.
Hohensalzburg Fortress, or Festung Hohensalzburg, is a large medieval fortress that sits atop the Festungsberg mountain at an altitude of 506 metres. Construction of the fortress began in 1077, and it has since grown to become one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, covering an area of 32,000 square metres. The fortress is 250 metres long and 150 metres wide, making it one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. Hohensalzburg Fortress is a visible landmark that can be seen from afar, towering over the rooftops of Salzburg. It is known for its magnificent Princes' Rooms, the Magic Theater on the High Level, the Great Armoury in the castle courtyard, and its breathtaking views over the city. The fortress also features diverse cultural events throughout the year, such as the Sunday tower blowing, fortress concerts, and the romantic Advent market in the castle courtyard.
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Sample Austrian beer at Augustiner Brau
Augustiner Brau is synonymous with beer in Salzburg. It is a well-respected traditional meeting place, a piece of living history in the world heritage centre of the city. The Bräustübl is a popular meeting place with a lovely garden, rich in character and tradition. It is Austria's largest beer inn, where beer is sold in stone-made pitchers, draught directly from wooden barrels.
The Augustine hermits were granted permission to establish a brewery in Salzburg Mülln, and the Augustiner has been a fixture of the city's beer culture ever since. The Bräustübl is a fixture of the city's social scene, with many celebrating birthdays and other special occasions in its cosy beer halls and leafy beer garden.
The beer garden is a great place to relax in the summer, while the halls offer a cosy, rustic atmosphere in the colder months. The brewery offers a range of beers, including their popular artisanal Märzen, which is free of preservatives, as well as bock and lent beer.
The Augustiner beer ritual involves rinsing your chosen mug, then telling the cashier which beer you want. You will be given a voucher, which you hand over with your mug at the beer counter. You can then explore the food kiosks, which offer a wide selection of local snacks, including bread, pretzels, Fleischkäse, roasted pork, salads, spreads, and radishes.
The brewery also offers tours, where you can marvel at the last refrigerated ship in Austria with open wort cooling, and beer tastings are included.
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Frequently asked questions
Salzburg is a picturesque city with a rich musical heritage and stunning architecture. Here are some of the top things to see and do:
- Visit the Old Town Centre (Altstadt), a UNESCO World Heritage Site with well-preserved historical architecture, quaint squares, and medieval streets.
- Explore the Hohensalzburg Fortress, a magnificent 11th-century castle that overlooks the city and offers superb views from the top.
- Stroll through the Getreidegasse, a busy pedestrian area lined with merchant homes dating from the 15th to 18th centuries.
- Enjoy the natural beauty of Mönchsberg (Monk Mountain), with its wooded cliffs and trails offering panoramic views of the Austrian and Bavarian Alps.
Salzburg offers a range of unique experiences that showcase its culture and history. Here are some you shouldn't miss:
- Listen to the nuns chanting Gregorian chorales at Stift Nonnberg, one of Europe's oldest working abbeys, featured in the iconic movie "The Sound of Music."
- Take a gentle cable car ride up the mountain and enjoy the breathtaking reveal of the Alps.
- Indulge in the authentic Austrian beer experience at Augustiner Brau, a traditional old beer house serving beer since 1621.
- Sample the delicious organic bread at Stiftsbackerei, the oldest bakery in Salzburg, located next to a charming water mill.
Yes, the Salzburg Card provides free or discounted admission to numerous attractions and free use of public transportation. It also includes entry to some museums and the Early Christian catacombs, which are the oldest and best-maintained in Austria.
