Salzburg

Begun in 1077 and expanded over 900 years, Hohensalzburg is one of the largest fully-preserved castles in Europe and was never taken by siege. The FestungsBahn funicular (opened 1892, rebuilt several times since) hauls you up in under a minute; from the ramparts the view takes in the whole Baroque old town, the Salzach, and the Alps beyond. Inside, the "Golden Hall" and Golden Chamber, the Rainer Regiment Museum, the Marionette Exhibition, and the Magic Theatre are covered by the higher-tier tickets.

Festungscard Basic €15.50 adult with funicular / €12.00 on foot; All Inclusive (adds Prince's Chambers & Magic Theatre) €19.20 with funicular / €14.50 on foot; child (6-14) €6.30 / €4.90 (Basic) and €7.30 / €5.60 (All Inclusive); under 6 free; included in the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

Salzburg's cathedral was rebuilt in Italian early-Baroque style after a fire destroyed its Romanesque predecessor, consecrated in 1628, and today anchors Domplatz alongside the Residenz and St. Peter's Abbey. Its dome and twin towers define the old town skyline; inside, the font where Mozart was baptized in 1756 still stands. A small maintenance fee applies to sightseeing visits (worship remains free).

€5 adult maintenance fee; free for visitors under 18; weekday lunchtime organ recitals (12:00-12:30) €9

Domplatz and the adjoining Residenzplatz form the ceremonial center of prince-archbishop Salzburg, ringed by the cathedral, the Residenz, and the Salzburg Museum. The Residenzbrunnen, a giant 1661 Baroque marble fountain, is one of the largest and finest north of the Alps. Every summer this is where the outdoor stage for the Salzburg Festival's "Jedermann" is built against the cathedral facade; every winter it becomes the main Christkindlmarkt square, with Hohensalzburg looming above.

Free (public square)

A narrow medieval trading street running through the old town, Getreidegasse is instantly recognizable for its ornate wrought-iron guild signs — even McDonald's has a gilded one here, by city ordinance. Tall, shadowy 15th-18th century townhouses hide small courtyards behind their facades; house No. 9 is Mozart's birthplace. It's touristy and shop-lined but genuinely atmospheric, especially early morning or in evening light.

Free to walk

Tucked behind the cathedral between St. Peter's and the base of the Mönchsberg, Kapitelplatz is a calmer counterpart to Domplatz. Its two most photographed features are a giant walk-in chess set (Domstein) that visitors are free to play, and "Sphaera," Stephan Balkenhol's contemporary sculpture of a man balanced atop a large golden globe — an odd, memorable contrast against the Baroque backdrop and fortress rising behind it.

Free

One of Salzburg's oldest parish churches, with a squat Romanesque nave from around 1200 opening dramatically into a tall, radiating Gothic choir added in the 1400s — a striking architectural contrast in one building. A Baroque high altar by Fischer von Erlach frames a much older Madonna sculpture. It draws far fewer visitors than the cathedral next door despite being just as atmospheric.

Free (donations welcomed)

Built in 1695 for the archbishop's stables to bathe their horses, this monumental Baroque basin is ringed by a wall painted with a large fresco of wild horses being tamed, and topped by a sculpted horse-tamer figure. It's an easy, free two-minute detour between Getreidegasse and the Festival Halls that most visitors walk straight past.

Free

St. Peter's Archabbey was founded in 696 by St. Rupert and is the oldest continuously operating monastery in the German-speaking world, home to Austria's oldest library. Its Baroque-remodeled abbey church sits beside St. Peter's Cemetery (Petersfriedhof), where ornate wrought-iron grave enclosures and catacombs are cut directly into the Mönchsberg cliff — a location made famous as a filming backdrop referenced in The Sound of Music. It's one of the most atmospheric free corners of the old town.

Abbey church and cemetery free; catacombs €2 adult (separate ticket, see below)

Cut into the Mönchsberg rock face directly above St. Peter's Cemetery, these catacombs hold two small early-Christian chapels (St. Gertrude's and St. Maximus's) reached by steep stone stairs, believed to have sheltered hermits and refugees since Roman times. The climb is short but the views down over the cemetery's ironwork crosses to the old town are worth the modest admission.

€2 adult; €1.50 reduced/child (6-18); free with Salzburg Card

Founded around 700 on a ledge below the fortress, Nonnberg is the oldest continuously inhabited female convent north of the Alps. It's world-famous as the real-life convent of postulant Maria Kutschera, whose story inspired The Sound of Music, though the film's wedding scenes were shot elsewhere. The abbey itself is cloistered and not open to visitors, but the abbey church and small cemetery are, and early risers (Mon-Sat ~06:45, Sun ~07:00) can hear the nuns' Gregorian chant, or catch Vespers around 17:00.

Free

Running from the Staatsbrücke bridge toward Kapuzinerberg, Linzer Gasse is the right-bank counterpart to Getreidegasse — narrow, historic, and lined with independent shops, cafés and a scattering of small guesthouses, but with noticeably fewer tour groups. St. Sebastian's Church and cemetery, where Mozart's wife Constanze and father Leopold are buried, sits just off the street.

Free to walk

Carved directly into the rock face of the Mönchsberg between 1693 and 1694, the Felsenreitschule began life as a summer arena for the prince-archbishops' horse-riding shows, its tiered rows of stone arcades quarried straight from the cliff rather than built up from the ground. Today it's one of the three linked festival halls that make up Salzburg's Festspielhaus complex, hosting major opera, theater, and orchestral performances during the Salzburg Festival each summer, its striking arcaded backdrop instantly recognizable to Sound of Music fans as the setting for the film's climactic concert scene. Daily guided tours (roughly 50 minutes) take visitors through the foyers and auditoriums of the Felsenreitschule alongside the neighboring Großes Festspielhaus and Haus für Mozart, offering a rare look backstage at one of the world's most storied festival venues — though access can be limited around performances and setup work, so it's worth checking the current tour schedule first.

€7 adult / €4 reduced (ages 7–27); free under 7; one-time free entry with the Salzburg Card

The Kollegienkirche on Universitätsplatz was built between 1696 and 1707 by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and is often called the city's most important Baroque church after the cathedral. Inside it is almost entirely white, with a 58-metre central dome, stucco work and side chapels dedicated to the patron saints of the university's four original faculties. It is also a concert venue during the Salzburg Festival. It takes 15 to 30 minutes and pairs naturally with the market on the square outside. A barrier-free entrance is to the right of the main portal (Euro key). From Rathaus-Mozartsteg it is a 5-minute walk via Getreidegasse.

Free entry

Residenzplatz is the ceremonial centre of the old town, framed by the Old Residence, the New Residence with its carillon, the cathedral and old merchant houses. In the middle stands the Residenzbrunnen, carved from Untersberg marble between 1656 and 1661 and described as the largest Baroque fountain in Central Europe. The square hosts the Rupertikirtag fair in September, torch dances at the Festival opening in late July and the Christmas market in Advent. It costs nothing and takes 15 to 30 minutes with photos; it is a 5-minute walk from Rathaus-Mozartsteg and flat enough for strollers.

Free

The carillon in the tower of the Neue Residenz has 35 bells cast in Antwerp and plays daily at 7:00, 11:00 and 18:00 (melodies change over the year). The mechanism is a brass cylinder with almost 8,000 drilled holes, driven today by an electric motor. Stand on Mozartplatz or Residenzplatz a few minutes before the hour; you cannot go up the tower, so this is a short stop of 10 to 15 minutes. The 11:00 slot is the easiest one to fit into a family day.

Free (listening from the square)

Mozartplatz was laid out in the early 17th century by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich and holds the bronze Mozart monument by Ludwig Schwanthaler, unveiled on 4 September 1842. The Imhofstöckl, home of the tourist information office, and the Salzburg Museum in the Neue Residenz border the square; the Christmas Museum and Café Glockenspiel are on its west side. It is a photo stop of 10 to 20 minutes and links Residenzplatz with Getreidegasse and Mozart's birthplace.

Free

Alter Markt was laid out in the mid-13th century and served as the city's central market until the 19th century. Today it is a calm square with the Florianibrunnen (statue of St Florian added in 1734), the Hofapotheke (court pharmacy, founded 1591, with Rococo furnishings from around 1760) and, at number 10a, a house only 1.42 m wide. Café Tomaselli, founded in 1700 and at this address since 1764, is Salzburg's oldest surviving coffeehouse; a cake and coffee stop is the usual reason to linger. Count 20 to 45 minutes. It is a few steps from Mozartplatz and Getreidegasse.

Free (café and pharmacy are separate)

The Müllner Kirche was built between 1439 and 1453 and marks the northern edge of the UNESCO-listed old town. Inside you find a red marble high altar and a late-medieval Madonna with Child from around 1460. The adjoining cemetery from 1453 reopened in 2017 after almost 140 years and offers views of the old town. It combines naturally with the Augustiner Bräu below and the stairs up to the Humboldt-Terrasse. Plan 15 to 30 minutes. The church is not barrier-free.

Free

Built in 1694–1702 for Prince-Archbishop Johann Ernst von Thun, the Dreifaltigkeitskirche was Fischer von Erlach's first building in Salzburg and is the main church of the right bank. Its dome carries Johann Michael Rottmayr's fresco of the coronation of Mary, and the facade with two towers closes off Makartplatz. Inside you can note the restrained decoration and, on request, write a concern in the visitors' book. Visit outside services (Mass Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri at 07:00 and Wed at 18:15). It is a 5-minute walk from Mirabellplatz and about 15 minutes from Hbf.

Free (official site, 2026)

Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich had this campo santo built in 1595–1600 after the old cathedral cemetery was cleared. A roughly square courtyard is ringed by arcades with burial niches, and in the middle stands his mausoleum, the Gabriel Chapel. Famous graves include Paracelsus, Leopold Mozart (in a common crypt) and a memorial tomb of Constanze Mozart and relatives. It is peaceful, free and very photogenic. Enter from Linzer Gasse (barrier-free) or via the Bruderhof; allow half an hour. From Hbf it is about 15 minutes on foot, from Mirabellplatz about 5 minutes.

Free (official site, 2026)

The Gabrielskapelle was built in 1597–1603 as the burial chapel of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, the archbishop who shaped much of baroque Salzburg. It has a circular plan with a rectangular apse and is richly decorated with stucco, coloured tilework and statues of the four Evangelists. It stands in the centre of the cemetery, so you see it as part of the visit to the Sebastiansfriedhof. Allow 10 minutes; entry to the cemetery is free.

Free (cemetery entry) (official site, 2026)

The first church on this site dates from 1505–1512; the present late-baroque hall church was rebuilt in the 18th century after the old one decayed, and a fire in 1818 destroyed frescoes that were later restored. The slim onion-dome tower is a landmark on Linzer Gasse. The church doubles as one of the entrances to the Sebastiansfriedhof, so visit both together. No visits during services. Free; about 10 minutes on foot from Mirabellplatz.

Free (official site, 2026)

Archbishop Wolf Dietrich brought the Capuchins to Salzburg in the 1590s and turned a medieval fortified tower into the monastery; the church is dedicated to St Francis and St Bonaventure and keeps a late-Gothic oak door salvaged from the old cathedral. It is a simple, contemplative place, and on the way up you pass Stations of the Cross chapels. The church is open Mon–Sat 06:00–18:00 and Sun 08:00–18:00, in summer until 20:00, but not during services. Climb from Linzer Gasse via Stefan-Zweig-Weg (steep, about 15–20 minutes) or via the Imbergstiege stairs from Steingasse.

Free (official site, 2026)

The Paschinger Schlössl at Kapuzinerberg 5 was home to writer Stefan Zweig from 1919 to 1937, where he wrote about 200,000 manuscript pages and hosted guests such as Thomas Mann, James Joyce and Richard Strauss. The house is privately owned and not open to visitors, so you can only look at it from the path. It makes a good stop on the walk up to the Capuchin monastery along Stefan-Zweig-Weg from Linzer Gasse. The Stefan Zweig Centre (a separate exhibition) is in the Edmundsburg on the Mönchsberg.

Free to view from the outside (official site, 2026)

Schloss Frohnburg stands on Hellbrunner Allee and is used today by the Mozarteum University. It appears in The Sound of Music, so fans often stop for a photo from the avenue. Treat it as a short stop on the walk or bike ride to Hellbrunn; the building is viewed from outside only. Reach it with bus 25 or on foot along the avenue from the city.

Free to view from the avenue (official site, 2026)

Schloss Freisaal sits at the start of Hellbrunner Allee and is surrounded by its own pond. It is a quick photo stop for anyone walking or cycling the avenue towards Hellbrunn, seen from outside. Combine it with Frohnburg and the Gwandhaus on the same walk.

Free to view from outside (official site, 2026)

Schloss Leopoldskron is a hotel and is not open to the public, but it is easy to enjoy from the pond shore. It served as the setting for the terrace and lake scenes of the von Trapp house in The Sound of Music. A photo spot at the Leopoldskron pond lets you capture the palace and Hohensalzburg Fortress together. Combine it with the pond walk. The yellow Hop On Hop Off line also stops here.

Free to view from the pond (official site, 2026)

Maria Plain is a baroque pilgrimage church consecrated in 1674, with twin towers modelled on Salzburg Cathedral and a golden interior accented in blue and white. A Mountain Calvary with four chapels leads up the hill, and from the church you see the city and the surrounding mountains. The Mozart family had close ties to the church, and his Coronation Mass is performed here annually. Visits are not possible during services. It is just north of the city; a taxi from Hbf takes about 5 minutes, or combine it with a hike from Gnigl.

Free (official site, 2026)

Between 1137 and 1143 the cathedral chapter and St. Peter's Abbey built the 370 m Stiftsarm tunnel through the Mönchsberg, described as the oldest medieval water tunnel in Central Europe, and it still works today. The channel branches into seven arms that once fed mills and flushed the Old Town. You cannot walk through the tunnel, but you can see the water at the Petersfriedhof near Kapitelplatz and the tunnel exits near the Festungsbahn station at Neutor. A short stop to combine with Kapitelplatz and St. Peter's Abbey.

Free to view (official site, 2026)

Anif Palace stands beside a pond on Salzburg's southern edge. It dates to around 1530 and was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in 1838–1848. In November 1918 King Ludwig III of Bavaria stayed here and issued the Declaration of Anif, and the palace has appeared in films including The Sound of Music. It is privately owned by the von Moy family and the interior is closed, so plan a short photo stop from the pond side, perhaps on a bike ride from Hellbrunn.

Free to view from outside (official site, 2026)

St. Blaise's is the former church of the city hospital (Bürgerspital) at the western end of Getreidegasse, under the Mönchsberg cliff. The current building dates from 1330 and was the first hall church in Salzburg with a nave and aisles of equal height. Inside you can see a delicate late-Gothic sacrament shrine from about 1460 and a classicist high altar from 1785. The former oratory is now the Gothic Hall, used for concerts. The entrance area is usually open during the day, and the church is closed during services. It is a free five-minute stop that fits naturally with a visit to the Toy Museum in the neighbouring courtyard.

Free

Mozart was born in this third-floor apartment on Getreidegasse on January 27, 1756, and the family lived here until 1773. The museum displays his childhood violin, portraits, letters and instruments, alongside exhibits on his family life and the operas. It's compact and can get crowded with tour groups; a combined ticket with the Mozart Residence across the river is the better-value option if you're doing both.

€18 adult; €15 reduced (students, seniors); €7 youth (15-18); €6 child (6-14); under 6 free; family (2 adults + children) €32; combined ticket with the Mozart Residence €25 adult, valid 48 hours; free with the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

DomQuartier links the prince-archbishops' former Residenz state rooms, the Cathedral Museum (Dommuseum), the north oratory overlooking the cathedral's interior, and St. Peter's, via a single connected route through halls and galleries that once let the ruling archbishop move between church and palace without stepping outside. It's the single best way to see Salzburg's ecclesiastical-princely history in one visit. Note: the Residenzgalerie painting collection is closed for renovation until roughly autumn 2027, so the route is currently reduced in scope.

While the Residenzgalerie is closed (until autumn 2027) the reduced-scope ticket applies: €12 adult, €10 reduced, €4 youth (7-25), family €26; children up to 6 free. Full ticket after reopening: €15 / €12 / €5 / €32 (official site, 2026)

Housed in the Neue Residenz on Mozartplatz, Salzburg Museum tells the city's history from Roman Iuvavum through the prince-archbishops to the present, and has repeatedly been named one of Europe's best museums. As of 2026 the building is mid-renovation (closed since November 2023) to create an expanded complex including a new Belvedere Kunsthalle, with reopening not expected until roughly autumn 2027 — so this is not currently visitable; check the museum's website for any interim exhibitions elsewhere before planning around it.

Not applicable while closed — check salzburgmuseum.at for reopening pricing

Perched on the Mönchsberg plateau in a clean-lined limestone-clad building (opened 2004), this is Salzburg's contemporary art counterpart to the Baroque old town below, with rotating exhibitions of 20th/21st-century art and photography plus an outdoor sculpture terrace with panoramic views over the city and Alps. Reach it via the Mönchsberg Lift or a scenic uphill walk.

€15 adult (Mönchsberg and Rupertinum); €12 reduced; €10 under 27; children and young people up to 18 free; combined ticket with the Mönchsberg lift €17 / €14 / €12 (official site, 2026)

The Mozart family's second, more spacious Salzburg home (1773-1787), where Wolfgang composed many early masterworks before moving to Vienna. Rebuilt after WWII bomb damage and reopened as a museum with period rooms, original instruments including a fortepiano and violin, and audio-guide storytelling — generally considered a richer, less crowded visit than the birthplace across the river.

€18 adult; €15 reduced (students up to 27, seniors); €7 pupils (15-18); €6 child (6-14); under 6 free; family (2 adults + children) €32; combined ticket with Mozart's Birthplace €25 adult, valid 48 hours; free with the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

The Toy Museum in the historic Bürgerspital building is one of the best rainy-day stops in the old town for families. The ground floor has marble runs, balance games and a giant Matador construction set; upstairs you find teddy bears, doll kitchens, a toy-shop replica, mazes and a Carrera racing track. There is also a play area for babies and a children's-book exhibition with reading corners. It is a short walk from Getreidegasse and the Festival Halls (nearest bus stop Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz), and has a lift and stroller parking near the entrance. Plan around the toddler's nap: most families need 1 to 1.5 hours.

Adults €5, children 6–15 €3, families (2 adults + children) €10, children under 5 free; free with the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

Above Café Glockenspiel on Mozartplatz, this museum shows how Christmas was celebrated from about 1840 to 1940, in eleven themed areas plus changing special exhibitions. It is quick to see and especially pleasant in Advent, when it fits well with a stroll through the nearby Christmas market. A private lift makes it accessible, and the cash desk staff can help on request. It is open Wednesday to Sunday (daily during the Festival and Advent) and closes for a few weeks from February to mid-March. It is a two-minute walk from Residenzplatz and the Salzburg Museum.

Adults €9, children €5, students/seniors €8; free with the Salzburg Card (salzburg.info, 2026)

The Monatsschlössl is a small hunting lodge from 1615 on the hill behind Hellbrunn Palace. Its three floors hold traditional furniture, historical masks and regional costumes from Salzburg's folk culture, plus a current exhibition on water in everyday life. The way up is a steep walk of about 10 minutes from the palace park. Open daily in the palace season; it is a branch of the Salzburg Museum.

Adult €5, family €10, children 6–15, youth 16–26 and seniors €3 (official site, 2026)

The open-air museum in Großgmain, on 50 hectares in the Untersberg Nature Park, shows over 100 original farmhouses, craftsmen's houses, mills, a blacksmith's shop and a sawmill, grouped by Salzburg's five districts. A 2 km museum railway with three stops saves walking, and there is a tractor exhibition, an adventure playground with a water area and a treehouse, and a tavern with regional food. A new visitor centre with a shop opened in 2026. Last entry is one hour before closing. It is outside the city near the German border; take the regional bus towards Großgmain from Hbf.

Adult €15, senior/student €13, youth €6, under 6 free, family ticket €30 (2026)

Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport is a wing-shaped glass and steel building that holds the Flying Bulls collection of historic, airworthy aircraft, plus rotating contemporary art exhibitions. Entry to the aircraft is free, and there are restaurants and a lounge on site. All areas are barrier-free. Free parking is available in front, or take O-Bus 2 (stop Karolingerstraße) or O-Bus 10 (stop Pressezentrum), both a 3–5 minute walk away. Hours can change for special events.

Free (official site, 2026)

The Orangery on the edge of the Mirabell Gardens houses the Salzburg Panorama by Johann Michael Sattler, a giant circular painting of the city as it looked in the early 19th century. Around it, films and media stations explain why the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and temporary exhibitions change through the year. It is a calm, covered stop after the gardens and works well on a rainy day. The building is step-free with a lift to the panorama; until late November 2026 the entrance is a side door through the garden because of garden works. It is a few minutes from Mirabellplatz bus stop and about 10 minutes on foot from the main station or Mozartsteg.

Adults €8, families (1-2 adults + children) €16, reduced €4.80 (official site, 2026)

The Rupertinum is the Old Town branch of the Museum der Moderne, in a 17th-century building between the Franciscan Church and the Collegiate Church. It focuses on graphic art and photography and houses the Austrian Federal Photo Collection; the facade carries Hundertwasser's playful window decorations. The building is being rebuilt and is closed until 22 October 2026, after which it follows the usual hours. One ticket covers both this house and the Mönchsberg museum, so it combines well with a trip up the Mönchsberg lift. It suits adults better than small children, but it is a short stop from Getreidegasse and the Festival Halls.

€15 adult (one ticket for Rupertinum and Mönchsberg), €12 reduced, €10 under 27, children and young people up to 18 free; combined ticket with the Mönchsberg lift €17 (official site, 2026)

The Stefan Zweig Centre sits in part of the Edmundsburg, a small castle-like building on the Mönchsberg above the Festival Halls. It was set up by the city, the province and the University of Salzburg and presents the life and work of the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig, who lived in Salzburg for many years. The exhibition is open only in the afternoon on four days a week and payment is cash only. It is a niche stop for literature fans, easy to combine with a walk on the Mönchsberg or the Mönchsberg lift. The surroundings are paths and steps, so it is not a place for strollers.

Adults €5, reduced €2.50; cash only (official site, 2026)

Sound of Music Salzburg is a seasonal museum run by the Salzburg Museum in the Hellbrunn palace grounds, right by the gazebo from the film. Multimedia stations connect the Hollywood story with the true history of the von Trapp family. Plan 1-2 hours, or less with small children, and combine it with the trick fountains, the palace park and the gazebo. Bus 25 takes about 25-30 minutes from the city centre, and in season the Amadeus boat also runs to Hellbrunn. The building is wheelchair accessible, but the paths in the park are gravel. Tickets can be bought online.

Adults €8, families (1-2 adults + children) €16, reduced €4.80 (children 6-15, youth 16-26, seniors 65+), young children free; one free visit with the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

The Magic Flute House is a small wooden garden pavilion that, according to legend, Emanuel Schikaneder used to keep Mozart working on The Magic Flute in Vienna. The Mozarteum Foundation received it in 1873 and brought it to Salzburg; it has stood on the Kapuzinerberg, beside the Mozarteum, and since autumn 2022 in the courtyard of the Mozart Residence on Makartplatz after a full restoration. Museum visitors can see it in the courtyard, so it is a small bonus on a Mozart Residence visit rather than a stop on its own. Opening hours and prices are those of the Mozart Residence.

Included with the Mozart Residence ticket: €18 adult, €6 child (6-14), family €32; free with the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

The archive in the Mozart Residence at Makartplatz 8 holds around 40,000 audio titles and 4,000 video productions, including performances, rehearsals and documentaries. Entry is free, but opening hours are short and split across the week, so plan around them. It suits Mozart enthusiasts rather than casual visitors, and pairs naturally with a visit to the Mozart Residence. It is a short walk from the Mirabell area and across the Staatsbrücke from the old town.

Free (salzburg.info)

The Prince's Chambers were built around 1501/02 for the prince-archbishop and are counted among the best-preserved late-Gothic interiors in Europe. The Golden Hall and the Golden Chamber with its richly decorated ceiling are the highlights. The rooms are inside the Hoher Stock, so you visit them on the fortress ticket; allow time for the stairs. From the Old Town take the funicular from Festungsgasse or walk up, then follow the signs to the Hoher Stock.

Included in the Hohensalzburg Fortress ticket (Basic €15.50 / €12.00 on foot; All-Inclusive €19.20 / €14.50 on foot; child 6-14 from €4.90; under 6 free; free with Salzburg Card) (official site, 2026)

The Magic Theatre is a multimedia presentation with music, light effects and video installations staged in the Prince's Chambers. It tells the story of Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach, who expanded the fortress around 1500. It is part of the Hoher Stock visit and works well as a compact break from the museum rooms. Reach the fortress by funicular or on foot from the Old Town.

Included in the Hohensalzburg Fortress ticket (Basic €15.50 / €12.00 on foot; All-Inclusive €19.20 / €14.50 on foot; child 6-14 from €4.90; under 6 free; free with Salzburg Card) (official site, 2026)

The Fortress Museum, part of the Salzburg Museum, grew out of a castle museum founded in 1952 and was expanded in 2019. Exhibits include Roman coins, ceramics, medieval heating systems, Romanesque arcades, armour and weapons, and a fully furnished castle kitchen. It is included in the fortress ticket and also gives one free entry with the Salzburg Card. Plan about an hour on top of the ramparts and views.

Included in the Hohensalzburg Fortress ticket (Basic €15.50 / €12.00 on foot; All-Inclusive €19.20 / €14.50 on foot; child 6-14 from €4.90; under 6 free; free with Salzburg Card) (official site, 2026)

The museum shows many pieces from the Salzburg Marionette Theatre and explains the art of puppetry, a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Visitors can try working a puppet themselves. It is included in the fortress ticket and pairs well with an evening at the Marionette Theatre in town.

Included in the Hohensalzburg Fortress ticket (Basic €15.50 / €12.00 on foot; All-Inclusive €19.20 / €14.50 on foot; child 6-14 from €4.90; under 6 free; free with Salzburg Card) (official site, 2026)

A sprawling, old-school-meets-interactive natural history museum spread over several floors, combining dinosaur skeletons, an aquarium and reptile zoo (including crocodiles), a hall of mirrors and illusions, a space/astronomy exhibit, and hands-on science stations. It's consistently rated one of the best family activities in Salzburg and a reliable rainy-day fallback.

€16 adult; €10.50 child (4-15); family (2 adults + 2 children) €48, each additional child €9; students up to 26 €13; seniors €15 (official site, 2026)

Set into a wooded limestone outcrop just beside Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg Zoo is smaller than the big-city zoos but makes striking use of its terrain, with animal enclosures built around natural rock faces and ponds. Home to snow leopards, elephants, and an extensive Alpine wildlife section alongside more exotic species — an easy pairing with a Hellbrunn Palace visit on the same afternoon, both reachable by the same city bus route.

€17 adult; €11 youth; €7 child

A large children's adventure playground is part of the Hellbrunn grounds, so families can mix the trick fountains with free play time. It is a good break after the guided fountain tour or before the zoo, which is next door. The park is open daily 06:30–21:00. From Salzburg Hbf or Mirabellplatz take bus 25 to Schloss Hellbrunn.

Free (official site, 2026)

Rising directly above the New Town on the Salzach's right bank, Kapuzinerberg is Salzburg's quieter answer to the Mönchsberg — a forested hill crossed by a 1600s pilgrim path lined with small Stations of the Cross chapels, leading past a still-active Capuchin friary (not open to the public) to viewpoints over the old town's rooftops and the fortress across the river. Far fewer tourists make the climb than to the Mönchsberg, which is exactly its appeal.

Free

This lift whisks visitors from Anton-Neumayr-Platz in the old town up through the rock to the Mönchsberg plateau in about 30 seconds, avoiding a steep climb. At the top, wooded paths connect several viewpoints over the old town and Alps, the Museum der Moderne, and Restaurant m32 — a favorite quiet-afternoon loop that most first-time visitors skip entirely in favor of the fortress.

Lift only: €3.40 one-way / €4.80 return adult (€1.50 / €2.20 child 6-14); combined ticket with Museum der Moderne €17 adult, €12 under 27; children and young people up to 19 ride and enter the museum free through December 2026; free with the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

The tree-lined banks of the fast-flowing Salzach connect the medieval old town to the more relaxed New Town (Neustadt), with the fortress and cathedral domes forming a classic postcard skyline across the water. The pedestrian Makartsteg bridge, roughly midway, has become Salzburg's own love-lock landmark, its railings covered in padlocks left by couples — a smaller, lower-key echo of Cologne's Hohenzollernbrücke.

Free

Built in 1606 by a prince-archbishop for his mistress and later remodeled into today's formal Baroque gardens, Mirabellgarten is Salzburg's most photographed green space — dwarf hedges, rose parterres, mythological statuary, and the Pegasus fountain, with Hohensalzburg framed perfectly across the flower beds. The Grand Staircase inside the palace (a wedding venue, not generally open for casual sightseeing) is famous from The Sound of Music's "Do-Re-Mi" sequence, as are the garden's dwarf statues and the Baroque "Hedge Theater."

Free

Built in the early 1600s as a prince-archbishop's summer pleasure palace, Hellbrunn is best known for its Wasserspiele (trick fountains) — hidden water jets built into a stone dining table, grottoes, and mechanical figure-scenes, designed to surprise (and soak) unsuspecting guests. A guided tour with mobile audio guide runs about 50 minutes through the gardens; the palace's own interior and the Sound of Music-famous glass gazebo (relocated here from its filming spot) round out a visit. In winter the grounds host the Hellbrunner Adventzauber, a smaller, more romantic Christmas market with the fountains switched off but the grotto areas lit up for an evening walk, generally free to enter.

€16.50 adult (main season, incl. trick-fountains tour); €6.50 child/pupil (4-18); €9.50 student (19-26); family (2 adults + 1 child) €36.50

Rising from the village of St. Leonhard/Grödig just south of the city, this cable car climbs roughly 1,300 vertical meters to the Geiereck station near the summit of the Untersberg (1,853m), the limestone massif that dominates Salzburg's southern skyline. From the top, panoramas stretch across the city, the Salzach valley, and deep into the Austrian and German Alps — a genuine high-mountain experience without leaving the greater Salzburg area, though it needs a car, taxi, or infrequent bus connection to reach the valley station.

Adult €34 return / €22 single; child (6-14) €17 return / €14 single; senior (65+) €29 return / €20 single (official site, 2026)

The Richterhöhe, one of the highest points of the Mönchsberg, looks south over Schloss Leopoldskron, the Salzburg basin, the Untersberg and Hohensalzburg Fortress from an unusual angle. The medieval Michaelsturm and Josefsturm stand beside it, a marble orientation table from 1908 names the mountains, and since 2008 a small vineyard has revived the old wine tradition here. The easiest way up is the Mönchsberg lift, or you can walk up from Nonntal, Nonnberg or Mülln; paths are described as suitable for strollers. Plan 30 to 60 minutes, more if you walk the ridge.

Free

The Humboldt-Terrasse started as a 17th-century gun emplacement under Prince-Archbishop Paris Lodron and was opened to the public in 1896 by banker Karl Leitner, who named it after Alexander von Humboldt, who stayed in Salzburg in 1797 and 1798. It gives views of the Salzach, the old town and the Kapuzinerberg. A stone staircase leads up between the Museum der Moderne and the Müllner Kirche, so it combines well with the Mülln side of the Mönchsberg. Plan 15 to 30 minutes plus the climb.

Free

The Pegasus Fountain stands in an old round basin in the Mirabell Gardens and was moved to its present spot in 1913. It is the best-known film location in the garden: the "Do-Re-Mi" scene of The Sound of Music was shot around it, with the fortress rising behind the flower beds. Come early in the morning or in the evening for photos without crowds. From Hbf it is about a 10-minute walk or one O-Bus stop to Mirabellplatz; from the Old Town cross the Staatsbrücke and walk about 10 minutes. The gardens are free and need no booking.

Free (official site, 2026)

The Mirabell dwarf garden is a collection of grotesque marble dwarfs from the late 17th century, described by the city as the oldest of its kind in Europe. The figures now stand on the Water Bastion at the edge of the gardens, while their original site to the south is a playground. Children enjoy hunting for funny faces and hats; adults get a look at an unusual piece of baroque garden humour. It is a 5-minute detour from the main flower parterre, so combine it with the Pegasus Fountain and the hedge theatre. Free, no booking.

Free (official site, 2026)

The rose garden lies immediately south of Schloss Mirabell and holds roughly 1,600 roses and 2,500 perennials, at its best from late May to September. The 18th-century Orangery and palm house stand beside the large parterre, and the Papageno fountain from 1984 is in the Orangery. A wheelchair-accessible entrance to the rose garden was added during the 2025 renovation. Sit on a bench with the fortress in view. Free, no booking.

Free (official site, 2026)

The Hettwer Bastion is part of the defensive walls built around 1630 under Prince-Archbishop Paris Lodron and is now a public viewpoint below the Capuchin monastery. From it you look across the rooftops of the Old Town to Hohensalzburg Fortress and the Mönchsberg, one of the best free views in the city and great in the evening light. The way up starts at the Felixpforte or Franziskuspforte on Linzer Gasse or at the Imbergstiege stairs; count about 10–15 minutes uphill on steep paths and steps. Free, no booking, open-air.

Free (official site, 2026)

The pedestrian bridge connects Franz-Josef-Kai in the Old Town with Elisabethkai and Makartplatz on the right bank. The current bridge dates from 2001 (the first one opened in 1905), was named Makartsteg until 2021 and now honours the Holocaust survivor and community leader Marko Feingold. Couples hang love locks on its railings, which the city clears periodically. It offers a nice view of the Old Town and the fortress and is a pleasant way to cross between the Old Town and Mirabell. Free, no booking; about a 15-minute walk from Hbf.

Free (official site, 2026)

The 80-seat panoramic boat Amadeus Salzburg departs from the Marko-Feingold-Steg in the Old Town and sails 8 km downstream towards Hellbrunn (Tour 1, about 40 minutes), with views of the Old Town and mountains and an outdoor deck. Standard Tour 1 costs €19 for adults and €10 for children aged 4–14; premium seats are €22 and €13. Longer tours add a bus to Hellbrunn Palace. The 2026 season runs 26 March – 1 November; Tour 1 departs several times a day between about 14:00 and 19:00. Online booking is recommended, and Salzburg Card holders get one free Tour 1 ride. Trips are cancelled in storms or very high water.

Tour 1: adult €19, child (4–14) €10 (standard seats); premium €22 / €13; longer tours €44–47 (official site, 2026)

The park around Hellbrunn Palace is a mix of formal gardens, ponds and natural biotope areas that suits an easy family stroll. The grounds are open daily from 06:30 to 21:00, so you can come before or after the ticketed trick fountains. A large adventure playground is on the grounds, which makes it an easy stop with small children. From Salzburg Hbf or Mirabellplatz take bus 25 towards Hellbrunn (stop Schloss Hellbrunn), or walk or cycle along the car-free Hellbrunner Allee.

Free (park); palace and trick fountains are ticketed (official site, 2026)

Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus laid out this avenue as a carriage road from the city to his summer palace; it is about 2.5 km long with some 621 trees and is described as the oldest avenue of its kind. Today it is closed to motor traffic and used by walkers, runners and cyclists. Along the way you pass Schloss Freisaal, the Gwandhaus and Schloss Frohnburg. It makes a pleasant, flat approach to Hellbrunn on foot or by bike.

Free (official site, 2026)

The Leopoldskron pond is one of the city's most popular local recreation areas. A 1.9 km circuit takes about 50 minutes on well-kept paths that are fine for strollers, and offers views of Schloss Leopoldskron and the fortress on the hill. The walk starts at the Johann Nepomuk statue at Peter-Kreuder-Weg and Leopoldskronstraße. The palace, a hotel, is not open to visitors, but the shore paths are public. Sunrise or late evening on a windless day gives the best reflections. It is a bit under 3 km south of the Old Town and reachable by city bus and a short walk.

Free (official site, 2026)

Aigner Park lies at the foot of the Gaisberg beside Schloss Aigen and the parish church. It is a protected garden monument from the early 19th century with winding paths, two grottoes with waterfalls and several viewpoints. The high point, Jägerhöhe, gives wide Alpine panoramas, and other lookouts show the Watzmann and Leopoldskron Palace. A quiet green outing away from the Old Town crowds; reach Aigen by city bus from Salzburg Hbf or Mirabellplatz.

Free (official site, 2026)

The Gaisberg rises to 1,287 m just a few kilometres from the Old Town and is topped by a 100 m transmitter mast. Bus 151 runs from Mirabellplatz through Gnigl straight up the mountain, so you need no car, and the ride is covered by the Salzburg Card. At the top there are viewpoints over the city and the Alps, hiking paths and a playground next to the Zistelalm. Check the weather first (a live summit camera is online) and bring a warm layer, as it is cooler and windier than the city. Plan about a half day.

No entry fee; bus 151 is included in the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

The Almkanal brings water 12 km from the Königsseeache to Salzburg, and its oldest section dates back to the 8th century. A walking and cycling path follows it from the southern city boundary through Morzg, the Leopoldskroner Moos and Riedenburg, improved in 2015–2018. Pick a short stretch, for example around Leopoldskron or Riedenburg, rather than the whole length. It is flat, quiet and well suited to strollers and bikes.

Free (official site, 2026)

The Mönchsberg is a city hill with winding paths over meadows and through small woods, with old fortifications and villas along the way. A classic walk starts at the Müllner Kirche in the north and runs south past the Bürgerwehr fortifications with views toward the Untersberg; Hotel Schloss Mönchstein lies on the route. Good viewpoints are on the terrace by the Museum der Moderne, which looks over the city to the Kapuzinerberg, and near the Neutor gate with a view of the Pferdeschwemme. You can reach the plateau on foot from the old town or ride the Mönchsberg lift, and combine the walk with the fortress. Wear sturdy shoes and take water.

Free (salzburg.info)

The panorama tour leads over the rooftops to an observation tower with 360-degree views of the city and surrounding mountains. On the way you pass a medieval dungeon, a salt model of the fortress and Old Town, and an acoustic installation. It is part of the fortress ticket, and in summer a separate panorama ticket exists for early-morning and evening time slots. Choose a clear day.

Included in the Hohensalzburg Fortress ticket (Basic €15.50 / €12.00 on foot; All-Inclusive €19.20 / €14.50 on foot; child 6-14 from €4.90; under 6 free; free with Salzburg Card) (official site, 2026)

The Salzburg Festival runs public tours of its venues, including the Grosses Festspielhaus, which opened in 1960 with Holzmeister's design built partly into the Mönchsberg. The tour lasts about 50 minutes and is held in German and English. Dates are announced at the end of each month for the following month, and tickets are sold online only. Meet in the foyer of the Grosses Festspielhaus at the first door facing the Pferdeschwemme. The tour involves several flights of stairs, so it does not suit strollers, and it is recommended from age 6. Tours are not held during rehearsals or building work, so check the date list before you plan your day.

Adults €7, children and young people 7–27 €4, under 7 free; one free public tour with the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

The Grünmarkt has been held on Universitätsplatz since the 19th century and is the easiest place in the old town to buy local fruit, berries, mushrooms, homemade pastries, jams and juices. On weekdays around 40 stalls open; on Saturdays there are 80 to 90, with extra stalls spilling into Wiener-Philharmoniker-Gasse. Today the mix also includes ready-to-eat snacks and gifts, so it works as a quick lunch or picnic stop. Come in the morning for the best choice. It is flat and open, right behind Getreidegasse, and combines well with the Kollegienkirche.

Free to browse; you pay for what you buy

The Toscaninihof lies between St Peter's Abbey, the Felsenreitschule and the Haus für Mozart, at the foot of the Mönchsberg cliff. It is named after Arturo Toscanini, who first conducted at the Salzburg Festival in 1934. A balcony-like niche holds an outdoor organ built in 1938, and the Clemens Holzmeister staircase climbs from here along the bastion up the Mönchsberg. It takes 10 to 20 minutes and combines naturally with the Pferdeschwemme, the Felsenreitschule and the Festival Halls tour.

Free

The Augustiner Bräu at Kloster Mülln has been brewing since 1621 and is Austria's largest beer hall, with around 1,400 seats in the garden. Beer comes from wooden barrels without artificial carbonation and is poured into stone mugs; you pick up food from the stalls and eat at long tables. The beer garden has a children's play area and changing tables, which makes it a relaxed family stop in the afternoon. It is cash only (no credit or debit cards). Several city buses stop nearby (lines 4, 7, 9, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28), and the S-Bahn station Mülln-Altstadt is close. Closed 24-25 December and 31 December-1 January.

Free entry; food and drinks paid in cash only (official site, 2026)

The Heckentheater is a baroque stage cut out of boxwood hedges on the Lodron city wall, laid out in the early 18th century. It is still used occasionally for small theatre performances and concerts, and the rest of the time it is simply a beautiful quiet corner to walk through. Look for the hedge wings and the tiny stage and picture the court performances once held here. It lies in the western section of the gardens beside the dwarf garden. Free to see; any event has its own tickets.

Free to visit (official site, 2026)

The Salzburg Palace Concerts take place in the Marble Hall (Marmorsaal) of Schloss Mirabell, one of the most beautiful ceremonial rooms in the city. A programme has two parts of about 40–50 and 35–40 minutes with a 15-minute interval, and finishes around 21:30–22:00; doors open 30 minutes before the start. Elegant evening dress is requested. Tickets are sold in advance online, by phone or at the evening box office from one hour before; a dinner-and-concert package with the Sheraton Grand is available. Children under 6 are not recommended. From Hbf take the O-Bus to Mirabellplatz.

From €42 (Category II €42, Category I €46; dinner + concert €89; reduced for ages 6–14 and students) (official site, 2026)

Founded in 1913 by Anton Aicher, the marionette theatre on Schwarzstraße performs with hand-carved puppets on 12 strings, a technique added to UNESCO's intangible heritage in 2016. The repertoire includes The Magic Flute, The Carnival of the Animals and The Sound of Music, plus shorter family-friendly shows and fairy tales. Seats cost roughly €20–35 depending on the category. The box office at Theatergasse/Schwarzstraße 16 is open Mon–Fri 10–17 and Sat 10–13; check the schedule and book ahead for evenings and weekends. It is a 15-minute walk from Hbf or a short O-Bus ride to Mirabellplatz.

About €20–35 depending on category (official site, 2026)

Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus had this theatre cut into the conglomerate rock of the Hellbrunn hill; it is one of the oldest natural theatres north of the Alps and was used for pastoral plays and early opera. Narrow tunnels and passages lead behind the stage and make it a small labyrinth for children and adults. Entry is included in the Hellbrunn Palace and trick fountains ticket, so combine it with the fountain tour. From Salzburg Hbf or Mirabellplatz take bus 25 to Schloss Hellbrunn; buy tickets online to skip the queue at the ticket office.

Included in the Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains ticket: adult €16.50, ages 4–18 €6.50 (official site, 2026/27 season)

The glass gazebo known from The Sound of Music is located in the grounds of Hellbrunn Palace. It is a popular photo stop for film fans and easy to combine with the park, the playground and the trick fountains. The grounds are open daily 06:30–21:00, so early morning or evening visits are quiet. From Salzburg Hbf or Mirabellplatz take bus 25 to Schloss Hellbrunn.

Free (palace grounds) (official site, 2026)

Stiegl-Brauwelt is the visitor centre of Salzburg's historic Stiegl brewery, set in a former malt house on the brewery grounds. The museum walks you through brewing, the history of the brand and hands-on stations, and there is a restaurant and a shop on site. Guided tours add a look at production and a tasting; they run at 10:30, 13:00 (in English) and 15:30. It is about 1.5 km west of the Old Town, roughly a 20-minute walk from Mozartsteg or a short bus ride. The museum is not wheelchair accessible, and dogs are not allowed on the production tour. Entry is free with the Salzburg Card.

Museum: adults €14.90, children 6-16 €11.50, under 6 free, students/seniors €11.80. Guided tour with production and tasting: adults €22.90, children 6-16 €15.50, students/seniors €19.50. Free with the Salzburg Card (official site, 2026)

The Landestheater on Makartplatz is Salzburg's main year-round theatre, a Neo-Baroque house by Fellner & Helmer that opened in 1893 and seats about 700. It has its own drama, ballet and musical theatre ensembles, and the Salzburg Festival also uses it in summer. For a family trip the interesting part is the Young Land programme: the 2026/27 season includes the children's opera Die kleine Zauberflöte (The Little Magic Flute, back on stage from 6 March 2027) and the children's play Rennschwein Rudi Rüssel (premiere 3 November 2026). It stands next to the Mozart Residence, a few minutes' walk from Mirabell and Mozartsteg. Check the schedule and book tickets on the theatre's website; the building is mainly worth entering for a performance.

Ticket prices depend on the production; see the schedule on the official site

Oberndorf, about 17 km north of Salzburg, is where Silent Night was first sung on 24 December 1818 in the old St Nicholas church, which was later lost to Salzach floods and demolished. The octagonal memorial chapel was finished in 1937 and is open every day from 8:00 to 20:00. The Stille Nacht Museum on Stille-Nacht-Platz tells the story of the carol. Oberndorf is reachable from Salzburg by S-Bahn, and the visit fits well on a short half-day, especially in Advent. The museum is closed on some weekdays, so check the days before you go.

Chapel free; museum adult €5, child (6–13) €3.50 (official site)

The tour takes about four hours and visits Mirabell Gardens, Leopoldskron Palace with its pond, the Hellbrunn gazebo and St. Michael's Basilica in Mondsee, passing through St. Gilgen on the way. It runs in English daily at 9:15 and 14:00 and starts at the Panorama Tours terminal at Mirabellplatz / Hubert-Sattler-Gasse 1, a few minutes on foot from the Hbf. Booking ahead is strongly recommended in spring, summer and around Christmas. Several of the stops can also be visited independently.

From €70 per person (official site, 2026)

The Schranne has been held on the square in front of St. Andrew's Church since 1906 and is one of Austria's best-known weekly markets. Farmers, restaurateurs and craftspeople from the city and surrounding region sell regional delicacies, flowers and handicrafts, and stalls serve roast chicken, fish soup and other Salzburg street food. The offer follows the seasons, with Advent wreaths in winter and palm buds at Easter. It is a short walk from Mirabellplatz and the Hbf; go in the morning, as it ends at 13:00.

Free entry; pay for what you buy (official tourism site, 2026)