Salzburg
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Salzburg
Capital of the province of the same name, Salzburg, in northwest Austria, is one of Europe's most beautiful cities, both for its architecture and for its magnificent setting. This picturesque city stretches along both banks of the River Salzach, as it emerges from the Salzburg Alps into lower land dominated by the 1,853-meter Untersberg. The romantic Old Town is a compact neighborhood of narrow medieval streets and arcaded courtyards that are fun to explore, as are the spacious squares of the residential area between the Neutor and the Neugebäude districts. Salzburg enjoys a special fame in the world of music as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, reflected in attractions such as the museum in his family home, various festivals showcasing his music, and even the melodies that ring out daily on the glockenspiel. Several of Salzburg's attractions were filming sites for The Sound of Music and these are a particular draw for tourists.
Use this list of the top attractions in Salzburg to find out all the things to do here:
1 Altstadt Salzburg (Old Town)
From Universitätsplatz, a number of wonderful passages known as Durchhäuser weave northward to Getreidegasse, a busy pedestrian area lined with old merchant homes dating from the 15th to 18th centuries. Highlights of a walking tour of this Old Town area are its many wrought-iron shop and inn signs, its beautiful old courtyards, as well as numerous galleries, boutiques, workshops, and cafés. At the eastern end of Getreidegasse lies the Kranzlmarkt with the old Town Hall (Rathaus) surrounded by more old medieval houses, some as high as five stories. In the Old Market (Alter Markt) stands the 13th-century Court Pharmacy (Hofapotheke), while in the middle of the square is the 17th-century St. Florian's Fountain with its octagonal basin and an even older spiral grille from 1583. Other Old Town sights are Judengasse with its narrow, twisting lanes, and the Chiemseehof, built in 1305 and the residence of the Prince Bishops of Chiemsee until 1806; its arcaded courtyard is decorated with coats of arms.
2 Hohensalzburg Castle
Salzburg is dominated by the picturesque fortress of Hohensalzburg, on the southeastern summit of the Mönchsberg. The original castle was built in 1077, and much of what's seen today dates from the early 1500s. You can reach the castle by a pleasant 20-minute walk from the Old Town center or via a funicular railway from Festungsgasse. The approach to the fortress passes through a number of impressive arched defensive gateways under the 17th-century Fire Bastion to the Reisszug, a unique hoist dating from 1504 once used to haul supplies. It continues through the Horse Gate into the Haupthof (outer ward) with its ancient lime tree and a cistern from 1539. Other highlights include the courtyard, with its tiny Church of St. George (Georgskirche) from 1502, and the famous Salzburg Bull (Salzburger Stier), an organ from 1502 that still plays daily and seems to echo the carillon in the Neugebäude. Highlights in the castle include the sumptuous Princes' Apartments, with their Late Gothic décor and fine painted wainscoting; the Golden Room (Goldene Stube), with its marble doorways; and the Golden Hall, with gold bosses on the blue coffered ceiling and red marble columns. Also worth seeing are the Fortress Museum, with weapons and torture devices, and the Rainer Regiment Museum containing artifacts from the old Salzburg household regiment.
3 St. Peter's Abbey
On the western side of Salzburg's Kapitelplatz, the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter (Erzabtei St. Peter) was founded by St. Rupert in AD 690 and served as the residence of the Archbishops until 1110. While the present buildings date mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries, they remain an impressive testament to the order's architectural skills, as can be seen in the building's tall onion-shaped tower, one of the first of its kind in Europe. Highlights include St. Peter's Churchyard (Friedhof St. Peter), an impressive burial ground surrounded on three sides by arcades and family tombs from the 17th century. To the south, it backs onto the sheer rock face of the Mönchsberg, where you'll find Early Christian catacombs and St. Maximus' Chapel, hewn from the solid rock. A passage leads from the churchyard into the outer courtyard graced by St. Peter's Fountain (Petrusbrunnen) built in 1673, as well the Haydn memorial depicting the life and work of Johann Michael Haydn, brother of famed composer Joseph Haydn. Another important Salzburg landmark is Nonnberg Abbey, founded in AD 714.
4 Salzburg Cathedral
A prominent building thanks to its twin 79-meter towers, Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) was completed in 1657 and is famous for its Italian style and its role as the location of Mozart's baptism. The building's west front, facing the Domplatz, has four colossal marble statues, the outer ones representing St. Rupert and Virgil, patron saints of the province, while the inner ones depict Peter and Paul. Notable features include its three massive bronze doors with their symbols of Faith, Love, and Hope; the high altar with its Resurrection painted in 1628; and the superb frescoes in the vaulting. The burial vaults and artifacts in the crypt are also worth seeing, as is the Cathedral Museum with its collections of liturgical objects and objets d'art from the Salzburg archdiocese, including the 8th-century Carolingian Cross of St. Rupert, Gothic statues and paintings, and items from the Cathedral Treasury.
5 St. Peter's Church
One of Salzburg's oldest and most attractive churches, St. Peter's Church (Stiftskirche St. Peter) was completed in 1143, altered in 1625, and decorated in Rococo style between 1757 and 1783 when its distinctive helm tower was added. Inside the porch under the tower is the Romanesque west doorway dating from 1240, while in the interior, the plan of the Romanesque basilica can still be detected, along with monuments including the rock-hewn tomb of St. Rupert with an epitaph from 1444. Other notable monuments are those dedicated to Mozart's sister Marianne (Nannerl), who died in 1829, and to JM Haydn, brother of Joseph. Other highlights are the painted altarpieces on the 16 marble altars and the Lady Chapel (Marienkapelle) from 1319, which contains a stone figure of the Virgin, along with Early Gothic frescoes and later frescoes from 1755.
6 The Residenzplatz
At the very heart of Salzburg's Old Town (Altstadt) on the left bank of the Salzach is the Residenzplatz, one of the city's largest squares and the best place from which to begin exploring the many tourist attractions this beautiful city has to offer. The focal point of the Residenzplatz is the stunning Residenzbrunnen, a masterpiece of marble made by an Italian sculptor in 1661 and the largest and finest Baroque fountain this side of the Alps. Standing 15 meters high with splendid figures of bold horses, along with the god Atlas bearing dishes, it also impresses with its dolphins and, crowning the whole display, a Triton with a conch shell. From here, it's easy to spend time relaxing in the terraced cafés and boutique shops lining the adjoining streets, or to jump right in and visit key attractions such as Salzburg Cathedral and the Residenz, the former palace of the city's Prince Bishops. The square is also frequently used for concerts and celebrations such as public New Year's Eve parties and an excellent Christmas Market.
7 The Salzburg Residenz and the Residenzgalerie
Dominating the western side of Salzburg's Residenzplatz is the Residenz, the former palace of the city's once powerful Prince Bishops. Built between 1596 and 1619, this huge palace is laid out around three courtyards, with a large marble gateway added in 1710. Spectacular State Apartments are lavishly decorated in Late Baroque and Early Neoclassical style and with exquisite wall and ceiling paintings, rich stucco ornaments, and handsome fireplaces. Of particular note are the Knights' Hall (Rittersaal), the Conference Hall (Konferenzsaal), and the splendid Audience Hall (Audienzsaal) containing Flemish tapestries from the 1600s and fine Parisian furniture. Other highlights include the White Hall (Weisse Saal), with its superb stucco ornaments in Louis XVI style from 1776; the Function Room (Gesellschaftszimmer), with 18th-century silk carpets; and the Imperial Hall (Kaisersaal), with portraits of Holy Roman Emperors and Kings of the Habsburg dynasty. The Residenzgalerie, an art gallery established in 1923, displays works of European painters from the 16th to 19th centuries, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Brueghel.
8 Schloss Hellbrunn (Hellbrunn Palace) and Fountains
Markus Sittikus, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, commissioned this pleasure palace in 1613 as a place to relax and entertain. Never intended as a residence, the palace is nonetheless quite grand, and a tour gives you an inside look into the world of these immensely wealthy and powerful rulers of both church and state. Markus Sittikus conceived of unusual entertainments for his guests: a garden of trick water features and fountains, where an innocent looking statue of pavement may suddenly turn into a shower, or what appear to be benches around a table suddenly begin to spout water all over guests. The tour is lighthearted and fun, especially for children and those who don't mind getting a bit wet (it's a good idea to keep your camera and phone covered). Apart from the trick fountains and beautiful flower gardens, the park is interesting as the site of the gazebo and grand alley of trees used in filming The Sound of Music. In December, the gardens are home to a lovely Christmas Market; entrance to a nearby folk museum is included in the admission ticket.
9 Schloss Mirabell (Mirabell Palace) and Gardens
Another garden used in the filming of The Sound of Music is at Salzburg's lovely Schloss Mirabell, an excellent example of Baroque landscape design laid out in 1690 with numerous terraces, marble statues, and fountains. The palace itself was remodeled in Baroque style between 1721-27 before being restored in the simpler Neoclassical style after a fire in 1818. Highlights of a visit include the spectacular Grand Staircase, built in the 18th-century, with a number of statues by Georg Raphael Donner and his pupils. Other interesting features are the Marble Hall (still used for concerts and functions) and the Schloss Mirabell Baroque Museum, housed in the Gardener's Building (the Gärtnergebäude), part of the estate's Orangery, and exhibiting European art of the 17th and 18th centuries. The former 18th-century aviary is now used for exhibitions, and at the southwestern corner of the gardens stands a small open air theater.
10 The Franciscan Church
To the north of St. Peter's Church stands the Franciscan Church (Franziskanerkirche), the town's parish church until 1635. Notable features of the exterior are the high roof of the choir and the tower on the south side from 1498, while inside, the dark 13th-century Romanesque nave contrasts with the high, bright 15th-century Gothic choir. In front of a ring of Baroque chapels dating from 1606 stands the high altar, added in 1709 and notable for its late 15th-century carved Madonna. In the central chapel behind the altar is a winged marble altar from 1561 from the old cathedral. Opposite the church is the still-operating Franciscan Friary.
11 Mozart's Birthplace
The house where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27th, 1756, includes the rooms once occupied by the Mozart family and a museum displaying numerous interesting mementos, including the young Mozart's violin, portraits, and original scores of his compositions. Engaging exhibits introduce his family members and their life and explore his operatic works, with costumes, set designs, and models and excerpts from his operas. One room is furnished as it would have been in his time.
12 Salzburg's Festival Theaters
Salzburg has long been famous for its music festivals, as shown by the city's many historic theaters and concert halls. Collectively known as the Festival Theaters (Festspielhäuser), these buildings consist of the large Festspielhaus and the smaller Haus für Mozart, between which is a foyer with fine frescoes, and the Karl-Böhm Hall, used for exhibitions and receptions. It's in this building, decorated by superb 17th-century frescoes, that the famous Salzburg Festival has been held since 1925, a five-week-long summer event showcasing the best of European music and drama. Other major Salzburg festivals include Mozart Week, a weeklong winter event focusing on the works of the great Austrian composer, and Salzburg Cultural Days, an annual two-week festival in October that includes symphonic and chamber concerts and opera performances. For a completely different theatrical experience, visit the Salzburg Marionette Theater, established in 1913 and one of the oldest puppet theaters in the world.
13 Neugebäude
Opposite the Salzburg Residenz is the New Building (Neugebäude), erected in 1602 as the Archbishop's guesthouse and enlarged in 1670. Now home to provincial government offices and the Salzburg Museum, the building is famous for its carillon (Glockenspiel). Built in 1702, it contains 35 bells that play tunes from Mozart's vast repertoire three times per day (7am, 11am, and 6pm, guided tours available). A highlight of the experience is hearing the famous Salzburg Bull, the organ in neighboring Hohensalzburg palace, respond to the carillon with a chorale. Also, be sure to visit the lovely 18th-century St. Michael's Church (Michaelskirche) on the north side of the Residenzplatz at the corner of Mozartplatz with its Mozart Monument from 1842.
14 St. Sebastian's Church and Cemetery
A highlight of Salzburg's more modern district on the right bank of the Salzach is St. Sebastian's Church (Sebastianskirche). Built in 1512 and completely remodeled in Rococo style in 1753, the church features a flight of steps leading to St. Sebastian Cemetery (Friedhof), established in 1595. In the middle of the cemetery stands St. Gabriel's Chapel (Gabrielskapelle), with its ornate ceramic decoration, completed in 1603 as a mausoleum for Archbishop Wolf Dietrich. On the path to the chapel lie the graves of Mozart's father, Leopold, and his widow, Konstanze, while, to the west of the church is a passage leading to the Loreto Convent (Loretokloster) and Paris-Lodron-Strasse.
15 Hallein and the Celtic Museum
The old Celtic town of Hallein on the River Salzach, a ten-minute-drive from Salzburg city center, is one of the several interesting places to visit near Salzburg, for its picturesque narrow streets, gateways, and statues, as well as the historic homes built in typical Salzach style. Hallein is the birthplace of organist Franz Xaver Gruber, composer of Silent Night. It's also where you'll find the Celtic Museum (Keltenmuseum Hallein), one of the largest and most complete museums of Celtic art and history in all Europe. In a former 17th-century orphanage, this reconstructed Celtic farmstead includes buildings and tools used by Celt settlers, as well as an ancient burial chamber. Other highlights include displays of finds from the Hallstatt and La Tène (Iron Age) periods from 800-15 BC, as well as exhibits portraying local customs and the history of town guilds.
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