How To Spend A Weekend In Salzburg (Including Top Highlights You Can’t Miss!)
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If last week’s post of St. Gilgen was perfect for the culture loving outdoor adventurer, then this week’s “part two” introducing Salzburg embodies everything else you might think of to enjoy on a European trip. Winding lanes of shops. Horse led carriage rides through the city. Museums. Churches. Bakeries. Renowned musical performances. Fortresses. Fountain graced plazas. Salzburg, Austria is filled with charm and is a worthy addition to any trip itinerary. As a former hub of the Austrian Hungarian empire made rich over the years through a wealth of salt, Salzburg is overflowing with unique musical, artistic and cultural experiences. With so much to experience, I believe at least a weekend’s worth of time is the best way to enjoy the city, however I know that not all schedules can accommodate that, and therefore have marked certain items as “must sees” if you only have a day or two. So, without further ado, these are my favorite tips for how to spend a weekend in Salzburg, including top highlights you can’t miss!
Invest In The Salzburg Card
Before we get into the details of what to see, I highly recommend investing in the Salzburg Card to see them! With the purchase of a Salzburg Card, you get included access and/or discounts to popular sites, excursions and events throughout the city. Likewise, you get unlimited access to all of their public transportation throughout the city which is a huge benefit especially if you are staying outside of the Altstadt (historic old downtown) and need to use their bus system. The Salzburg Card can be purchased in increments of 24, 48 or 72 hours directly from their website in advance, or at the check in of many hotels throughout the city. We bought ours when staying with Hotel Motel One and were so thankful we had it throughout our visit!
Visit Salzburg Cathedral
As perhaps one of the most well known sites in Salzburg, the Salzburg Cathedral is a sight to behold. Built in the Baroque style, the Salzburg Cathedral’s large dome stands proudly in the center of Salzburg’s Altstadt. The moldings, artwork and craftsmanship details are simply stunning. Similarly, you can take the steps down to the basement to view an additional more modern art installation and see private prayer spaces. With reduced admission prices through the Salzburg Card and organ music played at midday, you can’t miss this incredible house of worship.
Explore DomQuartier
While you are in the complex, check out DomQuartier. Also included within the Salzburg Card, DomQuartier technically includes both the Residenz and the Salzburg Cathedral that were once the seat of the prince-archbishops’ power. Within the Residenz you will be able to take an audio guided walking tour (available in 10 languages and with children’s options as well!) that describes the estate rooms (including the room where Mozart played his first concert…at age 6!), museums, galleries and terraces of the prince archbishops former dwellings. This tour provides a fabulous mix of history, architectural design and city views that are most definitely worth the 2 to 3 hour visit.
Stroll The Streets
Once you have seen the great sites of the DomQuartier complex, stroll down the winding streets and back alleys of the historic downtown Salzburg. Looking as if plucked from a fairytale with their ornate signage and picturesque window displays, the streets of Getreidegasse (shown above), Rathausplatz, Kranzlmarkt, Judengasse, and those surrounding them are filled with designer stores, restaurants, Christmas boutiques and local wares. While you do have to steer clear the ultra touristy trinkets available, the ambience and old world local charm of these streets are worth experiencing. Be sure to jut off the beaten track as you head towards the busier Alter Markt, University Square and Residenzplatz and you are bound to see open air markets, local street artists and horse drawn carriages passing through. To take a carriage ride throughout the city, simply head back to Residenzplatz near Salzburg Cathedral to book a ride with one of the many carriages available.
Enjoy A Mozart Concert At Mirabell Palace
Known as the birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg is teeming with tributes to the famous composer. Perhaps one of my personal favorite experiences was the Mozart concert at Mirabell Palace. Beginning at 8:00 pm, this concert provides the perfect excuse to dress up for a lovely night out. Set in the stunning Marble Hall of Mirabell Palace, this classical concert showcases the works of Mozart and other composers through amazingly talented soloists and ensembles. The talent of the musicians was clearly evident and while I don’t believe there is a bad seat in the house in relation to acoustics and visual interest, if you are able to sit close enough to really watch the musicians, I highly recommend it, as the emotions displayed and skills demonstrated are performances entirely within themselves.
Walk Through Hohensalzburg Fortress
Set high above the city, Hohensalzburg Fortress is the biggest fully preserved castle in Central Europe with a unique museum, armory and estate rooms throughout the complex. Originally built in 1077, the fortress has seen many expansions over the years and now is easily accessible through their Fortress Funicular which ushers you into the heart of the complex. Both entrance to the fortress and rides on the Funicular are included within the Salzburg Card, however be sure to visit it before 11:00 am to have access to the estate rooms. This fortress not only provides for gorgeous views but they also offer a restaurant, baroque festivities on Sundays and Mozart dinner concerts.
Experience The Trick Fountains of Schloss Hellbrunn
While parts of Salzburg might be slightly less enjoyable for kids (ie: a Mozart concert), the bright yellow Schloss Hellbrunn is a fabulous find for adults and kids alike. Located slightly outside of the city, Schloss Hellbrunn was created in the early 1600s as an oasis of leisure by prince-archbishop Markus Sittikus. With the Salzburg Card, you can receive access to the grounds (with play areas and benches), gardens and house complete with an audio guide (options for kids as well). While the house might not be as blatantly impressive as DomQuartier (although it is still lovely!), the fountains throughout the gardens, nicknamed the “Trick Fountains”, comprise one of the largest collections of Mannerist fountains of this kind still around. With an eye for mischief, Sittikus had these fountains designed in a way to play tricks on his guests with water through cleverly disguised mechanical systems. As these systems still work, be prepared to experience an unexpected sprinkle or two throughout your tour.
Take A Ride On The Dürrnberg Sommerrodelbahn
With the longest descent near Salzburg, experience your own personal roller coaster at the Dürrnberg Sommerrodelbahn (toboggan run). Traveling over two kilometers down the mountain while featuring individual speed controls, this toboggan run provides an exhilarating experience with incredible views. Similarly, after riding the chairlift to the top of the mountain, stop and enjoy the panoramic view with a fabulous lunch at their local restaurant before setting off down the mountain. While Charlie and I only rode down the mountain once, we saw many guests riding multiple times and we totally understand why! Between the mountain views, chairlift ride, delicious lunch and exhilarating descent, the Dürrnberg Sommerrodelbahn is a must see!
Explore Local Churches
Lastly, but certainly not least, don’t be afraid to explore local churches. As I have mentioned in past posts, most of the churches throughout this area are open to the public (excluding full service times, events, weddings etc.) until the evening. While Salzburg Cathedral is certainly one of the most well known churches of the area, I also recommend visiting Franzikaner Kirche, Stiftskirche St. Peter, Margarethenkapelle, Kollegienkirche and others sprinkled throughout the city. While the majority of these houses of worship are Catholic, each has their own distinct architectural styles, décor and history that make them unique, so not only do you get to explore off the beaten path, but you also are able to expand your horizons to the beauty of the ages.
Additional Unique Salzburg Adventures
Even with a whole weekend, there are so many adventures that we didn’t get to and have on our list to enjoy for another time. Some of the most notable things that Salzburg is known for is of course the filming of The Sound of Music and salt, the origin of its wealth. If you are interested in learning more about the filming of The Sound of Music, there are a multitude of walking tours, bus tours and even horse drawn carriage tours that lead you around the city to important stops. Similarly, in relation to salt, both within Salzburg and in smaller neighboring towns like Hallstatt, there are a variety of salt mines available for touring to learn more about the salt mining process over the years.
Enjoy Local Cuisine
I believe one of the greatest joys of traveling is experiencing local foods. In Salzburg, local cuisine can be found on almost every corner, but the next few in particular stood out as our favorites. If you are looking for bakeries, I highly recommend (as does almost everyone else writing about Salzburg :)) the family run Café Tomaselli for their cakes, pastries, coffee and ice cream sundaes. Their Sachertorte (a famous Austrian chocolate cake) is particularly tasty. For a less touristy option, just a few streets over is Bäckerei Holztrattner which has fabulous coffee, cream cheese danishes and chocolate croissants. These bakeries and others around the city are typically open for breakfast and lunch and can be a great cost savings throughout your trip while providing wonderful food.
If looking for a more traditional sit down restaurant however, we found that both Koller+Koller am Waagplatz and Braurestaurant Imlauer had delicious food and wonderful experiences. Both restaurants had charming interiors and outdoor patio seating options as well.
Have A Short Trip? Top Highlights You Can’t Miss
While there is so much to explore throughout the charming city of Salzburg and its surrounding towns and countryside (ex. St. Gilgen), if you are only able to stay for a shorter period of time, there are a few particular items that I highly recommend. Obviously you can tailor these to your own interests, but from what we experienced, these five adventures gave us the most well rounded view of Salzburg with its artistic, architectural, musical, historical and alpine views.
- Salzburg Cathedral
- DomQuartier
- Mozart Concert At Mirabell Palace
- Dürrnberg Sommerrodelbahn
- Additional Exploring – shops, churches etc.
Final Thoughts
With Salzburg so close to both Munich (about 2 hours) and Vienna (about 3 hours), it makes a wonderful trip addition for experiencing a smaller Austrian city close to the alps. The beauty of both the city and the surrounding area is stunning and certainly makes this city one I would love to visit again. Have you ever been to Salzburg? If so, what was your favorite part? I’d love to know in the comment section below and be sure to save this post for future adventures!
Happy traveling!
Chloe
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