How to Spend 2 Days in Salzburg: The Perfect Itinerary

Sitting in the heart of Austria, Salzburg is a city that effortlessly weaves together history, culture, and natural beauty. From its charming Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the majestic backdrop of the Austrian Alps, Salzburg is a destination that will captivate the soul and ignite the imagination. With a rich musical heritage, stunning architecture, and a plethora of outdoor adventures, this enchanting city has something to offer every kind of traveller.

From the moment the city & it’s fairy-tale fortress came into view from our train window, our hearts were stolen. We spent 2 days in this enchanting city & left with a burning desire for more. You could quite easily spend much longer here, but if you are short on time or on a fleeting visit, we’re going to tell you exactly how to make the most of 2 days in Salzburg. & why this city has become one of our all time favourites in Europe.

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Where to stay?

We highly recommend that you book yourself in MEINNINGER Salzburg City Centre. We stayed here & really enjoyed it (gifted stay).

What we love about MEINNINGER is you can find them all over Europe & they cater to budget travellers. Their rooms are a basic, no frills vibe, but they have everything you could possibly need. Furthermore, they always have a communal kitchen, so if you prefer to cook for yourself, you can.

The location of MEINNINGER Salzburg isn’t super central, but is well connected via public transport. With a bus stop right outside the hotel that has bus routes to the Old Town. In addition, there is an ALDI & other shops right across the road from the hotel, so if you do decide to cook for yourself, you aren’t far from a supermarket.

Finally, we particularly loved the balcony & view from the room over the surrounding hills & mountains in the distance. We caught a great sunset here.

How to get around the city?

Salzburg is quite a walkable city, mostly close to the river & the Old Town. However, you will likely need to use a bus or tram to travel to different areas of the city & for any day trips outside of Salzburg itself.

We definitely recommend that you get yourself a Salzburg Card, to make the most of FREE public transport with a purchase of this card. Not to mention, you’ll also have free access to some tourist attractions & great discounts on events. You can purchase a card from 24 hours, through to 72 hours. Find the price list here.

Moreover, if you are arriving into Salzburg from the airport you can jump on a bus from the airport into the city centre. They run throughout the day & you can find more information about this service on the airport website.

Day 1: Old Town

Dedicate your first day to familiarising yourself & exploring the beautiful Old Town. This is the most picturesque part of the city, you’ll have no difficulty in understanding why it gets it’s UNESCO World Heritage status.

With a captivating blend of medieval and theatrical architecture. Narrow cobblestone streets wind their way through the heart of the Old Town, flanked by elegant townhouses & decorative facades. The jewel of this district is the magnificent Salzburg Cathedral, a grandiose masterpiece in the heart of the city. While the iconic Hohensalzburg Fortress looms majestically over the cityscape.

Moreover, quaint shops, cafes, and restaurants line the streets, offering a mix of local crafts, traditional Austrian cuisine, & Mozart-themed souvenirs, as Salzburg is the birthplace of the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A stroll through its winding lanes is like stepping back in time in such a romantic way.

Don’t forget! Salzburg is also filled with movie magic, as it was the delightful setting for the classic 1965 musical ‘The Sound of Music’. This was certainly a draw for us, being huge fans.

Highlights of the Old Town:

Mozartplatz – A stunning central square, dedicated to the infamous composer. There is a wonderful centre piece fountain, perfect for photos & the houses that line the square are equally as adorable.

Hohensalzburg Fortress – Perched upon the Festungsberg hill, overlooking the city. You can take a funicular to reach the fortress, if you have Salzburg Card the cost will be covered with that. If not, the price is 11.60 Euros per person. Once up here, the views are unparalleled out across the city & surrounding mountains. There is also a museum inside the fortress.

The Getreidegasse – Salzburg’s most famous shopping street. Here you’ll discover many boutique, luxury & craft shops. The street is one of the most picturesque in the whole city, with it’s old-world charm & whimsical atmosphere.

Mozart’s Birthplace – Located about half way down the Getreidegasse, you’ll find the birthplace of Mozart. There is a museum in the building, dedicated to telling the story of his life. You can find more information on opening times & ticket prices here. Note that you get FREE one time entry with a Salzburg Card.

Mirabell Palace & Gardens – If you are a ‘The Sound of Music’ fan this one is for you. As it was an important shooting location for the movie, where Maria and the Von Trapp children dance around the Pegasus Fountain in front of the palace, singing the song “Do Re Mi”.

In addition, there are plenty of other filming locations dotted around Salzburg, you can find more information about them here. Or why not jump on a tour of the sites, ‘The Sound of Music’ tours.

Day 2: Viewpoints

Salzburg is home to some marvellous viewpoints within the city, but also some beautiful nature spots just a stones throw away from the city. On your second day, take the opportunity to discover some of these spots, take your camera with you, you’re going to need it!

Top viewpoints in Salzburg city:

Kapuzinerberg – This peaceful hill on the right bank of the Salzach River offers scenic walking paths leading to the summit. From the top, you can gaze down upon the Old Town & the river. There are viewpoints dotted along the way, so even if you can’t reach the top, you can still enjoy the views. Exact location can be found here.

Mönchsberg – Our personal favourite! Adjacent to the Old Town, Mönchsberg is easily accessible, with an elevator available at the Museum of Modern Art, or just take a leisurely walk through its lush greenery, from the edge of the river.

Once again, there are multiple viewpoints along the way to stop & admire the views across the Old Town & surrounding mountains. It is like something out of a fairy tale here.

Untersberg

After enjoying these viewpoints within the city centre, we highly recommend that you catch a bus out towards Untersberg, Salzburg’s closest mountain. Situated only 7.3 miles south of the city centre. You can easily catch the bus from the Old Town & it will take you roughly 30 minutes to reach the mountain car park. Moreover, if you have a Salzburg Card this journey is included.

Once arrived, you’ll be able to take the cable car to 1,972m above sea level. If you have a Salzburg Card this ascent & descant via cable car is included, if not you can find all prices here. What we will say is that the cable car ride is not for the faint hearted or those with a fear of heights, this is a crazy ride!

At the top you’ll be rewarded by the most outstanding views of the Austrian Alps & across to Bavaria, in Germany. Make sure you’ve packed a coat, because the temperature is significantly cooler at this altitude, even on the warmest of days. Plus there is still snow at the peak, even during summer when we visited!

There are plenty of walking trails to get stuck into up here. You can hike to the summit, which should only take around 30 minutes, be careful as the ground is uneven & will likely be covered in snow in parts. If hiking isn’t for you, but you still want to enjoy the views. There is a café, so grab yourself a table & enjoy a warm drink with unbeatable views.

Furthermore, dotted around Untersberg there are some adorable looking villages. We spotted many from above, but unfortunately didn’t have enough daylight hours to explore them. If you plan a little better, maybe you could catch a bus & experience some of the rural villages in the area. We can only imagine the photo opportunities.

Finally, if you are visiting Salzburg in the summer (which is a great time to visit)! Then spend at least one evening with a couple of local beers on the banks of the river Salzach. This was a total vibe & the perfect spot to watch the sunset.

Regrettably, we’ve come to the end of our visit to Salzburg. We loved how this city felt vibrant & exciting, yet still so close to nature. This made it the most unique city break we have experienced so far. We hope that armed with this travel guide, you’ll too fall in love with every inch of Salzburg. It’s certainly left its impression on us.

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