Salzburg itinerary — 2 days
Day 1 — Salzburg
5 stops · ≈ 5 h 43 minSalzburg Cathedral is an early Baroque masterpiece dominating Cathedral Square in the historic heart of the city. Rebuilt in the 17th century to designs by Santino Solari, it features an imposing marble facade, twin 81-meter towers, and a majestic dome. Inside, visitors admire lavish stuccowork, historic pipe organs, and the Romanesque bronze baptismal font where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was baptized.
The grand ceremonial square of Salzburg's old town, laid out in the late 16th century by prince-archbishop Wolf Dietrich. It is framed by the Residenz palace, the cathedral and burgher houses with arcades, and at its centre plays the baroque Residenzbrunnen fountain (1656–1661) — among the largest outside Italy, with marble horse tamers and tritons. Film fans know it from The Sound of Music: Maria's stroll was filmed here.
The bright yellow Hagenauer House on Getreidegasse where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756. His family occupied the third-floor apartment for 26 years before moving across the river. Today, the memorial museum displays original bourgeois furnishings alongside priceless musical relics: Mozart's childhood violin, his concert clavichord, authentic family portraits, personal letters, and rare handwritten sheet music.
Situated in Salzburg's Old Town, the Haus der Natur is an engaging natural history and technology museum housed in a former Ursuline convent. Across more than 7,000 square meters, visitors explore life-sized moving dinosaur models, regional alpine geology, a reptile zoo, and one of Central Europe's finest marine aquariums. Its state-of-the-art interactive Science Center allows children and adults to conduct hands-on physics experiments.
A futuristic aviation museum and lifestyle venue at Salzburg Airport, conceived by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Housed in a striking dome of steel and curved glass panes, the complex showcases the renowned Flying Bulls fleet of historic aircraft, Formula 1 championship cars, and extreme sports gear including Felix Baumgartner's capsule, alongside the Michelin-starred Ikarus guest chef restaurant.
Reserve
8If you have time left — worth it too.
Narrow medieval street, birthplace of the "Silent Night" poet & home to past & current brothels.
Rocky plateau above Salzburg with woods, meadows, castles & a modern art museum, reached by a lift.
Turning away from the city toward the meadows and mountains, the banks of the Salzach River are a joy for cyclists, especially when the city is packed in summer. Rent a bike and ride south, admiring views of the jumble of domes and spires of the Altstadt, which slowly fades away as you pass the Volksgarten park. A bike ride here lets you escape the city crowds for a while. The Salzach River is a jade-colored waterway flowing through Salzburg, visible from various points in the city, including Hohensalzburg Fortress and the Winkler Terrace. Besides being a beautiful river for photography, it serves as a natural boundary between Salzburg's Old Town and the more modern parts of the city. The river is about 225 km (140 miles) long and originates in the Austrian Alps, where it flows through picturesque valleys and towns before reaching the city of Salzburg.
Alpine destination with skiing, hiking & biking routes, plus hotels, restaurants & a playground.
Housed in the baroque Schloss Klessheim just outside Salzburg, Casino Salzburg offers gaming in a palace setting. The summer residence was originally designed around 1700 by master architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach for the Prince-Archbishops. Visitors enter staterooms with ornate stucco, marble fireplaces, and chandeliers to play American roulette, blackjack, and poker, or to dine at the upscale on-site palace restaurant.
A monastery brewery run by Augustinian monks since 1621, and Salzburg's largest beer hall — one of the biggest in Austria. Beer is drawn yourself from wooden barrels into stone mugs that you pick up with a deposit, while pretzels and cold snacks are sold at separate stands. In summer a huge beer garden opens under the chestnut trees, and on Sundays locals drop in with their families after mass.
A classic Salzburg tavern a few minutes' walk from the Old Town, serving guests for centuries. In wood-panelled rooms hung with old photographs you get Austrian classics: Wiener schnitzel, Tafelspitz, dumplings and seasonal game, washed down with Stiegl beer brewed here in Salzburg. A beer garden opens in the warmer months. Locals love the place, so finding a table in the evening without a booking is hard.
Nestled against the dramatic rock face of Hellbrunn Hill within the historic palace grounds, Salzburg Zoo provides a picturesque sanctuary for roughly 1,500 animals of 150 species. The zoo is thoughtfully divided into geo-zones representing Eurasia, Africa, South America, and Australia. Visitors can observe white rhinos grazing on savanna pastures, watch jaguars in lush enclosures, and see native Alpine ibex navigating steep natural crags.
- Purchase a Salzburg Card for free access to public transport and discounts at attractions.
- Try the local delicacy, Salzburger Nockerl, in a traditional café.
- Visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress for stunning views of the city.