Salzburg

Baroque Beauty and Musical Magic

Salzburg stands out as a compact city with historic architecture and alpine views. The streets are lined with baroque buildings, many dating back to the 17th century. Mozart was born here and his influence can still be felt in music venues throughout the town. Public transport connects major sites efficiently, making it easy to explore without long commutes. Surrounded by mountains, walking paths lead to scenic viewpoints and quiet neighborhoods. The city balances cultural events with daily life, giving visitors a clear sense of place without feeling rushed or crowded.

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City in Austria

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.6

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions. Most signage and menus are available in English, so getting around as a visitor is easy and stress-free.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Salzburg Summary

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World-class for classical music and baroque architecture. Visit Mozart landmarks, explore grand churches and fortresses, walk historic streets and enjoy alpine views nearby.

Place score

8.1

Best at:

Historic sites

Castles

Walkable

Spotless

Guided tours

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

👩 8

Solo

Austria – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Austria is a highly cashless society, particularly in urban areas. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and mobile payment services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are increasingly popular. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Austria. In restaurants, it is common to leave a 5-10% tip, though rounding up to the nearest euro is also acceptable. Taxi drivers typically expect a small tip, around 10% of the fare. Hotel staff and tour guides appreciate small gratuities.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally permitted in Austria, though some areas may have restrictions. Drinking in public spaces such as parks and squares is socially accepted but may be subject to local laws in specific municipalities.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in most indoor public spaces, including restaurants, bars, and public transport. Designated smoking areas are available in many locations.

National Day (October)	A national holiday with many closures, celebrations, and increased domestic tourism.
Christmas (December)	Festive celebrations across the country, with crowded tourist spots and higher prices for accommodation.
Austrian Wine Harvest Festival (September)	Celebration of local wines, especially in wine-producing regions, with festivals and events.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber
Other:	Austria is known for its rich cultural heritage, with historical sites, museums, and nature reserves. Its well-developed infrastructure, particularly in transport, makes it a comfortable destination for travellers.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Salzburg, Austria

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	May - Sep., Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Salzburg Festival runs mid July to end of August; hotels book out and prices rise sharply

Christmas markets open late November to 26 December

Don't miss

🏰 Explore Hohensalzburg Fortress and enjoy sweeping alpine views
🎻 Attend a classical concert in Mozart’s birthplace
🌷 Stroll through Mirabell Gardens and admire baroque sculptures
🏘️ Wander the UNESCO-listed Old Town’s cobblestone streets
🚤 Cruise down the Salzach River and see Salzburg’s skyline
🌲 Hike up Kapuzinerberg for forest trails and scenic vistas

You've been here?

Why travel to Salzburg?

Whether you’re a classical music fan, a lover of grand architecture or simply want to soak up some of Europe’s most romantic scenery, Salzburg is a delight. Stroll along the Salzach River, explore centuries-old fortresses and lose yourself in the winding lanes of the Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is bursting with culture, from Mozart concerts to lively festivals and the surrounding mountains offer stunning views and peaceful escapes. A couple of things to keep in mind: Salzburg can get crowded, especially in summer and during festival season and the Old Town’s popularity means higher prices and lots of souvenir shops. Still, the city’s charm shines through, especially in the quieter early mornings or evenings after the day-trippers have left.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Hohensalzburg Fortress
2 Salzburg Cathedral
3 Mozart's Birthplace
4 DomQuartier

🎡Places for activities

1 Museum
2 Zoo Hellbrunn
3 Salzburger Marionettentheater
4 Haus der Natur

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Kapuzinerberg
2 Almkanal
3 Salzach
4 Leopoldskroner Weiher
5 Mönchsberg
6 Richterhöhe
7 St Peter’s Cemetery
8 Aigner Park

🛍️Shopping

1 Getreidegasse
2 Old Marketplace
3 Salzburg Designer Outlet
4 Goldgasse
5 Judengasse
6 Grünmarkt
7 Sporer Likör- & Punschmanufaktur

🎈Events

Salzburg Festival
Mozart Week
Salzburg Easter Festival
Salzburg Christmas Market
Winterfest (Contemporary Circus Festival)
Salzburg Jazz Festival
Krampus Runs (December)
Salzburg Whitsun Festival
Salzburg Culture Days
Rupertikirtag Festival
Salzburg Festival (July-August)
Mozart Week (January)
Advent & Christmas Markets
Easter Festival
Rupertikirtag (September)
Sound of Music Sing-Along
Jazz & The City Festival
Winterfest (Circus Arts Festival)
Salzburg Marathon
Whitsun Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Stay central; the Altstadt is compact and walkable.
Buy a Salzburg Card if visiting multiple museums; it bundles transport and top attractions.
Plan fortress time early or late; midday crowds and heat build fast.
For best skyline photos, walk up Mönchsberg before sunset; it’s quieter than Mirabell viewpoints.

How to travel to Salzburg

Salzburg is easily reached by train from Vienna, Munich and other European cities. Salzburg Airport has flights from major hubs and long-distance buses also serve the city. The main train station is a 15-minute walk or short bus ride from the Old Town.

Access summary

From Salzburg Airport (SZG): City bus or taxi, about 15–25 minutes.
From Vienna: Direct Railjet trains to Salzburg Hbf, roughly 2.5–3 hours.
From Munich: Direct or one‑change trains, usually around 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Salzburg

There’s a wide range of accommodation, from elegant hotels in historic buildings to cozy guesthouses and modern hostels. Staying in or near the Old Town puts you close to most attractions, but quieter options are available in the surrounding districts. Book early for festival season.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Heritage Hotel Hallstatt

8.5

Austria Trend Hotel Europa Salzburg

8.7

Holiday Inn - Salzburg City By IHG

7.9

Mercure Salzburg City Hotel

8.3

Hotel Bristol Salzburg

9.1

Hotel Hohenstauffen

8.9

Leonardo Hotel Salzburg Airport

8.6

NH Collection Salzburg City

8.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Salzburg

Salzburg is compact and very walkable, especially the Old Town. Buses and trams connect all major sights and the Salzburg Card gives unlimited public transport plus free entry to many attractions. For a scenic ride, try the funicular to the fortress or rent a bike for riverside paths.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-2 %

Daily expenses in Salzburg are around 2% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£69	£152	£383
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£30	£75	£150
🍝 Food per day	£30	£67	£192
🚕 Transportation per day	£9	£11	£41

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£27
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£12.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£9.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£3.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.10

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.10
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£25
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£11
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£60
🤧 Cold medication	£9.50
💇 Basic haircut	£18

Safety information overview

General safety

Salzburg is very safe, with low crime rates. Pickpocketing is rare but can happen in busy tourist areas. Take standard precautions, especially during festivals or in crowded markets.

Health & Medical

Excellent healthcare and pharmacies are available throughout the city. Emergency services are reliable. Tap water is safe to drink. Bring any personal medication, as pharmacy hours may be shorter on Sundays.

Accessibility

Most major sights and public transport are accessible, but some historic sites have cobblestones or stairs. Buses are wheelchair-friendly and many museums offer step-free access.

Tap water

Tap water is of excellent quality and safe to drink everywhere. Public fountains are common, especially in summer — carry a reusable bottle to stay hydrated.