Hohensalzburg Fortress above the rooftops of Salzburg's old town, Austria

Salzburg

Mozart, the baroque old town and the Festival

Salzburg

Salzburg is Mozart's birthplace, a compact baroque old town under the fortress, with the Salzburg Festival every summer.

I plan two nights here, reached by train from Vienna, and if the trip falls in summer, the Festival dates decide it.

Researched profile: this page is written from my planning research and partner knowledge rather than a stay of my own here, and when that changes, this line comes off.

What and Where It Is

Salzburg is a compact baroque old town under its fortress, in western Austria close to the German border. It is Mozart's birthplace, and every summer it hosts the Salzburg Festival.

What You Do Here

Plan around music. In summer, the Salzburg Festival is the date that decides the trip, so start with its program and build the rest around it. The rest of the year, concerts, the old town and the fortress fill two days well.

Best Time to Go

The city works year round, and December brings the Christmas markets. Summer is Festival season. My guide to Europe in the shoulder season has more on timing.

Month by month

  • January: Good.
  • February: Good.
  • March: Good.
  • April: Very good.
  • May: Very good.
  • June: Very good.
  • July: Excellent.
  • August: Excellent.
  • September: Very good.
  • October: Very good.
  • November: Good.
  • December: Excellent.

Getting There and How Long to Stay

The train from Vienna takes about two and a half hours, or fly into Salzburg or Munich. Two nights is the standard stay, between the Wachau and the mountains.

Where to Stay

I do not yet have Austrian hotels on my list, but I know the main options well and can advise on the right hotel in Salzburg for your dates and group.

Just across the border in Bavaria, Germany, Schloss Elmau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not in Austria, but it fits easily into a trip that includes Salzburg or Innsbruck.

Pairing

Vienna and the Wachau to the east, Hohe Tauern to the south, and Munich across the border. The Austria guide covers the whole country.

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Culture & Sights

  • Mozart's birthplace: Salzburg's most famous son, and the music that runs through the city.
  • The baroque old town: Compact and walkable, under the fortress.
  • The Salzburg Festival: Every summer, and the date that decides a summer trip.

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