You guys, Salzburg stole my heart! The moment I stepped onto Mönchsberg mountain and saw those baroque church domes gleaming against the Alps, I knew this wasn’t just another pretty European city. Standing up there, watching the sunset paint the Salzach River golden while church bells echoed through the valley, I couldn’t stop smiling. This place is seriously magical!
From exploring the massive Hohensalzburg Fortress to discovering the most beautiful places in Salzburg, I fell completely in love with Mozart’s hometown. Trust me, when you’re standing in Mirabell Gardens with those perfectly manicured flowers and the fortress looming in the background, you’ll understand why this city feels like it jumped straight out of a fairy tale. Get ready to explore 12 spots that’ll leave you absolutely speechless!
Top Must-See Places in Salzburg
Looking for the coolest things to do in Salzburg? Explore the historic DomQuartier, shop at Getreidegasse, and admire the stunning Franziskanerkirche. Visit the majestic Hohensalzburg Castle, and enjoy a shopping spree at Europark Salzburg. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or architecture, here are the top attractions to visit in Salzburg.
1. DomQuartier
The DomQuartier honestly blew me away when I first walked through those connected galleries linking the Cathedral, Residenz Palace, and St. Peter’s Abbey. You can’t even get this experience anywhere else in the world – it’s the only place where you can walk through a prince-archbishop’s former power center all in one go. The baroque state rooms are ridiculously ornate, and I’m not usually one for fancy interiors, but the Golden Hall actually made me stop and stare.
Here’s the deal: tickets are €15 for adults (€12 if certain sections are closed), but Wednesday is your lucky day when admission drops to just €5 if you buy at the door. The museum’s open Wednesday through Monday 10am-5pm, with extended hours until 6pm during July and August. I’d skip Tuesday since they’re closed.
The Cathedral terrace gives you killer views over Salzburg’s Old Town, and honestly, the North Terrace view toward Mirabell Palace is Instagram gold. Plan about 90 minutes here – you’ll want to see the Art Cabinet with its weird historical artifacts that the archbishops collected. Fair warning: it gets packed during peak season, so early morning visits work best.
2. Europark Salzburg
Look, I get it – shopping centers aren’t usually travel highlights, but Europark Salzburg actually surprised me with its sleek design and surprisingly good food scene. If you need a break from all the baroque churches and Mozart everything, this modern mall offers a totally different vibe about 4km southwest of Old Town.
The architecture is genuinely impressive with those light-filled spaces and indoor gardens that don’t feel like typical mall hell. I ended up spending way more time here than planned, mostly because the seasonal decorations during my December visit were actually pretty spectacular. The dining options are solid – you can grab quick Austrian specialties or sit down for a proper meal.
Bus #270 from the main station gets you there in about 15 minutes, which beats hunting for parking in the city center. It’s open daily, usually 9am-8pm on weekdays. Sure, it’s not historically significant, but sometimes you just need normal modern conveniences and decent coffee without paying tourist prices.
3. Franziskanerkirche
The Franziskanerkirche became my go-to escape when Getreidegasse got too touristy and overwhelming. This 13th-century church sits literally steps from Salzburg’s busiest shopping street, but the moment you walk inside, the tourist chaos just disappears. The Gothic nave with its soaring ribbed vaults feels ancient and peaceful, while the baroque chapels added later create this interesting architectural conversation between different eras.
I particularly love how the morning light filters through those old stained glass windows and creates patterns on the stone floors. The High Altar from 1708 is genuinely stunning if you’re into baroque craftsmanship. The church stays open daily from roughly 8am-6pm, and admission is free, which is refreshing when everything else costs money.
You’ll find it just off Getreidegasse near Mozartplatz – I usually duck in here when I need a quiet moment between sightseeing. The side chapels are perfect for just sitting and recharging, especially after battling crowds at the more famous attractions. It’s also way less crowded than the Cathedral, so you can actually appreciate the architecture without getting pushed around.
4. Getreidegasse
You can’t visit Salzburg without walking down Getreidegasse – it’s basically required, even though it’s touristy as hell. This narrow medieval lane with its famous wrought-iron guild signs is where baby Mozart was born at No. 9, and honestly, the street still maintains that old-world charm despite all the modern shops crammed inside historic buildings.
I love those elaborate guild signs projecting from every shopfront – they’re like medieval Instagram posts advertising what each business sells. But here’s my insider tip: don’t just walk the main street like every other tourist. Explore the hidden Durchhäuser (passageways) that connect to parallel streets. These archways open into the most peaceful courtyards where you can escape the crowds and grab some great photos without tour groups photobombing your shots.
Mozart’s Birthplace is obviously the main draw here, but I actually prefer wandering these hidden passages. The yellow house museum gets packed, especially in summer, so early morning visits work best. The street runs parallel to the Salzach River and connects perfectly with Mozartplatz and the Cathedral area, making it a natural part of any Old Town walking route.
5. Hohensalzburg Castle
Hohensalzburg Castle perched on that hill is literally the first thing you see when arriving in Salzburg, and climbing up there delivers exactly the views you’re hoping for. This massive medieval fortress is actually Europe’s largest fully preserved castle, and the 360-degree panorama from up there is absolutely worth the climb (or funicular ride if you’re feeling lazy like I was).
The all-inclusive ticket costs €18 for adults and includes the funicular, Prince’s Chambers, Fortress Museum, and several other museums inside – honestly pretty good value when you break it down. You can also walk up for €13.60 if you want to save a few euros and get some exercise. The fortress is open daily: 9:30am-5pm October through April, and 8:30am-8pm May through September. I’d definitely go for the full ticket because the Magic Theater and Prince-Bishop’s apartments are genuinely impressive, not just tourist traps.
The Golden Hall showcases some incredible craftsmanship, and the fortress museums actually tell interesting stories about medieval life. Fair warning: lines for both tickets and the funicular get brutal in summer, so buy online or go early morning. The evening hours during peak season (6pm-8pm) offer special panorama access with smaller crowds.
6. Kapuzinerberg
Kapuzinerberg is where I go when I want beautiful Salzburg views without the tourist crowds crushing me at Hohensalzburg. This 640-meter hill on the eastern side of the Salzach River offers fantastic hiking literally minutes from downtown, plus some actual historical sites most visitors never discover.
The Basteiweg path follows old 17th-century city walls and passes six preserved defensive towers, which is pretty cool if you’re into medieval fortifications like I am. The Capuchin Monastery from 1594 sits halfway up and usually has a peaceful atmosphere perfect for catching your breath. But the real payoff is continuing to Franziskischlössl at the top – this former fortress now houses a restaurant with incredible sunset views over Salzburg’s baroque domes. I’ve watched the city turn golden from up there, and it beats any postcard.
You can access the trails from Linzergasse or Imbergstrasse, and the hike takes about 20-30 minutes depending on your pace. The forested paths provide nice shade in summer, and the defensive walls give you something interesting to explore beyond just pretty views. It’s also free, unlike most Salzburg attractions.
7. Leopoldskroner Weiher Lake
Leopoldskroner Weiher is hands down the most peaceful spot in Salzburg, especially if you need a break from crowds and baroque overload. This small lake sits just 2.5km southwest of city center, with the stunning Leopoldskron Palace reflected perfectly in still waters – you’ll recognize it immediately from “The Sound of Music.”
The walking path around the lake takes about 30 minutes and offers constantly changing mountain views that make great photos. I love coming here at sunrise when mist hovers over the water and you’ve got the place basically to yourself. By afternoon, locals show up for picnics on the grassy shores, but it never feels crowded like the main tourist sites. Winter sometimes freezes the lake enough for skating, though I can’t vouch for ice safety.
The eastern shore provides the best unobstructed Alpine views, while the palace sits on the western side creating that perfect fairytale reflection everyone wants to photograph. It’s free to walk around, parking is limited but available, and you can easily combine this with visits to Hellbrunn Zoo or Palace since they’re all south of the city. The mountain backdrop here is seriously spectacular – on clear days, you can see multiple peaks stretching into the distance.
8. Mirabell Palace and Garden
Mirabell Palace and Gardens is probably the most photographed spot in Salzburg, and for good reason – those geometrical baroque gardens with the fortress backdrop create picture-perfect shots every single time. The best part? It’s completely free to wander around, unlike most Salzburg attractions.
The Pegasus Fountain is where the von Trapp kids danced in “The Sound of Music,” and tourists still recreate that scene daily (don’t judge, I did it too). But honestly, the real magic happens when you explore beyond the main tourist photo spots. The Dwarf Garden with its weird baroque marble statues is bizarrely fascinating, and the Rose Hill steps provide that famous view toward the Cathedral and Hohensalzburg Fortress. Inside the palace, you can visit the Marble Hall for free on weekdays – it’s where Mozart performed as a kid and still hosts concerts today.
The gardens open daily from 6am until dusk, with partial winter closures for some sections like the Hedge Theater. I’d recommend early morning visits to avoid crowds and get the best light for photos. The Angel Staircase inside is worth seeing too, but skip Sunday since the palace areas are closed. Spring through fall offers the most colorful flower displays, though the stark winter geometry against snow-capped mountains has its own beauty.
9. Old Town Salzburg
Old Town Salzburg (Altstadt) is basically a perfectly preserved medieval fairy tale that somehow survived centuries without getting ruined by modern development. This UNESCO World Heritage site packs an incredible amount of history into totally walkable streets between the Salzach River and Mönchsberg hill.
Getreidegasse gets all the attention with Mozart’s Birthplace, but I actually prefer wandering the quieter side streets and hidden courtyards where you can appreciate the baroque architecture without fighting tour groups. Cathedral Square (Domplatz) impresses with its massive cathedral, while Residenzplatz shows off that ornate fountain everyone photographs. The narrow Judengasse reveals the former Jewish quarter, and Alter Markt with its St. Florian Fountain dates back to the 13th century.
My favorite moments happen at dusk when the day-trippers disappear and you can hear church bells echoing off ancient stone walls. Everything clusters within about a 10-minute walk radius, making it perfect for just wandering without a strict plan. The funicular to Hohensalzburg Fortress departs from Festungsgasse if you want to add that hilltop view to your Old Town exploration. Early morning or evening visits give you the best atmosphere and lighting for photos.
10. Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn
Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn sits 5km south of the city center and actually impressed me more than I expected – it’s not just another generic zoo. The 14-hectare site uses the natural Hellbrunn landscape, including steep rock faces, to create realistic habitats for about 150 species.
Adult tickets cost €16 (kids 4-14 pay €6.50), and honestly, that’s reasonable for what you get. The zoo’s open daily: 9am-4:30pm in winter months, extending to 6pm during April-September. What makes this place special is how they’ve integrated Alpine wildlife with exotic animals – you’ll see Eurasian lynx, Alpine ibex, and brown bears alongside lions, rhinos, and cheetahs. The penguin habitat and monkey enclosures are genuinely well-designed, not depressing concrete boxes.
I spent about 3-4 hours here, which included exploring adjacent Hellbrunn Palace with its famous “trick fountains” – water jets that surprise visitors just like they did 400 years ago. Bus #25 from the main station takes about 15 minutes, and the Salzburg Card includes free admission plus transportation. The zoo’s fully accessible with paved paths, though the Africa section’s uphill climb might challenge wheelchair users. Best visit times are morning when animals are more active.
11. The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art perched on Mönchsberg creates this wild contrast – a stark white modernist cube overlooking Salzburg’s baroque cityscape 140 meters below. You either love it or hate it, but I think that dramatic juxtaposition is exactly the point.
The museum houses impressive 20th and 21st-century art collections in minimal galleries that let the artwork shine without baroque distractions. But honestly, most people come for the views, not just the art. The terrace and M32 restaurant offer panoramic vistas stretching from the fortress to distant Alps that are absolutely spectacular, especially at sunset.
You can reach it via the Mönchsberg elevator from Anton-Neumayr-Platz (included in museum admission) or hike up the scenic 30-minute trail through the cliff-top park. Museum admission varies by exhibition but typically runs €8-12 for adults. The elevator alone costs €3.70 each way, so museum entry is actually good value if you want those views. Even if modern art isn’t your thing, the building itself is architecturally interesting, and those floor-to-ceiling windows frame the city perfectly. Evening visits during summer offer the most dramatic lighting for photography.
12. Wolfgangsee Lake
Wolfgangsee Lake sits about 30km east of Salzburg and delivers everything you want from an Austrian lake experience – crystal-clear turquoise water, charming villages, and dramatic Alpine peaks reflected in still water. I’d definitely plan a full day here, not just a quick stop.
The historic paddle steamers have crossed these waters since 1873, and they’re honestly the best way to experience the lake. The boats connect St. Wolfgang (home of the famous White Horse Inn and pilgrimage church), St. Gilgen (Mozart’s mother’s birthplace), and Strobl (best beaches on the southern shore). A complete round trip takes about 3 hours with stops, costing around €15-20 for adults depending on the route. Summer invites swimming – the water’s surprisingly warm – plus sailing, hiking, and just relaxing lakeside. St. Wolfgang’s cog railway up Schafberg mountain provides incredible panoramic views if you want to add some elevation to your lake day.
Bus #150 from Salzburg main station reaches St. Gilgen in about 45 minutes, making this totally doable as a day trip. Winter transforms the lakefront villages into magical Christmas markets. The Zwölferhorn Cable Car from St. Gilgen offers another spectacular mountain viewpoint. Pack a picnic – those lakeside meadows are perfect for spending lazy afternoons.
