Updated December 2019
"Salt Castle"
Salzburg translates directly to "salt castle", which referrs to the fortress and the white gold from the mountains. It is a beautiful city built in the mountains near the border of Germany, boasting itself as the birthplac of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for the “Sound of Music.” At one point in history, this city was also heavily fortified, and one can still see the remnants of the fortress and turrets across the city.
There isn't much too to see so one could hop off the train in the morning, store bags in one of the luggage lockers at the train station, and then take a tour around the city.
PROTIP: Purchase the 24-hour Salzburg Card for 26€, which gives access to the buses, trams, most museums, and tourist destinations. All the following places below are covered with the pass.
There isn't much too to see so one could hop off the train in the morning, store bags in one of the luggage lockers at the train station, and then take a tour around the city.
PROTIP: Purchase the 24-hour Salzburg Card for 26€, which gives access to the buses, trams, most museums, and tourist destinations. All the following places below are covered with the pass.
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Day Plan
9:30 - 11:00 AM: Hohensalzburg Fortress
Early in the morning (before 11:00 AM), I recommend first heading to the Hohensalzburg Fortress located at the top of the hill. Built in 1077, the fortress’s original purpose was to protect the city and the archbishops from enemy attacks, and as such, it has never been captured by foreign troops. Although it is a challenging incline to the top, the view of the city from within is well worth it.
11:00 - 11:30 AM: Viewpoints
Exiting the fortress, instead of going back into the city, one should follow the West path towards the Richterhöhe, Mönchsberg, a picturesque location to take a photo of the Hohensalzburg Fortress. However, I think the best viewpoint of the city is by the Museum der Moderne Mönchsberg. If you follow the trail through south the mountains, you will reach a beautiful spot that overlooks the Salzach River, the Salzburg Cathedral, and the Fortress.
Museum der Moderne Mönchsberg
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11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Museum der Moderne Mönchsberg
Located at the top of the best viewpoint, this museum is an extension of the main modern art museum. It houses two specialized exhibits that rotate every half a year. One can easily see the exhibits within half an hour to an hour.
12:45 - 1:30 PM: Mozart's Birthplace (Mozarts Geburtshaus)
Birthplace of Mozart, detailing Mozart’s life and time in Salzburg (slightly different than the Mozart museum in Vienna), but just as good. It can be quite crowded, so having the pass helps you cut the line.
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Front of Mozarts Geburtshaus
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1:30 - 2:00 PM: Cafe Tomaselli
I stopped for a nice piece of Mozartcake here, but there's a lot of food vendors around this area. I'd recommend stopping in this plaza if you are looking for a quick bite to eat.
Mozarttarte - cake in honor of Mozart
2:00 - 5:00 PM: Residenzplat
Around this plaza, there are a lot of different museums and exhibits to spend time at. I believe it is possible to see all of them within 3 hours, but for additional time, I'd recommend getting here earlier to peruse each one.
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5:00 - 6:00 PM: Mirabell Palace
There happened to be a wedding shoot in the Palace the day I visited, so I was able to walk into a small area and admire the sculptures and interior decorations; however, the main rooms are only open for concerts and performances. The Gardens outside the Palace offer a good view leading to the castle and fortress, but the gardens are so well-manicured that one cannot walk through them, only on a roped-off outside path.
