The Best Things To Do In Salzburg, Austria In Two Days

The Best Things To Do In Salzburg In Two DaysAs an ardent fan of the 1965 classic, The Sound Of Music, visiting Salzburg had always been high on my bucket list. Recently, I got the chance of visiting this beautiful Austrian city with my husband. Spending two memorable days in this charming city ended up being one of the highlights of our European vacation.

Salzburg happens to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in Austria. It is the birthplace of the renowned composer – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and was also the setting for The Sound of Music. Moreover, Salzburg embraces its rich music legacy by hosting the annual music festival in the summer – Salzburg Festival.

Owing to its rich cultural heritage, the Historic Center of the City of Salzburg was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Salzburg welcomed us into its harmonious Alpine surroundings, splendid Baroque architecture, lush gardens, creamy colored buildings, magnificent churches with green copper domes, and a sense of being immersed in beautiful art and music.

I am guessing that if you happened to stumble upon this post, you are considering visiting Salzburg in the near future. So, here’s our list of the best things to do in Salzburg in two days.

1. Get oriented to the city by taking a stroll along the Salzach River

A stroll along the Salzach River that runs through the heart of the town is a perfect way to get oriented to the city. The brilliant, blue Salzach river divides the town into two halves – the New town (Neustadt) and the Old Town (Altstadt). Salzburg – which means ‘Salt-castle’ – became a prosperous trading city due to the toll it would gain from salt being transported over the Salzach river from upstream mines.

Stroll along the Salzach River in Salzburg

 

2. Visit Mirabellgarten: The beautiful Mirabell Palace Gardens

The outstanding Mirabell Palace Gardens and the Palace give visitors a glimpse into the prosperity of the bygone days. These beautiful, well-maintained gardens are dotted with splendid marble statues and its famous Pegasus fountain. The opulent Mirabell Palace was built in 1606 AD on orders of Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich Raitenau for his beloved Salome.

Beautiful Mirabell Gardens and Palace in Salzburg Austria

Exploring the beautiful Mirabell Gardens

These gardens, located in Neustadt were showcased in the famous Doe-a-deer song from Sound Of Music. The beautiful baroque garden along with the view of the Salzburg Cathedral and the towering fortress in the background make Mirabellgarten one of the most photographed locations of Salzburg.

For some of the best views, head towards Rose Hill and climb the steps near the Pegasus fountain. In order to experience Mirabellgarten in a relaxed way, we visited it in the evening as the crowds tend to be less during this time of the day.

Mirabell Palace and Gardens in Salzburg, Austria

3. Stop by for a summertime performance at Hedge Theater in Mirabell Palace Gardens

If you happen to visit Salzburg during the summertime and are exploring the Mirabell Gardens, don’t forget to stop by the Hedge Theater. This open-air theater is located in the west section of Mirabell Gardens. It serves as the location for folk and heritage performances during the summer months. Attending this performance is a delight in itself.

 

4. Enjoy a classical concert in Schloss Mirabell

Attending the Classical Music Concert in Marble Hall Mirabell PalaceTo experience exquisite classical music in a truly stunning setting, attending the classical concert at Schloss Mirabell is a must. This was the first time my husband and I attended a classical concert and it was an amazing experience.

The décor of the Marble Hall which happens to be the venue in the palace for the concerts was absolutely breathtaking. In the past, Marble Hall had served as the main banquet hall of the Prince-archbishops of the city. The uplifting and soulful musical performance reflected the rich, musical heritage of the city.

We purchased our tickets for the SchlossKonzerteMirabell in advance. Tickets can be purchased online for Category I or Category II seating for €40 and €34 respectively. Booking in advance is definitely recommended.

Marble Hall Mirabell Palace

5. Explore Altstadt – the historic Old Town Center of Salzburg

The main draw for most of the tourists visiting Salzburg is exploring Alstadt. It’s cobble-stone alleys, elegant buildings, spacious squares, and open-air markets are sure to charm those visiting this side of the city.

During a walk around the Old Town be sure to explore the Mozartplatz, Residezplatz and the Kapitelplatz squares. The famous Mozart statue in the Mozartplatz has a Roman mosaic at its base that translates to “Here dwells happiness”. An iconic focal point of the Resisdenzplatz is the 15m tall Residence Fountain – Residenzbrunnen. This impressive fountain was built by Italian artists and designed by Tommaso di Garona. This grand fountain is the largest fountain in Central Europe. Its design shows four horses that seem to be bursting out of the rocks on top of which giants hold a basin on which Triton stands. This fountain was also featured in one of the songs of the musical blockbuster – Sound Of Music.

The fountain in Residenzplatz Salzburg, Austria

A walk though Alstadt cannot be complete without visiting the Salzburg Cathedral, exploring Getreidegasse, visiting Mozart’s birthplace and the St. Peter’s Church. The dominating fortress in the backdrop of the Old Town adds to the charm of this beautifully preserved section of the city.

For a more budget-friendly option, download the free Rick Steves Europe Audio App on your phone and follow the Salzburg Town Walk. We loved exploring Alstadt by listening to this free, informative audio tour.

6. Enjoy a Marionette performance at Salzburg Marionette Theater

The Salzburg Marionette Theater is one of the oldest Marionette theaters in the world. Famous for its puppet shows, this theater delights children and adults with its lively performances. Operas and ballet performances are also held at this theater at various times of the year.

During our visit, I was delighted to learn that Sound Of Music was playing at this theater. We enjoy watching performing arts in general and a visit to this Marionette Theater to watch this performance was an absolute treat. The narration was in English and the skill of the puppeteers was truly impressive.

Marionette theater Salzburg, Austria

7. Visit Mozarts Geburtshaus -Mozart’s Birthplace

To learn more about the life of the legendary composer Mozart, stop by one of the most visited addresses in the city – 9 Getreidegasse. Mozart was born in 1756 AD in an apartment located on the third floor of this building. Mozarts Geburtshaus is now one of the most visited museums of Austria.

The family lived in this home for 25 years at this location before moving to the Mozart Residence (located on Makartplatz Square).

An hour-long tour of this museum helps visitors get an authentic glimpse into Mozart’s apartment. Walking through the apartment, one gets to learn about Mozart’s upbringing, see the family pictures, Mozart’s violin and clavichord along with memorabilia that help visitors learn about his life in Salzburg.

8. Sample the famous chocolate of Salzburg – Mozartkugel

Mozartkugel – the famous chocolate bonbons of Austria, actually originated in Salzburg. These delicious nougats and pistachio-marzipan bonbons are covered with dark chocolate. They are a typical Austrian specialty and make for a great souvenir as well. Paul Furst made these bonbons in 1890 AD, dedicating them to Mozart and these remain popular to this day.

Mozartkugel in Salzburg, Austria

The Mozartkugel from Mirabell are delicacies that require two and a half hours to be made to perfection. These Austrian bonbons have become famous worldwide now so stop by the shops in Salzburg to purchase some for yourself.

9. Rent a bike and explore the city at a leisurely pace

Salzburg is a lovely city to explore by bike and we always enjoy exploring cities we visit by bike. Whether you choose to take a bike tour or rent a bike to explore the city by yourself, it will be an amazing experience in itself. We rented our bikes from the bike shop located in Mozartplatz square in the Old town. We decided to explore the bike-friendly city on our own instead of opting for a bike tour. We further continued our fun biking experience by riding along the marked lanes next to the Salzach River. Biking around bike-friendly Salzburg and exploring the region nearby was a memorable experience for us.

Biking near Salzburg, Austria

10. Explore Salzburg by taking a horse carriage ride around town

A romantic way to explore the beautiful city is by taking a horse carriage ride around town. These Fiaker carriages add to the charm of exploring the historic Old Town. Visitors can easily hire these carriages from the Residenzplatz of Alstadt and enjoy a short 25 minutes ride around Old Town or a longer 50 minutes tour.

11. Experience the feeling of music being everywhere as you discover Salzburg

To say that music is everywhere in Salzburg is not an exaggeration of any sort. While visiting the Mozart Residence and birthplace, or attending classical music concerts, and even while sampling the Mozartkugels, we can get a sense of how important music has been to the city’s culture. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a shop selling pretzels shaped like musical notes – an ode to the love for music in this city.

Musical notes shaped pretzels in Salzburg, Austria

 

The Salzburg Festival, operas, Hedge theater as well as musical performances in squares around Old Town help a visitor understand why Salzburg is often called the capital of music. It’s so easy to feel music everywhere around the town as you explore Salzburg.

Musical performance in Alstadt, Salzburg

12. Visit Festung Hohensalzburg (Hohensalzburg Fortress)

Overlooking the city from the top of Festungsberg hill, the white-washed Hohensalzburg Fortress is the largest fully preserved fortress of Europe. A funicular from Kapitelplatz Square shuttles visitors up to this fortified castle. As we were riding up the funicular, I couldn’t help but imagine how difficult it must have been to construct such an impressive fortress at this elevation.

To make the most of our visit to Hohensalzburg, we opted for an audio-guided tour. The tour explains in great detail the significance of the sights within the compounds of the fortress.

The construction of Hohensalzburg started in 1077 AD and it was fortified over the centuries. The Austrian emperor, Franz Joseph, finally opened this fortress to the public in 1860 AD. Taking the tour of the castle is a fun way to learn about its fascinating history and its imposing towers. The tour also gives visitors a chance to see the chapel inside the castle and its museum. Exhibits inside the castle museum showcase the history of the rulers of Salzburg over the years as well as its armory.

Views from Hohensalzburg Fortress

It is certainly a fun experience to visit this fortress. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring its various wings, walking around its courtyard, and learning about its history. In addition to that, a walk along the fortress walls offers some of the most commanding views of Salzburg and the nearby region.

13. Hike down Monchsberg Walk from Hohensalzburg to Alstadt

After a visit to Hohensalzburg fortress, visitors can choose to hike down to Altstadt or take the funicular back to the Old Town. There are a couple of well-marked trails that lead visitors from Hohensalzburg to Altstadt.

We chose to hike along the Monchsberg trail back to Altstadt as this trail offers some of the best panoramic views of the domes and spires of Salzburg, the fortress, the river, and new town on the adjacent bank.

The view of Salzburg from the Monchsberg Trail

Hiking down this easy trail to Alstadt was an enjoyable experience for us. It was an easy trail with plenty of shade and breathtaking views of Salzburg.

14. Stop by the St. Peter’s Church and visit the St. Peter’s Cemetery

Founded in the 7th century, the striking Romanesque architecture of St. Peter’s Church and its cemetery is a must-see during a trip to Salzburg. Located in Old Town, the cemetery and its catacombs seem to have been carved into the stone walls of the surrounding cliff. Silence is, of course, requested while visiting the site where some of the most famous and wealthiest citizens of Salzburg were laid to rest. St. Peter’s cemetery was also featured in the climactic scene of the Sound of Music. The well-tended mini-gardens of the cemetery along with its catacombs draw several visitors year around.

15. Sample the delicious locally brewed beer

Sampling Austrian Beer in Salzburg, AustriaBeer has been brewed in Salzburg since the early 14th century. In fact, Salzburg is often regarded as the beer capital of Austria. It’s no wonder that there’s such a wide variety of beers and historic breweries in Salzburg – Stiegl, and Kaltenhausen being the best-known breweries of the region.

Sampling the famous Austrian beer of the region is high on the list of those who like to drink beer.  So if you’d like to try some of the authentic beer of the region, stop by the famous Augustiner Beer Gardens.

Traditional brewing techniques used for the production of beer at Augustiner Bräu Kloster in Salzburg impart a unique character to their beer. Enjoying the beer while relaxing in the largest beer garden of Austria is a delightful way to wrap up a busy sightseeing day.

16. Visit Dom Zu Salzburg – the Salzburg Cathedral

Located in Domplatz (Cathedral Square), the Salzburg Cathedral is located in the heart of the Old Town. This sacred baroque building was established at the same site as the first church of Salzburg.

Standing in Domplatz, facing the cathedral, the beautiful facade of this magnificent cathedral captivates all. Two towering dome towers are located on adjacent sides of the entrance of the cathedral. Several statues, reflecting its beautiful Italian baroque design can be seen adorning the exterior. Amongst these statues, the one on the top of the cathedral is that of Christ flanked by Moses holding the commandments. A magnificent Statue of Mary in the square itself welcomes visitors into the impressive interior of the cathedral.

Salzburg Cathedral Exterior View - Salzburg, Austria

The three bronze gates at the entrance of the cathedral symbolize the three divine virtues after which these gates have been named – Gate of Love (center), Gate of Hope (right), and Gate of Faith (left).

The sepian white, baroque interior of the Cathedral and the frescoes on the ceilings are stunning. The dimly lit nave of the cathedral is adorned with frescoes on its ceilings depicting the passion of Christ. In contrast, the main altar is brightly lit by the natural light from the surrounding clear windows. The painting in the main altar depicts the resurrection of Christ.

Salzburg Cathedral Interior View - Salzburg, Austria

The Salzburg cathedral was also featured in Sound Of Music. It was one the first and most beautiful Baroque buildings to be built north of the Alps. A must visit while in Salzburg!

17. Enjoy learning Salzburg’s history in Salzburg Museum

Valuable artifacts in Salzburg MuseumThe Salzburg Museum is located in the Neuen Residenz building in the Old Town. This is the best place to learn about the history of Salzburg and its culture. The valuable artifacts and collections in the museums showcase the rich art and cultural heritage of Salzburg. We enjoyed touring this museum as the interactive exhibitions were engaging and gave us a chance to learn more about the history of Salzburg.

In addition to the Salzburg Museum, we also visited the adjacent Panorama Museum in Residenzplatz. The circular painting in this museum provides a glimpse of the city of Salzburg in 1829. It was remarkable to see how little the city has changed in its layout over the centuries.

18. Indulge in shopping at the open-air markets around town

Grünmarkt is very popular with locals and tourists for its fresh produce, cheese, traditional pastries, and souvenirs. It is generally held at Universitätsplatz from Monday to Saturday. In addition to Grünmarkt, we also came across an open-air flea market adjacent to the banks of Salzach. Exploring these open-air markets is a fun shopping experience and a great way to connect with the locals.

Shopping in Salzburg, Austria

19. Stroll along the main shopping street of the Altstadt – Getreidegasse

There’s just something alluring about Salzburg’s main shopping street located in the pedestrian zone of Altstadt – Getreidegasse. Besides being the street on which Mozart’s birthplace is located, the narrow street of Getreidegasse is packed with visitors indulging in shopping at its cute storefronts.

The wrought-iron signs for the stores indicate the type of business and add to the old-world charm of this busy shopping street. A wide array of stores, ranging from those selling schnapps, pastries, medicines, books, seasonal décor, and even international food, line up Getreidegasse. Even the McDonald’s store on Getreidegasse had a wrought iron sign!

It was a joy to explore this street and discover the archways under several of its buildings that led to parallel streets and charming squares.

Christmas ornaments shops on Getreidegasse , Salzburg

Easter eggs sold year around on Getreidegasse , Salzburg

20. Enjoy a peaceful picnic in the beautiful parks around town

While riding on our rented bikes through Salzburg, we were able to come across several peaceful parks that offered the perfect stop for a relaxing picnic. We stopped by Volksgarten Salzburg – a large park located close to the banks of Salzach and enjoyed a restful break as we reflected on our splendid day in Salzburg.

Volksgarten Salzburg

In addition to the best things to do In Salzburg listed in this post, if you have an additional day to explore the lake district near Salzburg, then consider taking a trip to the postcard-pretty lakeside village of Hallstatt.

I fell in love with splendid Salzburg. We loved visiting the historical buildings around town, exploring its charming alleys and experiencing the culture of the city along with its music. We look forward to visiting this magnificent Baroque city again – hopefully, soon.

Until then….. Auf Wiedersehen dear, dear Salzburg!

Disclaimer: It’s a pleasure for us to share our travel experiences with all our readers and we sincerely hope to inspire your future travels. In order to help us maintain this blog and offset the costs of running landoftravels.com, we have sprinkled affiliate links throughout the site. If you choose to make a purchase via any of these affiliate links, we’ll earn a tiny commission at no additional cost to you.

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The Best Things To Do In Salzburg, Austria In Two Days

 

 

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