One of the most beautiful cities in Austria is Salzburg, which is right next to the border with Germany. It is widely recognized as the birthplace of Mozart. Thanks to that, in Salzburg, you can find many classical music events throughout the year.
The Salzach River divides Salzburg, with the 19th-century Neustadt (New City) on its right bank in contrast to the medieval and baroque Altstadt (Old City) on its left. In the Altstadt, you can visit a famous museum displaying Mozart’s birthplace and his childhood instruments.
How long to stay in Salzburg?
Because Salzburg is small and easy to get around on foot, two to three days are enough to see it all. As a result, all the main attractions are close to each other’s. We spent two nights in Salzburg and one entire day at the German Thermal Bath, which I will detail below.
After a relaxing weekend in Salzburg, we took bus 150 to the picture-perfect town of Hallstatt, where we stayed for five days. Here you will find all the information you need about winter activities in Hallstatt.
Where to stay in Salzburg?
Certainly, I prefer the old part of the city (Altstadt) and therefore we stayed at the Leonardo Hotel Salzburg, which is conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from Altstadt!
There is a stunning mountain tunnel directly in front of the hotel. As you come out of the tunnel, you will be basically in the most popular and beautiful part of Sazburg – Altstadt, the Old City.
Not only are the major tourist attractions there, but there are also plenty of cafes and restaurants.
Where to eat in Salzburg?
Breakfast and brunch
I am a big breakfast lover, in particular brunches 🙂
My recommendation for brunch and breakfast in Salzburg is the Coolinarik Café Salzburg. The vegan options are plentiful, and the food is delicious. Undoubtedly, with its stylish interior and excellent service, this restaurant is a hit with influencers.
Lunch and dinner
The first thing to remember before going to Austria is that you must try their Wiener Schnitzel!
I am still not sure if I prefer the German schnitzel rather than the Austrian one; nonetheless, if you go to Austria, you should put that on your list.
We used the local trick and asked at the hotel’s reception for some recommendations on where to eat. Undoubtedly, these are the best restaurants in Salzburg with traditional Austrian cuisine:
- Augustiner Braugasthof Krimpelstätter – a very good schnitzel
- Restaurant Meissl & Schadn Salzburg – traditional Austrian food
- Restaurant Triangel – big portions, delicious schnitzel
- St. Peter Stiftskulinarium – the Europe’s oldest restaurant, historic location
The best coffee in Salzburg
You will not find better coffee than Nur coffee in Salzburg.
You can see the famous cappuccino in the cone in the picture below; it is the main attraction, and I could not resist trying it!
Even though it costs 8 euros, the taste and the unique way it is served make it worth it.
Another cafe that serves excellent coffee is Café Bazar. Without a doubt, it is a popular and touristic spot due to it’s location in front of the river, facing the beautiful fortress. Thus, I would recommend going there, especially on cold days.
In short, if you like small coffee shops, you should check out KAVA coffee roasters. They have great carrot cake and a great cappuccino; unless you need a comfy sofa, then go to Cafe Bazar.
Things to do in Salzburg
Explore the Hohensalzburg Fortress
A must-see attraction for any Salzburg visitor is the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Situated on the Festungsberg, which extends northwest into the Mönchsberg, it offers a panoramic view of the city below.
The fortress looks stunning, especially during the night. We had a full moon, that you can barely see on my picture below, but in real life, it looked amazing. We enjoyed walking through Salzburg after sunset, as the fortress is lit and you can see it well from any part of the Old City.
Ticket prices for the fortress start at 11 euros.
Visit the Mozart's Birthplace Museum
Another famous attraction in Salzburg is The Mozart’s Birthplace Museum. Located in Salzburg Altstadt is a must-see place for classical music lovers.
This is where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the musician and composer, was born on January 27, 1756.
The building has been kept in its original form and now has a museum about the composer’s life.
Check out the view from the Museum of Modern Art
Located atop the mountain, the Museum of Modern Art is certainly one of the greatest attractions in the area. From here, you can see the Fortress and Salzburg City in all their glory.
Ticket prices for the museum start at 14 euros.
Witness the breathtaking splendor of Mirabell Palace & Gardens
Because of its beautiful gardens, Mirabell Palace has become one of Salzburg’s most popular tourist spots. The entire complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Among the most picturesque gardens in the area, it features a wide variety of vibrant plants and animals arranged in elaborate patterns against the backdrop of the Salzburg fortress.
You can visit the Mirabell Palace and gardens for free.
Have fun in the Haus der Natur museum
Another interesting place to visit in Salzburg, especially on a rainy day, is the Museum of Natural History – Haus der Natur.
The museum has displays from the time of space travel as well as huge dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago. There is a huge aquarium with a lot of different kinds of fish and reptiles from all over the world. And in the Science Center, you can do some experiments.
In my opinion, the place is good for adults as well as for kids. Whether you like animals or not, it is also a tech attraction, so you won’t be bored.
Ticket prices for the museum start at 12 euros.
See the most picturesque town in Austria, Hallstatt
If you have not been to Hallstatt or have a day to spare, spending a day in the most picturesque lakeside town as a day trip from Salzburg is also a great option.
You can book a guided one day trip from Salzburg if you would rather not deal with public transit. Here you can find a wide variety of Hallstatt tours, from half-day to full-day itineraries, that depart from Salzburg daily.
And if you are planning to stay in Hallstatt for longer, make sure to read my extended guide of the top activities to do in Hallstatt.
The best thermal baths near Salzburg
You might wonder: Are there any thermal baths or a spa near Salzburg where you can relax while enjoying the mountain view?
Yes, there are some.
And I am going to tell you which one is the best!
After doing my research, I found the best spa resort near Salzburg RupertusTherme.
The resort is located in Germany, right behind the border with Austria.
It has three main zones:
1. Thermal Bath zone
2. Sauna zone *
3. Wellness zone
* Just so you know, the sauna area is considered a naked zone. So, no swimsuits are allowed there, either in the sauna or the pool. If you do not like being naked in public, you should buy a ticket only to the thermal bath zone, which is one level above and lets you wear swimsuits.
Families with children can only go into the thermal bath zone and not the naked zone.
What is the price of a day at the spa at Rupertus Therme?
My boyfriend and I purchased admission to the Alpine sauna landscape, including thermal baths and a family pool. We loved the sauna & spa zone so much that we spent most of our time there. We only went once to the family zone upstairs just to see the infinity hot pool (picture below).
The daily ticket to the sauna + thermal bath zone was 43 euros per person, and trust me, it was totally worth the price!
Additionally, we had lunch there. They have nice restaurant that serves traditional dishes like goulash, chicken, etc. The food was good and not that expensive. You can also get some drinks like coffee, tea, and water.
And one last extra cost I paid: 48 euros for a 30-minute back massage in a spa zone.
The massage was a proper, strong German massage 🙂 I was so relaxed that day as I combined saunas, hot thermal pools, and massage!
Treat Yourself! 🙂
How to get to Rupertus Therme from Salzburg?
You can get to the Rupertus Therme directly by bus number 260 from Salzburg Makartplatz if you do not have a car in Salzburg or do not want to pay to rent one. It only takes 50 minutes by bus, and the trip is nice because you can see more high mountains as you get closer to the German border.
It just takes 25 minutes to get there by car from Salzburg.
However, we are frugal people, so we went with the less expensive option 😉
It seems like you are all set to go to Salzburg now
Seeing all of Salzburg in two days is more than enough time, and you will not even need public transportation because the city is so walkable. The Old City (Altstadt) is more beautiful and charming than the New City. Plus, there are more dining options and cafes there.
This stunning mountain town is absolutely wonderful.
If you have more time and want to relax in a thermal bath or sauna, you can visit the Rupertus Therme for the day or book a day trip from Salzburg to Hallstatt.
