【Austria】Salzburg several options for a day trip the 5 cannot miss attractions of the cozy city
Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria, located in the west of Austria and adjacent to Germany. It is less than an hour’s drive from Munich. Salzburg is the oldest city in Austria, and is famous as the birthplace of the musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is also the birthplace of the famous Mozart chocolate (although the two are not related). This city gives me a warm and cozy feeling, and is perfect for holidays. Even if you want to stay for a week, it seems like there won’t be any problem.
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Transportation
To travel from Munich to Salzburg (or from Salzburg to Munich), you can take a slow train from Munich Central Station, which takes about one and a half hours to reach Salzburg Central Station.
If you are arriving at Salzburg Airport, you can take the line 2 bus outside the airport, which will take you directly to the city center. You need to purchase a ticket from the ticket machine next to the bus stop, which costs 2.2 euros. The journey takes about half an hour to reach the main train station.
Special ticket
The city of Salzburg offers a Salzburg Card which includes public transportation within the city and admission to most museums and attractions, making it very cost-effective. The card also includes cable cars to nearby mountains and the castle. It is recommended for those planning to visit museums in Salzburg. The card can be purchased online in electronic form or as a physical card at the train station. You can check the list of museums included in the Salzburg Card on their website, and also see the list of shops and restaurants offering discounts for cardholders.
Transportation that included：
O bus lines 1-14
Al bus lines 20-28, 31, 34, 35 & 151
Post bus lines 130/140 as far as Eugendorf, the No. 180 to Grossgmain & 170 to Rif
Suburban rail line S1 to Acharting
WALSIE bus taxi
Accommodation
My accommodation was a hostel near the train station. It was cheap, convenient, and relatively clean and comfortable. I recommend it for those who are looking for affordable and convenient accommodation options.
Planning your travel
You can visit the official tourism website for more detailed information on various activities and tickets:
1 day trip–1：
Get to Untersberg from the city center, you can take a bus and then the cable car up the mountain for hiking. If you don’t plan to hike, you can still enjoy the view at the top before heading down and then visit the Hellbrunn Palace for a stroll.
1 day trip–2：
City sightseeing:
Mozart’s Residence > Mirabell Palace > Lunch > Riverside Market > Old Town (Salzburg Cathedral, Mozart Square) > Salzburg Fortress
Restaurant
Bärenwirt
Address: Müllner Hauptstraße 8, 5020 Salzburg
Good restaurant with a specialty of half-fried chicken, tender and juicy, it’s my number one pick for fried chicken in Europe.
Attractions
Mozart’s Residence and Mozart’s Birthplace
official website
opening time: 09:00 ~ 17:30
Although they are two sights related to Mozart, they are not located next to each other. Mozart’s birthplace is in the old town, while Mozart’s residence is on the other side of the river.
Address: Makartplatz 8, 5020 Salzburg （Mozart’s Residence ）
Getreidegasse 9, 5020 Salzburg（Mozart’s Birthplace）
Ticket: （the combo ticket included both place and valided 24hours after bought ）
| Ticket (Currency: Euro) | Mozart’s Residence “or” Mozart’s Birthplace | Mozart’s Residence and Mozart’s Birthplace comboticket |
| Adult | 12 | 18.5 |
| Teenager (14-18) | 4 | 6 |
| Chlid(6-14) child below 6 is free | 3.5 | 5 |
| Family ticket | 25 | 39 |
| Reduced ticket ( age above 65, student group of more than 10 people) | 10 | 15.5 |
| Salzburg card | free | free |
It is Mozart’s residence, and you can borrow a free guide to explore it. You can learn about the family history of the musical genius and his love life.
Schloss Mirabell
opening time: 08:00 ~ 18:00
Address: Mirabellplatz 4, 5020 Salzburg
Ticket: free
The Mirabell Palace is a Baroque-style palace that imitates Italian and French palaces. It is very beautiful and the courtyard is a great place to take a photo with the Salzburg Fortress in the background.。
Riverside market
On weekends, there is a market by the river selling all kinds of handmade crafts. It’s very pleasant to stroll along the market by the river.
The original shop of Mozart chocolate – Confiserie Fürst
opening time: everyday 10:00~18:00
The original shop of Mozart chocolate is hidden under a certain arcade in the old town area and its small storefront is not very conspicuous. It is said that they did not apply for a patent for Mozart chocolate, so it was quickly imitated by others. The chocolate from the original shop is not as sweet as the ones sold in supermarkets, but it tastes much better. However, one piece costs 3 euros, which is not cheap. The Mozart chocolate sold in the original shop cannot be found in supermarkets and can only be purchased in this small store, and the packaging is not as luxurious.。
Old town（Dom zu Salzburg、Mozartplatz）
I have to be honest, I’m not particularly interested in churches. There are so many churches in Europe, and most of them are beautiful. But I do enjoy strolling through the streets of the old town, it feels like stepping back in time to medieval Europe.
Festung Hohensalzburg
official website
opening time: everyday 9:30~17:00
The basic ticket price (including cable car up the mountain) is 10.8 euros for adults and 4.4 euros for children.
The basic ticket price (including round trip cable car) is 14 euros for adults and 5.7 euros for children.
One of the largest medieval castles in Europe, it also has a museum inside that visitors can explore. You can also get a panoramic view of the entire city of Salzburg from the fortress. The slope leading up to the fortress is quite steep, so it can be a bit of a climb and may leave you out of breath. If you’re not a fan of hiking uphill, you can also take a cable car up to the fortress.
Schloss Hellbrunn
Except for the castle, all other places are free to visit. Basically, only playing in the water and visiting the Hellbrunn Palace require payment.
The opening hours vary by season, and the Trick Fountains are open from March 31 to November 1. The earliest opening time is 9:30, and the latest closing time is 17:30. You can check the ending time on the website.
The adult ticket costs 13.5 euros and the child ticket costs 6 euros, which includes the castle visit and the Trick Fountains.
There are other package deals, such as a family ticket (2 adults and 1 child for 29.5 euros, with an additional child for 3 euros/person), a group ticket (20 or more people for 12 euros/person), and a student ticket (for those aged 19-26 for 8.5 euros).
The 17th-century Renaissance-style palace is located in the suburbs, with a large area. One of the scenes from the movie “The Sound of Music” was filmed here. The main attraction is the Trick Fountains, which my friend highly recommended.
Untersberg
(Cable car temporarily closed from February 21, 2023 to March 31, 2023)
official website
opening hours:
The cable car operates from 08:30 to 17:00, with adjustments based on the season.
Ticket:
| Ticket (Currency: euro) | return | one-way | 10 times |
| Adult(above 18) | 28 | 18 | 160 |
| Elder(age above 65) | 23.5 | 16 | 140 |
| Student(14-18) | 19.5 | 14 | 120 |
| Child(6-14) | 14.5 | 11.5 | 90 |
| dog | 10 | 7 | 50 |
The cable car ride up the mountain offers views of the Eagle’s Nest (Hitler’s secret birthday gift hideout) and the mountain scenery of Berchtesgaden, as well as panoramic views of Salzburg. For those who are serious about hiking, it is recommended to take the trail instead, as the terrain is suitable for hiking boots and not regular shoes. Unfortunately, on the day of our visit, the clouds on the other side of the mountain were thick, so we could not see the German side’s scenery.
