Top 30 Things to See and Do in Salzburg
When most people think about Austria, they have visions of Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and home of the Sound of Music.
Salzburg is famous for its UNESCO-listed old town, medieval and baroque buildings, beautiful gardens and imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress.
Here are Wanderlustria’s recommendations for the Top 30 Things to See and Do in Salzburg.
This article may contain compensated links. See our full disclaimer here. If you purchase through any of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The commissions help us provide valuable travel tips and guides for free. Thank you!
Join the Austria Travel Planning Facebook Group
Follow us on:
Top 30+ Things to See & Do in Salzburg
1. Stroll through Salzburg’s Altstadt. Walk along Getreidegasse, Salzburg’s most renowned shopping street, characterised by its old guild signs.
2. Visit Mozarts Geburtshaus (Mozart’s birthplace) and museum.
3. Visit the Salzburg Dom (Salzburg cathedral), originally built in the 8th century.
It has a magnificent dome with two soaring towers, stunning Baroque architecture, and beautiful artwork.
Book Guided Dom Tours Here
4. Visit the Domquartier and the state rooms in the Domquartier.
5. Tour the Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg, one of Europe’s largest fully preserved castle located on the Festungsberg, providing spectacular 360º views of the city and its surroundings.
Skip the Line Fortress Tickets
6. Visit Stift St Peter (St Peter’s Abbey), the Cemetery, and St Peter’s Catacombs, which date back to the), Cemetery, and St Peter’s Catacombs. Dating back to 11th century.
7. Visit Kloster Nonnberg (Kloster Abbey), a Benedictine monastery Saint Rupert of Salzburg founded in 712/715.
It is the oldest continuously existing nunnery in the German-speaking world. Maria from The Sound of Music was a postulant there.
8. Stroll along Linzergasse, a pedestrian-only shopping street that runs through the heart of the Old Town.
9. Walk up to the Kapuzinerberg.
The Basteiweg (off Linzergasse) takes hikers along the Kapuzinerberg fortifications and city walls. Kapuzinerberg provides one of the most breathtaking panoramic views of the old town and the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Visit the Kapuzinerkloster (Capuchin Monastery) and the Franziskischlössl (castle) built in 1629.
10. Walk across Makartsteg Bridge, often called “Love Lock Bridge” because of the thousands of locks lovers leave.
11. Walk or Cycle on the paths along the banks of the Salzach River.
12. Go up Untersberg mountain. At 1973m, (6,473 ft), it is the highest mountain in Salzburg. Take the Untersbergbahn (gondola).
Our Recommendations | Where we Stay in Salzburg
♥ As one of the hotels we always dreamed of staying at, we loved the famous luxury Hotel Goldener Hirsch, located directly on Getreidegasse.
♥ I enjoy staying at the charming 3-star Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt, located on the Linzer Gasse pedestrian zone- close to everything.
♥ For budget-conscious travellers, I recommend staying at the Gästehaus im Priesterseminar. I recently stayed in the Seminary Guesthouse located less than 5 5-minute walk from Mirabell Palace and Gardens. It offers great value close to all the major sights.
Palaces and Museums
13. Visit Mirabell Palace and gardens built by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich in 1606.
Take a photo of the Dom and Hohensalzburg Fortress in the distance and find your inner Maria as you sing Do-Re-Mi.
14. Visit Heilbrunn Palace, the garden’s water fountains and the zoo.
Visit the famous pavilion from the Sound of Music. More information Here
15. Visit the Museum of Modern Art on Mönchsberg and check out the spectacular views.
16. Visit the Salzburg Museum collection of art, cultural artifacts, and historical objects that tell the story of Salzburg and its surrounding region.
17. Visit the Haus der Natur with interactive exhibits about nature and science.
18. Visit the Welt der Gifte (World of Poisons), Austria’s smallest zoo.
The one-hour tour showcases poisons in daily life, with displays of poisonous plants, toadstools, and exotic living toxic animals such as scorpions, toads and venomous snakes.
Events and Performances
19. Take a ‘Sound of Music Tour’.
20. Attend a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Salzburger Marionettentheatre performance, performing since 1913.
21. Attend a performance at the Salzburg Festspiele (Salzburg Festival ), which takes place from late July to August.
22. Enjoy a classical music performance
Listen to Mozart in a breathtaking venues such as Mirabell Palace and Salzburg Fortress.
Concert Tickets
23. Attend the annual St Rupert’s Day Fair. Salzburg on September 24th when the Patron Saint of Salzburg is celebrated.
Where to Eat
24. Eat in the world’s oldest restaurant. St Peter Stifskulinarium in Salzburg since 803.
25. Have a beer and Stelze (ham hock) at Augustiner Bräustübl.
26. Have coffee and cake at Café Tomaselli, founded in 1705.
27. Have a Bosna sausage from the Balken Grill in a laneway off Getreidegasse.
Listen to Mozart in a breathtaking venues such as Mirabell Palace and Salzburg Fortress.
28. Buy sourdough bread from Stiftsbäckerei St. Peter (St Peter’s Abbey Bakery), Salzburg’s oldest bakery, founded over 700 years ago.
29. Visit Red Bull Hanger -which houses the historical Flying Bulls aircraft fleet and a collection of Formula 1 race cars, has exhibition spaces and has cafes, restaurants and bars
30. Take a cooking class to learn how to make schnitzel and apple strudel.
Wanderlustria's Austria Trip Planning Service
Expert advice to help you plan your Austria holiday.
Book an Austria Trip Planning Consultation
We help you plan your dream Austrian holiday.
The Wanderlustria Trip Planning Service provides advice on everything you need to know about planning your holiday to Austria- from hotels to tours, where to get the best tickets, train and road trips and share our favourite places and activities to ensure your Austria holiday is memorable.
Find the perfect Austria Travel Consultation for you
Winter Activities
31. Visit the Christmas Markets at the Dom, Heilbrunn Palace and the Hohensalzburg Fortress.
32. See a traditional Krampusauslauf (Krampus run)
The Krampus runs traditionally takes place on December 5/6th. The Krampus is a goat-footed, half-demon hairy devil figure with horns who disciplines naughty children. Traditionally St Nikolaus visits with Krampus. Learn More HERE
33. Visit the Silent Night Chapel at Oberndorf – where the carol was composed in 1818.
34. Ski at one of Salzburgerlands famous ski resorts.
Some of the most famous ski resorts are:, Zell am See-Kaprun, Ski- Circus, Ski Amade, St Johann im Pongau, Lofer Almenwelt, Bad Gastein, Schladming.
Discover Salzburg
Getting to Salzburg
Where to Stay
Best Salzburg Hotels
Getting around Salzburg
Free Salzburg Public Transportation
Salzburg Tours & Tickets
30 Things to See & Do in Salzburg
Best Salzburg Christmas Markets
16 Day Trips from Salzburg
Sound of Music Tour Review
Recommendations, Tips and General Advice on travelling in Austria
Austria Train Guide
Top Tips travelling in Austria by Train
Public Transport Guide
FREE Public Transport in Salzburg State
Driving in Austria
Renting a Car in Austria
Plan your Austrian Holiday
Trip Planning
Click on one of the topics below to start planning your dream trip to Austria.
How to Plan Guide
Austria Travel Tips & Info
Budget for your trip
Accommodation Guides
Transport Guides
Visas and ETIAS
When to Visit Austria
Austria Holidays
Festivals & Events
Mobile Phones in Austria
Wanderlusting where to visit in Austria?
Read these Articles for Recommendations, Tips and Advice on Sights to See and Things to Do
Top 16 Places to Visit in Austria
Vienna Top 30 Bucket List
Salzburg Bucket List
Hallstatt Bucket List
Zell am See-Kaprun Bucket List
Vienna Guide
Salzburg Guide
Hallstatt Guide
Zell am See-Kaprun Guide
Wanderlustria's Templates and Guides
Austria Trip Planner
90+ page Austria trip planner printable includes customisable templates and checklists to help you research, compare, and organise every detail. From travel inspiration to planning logistics, this downloadable guide is your one-stop toolkit for the perfect Austrian holiday.
Start Planning Now
Vienna Christmas Market Itinerary
The Ultimate Vienna Christmas Markets Itinerary is a printable PDF guide with all the essential information and three day-to-day itineraries visiting the Best Vienna Christmas Markets.
Our 60+ pages guide has all the information you need to plan your Vienna Christmas Markets Holiday- from where to stay, to what are the best Christmas Market Foods and Souvenirs.
Buy Here
Visit our Shop for more information about Wanderlustria's Guides and Templates
Chief Wanderlust’er and Austria travel expert, I’m on a mission to help you uncover the magic of Austria — from fairytale cities and alpine villages to awe-inspiring landscapes and rich cultural traditions.
As the founder of Austria Wanderlust Travel Planning, the Austria Travel Planning Facebook Group, and director of Wanderlustria eU, I provide trusted tips, local insights, and curated resources to make your Austrian adventure seamless, authentic, and unforgettable.