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How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Salzburg - First Day
I highly recommend spending at least a weekend in Salzburg, Austria - it’s an amazing city preserved in the Baroque era. Exploring the city is perfect for all types of travelers - solo, couples, family, etc. There’s something to offer every type of tourist.
>> Related reading: Why Salzburg Needs to be on Your Bucket List <<
Here’s how I suggest to spend your first full day traveling in order to have the perfect weekend in Salzburg. Note that a lot of these sites are accessible with a Salzburg Card, so you may want to consider purchasing one while in town. It’s a great choice for utilizing the bus system and gaining free admission to many tourist sites. The card is available for 24, 48, and 72 hour periods. My hotel sold them at the lobby, so I could easily purchase it upon check in.
Streets of Salzburg, Austria in the morning
First Day of the Perfect Weekend in Salzburg
One of the few good things about jet lag is that you tend to wake up earlier than usual...so use it to your advantage! I’ve found that many European hotels offer breakfast inside their facilities, so have a relaxed filling breakfast there to fuel you up for the big day. I usually spend this time mapping out my plan to getting to the first site.
I was based in New City, so I opted for getting on the bus to take me into Old City (where stop 1 was), however you can also you taxi service or a ride share service like Uber. Only, I wouldn’t recommend using Uber in Salzburg just yet...I recommend FREE NOW (formerly MyTaxi app) because even though Uber is now offered in Salzburg, it can take a city awhile before a significant amount of drivers become available, especially if the locals have grown accustomed to using a different mobile service.
Salzburg is also very walkable but I was eager to get over to Old City in the morning to get started with my exploring!
Once I got over to Old City, there were plenty of walkable sites to see.
Horse drawn carriages outside of Salzburg Cathedral in Salzburg, Austria
Salzburg Museum | Neue Residenz
I enjoyed admiring the architecture inside the building itself in addition to the pieces on display. My favorite room was The Salzburg Myth exhibit on the 2nd floor. It features a room full of archbishop paintings with an elaborate and intricate wood ceiling.
It also has beautiful views of the Residenzplatz and its fountain.
Fountain in Residenzplatz - Salzburg, Austria
For me, this site is not a must-see (unless you are a history or art-buff), BUT it’s free of charge with your Salzburg Card, and it’s next to the DomQuartier (which I adored) so you might as well see and learn some more about Salzburg. Plus the museum opens at 9 am while the DomQuartier opens at 10 am, so why not hit up the museum first then go on to DomQuartier next, right?
DomQuartier
DomQuartier is named a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built by the Salzburg prince-archbishops over 400 years ago in the Italian Baroque style. This site houses 15 ornate state rooms in the Residenz, where the prince-archbishops used to live.
There’s also a museum inside that showcases Cathedral treasures, paintings, and sculptures dating from Gothic to Baroque eras, spanning 1,300 years.
Note that this site is open daily, except on Tuesdays. (Open 7 days a week in July and August.)
Salzburg Cathedral
Salzburg Cathedral is a 17th century Baroque style cathedral, that is a masterpiece of architecture, with two towers and a single grand dome (232 feet / 71 meters high). Although parts of the building have been rebuilt and restored over the years, it still is a work of art.
Salzburg Cathedral
The front of the church features 4 monumental statues with a facade made of Untersberg marble. There are three gates representing Faith, Love, and Hope.
Entrance of Salzburg Cathedral
Inside the cathedral, you can witness a bronze baptismal font (1311) where both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Mohr (wrote the words to Silent Night!) were christened. There’s also a large main organ with 7 bells (which each have names).
Note that this site’s opening hours change depending on the day and time of year, so be sure to check the times before visiting.
Hohensalzburg Fortress | Marionette Museum
Get the best views of the Baroque city of Salzburg from this site, which is the largest fully preserved castle in Central Europe. This fortress was built to protect the prince bishops from attack, though the fortress never faced a real seige.
You can choose to hike up to the Fortress, which takes about 20 minutes or you can use the funicular (like a cable car on tracks) to get up in 1 minute. The funicular runs every 10 minutes and is free with your Salzburg Card.
Also included with your Salzburg Card is access to the small Marionette Museum built inside the Fortress. This is not a must-see but worth the visit if you have the Salzburg Card. You can witness some whimsical (and a bit creepy) puppetry. I found it to be an interesting cultural experience to see the collection - with some puppets that are hundreds of years old.
St. Peter’s Monastery & Cemetery
I took the cable car back down to go on to St. Peter’s Monastery - a must-see stop for The Sound of Music fans. This is the famous location in The Sound of Music where the von Trapp family fled through the cemetery before seeking safety in Switzerland.
St. Peter’s is a church and abbey founded by a monastic brotherhood that is the oldest monastic order in the German-speaking world today. It has one of the world’s most beautiful and oldest cemeteries. Although I didn’t tour the early Christian catacombs, this is another highlight with free access to Salzburg Card holders. The entrance is located at the graves of Mozart’s sister, Nannerl, and Michael Haydn.
Lunch
At this point in time, you’ll probably be getting hungry and want some lunch! Here are a few local cuisine suggestions close to your next stop.
Austrian cuisine from one of the oldest inns in the old town of Salzburg since 1875
Mozart’s sister, Nannerl, lived in this house from 1801-1829
Named a “Preferred Salzburg Beer Culture Establishment”
Fresh and real Austrian kitchen
Works with regional farmers to use products from the region
Awarded Gault Millau: 1 toque, 14/20 (2019)
Classic Viennese coffeehouse
Homemade strudels, sweet rolls, and freshly baked sourdough breads
Mozart’s Birthplace
His actual 3-story childhood home has now been turned into a museum where you can learn the details about Mozart’s life - how he grew up, when he began to play music (and with what instruments), his relationships with close ones, and his passion for opera and music. This historical site is one of the most frequently visited museums in the world.
Mozart’s family lived on the third floor from 1747 to 1773. The third floor is dedicated to Mozart’s early life, and the second floor showcases his famous clavichord, where he composed The Magic Flute.
Makartsteg
In order to get to Mirabell Palace and Gardens, you have to cross over the Salzach River.
The bridge is for pedestrians and cyclists only, so it’s a great spot to take selfies and some beautiful pictures of the river with Old Town and mountains in the distance.
Mirabell Palace and Gardens
It’s considered one of the most romantic places on earth, and it’s another must-see spot for The Sound of Music lovers.
Mirabell Palace was built in 1606 in the Baroque style by prince-archbishop Wolf Dietrich for his beloved, Salome Alt. Mirabell is a name for an Italian woman, derived from the words mirabile (“admirable”) and bella (“beautiful”).
"Angel Staircase" leading up to the Marble Hall in the Mirabell Palace
The Marble Hall in the palace is known as one of the most beautiful wedding halls in the world. Unfortunately, this Hall was closed when I visited...because a wedding was being held there (go figure!) But I was at least able to climb the “Angel Staircase” which leads up to the Marble Hall and features little cherub statues.
The gardens were truly the favorite part of my visit here - they were immaculately landscaped and had so many different areas to explore, like:
Pegasus Fountain - work by Kaspar Gras from Innsbruck (installed 1913)
Grand Fountain - shows symbols of the 4 elements (fire, air, earth, water)
Hedge Theater - one of the oldest hedge theaters north of the Alps
Dwarf Garden - 17 dwarf statues made from white Untersberger marble; oldest of its kind in Europe
Rose Garden
Orangery
No visit here is complete without standing on those famous steps where Julie Andrews and the children belted out the song Do Re Mi from The Sound of Music.
I ended this day with a delicious Radler outdoors in a beer garden overlooking the Palace grounds and taking in the scenery. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.
I didn’t stay out late this evening because I had a full day ahead of me the following day, but if you are still up for more exploring, you may consider checking out these other stops:
Mozart Residence - if you want more Mozart, continue your expedition at Mozart Residence, another former home of Mozart that’s been turned into a museum. From 1773 to 1787, Mozart lived in a spacious 8-room apartment. Prior to Mozart’s residency there, the building was formerly known as the “Dance Master’s House” and was occupied by Lorenz Spöckner, who taught nobility dancing lessons to prepare them for life at court.
Salzburg City Cruise - I went on this cruise because I had some extra time, and it was included free with my Salzburg Card. It was a scenic cruise but the boat was packed with people so I would not call this leisurely. You can use it just to go up and back along the river for some nice city views or you can use it to get to Hellbrunn Palace as an alternative to a bus ride.
Which destination on Day 1 interested you the most? You can probably guess mine...for me, it would have to be Mirabell Palace and Gardens!!
Travel well and often,
author bio
Known as The Jet Set Blonde, Brittany Ryan inspires others to add more adventure to their childfree travel experiences. Brittany has visited 23 countries (and counting!) Connect with her to get access to detailed childfree travel itineraries, travel guides for weekend getaways, and updates on adult-only hotels, resorts, cruises, and other travel amenities.
