Best of Salzburg Attractions

Salzburg is a small city set on the edge of the Alps with some incredible vistas and sites on offer. An oft heard complaint from visitors is that Salzburg is too crowded and touristy but it is important to realize that the crowds are made up of visitors like us and while they can detract from the sheer pleasure of Salzburg, it is up to you to time your visit outside of the peak summer months or ignore the crowds and focus yourself on the delight of the Salzburg attractions. Don’t let them ruin the city for you for Salzburg is gorgeous and absolutely not to be missed.

Hellbrunn Palace Salzburg

This brainchild of a wily old archbishop was created back in the 15th century as a summer palace, dedicated to entertainment and revelry. While the palace is undoubtedly beautiful and pleasing, what makes this site one of the prime Salzburg attractions are the luxurious gardens and trick fountains. Ingenious, unique and incredibly good fun, the waterways here are designed to entertain and get the unwary visitor wet! Fans of the Sound of Music will not want to miss a picture of the famous pavilion from the song "I am sixteen going on seventeen".

Mirabell Palace and Gardens Salzburg

The Schloss Mirabell is a 17th century palace with multiple attractions. Housing government offices today, this beautiful palace can be visited during the day to enjoy the rich furnishings and prettiness of the interiors or to stroll around the very gardens where the famous song “Do-Re-Mi” was shot. The Mirabell also hosts various concerts in the evenings and you can enjoy a classical performance in a wonderfully fitting setting for the music of the great Austrian composers.

Old Town

The Salzburg Old Town is composed of wonderful medieval squares interlinked with charming cobblestoned streets. Dating as far back as the 5th century, the Old Town is dotted with old churches, appealing architecture, all kinds of interesting stores and cafes, and can be explored on foot or through a carriage ride. Don’t forget to take a break at one of the cafes to sample some delicious coffee and cake.

Festung Hohensalzburg

Seated atop a mountain, a little away from the city centre, this fortress can be reached on foot or by funicular. The fortress dates back to the 11th century and presents some excellent state rooms and historic context for the visitors to enjoy. The exteriors over shadow the interiors however, for the gardens of the fortress present an incredible view of the Alps dwarfing the tiny city of Salzburg below.

Mozart Geburtshaus

Salzburg also holds a fascination for classical music lovers for it was the birthplace of Mozart. His childhood home has been converted into a museum tracing his early years where visitors will enjoy viewing a collection of musical instruments Mozart used during his lifetime, several excellent portraits of the composer and other memorabilia from his past.