Things to do in  Salzburg

Salzburg is renowned for its photo-worthy Old Town: a UNESCO-protected baroque treasure overlooked by the forbidding Hohensalzburg Fortress. The city was also where the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756—his birthplace is a museum—and played a starring role in the much-loved 1965 musical, The Sound of Music.

Be sure to visit Mozart’s Birthplace on Salzburg’s Getreidegasse. His family’s apartment has been reconstructed and showcases his original clavichord, violin, and family letters. Sound of Music fans, meanwhile, shouldn’t miss a tour of the movie’s iconic Salzburg filming locations, including the Mirabell Gardens with their “Do-Re-Mi” steps.

Three to four days in Salzburg is ideal. This is enough to enjoy Old Town highlights like Salzburg Cathedral, Mirabell Palace, Mozart’s Birthplace, and the shops and restaurants hugging the cobbled streets. It also still provides time to sample the surrounding Alpine countryside of blue-green lakes, villages, and mountain scenery.

Over 70 percent of Austrians speak English, and because Salzburg is tourist-oriented, you’ll likely find an even higher ratio of people who speak it well. But don’t take it for granted: Locals will be delighted if you’re ready with some stock phrases from the region’s official language: Austro-Bavarian German.

Yes. History, classical music, and film—especially Sound of Music—enthusiasts will find Salzburg rewarding and memorable. The city’s elegant baroque architecture, stylish shops, cozy pubs, and hearty cuisine, not to mention its surrounding mountain panoramas, will add extra appeal and keep general sightseers more than happy, too.

Explore Salzburg Old Town on day one to view Salzburg Cathedral, Mozart’s Birthplace, and more before absorbing sweeping city views from the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Day two is prime for pursuing personal interests: enjoying the shops and restaurants; taking a Sound of Music four, or admiring the region’s lake-and-mountain scenery.