Salzburg on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Salzburg on a budget is possible at about €110 per person per day (bed €55, food €30, sights €20, transport €4), but it takes some choices: one or two paid sights a day, beer-hall meals and a room outside the old town.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €55 | €110 | €250 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €110 |
| Sights & tickets | €20 | €50 | €120 |
| Local transport | €4 | €8 | €25 |
| Per person, per day | €109 | €223 | €505 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Salzburg day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Mirabell Gardens, where 'Do-Re-Mi' was filmed, with views to the fortress
- Getreidegasse and its wrought-iron shop signs
- Salzburg Cathedral (donation suggested) and Residenzplatz
- St Peter's cemetery below the cliff
- Walking the Mönchsberg on foot for views over the old town
- The riverside paths along the Salzach
Cheap eats
- Bosna (spiced sausage in bread) from a stand, about €4–5
- Augustiner Bräu food stalls and beer, about €12–18 for a meal and a drink
- Leberkäse roll from a butcher or bakery, about €3–5
- Salzburger Nockerl shared between two at a café, about €12–18 per portion
- Supermarket picnic in the Mirabell Gardens
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay near the main station, where cheaper hotels and a few hostels are 10 minutes by bus from the centre, at about €100–160 for a double (roughly €50–80 each when sharing); hostel dorm beds are less.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the compact, largely pedestrian old town; trolleybuses cover the rest. Buses 2 and 10 link the airport to the centre in 15–20 minutes. The Salzburg Card includes public transport.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Mirabell Gardens (free), then walk to the Altstadt and the cathedral
- Lunch: Bosna from a stand, about €5
- Afternoon: Hohensalzburg Fortress with funicular, about €15–20
- Evening: Augustiner Bräu dinner and a beer, about €15
- Total: about €110 including a shared room near the station
More ways to save
- Choose between Mozart's Birthplace and the Mozart Residence unless you are a devoted fan.
- Visit Hallstatt by public bus and train rather than a tour, and go early.
- Look for free or low-cost church concerts and student performances.
- Use a refillable bottle; there are public fountains.
- Travel in May, June or September for good weather without festival prices.
- Book accommodation early for Advent weekends, which fill quickly.
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Common questions
Can you visit Salzburg on a budget?
Yes with planning: about €110 a day per person, staying near the station and eating at beer halls and stands.
What is free in Salzburg?
Mirabell Gardens, Getreidegasse, the cathedral (donation suggested), St Peter's cemetery and the Mönchsberg walks.
How do I get from the airport?
Buses 2 or 10 take about 15–20 minutes to the centre.