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How many days in Salzburg? 2 days in Mozart's city, plus Hallstatt
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Salzburg is a baroque town on the River Salzach, ringed by mountains, and small enough to see well in two days: one for the old town, the Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mozart's houses, and one for the gardens, palaces and Sound of Music locations, or the lakes. A third day is best spent outside the city, at Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut or at the Eagle's Nest across the German border. In July and August, the Salzburg Festival fills the city with opera and concerts.
Short answer
One day covers the fortress, the old town and Mozart's birthplace in a rush. Two days add Hellbrunn, the Mirabell Gardens and a concert.
The 2-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The fortress, the cathedral and Mozart
Morning. Take the FestungsBahn funicular (or walk up 20 minutes) to Hohensalzburg Fortress (about €15-20 with the funicular), one of the largest medieval castles in Europe, with the princely apartments and views over the city and the Alps.
Afternoon. Walk down to the Salzburg Cathedral, where Mozart was baptised, the Residenzplatz and St Peter's Abbey, with its cemetery and catacombs in the cliff. Then walk the narrow Getreidegasse, with wrought-iron shop signs, to Mozart's Birthplace at number 9 (about €15), where he was born in 1756.
Evening. Listen to a Mozart concert: candlelit chamber concerts take place in the fortress and in the Marble Hall of Mirabell Palace, or attend a dinner concert at St Peter Stiftskulinarium, said to be Europe's oldest restaurant (803).
The Salzburg Card includes the fortress funicular, Mozart's houses, Hellbrunn, the Mönchsberg lift and public transport, and pays off with three or four visits.
Day 2: Mirabell, Hellbrunn and the Sound of Music
Morning. Visit the Mirabell Gardens (free), where Maria and the children sang 'Do-Re-Mi' in The Sound of Music, with views to the fortress, and the Mozart Residence across the Makartplatz.
Afternoon. Take bus 25 to Hellbrunn Palace (about €15), a 17th-century summer palace famous for its trick fountains, which spray visitors unexpectedly, and the Sound of Music gazebo in the park. Alternatively, join the classic Sound of Music tour (about €50-60, 4 hours) to the film's locations and the lakes.
Evening. Take the Mönchsberg lift up to the modern art museum terrace for the sunset view over the old town, then have beer and pretzels at the Augustiner Bräu monastery brewery in Mülln, a beer hall with a garden for 1,000 people.
Hellbrunn's trick fountains operate only from about April to early November; the guide decides who gets wet.
Only have 1 day?
With 1 day, do Day 1 and add the Mirabell Gardens in the evening.
Got extra days?
On a third day, visit Hallstatt, a lakeside village in the Salzkammergut (about 2-2.5 hours by bus and train, or by tour), with its salt mine and the Skywalk viewpoint; arrive early, as it is very crowded. Or go to the Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) above Berchtesgaden in Germany (about 45 minutes, open roughly May to October), or the salt mine at Hallein.
Where to stay in Salzburg
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Near the main station | Cheaper hotels, buses to the centre in 10 minutes. | €100-160 |
| Mid-range | Old town (Altstadt) | Walk to the fortress, Mozart's houses and concerts. | €180-300 |
| Mid-range | Right bank (Linzergasse, Mirabell) | Quieter, near the gardens, short walk across the river. | €150-260 |
| Comfort | Historic old-town hotels | Palace hotels and riverside rooms with fortress views. | €350-800 |
Getting around
The old town is compact and largely pedestrian. Trolleybuses and buses cover the rest; the Salzburg Card includes them. Salzburg airport is about 15-20 minutes from the centre by bus 2 or 10. Trains connect Salzburg with Vienna (about 2.5 hours) and Munich (about 1.5-2 hours). For Hallstatt, use the bus to Bad Ischl and connections, or a tour.
What to eat in Salzburg
Try Salzburger Nockerl, a soufflé of three peaks representing the mountains around the city, Wiener Schnitzel, Kaspressknödel (cheese dumplings in broth) and Tafelspitz. The original Mozartkugel, a ball of pistachio marzipan and nougat in chocolate, was invented in 1890 by the confectioner Paul Fürst, whose shop still sells it wrapped in silver and blue. Coffee and cake at Café Tomaselli (1700) is a Salzburg tradition. A main course costs €16-28.
Best time to visit
May to September, with highs of 20-25°C, for gardens, lakes and the Hellbrunn fountains; the Salzburg Festival runs in July and August (book months ahead). Advent brings one of Austria's best Christmas markets, at the cathedral square. Salzburg is known for rain (the local 'Schnürlregen'), so pack an umbrella.
Month-by-month weather for Salzburg →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €55 | €110 | €250 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €110 |
| Sights & concerts | €20 | €50 | €120 |
| Local transport | €4 | €8 | €25 |
| Total per person, per day | about €110 | about €225 | about €505 |
Approximate 2026 prices. Salzburg charges a small local tourist tax per person per night. Festival-season prices are much higher.
Before you go
Common questions
Is one day in Salzburg enough?
For the fortress, the old town and Mozart's birthplace, yes. With two days you can add the gardens, Hellbrunn and a concert without rushing.
Is the Sound of Music tour worth it?
For fans, yes: it visits Mirabell, the gazebo, Leopoldskron and the lakes, with singing on the bus. Interestingly, the film is far less known in Austria than abroad.
Can I visit Hallstatt from Salzburg?
Yes, on a long day trip. Hallstatt limits tour buses and asks visitors to respect residents; arriving early or staying overnight is best.
How do I get tickets for the Salzburg Festival?
Through the official festival website, often months in advance. Some last-minute and standing tickets become available.
Is the Eagle's Nest open all year?
No, roughly from May to October, depending on snow. The road up is open only to special buses from the Dokumentation Obersalzberg.
Where is the best view of Salzburg?
From the walls of Hohensalzburg Fortress, from the Mönchsberg terrace next to the Museum der Moderne (reached by the lift from the Gstättengasse), and from the Kapuzinerberg on the other side of the river, a short climb from the Linzergasse.
Is Salzburg good for a winter visit?
Yes: the Advent markets at the cathedral square and Hellbrunn, concerts in churches, and snow on the fortress make it beautiful. Some attractions, such as Hellbrunn's trick fountains and the Eagle's Nest, close in winter.
How do I get from Munich to Salzburg?
By train in about 1.5-2 hours from Munich Hauptbahnhof; the Bavaria regional ticket can be cheap for groups. By car, the drive takes about 1.5 hours.
Where can I see Mozart's music performed?
Throughout the year: chamber concerts at the Mirabell Palace Marble Hall and the fortress, the Mozart dinner concert at St Peter, masses with Mozart's music at the cathedral on Sunday mornings, and the Mozart Week festival in late January, organised by the Mozarteum.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Austria trips. Prices are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Salzburg Card, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozarteum, Hellbrunn and Salzburg Festival websites before booking.
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