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Salzburg is a stunning fairytale-esque town in Austria located on the German border along the picturesque Salzach with views of the impressive Austrian Alps. Salzburg is known for its distinct pastel Baroque buildings that are beauttiful in any season, and also for being the birthplace of Mozart and home to the Von Trapps in the Sound of Music.
I visited the Salzburg Christmas Markets & was in lvoe with this city, especiallyi the snow, but I’ve heard summer is lovely too. Salzburg is small and can be easily explored in one day. It’s a must-see on any Austrian itinerary and is also possible to visit as a day trip from Munich. I’ve put together my perfect one day in Salzburg itinerary below!
Itinerary Overview
- Morning: Wander Mirabell Garden
- Late Morning: Explore the Scenic Old Town
- Early Afternoon: Get the Best Panormamic Views of Salzburg from Hohensalzburg Fortress
- Late Afternoon: Visit One of Salzburg’s Best Breweries/Beer Gardens
- Evening: Rooftop Dinner & Drinks at IMLAUER Sky Bar & Restaurant
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1 Day in Salzburg Itinerary
Morning: Wander Mirabell Garden
Start your day in Salzburg exploring the charming gardens at Mirabell Palace. The garden may look familiar to Sound of Music fans as it’s where Maria and the children dance around the fountain singing Do-Re-Mi. It’s free to enter & explore so there’s no need to purchsae tickets in advance!
If you’re arriving in Salzburg via train Mirabell Gardens is located on your way from the train –> Old Town Salzburg, where you’ll spend the rest of your day, so it’s a great first stop! 📍 View on Google Maps
Late Morning: Explore the Scenic Old Town
From Mirabell Palace wander along the Salzach river for the absolute best views of the pastel hued houses that are customary in Salzburg. Then cross the river to see the highlights of Old Town.
There are 3 main square that make up the Old Town – they’re all right near each other and easily found.
- Residenzplatz
- Domplatz
- Mozartplatz
Some of the prettiest streets to explore in this area. These streets are filled with shops, bars and restaurants and I recommend coming back later, more on that below!
- Getreidegasse (you’ll pass Mozart’s birthplace here)
- Griesgasse
Early Afternoon: Get the Best Panormamic Views of Salzburg from Hohensalzburg Fortress
Do not skip this! Take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress. The FestungsBahn can be found right in Old Town Salzburg near Domplatz. It’s only 12euro for a round trip with access to the scenic panoramas of the fortress. The ride was only a few minutes. Details here.
There’s a few restaurants/bars at the top, so it’s the perfect stop for lunch or drinks with a view!
Late Afternoon: Visit One of Salzburg’s Best Breweries/Beer Gardens
Head back down to Old Town and wander the scenic streets of Getreidegasse & Griesgasse. I highly recommend a trip to one of Salzburg’s most famous breweries (Augustiner Bräu Mülln) or it’s most charming beer garden Sternbräu – I visited both, but preferred the latter! 📍 Augustiner Bräu on Maps | 📍 Sternbräu on Maps
Evening: Rooftop Dinner & Drinks at IMLAUER Sky Bar & Restaurant
This spot was so unreal for sunset and I cannot recommend it enough. My recommendation would be to head to the bar for sunset if it’s nice out there’s a stunning patio, and if it’s winter, like it was when I visited, you can still get amazing views from inside. Then make a reservation for dinner, the food was delicious. Or you could just head there for sunset and get dinner elswhere! 📍 View on Google Maps
Salzburg Map
Where to Stay in Salzburg
IMLAUER Hotel Pitter Salzburg
I stayed at IMLAUER Hotel Pitter Salzburg on my most recent trip and highly recommend! It was walking distance to the train (less than ten min) and also walking distance to the Old Town (20ish minutes)
The hotel itself was really nice, my absolute favorite part was the rooftop restaurant and bar. The views were stunning
How to Get to Salzburg
By Train
Salzburg is connect by train to all other major cities in Austria and other countries in Europe. The train is right in downtown Salzburg and only about a 15 minute walk from the historic city center.
Train times:
- Vienna –> Salzburg: 2 hour and 30 minutes
- Innsbruck –> Salzburg: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Munich –> Salzburg: 1 hour and 30 minutes
By Plane
Salzburg also has the second largest airport in Austria. The W.A Mozart Salzburg International Airport is only about 20 minutes from downtown Salzburg & super accessible.
Exploring More of Austria?
Check out my other Austria Travel Guides:
