Best things to do in Salzburg, including free and rainy-day options

Salzburg is small enough to cover on foot in a day and rich enough to hold you for three. The old town, the fortress above it and the Mozart sites are the core; the lakes and mountains are the reason to stay longer.

If you have one day: walk the old town in the morning, climb or ride to Hohensalzburg before the midday crowds, see Mozart's Birthplace, then cross the river to Mirabell Gardens. If you have two or three days, add a half-day to the Untersberg or a full day to Hallstatt or Zell am See.

Prices are 2026 estimates and change; confirm on the official site before you go. Times are walking or visiting time, not including travel between them.

Start in the old town. Getreidegasse is the postcard street, but the quieter lanes behind it — Judengasse, the passages around the cathedral — are where you actually walk. The Residenzplatz and the Salzburg Cathedral (Dom) anchor the centre; the cathedral is free to enter and worth a look even if you skip everything else.

Hohensalzburg sits on the hill above and is the single best thing to do here. You can walk up in about 20–30 minutes on the path from Festungsgasse, which is free, or take the funicular. The fortress courtyards are free to enter; the museums, state rooms and tower cost extra. Go early or late to avoid the tour groups.

Mozart's Birthplace on Getreidegasse is the house where he was born, now a museum with instruments and documents. Mozart's Residence across the river is the second site; a combined ticket usually costs less than two singles. Both are small, so allow an hour each.

Cross the river for Mirabell Gardens, laid out in the 18th century and free to walk. The palace hosts concerts. From here you can see the fortress across the river — the classic view.

For a view without a hike, the Untersberg cable car south of the city lifts you to around 1,800 m in minutes; check that it is running before you go, as wind closes it. In summer, the Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg paths above the city are free and quiet.

With a full day spare, Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut lakes are the standard trip; Zell am See is the other. Both are by train, and both are better early. If you would rather stay in the city, the Salzburg Festival in July and August fills the calendar with opera and concerts — book far ahead.

Salzburg is not cheap, but the best of it is free: the old town, the river, the gardens and the fortress walk-up cost nothing. Budget for one or two paid sights a day and a lake day if you have the time.

A rough day for one person, 2026 estimates: coffee and pastry €5–8, lunch €12–18, one paid sight €10–16, dinner €18–30. A Salzburg Card covering transport and many sights may pay off if you plan three or more paid entries — check the current price against your list.