When planning your trip to Salzburg, Austria, I suggest giving yourself at least three full days to explore. While it is a small city, there is a lot to see. From the beautiful mountainscapes to the streets of the old town, this city has much to offer. So, here’s an itinerary to Salzburg to help guide you on your trip to “the stage of the world.”
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Check In And Eat
Let’s be honest. Travel days can be exhausting. So while I don’t include your first night on the three-day Salzburg itinerary, I think it’s essential to get out and get to know the streets a bit after checking into your hotel. Get out there and take some mental notes of what you might be interested in seeing. Also, you’re probably going to be hungry, so maybe stop at one of these spots HERE for a quick bite. Then head back to your hotel and rest up for your first big day.
Day 1 Of Your Salzburg Itinerary
Your first day in Salzburg will be a lot of walking, starting with a free walking tour. Most major cities have these tours, and I am surprised at how many people don’t take advantage of them. This one lasts a couple of hours and is very informative.
Once your tour is over, I suggest going to University Square for a quick lunch and enjoying some of Salzburg’s fantastic street food. Grab a sausage and a pretzel and sit on some nearby stairs and watch the people go by. You will also find little shops and stands to browse after you are finished.
If you are interested, while you are in University Square, go stop by Mozart’s birthplace to learn a little about one of Salzburg’s most famous residents. It’s only an hour’s visit, so you have a lot of time to explore. From there, just a short walk away, is the catacombs of St. Peter’s cemetery. After you finish up, go check out the many churches of Salzburg. The Salzburg Cathedral is perhaps the best known, but there are plenty of others to visit on your walk through town. Most of these only have suggested donations, so no need to spend a ton of money. You will also see incredible works of art.
This might be an excellent place to end your day of walking and find a lovely beer garden or place to eat. Just take the evening off to enjoy the local flare of this beautiful city. I will always suggest getting dinner at Pauli Stubm for an authentic Austrian meal.
Day 2 Of Salzburg Itinerary
I have mentioned my Sound of Music Tour experience in the past, but I think everyone should take this tour. Even if you don’t love the movie, this tour will take you to some of the harder-to-reach places in Salzburg. But it also brings you to the most famous parts of Salzburg and beyond. You’ll have the opportunity to see some picturesque views just outside the city that you might not see if you aren’t driving. Panorama Tours also has several other tours, including a Salt Mines Tour and Eagle’s Nest Tour that I can’t personally speak for but wouldn’t mind taking.
These tours will take up your whole morning, so you might be a little hungry when you get back. But before you find a place to lunch, make sure to take a stroll through the Mirabell Gardens where the tour drops you off. The gardens are famous for the final scene in the song “Do-Re-Mi” but also a beautiful spot for an afternoon walk.
When you finish your lunch, I might suggest taking a boat ride on the river. It’s about an hour trip, and you can see this beautiful city from the water. Salzburg Highlights have several different tours to choose from, starting at 16 euros for adults. And it’s a relaxing way to end an eventful day of sightseeing.
Day 3 Of Your Salzburg Experience
On your final day, I saved the best for last. Perhaps the most popular destination, and what I think everyone should see, is Hohensalzburg Fortress. The fortress is hard to miss as it keeps watch over the city. You will want to plan a minimum of 2 hours when visiting, but you really could spend the whole day up there.
There’s an excellent museum to see that covers everything from the history of Salzburg to what toys were popular back when the fortress was erected. They have churches to visit, fantastic views, and even a marionette museum if that’s of interest. And if you get hungry while you’re up there, stop and have lunch or dinner outside while you overlook the city.
Hohensalzburg Fortress has a lot to see for one day. So once you descend from above, I would suggest taking the rest of your day and exploring. Go see something you may have wanted to see but missed, or hang out at one of the local beer gardens and relax. Exploring the small streets of Salzburg was a lot of fun, and you will come across some interesting shops, statues, and maybe even some music.
Enjoy Salzburg
Of course this is just a map for you to use. As I say with every itinerary I put out, travel is a personal thing. What I might find interesting, you may not. The most important thing is to enjoy your trip and enjoy a different part of the world. Happy adventuring!
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