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Table of Contents:
How to get to Salzburg from Salzburg airport
How to get to Salzburg from Munich
When to travel to Salzburg
Salzburg is an Austrian city located on the border with the German region of Bavaria. Salzburg is famous for its natural and architectural attractions. The central part of the city is even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, so it is not surprising that the city is a highly visited tourist destination. You can enjoy both great architecture and picturesque natural landscapes here.
✓ Salzburg is an all-year-round tourist destination. In winter you can try skiing in the nearest surroundings or just enjoy Christmas markets and events. It`s also a good time to visit numerous Salzburg museums, try local food, including well-known apple strudel, schnitzel and mulled wine. Generally, the climate in Salzburg is quite mild, that is why it rarely snows in winter, except in mountain areas.
✓ Spring time in Salzburg is very picturesque, because it`s a time for blossoming. Natural landscapes become more and more green. You can enjoy idyllic alpine countryside, mountain panoramas and, surely, city best attractions. Summer time is also a good choice to travel to Salzburg as the local weather is warm, but not hot. It`s the best time for strolling around the city and for hiking in the nearest countryside. Cable cars to the mountains operate all year round here that is why you will be able to enjoy mountain views during any season.
✓ By the way, the mountains look quite different in autumn, when nature becomes more colorful. If you like yellow-red-violet forest landscapes it will be better to come to Salzburg and its countryside exactly in autumn. Natural landscapes are unbelievable this time of the year.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Salzburg. I figured out how to get to this magnificent city, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Salzburg.

How to get to Salzburg
Where do you fly into to get to Salzburg? Salzburg has its own airport where flights from all over the world arrive. The number of flights is dramatically increasing during the winter time when tourists come to the Austrian Alps to try skiing. Besides, you can fly to the Munich international airport, which is 145 km away. The Munich airport takes, on average, more flights than the Salzburg airport so it is wise to check available flights to Munich too. You can check the current flight timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. It is one of the services which I use pretty often. It helps me to find out the most suitable flight options among a huge number of results as Aviasales has a convenient search with a lot of possibilities to sort the results as I may need.
How to get to Salzburg from Salzburg airport
Salzburg airport is located 6 km from the city center. You can get to the city by public transport, by taxi or by rented car.
By public transport: You can take a regular bus # 2 or # 10 to get to Salzburg. They depart from the airport every 15-20 minutes and run on the route: Airport – Train Station – City centre. A ticket can be bought at the bus stop automatic machine or directly from the bus driver. There are a lot of buses which run directly to various ski resorts and even to the German region of Bavaria. These are the bus lines # 180, 181, 260, 840, 9535. All the buses depart from the bus stop near Terminal # 1.
By taxi: You also can take a taxi upon arrival or book a transfer service in advance. It`s wise in case of a large amount of baggage or when travelling with little kids, etc. Kiwitaxi transfer service and other ones run along the route and can be booked in advance. The travel time is about 15 minutes. Kiwitaxi has a lot of positive reviews so I can totally recommend it. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By rented car: Another option is to rent a car at the airport of Salzburg. It will be a very useful option if you want to explore not only Salzburg, but the whole Salzburg region or to go to Tyrol region, Bavaria region, etc. There are plenty of tourist destinations to discover. You can book a car in advance as it is a very popular option among tourists. Check Discover Cars, Economybookings and other services to choose the best available car renting option. I use these online services regularly, especially when planning my trips in advance. Both services are good with a lot of additional options helping sort the results by departure and arrival points, type of a car, price, insurance, etc.

How to get to Salzburg from Munich
Rather often people come to Salzburg from the administrative center of Bavaria – Munich. Such a trip does not take much time; there are excellent public transport routes between the cities (buses or trains), and it is also possible to get there by car along the high-speed highway.
By bus: To get from Munich to Salzburg, you can use buses or trains. The Munich-Salzburg bus runs up to 9 times a day. Transportation is carried out by the Flixbus company. You can check the current timetable and buy a ticket at the Flixbus online service. The first bus leaves at 4.05 am, the last at 23.40 pm. The fare starts from 10 euros; the travel time is approx. 2 hours. As I know Flixbus is a pretty popular bus service in Europe and designed for cheaper trips with affordable prices, so why not try it?
By train: It takes about the same time to travel from Munich to Salzburg by train. Direct trains run between cities throughout the day, up to 30 times a day. Trains depart twice an hour, except at night. The travel time is 1 hour 30 minutes. You can check the schedule and purchase tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. It is one of my favourite services which helps me a lot to plan my upcoming trips as most of my trips are around Europe. I can definitely recommend Raileurope due to its convenient search and possibilities for sorting the results.
By the way, you can get from Munich to Salzburg using a Bavarian ticket. Despite the fact that Salzburg is not part of the administrative state of Bavaria, the route is so popular among tourists that it has been decided to include it in Bavarian tickets. If you travel around Bavaria with such a ticket, you can significantly save on travel costs, incl. when traveling to Salzburg.
By rented car: The distance between Munich and Salzburg is 145 km, the cities are connected with highway No. A8. The travel time from Munich to Salzburg by car takes about 1 hour 40 minutes (see on the map). You can rent a car in Munich at numerous rental offices in the city and even at the airport. It is enough to have a passport, a driver’s license and a bank card with you. You can book a car in advance, then the process of registering a car for renting will go even faster. Check available options on the different international online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc.

Where to stay in Salzburg
Based on my research, upon arrival in Salzburg, you can stay in a variety of hotels, apartments, guest houses, hostels, depending on your preferences and budget. Salzburg is a popular tourist destination almost all year round, so it is recommended to book accommodation in advance. The following hotels in Salzburg get high ratings from tourists:
Hotel & Villa Auersperg 4* – this boutique hotel is located within walking distance from the historical center of Salzburg. The hotel features a relaxing terrace and a rooftop spa area. Guests can stay in rooms of varying categories; breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge throughout the hotel. Public parking is available for a fee. The front desk serves guests 24 hours a day;
ACHAT Plaza Zum Hirschen 4* – the hotel is located near the Salzburg Railway Station. The hotel has a restaurant and a spa area with a sauna, a bath and a fitness room. There is also a bar. Guests can stay in rooms of varying categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Public parking area is provided for a fee. There is luggage storage, a children’s playground, and bicycle rental at the hotel. The reception is open 24 hours a day;
Bergland Hotel 3* – the hotel is located in a quiet area, close to the main attractions of the city. There is a small terrace for guests to relax on. You can stay in single and double rooms; the hotel accommodates only adult guests. Breakfast is available for an additional fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Private on-site parking is available for a fee. Luggage storage is provided;
Star Inn Hotel Premium Salzburg Gablerbrau, by Quality 3* – the hotel is located in a historic building in the very center of the city, at the foothills of the Kapuzinerberg mountain. Guests can stay in rooms of varying categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is available for a fee. There is also a bar on site. Wi-Fi is free. Luggage storage is provided. The front desk operates 24 hours a day. Hotel guests can also relax on the terrace with beautiful mountain views.

What to see & do in Salzburg
In Salzburg you can see historic squares and fountains, residences and castles, cathedrals, churches and abbeys, fortresses and monasteries, parks, gardens, etc. You can also ride a cable car to view the city panorama or you can visit the Mozart House Museum, because, among other things, Salzburg is also the birthplace of the great composer. In order not to get lost in all this variety of monuments and interesting places, it is better to decide what you would like to see in advance, especially if you only have 1-2 days to explore. Among the things to see in Salzburg, the most popular attractions include:
Residenzplatz is the main square of Salzburg, and it is perhaps the best place to start exploring the old part of the city. The square is surrounded with several architectural objects; the main ones are the buildings of the Old and New Residences. The construction of both buildings dates back to the beginning of the 17th century, and originally it was the residence of archbishops.
Currently, both buildings house art museums, and visitors have the opportunity to appreciate the lush interior decoration of them. The facades of the New Residence are, among other things, decorated with a clock and 35 bells. There is also a fountain in the center of the square, which has its own historical value; its installation dates back to the second half of the 17th century. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- The residences are open daily from 10 am until 5 pm. In July and August opening hours extend to 6 pm;
- The entrance fee is 13 euros for an adult and 8 euros for students (tickets for kids under 6 years are free of charge); the family ticket costs 27 euros.

The Salzburg Cathedral impresses with its height and sizes. This 17th-century baroque building found a place right in the city center, not far from Residenzplatz. The facades of the building are richly decorated with statues and sculptures, and a dome and two towers rise above the cathedral.
The dome is the only unauthentic detail of the cathedral, since it was bombed during the Second World War and restored only in the second half of the 20th century. Inside the cathedral you can see interesting paintings, but, in general, the interior of the building is unpretentious. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- The cathedral is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm. During the summer time opening hours extend to 7 pm;
- The entrance fee is 5 euros for adults. Children & youth until 18 y.o. are free to visit the cathedral.

Among what to see in Salzburg in one day, the Hohensalzburg Fortress stands out as it is considered to be the oldest sight of the city. It’s definitely worth climbing the 120-meter mountain on which the castle is located, especially since there is a cable car leading here. By the way, one of the best views of the city is open from the fortress area. If you have the opportunity to visit only one place in Salzburg, then I would recommend choosing Hohensalzburg, because you can see the whole city from its area.
The construction of the fortress dates back to the 10th century; it was made in a strict Romanesque style. In addition to the castle fortress, it can also be found in some other buildings here, including towers, gates, churches and some others. The interiors of the fortress are open for visitors; here you can see medieval interiors decorated with gilding and carvings. There is a museum at the complex. A visit to the fortress is possible either independently with an audio guide or with an organized excursion. I found out detailed information for visiting the fortress:
- The fortress is open from 9.30 am until 5 pm during the October-April period;
- The fortress is open from 8.30 am until 8 pm during the May-September period;
- The entrance fee starts from 10,80 euros;
- You can buy a ticket, which include cable car ascending and descending. In that case the ticket price starts from 14 euros;
- Tickets can be purchased either at the ticket office or online.

Mirabell Palace is not just another European palace; the entire palace and park complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The initial construction of the palace took place at the beginning of the 17th century; subsequently, the palace suffered more than once from fires and other disasters; the last major restoration was carried out at the beginning of the 19th century.
Currently, various events, concerts and exhibitions are held in the palace halls. The palace is also surrounded by an impressive park area, which was laid out here in the 17th century. In addition to all kinds of landscape decorations – flower beds, trees, hedges, in the park you can find numerous fountains, sculptures of lions and statues of dwarfs. I found out some information for visiting:
- The palace is open daily from 8 am until 6 pm;
- Mirabell Gardens are open daily during the whole day;
- Hedge Theater is closed during the winter time;
- Orangery is open all year round, daily from 9 am to 4 pm;
- Dwarf Garden is closed during the winter time;
- The admission is free of charge.

A walk to the Kapuzinerberg mountain is perfect for those who enjoy hiking. The height of the mountain is 214 meters; at its top you can find the Capuchin Abbey, S. Zweig’s villa and, of course, an observation deck. Unlike the Hohensalzburg fortress, there are only stairs or a serpentine path leading up the mountain, so you can only climb here on foot, but it’s worth it.
The stairs to the mountains lead to the top along the cityscapes. The serpentine opens up views on natural landscapes. In addition, there are small chapels installed somewhere along the serpentine route, decorating the entire path to the top. Those who decide to climb the Kapuzinerberg are recommended taking both ways – by the stairs and by the serpentine (there or back).

Salzburg is known as the birthplace of the great composer W.A. Mozart, and in the house where he was born and lived in his youth, a museum dedicated to the life and work of the master has now been created. All the exhibits of the museum are, in one way or another, connected with the composer. Here are the instruments that Mozart played, his music books, and pieces of furniture, and there is also a magnificent painting called “Mozart at the piano”. The museum also has a separate exhibition “Mozart and Theater”. You can explore the museum with organized tours conducted in different languages.
- The museum is open daily from 9 am to 5.30 pm. The opening hours are extended to 8.30 am – 7 pm during the period of July-August;
- The cost of ticket is 12 euros for an adult and 4 euros for a student.

The Hellbrunn palace and park complex is located in the closest surroundings of Salzburg, about 6 km from it. It is unlikely that you will be able to explore the city’s attractions and the Hellbrunn Palace in one day, however, if you decide to stay in Salzburg for a couple of days, then the Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens are definitely on the list of what to see in Salzburg in 2 days. The palace was built at the beginning of the 17th century in the early Baroque style. Inside you can see authentic tapestries, frescoes and paintings, as well as pieces of furniture.
All apartments of the palace are furnished with exceptional elegance. Besides, you can also find many other buildings around, including pavilions, the Hunting Castle, the Stone Theater, amusing fountains, sculptures, Neptune’s grotto and, of course, a luxurious landscaped garden with a pond. There is some helpful information that I examined and put together:
- You can get to the Hellbrunn Palace and Park complex by city bus # 25;
- The palace is open daily from April until November;
- The opening hours are from 9.30 am to 18.30 pm, except April and October when the palace is open until 17.30 pm;
- The ticket price is 13,50 euros for adults and 6 euros for kids; there is a family ticket which costs 29,50 euros.

Take a note! When going on a trip to Austria, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: wohnblogAt

Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
it’s very helpful to know that you can reach Salzburg with the Bavaria ticket. I wouldn’t have considered that.
Salzburg is still on my must visit list. I would need several days, because I definitely would want to see the Hellbrunn palace and the city itself.
I love Salzburg so much!!! I wish I had all this information for when I went two years ago. I definitely want to go back though, so this is helpful to read. We also loved going to St. Peter’s Stiftskulinarium — the oldest restaurant in Europe!!
This is such a thorough and informative post, thank you!