Best Things to do in Salzburg 2024 | Best Cities #94: Salzburg

94. Salzburg AUSTRIA 🇦🇹 Score: 179.28

by Taxiarchos228 → Derivative work: Steffen Schmitz (Carschten) / FAL (cropped) / [CC BY-SA 3.0

One of the Most Beautiful Historic Centers in the World Full of Impressive Baroque Architecture

Table of Contents

A. About Salzburg
B. Best Things to Do in Salzburg in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)
C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Salzburg
D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Salzburg
E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Salzburg (including close-by excursions)

A. About Salzburg

Surrounded by mountains, picturesque Salzburg on the Salzach River is most famous for being the birthplace of the classical composer Mozart and home of the Salzburg Festival.

Furthermore, the City of Mozart features one of the most beautiful historic centers in the world full of impressive baroque architecture.

Towering above the city, the white Hohensalzburg Fortress is considered the largest fully preserved castle in Europe and provides stunning views.

The Good:

Salzburg enjoys, first of all, a scenic location on the Salzach River surrounded by steep hills and mountains.

Furthermore, the city is very safe and clean, and its inhabitants are friendly and helpful

Finally, there is a large, pedestrianized area in the city center and the public transportation system is excellent.

The Not-So-Good:

Salzburg is small and expensive.

Furthermore, don't expect great weather.

B. Best Things to Do in Salzburg in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count more than thirty-five sights in Salzburg. The following sights and attractions contribute to a score of 6.55/10 in this most important category:

# HISTORIC CENTER (Altstadt) 7 FREE

Acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1996, the large and traffic-free historic center of Salzburg is packed with stunning baroque palaces, churches, parks, and monuments at every turn.

City District World Heritage Site: since 1996

# HOHENSALZBURG CASTLE 6

Towering 120 m above the city and providing stunning views, Salzburg is dominated by the picturesque fortress of Hohensalzburg.

You can reach the biggest fully preserved castle in Central Europe by a pleasant 20-minute walk from the Old Town center or via a Funicular Cable Car.

Fortress World Heritage Site: since 1996

# DOMQUARTIER SALZBURG 6

The DomQuartier combines five smaller museums in one space. Highlights include the baroque State Rooms of the Residenz, the Cathedral Museum, and the Residenz Gallery, where visitors can admire artworks by European painters from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Palace and Museum World Heritage Site: since 1996

# MÖNCHSBERG 6

Ride an elevator up to the top of 540 m Mönchsberg for stunning views over the city.

Hill with View World Heritage Site: since 1996

by Vassia Atanassova / CC BY-SA 3.0

# HELLBRUNN PALACE AND FOUNTAINS 5.5

Created in the 16th century, Hellbrunn Palace has enchanted and amazed its visitors with its whimsical palace interior – especially the Chinese Room and frescoed Festsaal – and foremost trick fountains for more than four hundred years.

Palace with Park and Fountains World Heritage Site: since 1996

# Museum of Natural History and Technology (Haus der Natur) 5.5

Haus der Natur has something for everyone, with exhibits on subjects such as space, energy, music, and technology, as well as an aquarium and reptile house.

Museum of Natural History with Aquarium

# HETTWER BASTEI AND KAPUZINERKLOSTER 5.5

Enjoy the best views of Salzburg from this bastion which lies on the southern side of the Kapuzinerberg.

Viewpoint and Cloister World Heritage Site: since 1996

# MIRABELL PALACE AND GARDENS (Schloss Mirabell) 5.5

The relatively small Mirabell Palace with its impressive Marble Room and its lush, colorful gardens is well worth a visit, especially in summer.

Palace and Gardens World Heritage Site: since 1996

# ST. PETER'S ABBEY (Benediktinerstiftskirche St. Peter) 5.5 FREE

St. Peter's Church is one of Salzburg's oldest and most attractive churches.

Church World Heritage Site: since 1996

# SALZBURG CATHEDRAL (Dom) 5.5 FREE

With its 79-meter twin towers, this imposing seventeenth-century Baroque cathedral is Salzburg's most important sacred building.

Cathedral World Heritage Site: since 1996

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion

= Included in the Salzburg Card

C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Salzburg

- GETREIDEGASSE 5.5 FREE

Historic Shopping Street World Heritage Site: since 1996

- Salzburg Zoo 5.5
- RESIDENZPLATZ (FREE) 5.5
- ST. PETER'S CEMETERY (FREE) 5.5
- Museum der Moderne 5.5
- Panorama Museum 5.5
- MORZARTS GEBURTSHAUS (Mozart's birthplace) 5
- Hangar-7 5
- FRANZISKANERKIRCHE (FREE) 5
- Salzburg Museum - New Residence 5
- Leopoldskroner Weiher (FREE) 5
- Marionnettentheater 5

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Salzburg

Untersberg 6

A short bus ride takes you to the cable car station in the valley beside Salzburg’s imposing mountain. From the summit, tourists are awed by the sensational panoramas of the Alps, Bavaria, Salzburg, and the lakes in the Salzkammergut National Park.

Mountain with Cable Car Distance from Salzburg: 22 km

Salzburg Open Air Museum (Freilichtmuseum Salzburg) (17 km from Salzburg) 5

E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Salzburg (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend to you when visiting Salzburg for at least two entire days:

HISTORIC CENTRE (Altstadt) 7

HOHENSALZBURG CASTLE 6

DOMQUARTIER SALZBURG 6

MÖNCHSBERG 6

Untersberg (22 km from Salzburg) 6

HELLBRUNN PALACE AND FOUNTAINS 5.5

Museum of Natural History and Technology 5.5

HETTWER BASTEI AND KAPUZINERKLOSTER 5.5

MIRABELL PALACE AND GARDENS 5.5

ST. PETER'S ABBEY 5.5