City of The Sound of Music, birthplace of Mozart, and home to a UNESCO-listed old town, the Austrian city of Salzburg has no shortage of impressive accolades. With its many claims to fame comes a long list of things to do in Salzburg, including classical music concerts, film location tours of Hellbrunn Castle, visits to Mondsee Abbey, and charming Christmas markets set against a picturesque Alpine backdrop. Lovers of the great outdoors are also in luck, with easy access to mountains and lakes for skiing, hiking, camping, and more.
The weather in Salzburg, Austria, is at its finest from June until early September, but you’ll have to contend with crowds in the compact Altstadt (Old Town), particularly in July and August. The holiday season is another great time to explore the city: Salzburg is particularly enchanting in the month leading up to Christmas when lights and decorations add plenty of festive cheer and Christmas markets pop up all over town.
You can easily get around the city center on foot and by public transportation. In fact, you’ll be better off not renting a car unless you plan on staying on the city's outskirts or want to do a lot of traveling to other parts of the country. You can get up to the Mönchsberg plateau using the Mönchsberg lift from Anton-Neumayr-Platz in the Altstadt. The city’s main train station, Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, is a convenient hub for regional and international travel.
If you want a taste of traditional Austrian cuisine with a fine-dining twist, make a reservation at Restaurant Goldener Hirsch, one of the most celebrated spots for local fare in town. If you’re hankering for something different, head to Das Restaurant Wasserfall, a delightful Alstadt spot serving up Italian and pan-Mediterranean fare, including plenty of seasonal specialties.
