Things to Do in Salzburg, Austria

Hohensalzburg Fortress

Hohensalzburg Fortress dominates Salzburg’s skyline from the steep Festungsberg hill, immediately notable for its sheer scale and defensive silhouette above the old town. Construction began in the medieval period and continued through Gothic and early modern campaigns, making the complex a layered record of the prince‑archbishops’ power.

Inside the fortress visitors encounter a mix of defensive architecture and museum displays: the castle courtyard, medieval living quarters, a large armoury and specialist exhibits including a Marionette Museum.

A historic funicular carries most visitors up from the foot of the hill, and the fortress’ terraces and bastions provide wide panoramas over the Salzach and Altstadt.

Official Hohensalzburg Fortress website →

Historic Centre (Altstadt) — UNESCO World Heritage site

Salzburg’s Historic Centre is a compact, richly layered urban ensemble inscribed by UNESCO for its exceptional Baroque townscape and intact historic fabric.

The centre grew under the prince‑archbishops and unites ceremonial buildings — the Cathedral, the Residence and St. Peter’s Abbey — with narrow medieval lanes, merchant houses and historic markets that illustrate the city’s continuity and architectural coherence.

Walking the Altstadt reveals spires, domes and courtly facades set beneath Hohensalzburg Fortress and threaded with Mozart associations. The Salzach river and several historic bridges frame the centre and divide it from Neustadt; cobblestones and close‑built streets reward slow exploration.

For museum visits, themed walks and conservation details, check official cultural and tourism sources before you go.

Official Historic Centre (Altstadt) — UNESCO World Heritage site website →

Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Mirabell Palace and its formal gardens sit on the Salzach’s right bank and frame broad sightlines across the Altstadt up to Hohensalzburg Fortress. The palace, now housing municipal offices, dates to a princely summer house later remodelled in Baroque style; the gardens remain a planted public stage known for terraces, axial parterres and sculptural accents.

Highlights include the Marble Hall and its ceremonial stair, the Pegasus Fountain, terraced rose beds and the Zwerglgarten of carved figures. The gardens are primarily outdoors and free to stroll, while some palace rooms open for events or guided visits.

For special events and access to the Marmorsaal, verify current visitor rules on official city information pages.

Official Mirabell Palace and Gardens website →

Mozart's Birthplace (Mozart Geburtshaus)

Mozart’s Birthplace occupies the bright‑yellow Hagenauer House at Getreidegasse 9 in Salzburg’s UNESCO‑listed Old Town, where Wolfgang Amadé Mozart was born in 1756. The compact museum spreads over three storeys and combines domestic rooms, documents and musical objects that trace his childhood, family life and early instruments.

Exhibits include original letters, portraits and early instruments that highlight how Leopold Mozart organised his son’s education and travels. The museum is operated by the International Mozarteum Foundation and forms part of a wider network of Mozarteum sites.

The house can feel crowded in peak season and some rooms have stairs or restricted access; allow roughly an hour to see the principal rooms and consult official visitor pages for ticketing and accessibility updates.

Official Mozart's Birthplace (Mozart Geburtshaus) website →

Salzburg Cathedral (Dom zu Salzburg)

Salzburg Cathedral stands at the ceremonial heart of the Altstadt with a broad Baroque façade, tambour dome and a clear axial relationship with Domplatz. The present building, designed by Santino Solari under Prince‑Archbishop Markus Sittikus, was consecrated in 1628 and is regarded as a major early Baroque church north of the Alps.

Inside the cathedral is a spacious, light‑filled nave, a high dome and richly modelled stucco work. The adjacent cathedral museum displays movable treasures, and the bronze baptismal font is notable for its connection to Salzburg’s musical history.

Archaeological remains and a crypt beneath the floor explain the site’s long continuity. Visitors should check for service times and area closures before visiting.

Official Salzburg Cathedral (Dom zu Salzburg) website →

Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains

Hellbrunn is a purpose‑built early seventeenth‑century pleasure villa created to entertain and surprise, commissioned by Prince‑Archbishop Markus Sittikus. The estate’s water‑rich hill enabled the designers to engineer gravity‑fed fountains, grottoes and mechanical surprises that remain the site’s most famous features.

The Wasserspiele (trick fountains) route threads through grotto stages, squirting dining tables, hidden jets and water‑operated automata that illustrate mannerist humour and historic water technology. The fountain route is usually a guided or timed experience and can dampen clothes, so expect sprays and wear sensible footwear.

The Wasserspiele are seasonal and occasionally closed for conservation; check Hellbrunn’s official visitor information before you go.

Official Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains website →

Salzburg Museum

Salzburg Museum presents the visual and cultural story of Salzburg and its region across several historic and specialist sites rather than a single building. Collections span art, archaeology, applied arts, photography and everyday objects that explain the city’s urban growth and material culture from medieval times to modernity.

Exhibitions combine period rooms, sculptural works and documentary displays, with archaeological finds and medieval objects placing Salzburg in long perspective. The museum network hosts specialist venues ranging from fortress archaeology to toy and Celtic collections.

Allow at least an hour and a half for a main visit and consult the museum’s official visitor pages for current exhibitions, site‑specific access and combined‑ticket options.

Official Salzburg Museum website →

Mozart Residence (Mozart Wohnhaus)

The Mozart Residence on Makartplatz occupies the family’s later Salzburg home where Wolfgang Amadé lived during formative years before his Vienna period. The house mixes reconstructed domestic rooms with music‑related material, including letters, autographs, original and period instruments, and listening stations that bring historical performances to life.

Operated by the International Mozarteum Foundation, the museum links its collections to wider research and audiovisual archives. A small ‘Magic Flute’ theatre house and the building’s restored fabric provide context for Mozart’s operatic and domestic world.

Visits feel intimate; plan roughly an hour and note that the museum provides a barrier‑free side entrance and posts current access and tour information on official pages.

Official Mozart Residence (Mozart Wohnhaus) website →