I spent a perfect one day in Salzburg while touring Austria for ten days, and what a day it was! Salzburg is this snug, compact city that feels like a big, warm hug. Despite having lots to see and do, I like how Salzburg is small enough to explore in just one day.
Every street in Salzburg, with its rich history, seems to have its own story, which is probably why it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What drew me to Salzburg was its connection to The Sound of Music, one of my all-time favorite movies. I was excited to visit the movie filming spots, particularly, the Mirabell Gardens and Palace.
Another major draw, especially for the music lovers, is that it’s known as the City of Mozart because the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born here.
Here, I’m sharing an exact itinerary that I followed to spend a great one day in Salzburg.
I usually pack my day with lots of activities because I have a case of FOMO 😊 But if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you can easily skip a few stops from my itinerary.
How to Get to Salzburg
Getting to Salzburg is a breeze, thanks to its well-connected transport links.
Salzburg’s W.A. Mozart Airport is just about 4 km (2.5 miles) from the city center, and the flights from major European cities land here.
Vienna International Airport serves as a gateway for international destinations outside Europe. Vienna is only 3 hours away from Salzburg, and many tourists visit Salzburg as a day trip from Vienna too.
Most European cities, including Munich, Ljubljana, Budapest, Zurich, and of course, Vienna, have train and bus connections from Salzburg.
We rented a car in Austria and enjoyed a beautiful road trip from Vienna to Salzburg. With well-connected highways and scenic roads, driving to Salzburg from neighboring countries is a great option.
How to Get Around Salzburg
Getting around Salzburg is easy and is particularly convenient when you’re only there for a day.
The city has a robust, efficient, dependable bus and tram system.
But the best part is you might not even need to use them because the city center is so compact, with all the main sights close to each other. You can walk and enjoy everything at your own pace.
How to Spend One Day in Salzburg
Explore Mirabell Palace and Gardens
I started my day bright & early (around 7:30 am) at Mirabell Palace & Gardens.
And, I loved my decision as I got one of the most famous attractions in the city almost to myself.
P.S. By the time we finished looking around the gardens and were ready to leave, the place was already crowded. It’s really popular, so you should plan to get there early.
The gardens have numerous statues, but Pegasus Fountain is the most notable. Standing on the stairs behind the fountain gives you one of the best views of Salzburg’s skyline!
Here, they filmed the world-famous song Do Re Mi from the Hollywood classic, The Sound of Music!
P.S. If you love The Sound of Music and have time on your hands, taking a tour of all the movie locations in and around Salzburg is worth it. The tour lasts about 4 hours.
The gardens also house a Baroque beauty-Mirabell Palace. Inside the palace, you can’t help but gasp at the architectural beauty all around.
For me, apart from Pegasus Fountain, Dwarf Garden was a highlight. Funny-looking statues of dwarfs are sure to make you smile!
It took me around 45 minutes to see the gardens and the palace. It might take longer if you decide to visit other less-visited places inside the gardens, such as the Hedge Theatre and Orangery!
Visit Mozart’s Residence (Mozart Wohnhaus)
A short walk, just about 400 meters, brought me to Mozart’s Residence. The legendary composer Mozart spent his early years here crafting the music that would capture the world’s heart.
Thinking that Mozart created such timeless tunes right here felt almost surreal!
It took me well over an hour to scroll past the exhibits that define the legend’s personal and musical journey. You can definitely take a quicker tour.
Explore Mozart’s Birthplace
I picked the Makartsteg pedestrian bridge to walk over to the Old Town from the new part. This bridge, in my opinion, offers the best scenic views of Salzburg and the Salzach River.
Strolling through the Old Town’s pretty cobblestone streets, I reached a famous yellow building – Mozart’s birthplace.
In Salzburg, it’s all about Mozart. Exploring the town, it’s as if you can hear Mozart’s music everywhere.
P.S. You can listen to Mozart’s music on your headphones while walking around Salzburg to really get the feel of the city. My personal favorite is Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550.
Mozart was born and grew up with his family in a simple apartment on the third floor of this building before they moved to a bigger home, Mozart’s Residence, which you visited earlier.
Here, you can see the rooms, including where Mozart was born. Most are unchanged, with the family’s belongings still there.
I bought a combo ticket for Mozart’s Residence and Birthplace to save money.
Stroll Getreidegasse
Stepping out of Mozart’s Birthplace, I found myself on Getreidegasse, the most renowned street of all!
This historic street has embraced change. While keeping its medieval buildings, it now has modern boutiques and artisan shops mixed in.
The street is really photogenic with its detailed, traditional wrought-iron guild signs above the shops. There’s even a Wieber shop where they still make these old-style signs by hand, keeping the tradition going.
I loved exploring the side alleys and walkways off the main street to discover hidden gems. These little paths are home to small artisan shops selling handmade items and charming cafes.
I stumbled upon Eisl Eisl, a unique spot selling organic ice cream made from sheep’s milk. They have a variety of flavors, and I tried their delicious pistachio one.
Check Out Green Market (Grunmarkt)
This local farm market in Salzburg offers more than just fresh greens. You’ll find various items there, including fresh produce, baked goods, flowers, and handmade crafts.
It’s a vibrant spot where you can find almost everything for a delightful local experience. Make sure to try Baumkuchen when you’re at the market.
The market is in University Square, named after the Kollegienkirche, also known as the Salzburg University Church, a prominent feature of the square.
Another highlight of the square is the Franciscan Church.
A short stroll (slightly over 100 meters) from the market leads you to Café Tomaselli, the oldest café in Austria.
I enjoyed a cup of rich coffee accompanied by a delicious pastry there. Afterward, I popped into Cafe-Konditorei Furst, merely 60 meters from the café, to purchase some Mozartkugel as a sweet souvenir to bring back home.
Pose With the Statue of Mozart
In the center of Mozartplatz, there’s a statue of Mozart, Salzburg’s most famous person. It’s almost a must to take a photo with this statue when you’re in Salzburg; at least, I think so!
Additionally, be sure to visit the nearby old Salzburger Glockenspiel bell tower. With its 35 bells ringing music thrice daily, this tradition dates back to 1704!
Explore DomQuartier
As you only have a day to see Salzburg, you should choose to explore one of the many museums in Salzburg based on your interests.
For one day in Salzburg, visiting the DomQuartier is a perfect option as it gives you a chance to see many of the city’s museums and historical sites all in one spot.
It’s a beautiful complex that houses a cathedral, a palace, and a monastery.
First, I visited the Salzburg Cathedral. It’s an impressive building with stunning details inside. Then, I walked through the Residenzplatz, a large square surrounded by historical buildings.
Next, I went to the Residenz Gallery. It has a lot of praise-worthy art. I saw paintings from different periods of history.
After that, I explored St. Peter’s Abbey. It’s one of the oldest monasteries and has a peaceful feel to it.
I also visited the museum in the area. It had intriguing exhibits about Salzburg’s history. The whole experience at DomQuartier was enjoyable.
Using an audio guide made my visit to the complex informative and straightforward. Please set aside at least 2 hours to explore the entire complex.
Lunch at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium
A local suggested we try St. Peter Stiftskulinarium for lunch. We were not disappointed.
One of the oldest restaurants in Europe, it’s located inside St. Peter’s Abbey.
We had Wiener schnitzel with roasted potatoes, vegan homemade tagliolini, piccata of corn chicken, and some wine. For dessert, we enjoyed Salzburger Nockerl.
My family liked the schnitzel, and I enjoyed the tagliolini. The place has a historic yet cozy feel to it. It’s a bit pricey, but definitely worth the experience.
Visit Hohensalzburg Castle
Perched on Festungsberg Hill, Hohensalzburg Castle is a top attraction in Salzburg. You can walk for about 15 minutes up to the castle or take a faster ride via funicular.
I chose the funicular since we were already tired from the day’s sightseeing.
The castle is known for its grand state rooms, especially the Golden Hall and Golden Chamber. There are also museums
like the Fortress Museum, Marionette Museum, and the Rainer Regiment Museum.
I found the Marionette Museum interesting, with its historic marionettes.
The highlight was climbing the watchtower for stunning views over Salzburg against the Alps. It’s so beautiful up there; we stayed for quite a while.
We ended our visit with coffee and a piece of Sacher torte at the castle’s restaurant, enjoying the scenery.
Walk to the Top of Monchsberg (Optional)
If you finish your fortress tour early and have time before dinner, you can climb up to Monchsberg. It’s a hill in the city from where you can see the city of Salzburg spread out below-a perfect spot to unwind and take in the views, especially after a day full of sightseeing.
On our first trip to Salzburg, we didn’t get to see Monchsberg because we spent leisurely time at the castle restaurant, relaxing with coffee and traditional cake. We finally got to explore Monchsberg on our second visit to Salzburg.
If you are visiting Salzburg for just one day, you can definitely include Monchsberg in your itinerary. Just make sure to manage your time well so you can fit in this beautiful spot along with other attractions.
Dinner at the Heart of Joy Café
I was quite happy to find a vegetarian and vegan place, the Heart of Joy, right in the heart of Salzburg.
They use fresh, organic ingredients to make tasty veggie and vegan dishes.
We tried Falafel Wrap, toasted Ciabatta with seitan and tofu, Carrot Almond Cake, a unique coffee with coconut and herbs, a Vitamin Cocktail, and organic Lassi.
Everything we had was delicious and made with care. It was a great experience. I recommend this place to everyone, even if you’re not a vegan.
Mozart Concert at Mirabell Palace
We had already booked the tickets for a classical music concert at the Marble Hall in Mirabell Palace.
Listening to talented musicians from various corners of the world perform beautiful chamber music by famous composers in such a magnificent hall was an indescribable experience. Honestly, the length of this sentence just shows how much there was to take in!
The Marble Hall is considered one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world.
You can also book a Mozart concert with dinner at different places in Salzburg, like the Hohensalzburg Castle and St. Peter Stiftskulinarium.
Where to Stay Overnight
For our first visit to Salzburg, we decided to stay somewhere unique and chose an Airbnb apartment in Ainring, Germany, which is only about 12 km from Salzburg’s center. It felt pretty cool to cross the border just to spend the night!
Since we had already explored a lot of Salzburg during our first visit, this time, we wanted a hotel that would allow us to simply soak in the city’s atmosphere. That’s why we chose Goldener Hirsch for our second stay. Located on Getreidegasse, our favorite street in Salzburg, the hotel put us right in the heart of the town.
Staying there was a completely different experience. Being so close to everything we loved about the city really added to our enjoyment of the trip.
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