Salzburg in autumn is a dream. The trees burst into colours of red, orange and gold, preparing to nestle down for the inevitable snows of winter ahead. The days are still warm in the autumnal sunshine and the nights get cooler and darker sooner, making for bright star-filled skies. The first candles are lit, the sweaters are pulled back out of cupboards and hot coffees are sipped on long walks along the river.
This is my fourth autumn based in Salzburg, but somehow the season that I most often am abroad for, so in a way I feel like I've hardly experienced a proper autumn here at all and have only had a taste of all the joy there is of the most colourful season of the year. Having said that, I've still tried to experience as much as this little mountain city has to offer.
So, if you're visiting Salzburg in the autumn months or you're a local and you're on the hunt for new ideas, I hope you enjoy this curated list of everything I've done in Salzburg in the autumn (or fall, for all you North Americans):
1. Hike the Untersberg
The Untersberg is perhaps one of the most classic hikes around Salzburg, with the poignant peak standing clearly against the skyline, its iconic shape visible from almost anywhere in the city. It's not an easy hike, with more than 1300m elevation nearly vertical, given that much of the hike is up ladders, but it's a really fun trek, with simply breathtaking panoramic views all around, the tiny city of Salzburg far below. You can clearly spot Salzburg Airport from above, and it's quite the experience to be above the planes as they come in for landing! It's a great autumnal hike to see the colours of the city and it won't be so hot as you climb.
2. Check out all the best viewpoints in Salzburg
Being a mountain city, Salzburg seems to be in abundance of beautiful viewpoints from the many bergs across the city in all different directions. I've put together a complete guide with all my favourite viewpoints in Salzburg that I love and visit often.
Viewpoint behind Festung Hohensalzburg at Richterhöhe
3. Walk around the Leopoldskroner Weiher
The Leopoldskroner Weiher freezes in winter and is a popular ice skating spot. Before that happens, the sun glows across orange and golden foliage of the lake, making it the perfect spot for an autumnal walk.
On one end of the lake, you can also see the Schloss Leopold, now a hotel but also famously used as the filming location for the scene in the Sound of Music where the Von Trapp children and Maria row in a wooden boat on the lake and fall in, as well as as the back of the Von Trapp family home.
→ Check out my guide to all the best lakes to visit near Salzburg!
4. Go biking along the Salzach
Either take your own bike or rent one in the city and head south along the Salzach for as far as you'd like to go. The views are so beautiful, the river gushing past in its bright turquoise shades and you'll enjoy being outdoors with the autumnal colours all around you.
5. Take a yoga class
Keep up the excitement of a summer of movement with some cozy and warm evening yoga classes. I personally love yoga and go weekly (when I am home), taking classes at Bliss Yoga Salzburg. I've also tried out a few Pop Up Yoga classes which are a wonderful way to try new classes, meet new people and check out some really cool new spots in the city.
Bliss Yoga
Pop Up Yoga
6. Attend the Kaiviertelfest
At the end of every September, the Kaigasse comes alive with dancing, food stalls, music and outdoor markets all in celebration of kicking off autumn and back-to-school for Salzburg's university students. More than 50 participants are dotted around 10 venues and there's something for everyone!
7. Enjoy an outdoor spa day at Naturhotel Forsthofgut
Just an hour south of Salzburg you'll find the exquisite waldSPA. With vibrantly coloured leaves and crisp morning air, I was craving an escape to a place where I could clear my head and unwind, and to allow the new season to fully arrive. With multiple indoor and outdoor facilities, including saunas, hot pools, red light, steam rooms, nap roms and of course, the famous outdoor natural pool with that impressive mountain backdrop, the whole thing felt impeccably designed to soothe and calm those who visit. It was the perfect place to think and reflect.
→ Check out my detailed guide to visiting the Naturhotel Forsthofgut!
8. Attend Rupertikirtag
In celebration of St. Rupert, the patron saint of Salzburg, Rupertikirtag is a bit like a mini Oktoberfest. Celebrated in Salzburgerland only, this annual festival features lots of Tracht-wearing Austrians (the traditional clothing of Bavaria and Austria) lasts for five days in late September.
I have not yet attended one myself, having always been out of the country during the Rupertikirtag celebrations, but my friends always go and love it!
9. Go for an autumnal run along the Salzach
Running is my favourite activity and Salzburg is one of the most pro-running cities I've been to. With so many pedestrian- and bike-only paths throughout the city and especially along the river, you'll find runners (and walkers and cyclists alike) here all year round and at all times of day. It's a great way to see the city, so lace up your runners and hit the trails!
10. Hike (part of) the Salzburger Almenweg
The Salzburger Almenweg is a gorgeous 350km trail along northern Austria through Salzburgerland. There are more than 120 alpine huts along the way so you can turn this into a proper hut-to-hut hike and explore as much or as little of the trail as you wish. Broken into 25 stages, you can also hike just a part of it as a day trip. It's particularly gorgeous in autumn.
→ Check out my detailed hiking guide to hiking Stage 2 of the Salzburger Almenweg!
11. Browse Salzburg's bookstores
The cooler weather is perfect for browsing some of Salzburg's beautiful bookstores in the Altstadt to pick up some nice new reads (most of the bookstores have a fantastic English section) to snuggle under a blanket with during the autumn season. Some of my favourite bookstores in Salzburg:
- Buchhandlung Höllrigl
- Rupertus Buchhandlung
- Buchhandlung Stierle
→ Check out my book list for every book I've read since 2018!
12. Make a day trip to Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany
The Berchtesgaden National Park is perhaps most famously home to the Eagle's Nest, a Nazi building on the summit of the Kehlstein, used by members of the Nazi Party for government and social meetings. However, it is the exquisite natural landscapes that draw many visitors to this incredible region, home to alpine lakes, hikes, mountain ranges and wonderful views. Autumn is one of my favourite times of year to visit Berchtesgaden to take in the stunning nature surrounded in autumnal colours.
→ Check out my detailed guide to visiting the Berchtesgaden National Park!
13. Have a cozy meal indoors
I shared outdoor dining options in my spring and summer Salzburg guides, but as the weather begins to cool down, it's the time for cozy lunches and dinners indoors shared with friends. Salzburg, being such a popular tourist destination, has so many incredible restaurants to choose from with cuisines from all around the world.
My Indigo
220GRAD
Taj Mahal
Zwettler's Wirsthaus
Johann
Pauli Stubm
Zum Zirkelwirt
Amida Sushi
YŌJI
East
CHECK OUT MY OTHER SALZBURG GUIDES!
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
