Salzburg in summer is truly a fairytale. The city comes alive with events and celebrations as the temperatures soar and the sun beams down upon us. Sometimes, mountain summer storms crash down and it seems as though a year's worth of rain will fall in a day, but the inevitable summer heat will always return, wild and intense.
I have lived here since late 2021 and have tried to experience as much as this little mountain city has to offer.
→ Follow along my Austrian adventures on Instagram @JanaInAustria!
Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Austria can be found in my Ultimate Austria Map!
This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite:
- restaurants
- places to stay
- shops
- photo spots and viewpoints
- hikes
- museums and galleries
- beaches, lakes and rivers
- ski hills
- spas
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
Each pin includes the exact location (plus the ability to open it directly in Google Maps), lots of photos for inspiration, detailed information to help you visit the spot plus a link to my relevant blog post to read lots more about it.
COMING SOON → Buy the Ultimate Austria Map!
Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to Salzburg in the summer. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Austria is Austrian German. It is a dialect of German with its own unique vocabulary and grammar, so while it is mutually intelligible, it has a different pronunciation.
The first foreign language taught at most schools is English and Austria is actually considered the third-best country in the world for English fluency, according to the English Proficiency Index.
Currency: The currency used in Austria is the Euro, denoted as €.
I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in the local currency!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between € and your local currency.
Data: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths in Austria.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
Visa: Austria is part of the EU, EEA and Schengen Zone. Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland do not need a visa to visit Austria.
Other passport holders will require a Schengen Visa to visit Austria which permits stays of up to 90 days within the Schengen Zone.
→ Check if you need a visa for Austria.
Time of year to visit: Austria can be visited all year-round, depending on what you're interested in. Austria is lucky in that it experiences all four seasons fully: flowers in the spring, heat and sun in the summer, changing leaves in the autumn and full-on snow and Christmas in the winter.
This guide is specifically catered towards visiting Salzburg in the summer, one of the most most popular seasons of the year. You can also check out my Salzburg guides for spring, autumn and winter.
Length of stay: I have lived in Salzburg since 2021 and still keep finding new things to do so truly you could spend weeks or months here and not run out of things to do! I highly recommend at least a week for any visit, no matter what time of year, to ensure you get to explore both the city of Salzburg and the surrounding areas.
By flight: Salzburg is serviced by its own airport, the W. A. Mozart Airport. It's Austria's second-largest airport after Vienna, the capital city.
It's a fairly small airport with one main departure lounge however it services over 50 direct destinations on three continents. Best of all, Salzburg connects directly with Frankfurt (Germany), Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Istanbul (Türkiye) from where you can get anywhere in the world.
The airport is just a ten-minute drive from Salzburg's Altstadt or a 25-minute direct bus ride.
Alternatively, one of Europe's biggest and busiest airports is in Munich just across the border in Germany. You can drive from Munich Airport to Salzburg in about two hours or catch a train via Munich Ost, a journey of about two and a half hours. Trains can be booked with DB (Deutsche Bahn) or ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen).
Salzburg Airport as seen from the Untersberg
By car: If you're arriving from a neighbouring European country (Austria borders eight!) or within Austria, you can also get to Salzburg with your own wheels. Salzburg is about two hours from Munich or Innsbruck and about three and a half hours from Vienna.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Munich or Vienna.
By train: Reaching Salzburg by train is very easy and popular, arriving at the Salzburg Hbf. Trains arrive here from within Austria and all across Europe; it's a very popular central location in the heart of Europe, with Austria bordering eight countries.
Salzburg's Hauptbahnhof (central station) is in the northeastern part of the city, from which you can take buses or S-Bahns to your final destination in the city in less than 20 minutes. Walking from Salzburg Hbf to the Altstadt takes only about 15-20 minutes!
→ Purchase your train tickets to Salzburg through ÖBB.
By bus: FlixBus services Salzburg with direct connections from 170 cities across Europe!
By guided tour: It is possible to visit Salzburg on a day trip (although I strongly recommend staying much longer). Typically from either Munich or Vienna, you can join a guided tour to experience some of our city's highlights in a day. This can be a great option if you don't have a car and have a limited timeframe.
On foot: Exploring the city of Salzburg itself is totally doable on foot. It's a small, compact city, home to only about 150,000 people. You'll be able to walk between the Altstadt (old town) and Neustadt (new town) - divided by the Salzach River - easily.
→ Join a walking tour of Salzburg to learn the history of the city from a local.
By bike: If you want to get somewhere faster or explore a bit further out of the city beyond the Altstadt and Neustadt, a bike is seriously the best way to go. The city is full of bike lanes and it's the most popular, funnest, easiest and safest way to explore. There are also a number of popular cycling tours that provided guided experiences through the city.
Biking around Salzburg
By car: You won't need a car within Salzburg to explore. The Altstadt and Neustadt are mostly car-free zones and largely restricted to cars. If you arrive by car, you can park at at one of four park & rides and then take a bus into the city. If you are staying at a hotel within the Altstadt, you can still bring your car into the city and follow the guidance of your hotel regarding access.
A car is very useful if you are hoping to head out of the city to explore the mountains and lakes
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Salzburg.
By Uber: Uber is readily available in Salzburg and is an easy and reliable way to get around the city quickly and directly.
By bus: Salzburg is well-connected by a bus network. The easiest way to purchase tickets is by using the SalzburgMobil app.
→ Plan your trip around Salzburg by bus.
If you are staying within Salzburg, your hotel reservation comes with a complimentary Guest Mobility Ticket which includes all buses, regional trains and S-Bahns in Salzburgerland!
By guided tour: There are countless guided tours available in Salzburg to explore all the different highlights of the city. Some of the most popular tours are the Sound of Music guided tours, but there are tours for whatever you are interested in such as walking, biking, history, cooking, music concerts, river cruises and more.
→ Check out my guide for Sound of Music filming locations in Salzburg!
I live in Salzburg, so I have not personally tried out any hotels in the city (yet!).
No matter your budget, there is something for you in Salzburg. There are thousands of options from cute backpacker hostels on a budget, to beautiful hotels in the Altstadt or luxury resorts in the mountains.
I have lived in Salzburg since late 2021 and in that time have spent many a morning at brunch, a midday at lunch or a cafe, an evening at a dinner restaurant, sharing a delicious meal with friends or family. Salzburg is small but as it is a very touristy destination boasts many restaurants; way more than you'd expect from such a little city! Nearly anything you're craving, you'll probably find it here.
Because I have been to so many cafes and breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks and dessert spots in Salzburg, I've written a separate Salzburg Food Guide with all my recommendations:
If you're visiting Salzburg in the summer 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 summer:
Jump in the Almkanal
The Almkanal is perhaps my favourite local swimming spot in Salzburg, an icy-cold fast-moving canal with plenty of spots to park your bike and plop down waterside with a picnic and a book. I come as often as I can in the summer to laze along the riverbank and swim in on hot days. The Almkanal is about 18km long so there are loads of options to choose from but here is where I like to go.
We also have a little surf wave on the Almkanal so even though Austria is a landlocked country, we do, in fact, have it all!
Surfwelle am Almkanal
Have a picnic on the Salzach
By far one of the most popular summer activities in the city is to sit yourself down somewhere along the Salzach river and have a picnic. On a warm day, the grassy riverbanks are likely to be full of people enjoying the sun, having a snooze, sharing a meal, reading a book...
Walk along the Mönchsberg
The Mönchsberg is one of the best walks to do in Salzburg following the route of the Salzach river below, with countless beautiful viewpoints of various angles of the city to stop at and photograph.
Hang out at Waldbad Anif
Waldbad Anif is a manmade lake just south of Salzburg. It is a pretty little spot to hang out on a hot summer day featuring a small cafe and, if the weather is good, summer dance parties on Sundays, the legendary Sonntagstanz - keep an eye on their Instagram to see when the next one is! My favourite way to get here is by bike along the Salzach.
Head out of the city to spend a day lakeside
Salzburg is surrounded by mountains, making it seriously stunning when it comes to nature, access to adventure and pretty lakes to discover. I've put together two complete lake guides, one with all my favourite lakes in Austria (organized by state) and one with all my favourites in Bavaria, Germany's southernmost state bordering Austria.
→ Check out all my favourite lakes to visit in Austria!
→ Check out all my favourite lakes to visit in Bavaria, Germany!
Mondsee
Attersee
Hintersee
Take a day trip to Hallstatt
Hallstatt is Austria's most fairytale town. The moment you arrive, you will feel as though you've stepped into a picture-perfect postcard, where idyllic streets, quaint houses and breathtaking landscapes make you feel as though there's a touch of magic around every corner. If you're visiting Salzburg in the summer, you must add on a day to visit Hallstatt!
Visit the Katakombs above Petersfriedhof
For just €2, you can visit the ancient Katakomben built into the wall overlooking Petersfriedhof, the famous baroque noble cemetery. This area also inspired the scene in the Sound of Music where the Von Trapp family hide in the cemetery from the Nazis. The Katakomben date back to the 12th century and show early signs of Christianity, plus feature some of the most photoworthy views.
→ Check out other filming locations of the Sound of Music around Salzburg!
Check out all the best viewpoints in Salzburg
Being a mountain city, Salzburg has an in abundance of beautiful viewpoints across the city in all different directions. I've put together a complete guide with all of my favourite viewpoints in Salzburg that I love and visit often.
Viewpoint on the Kapuzinerberg
Müllnersteg
Visit the Festung Hohensalzburg
The most iconic building on Salzburg's skyline, towering high above the city and along the river, is the impressive Fortress Hohensalzburg - a fortress that claims to never have been conquered (although they did hand it over to Napoleon's army at one point). Built in the 11th century, this massive complex offers museums, panoramic views and a great story of the history of Salzburg and the salt that made the city rich.
You can walk up to the top from the Kapitelplatz in the Altstadt or you can ride the much quicker FestungsBahn. You can buy tickets in advance or on site when you get there.
Festung Hohensalzburg seen from the Salzach
Festung Hohensalzburg seen from the Kapuzinerberg
Festung Hohensalzburg from Kapitelplatz
View from the Festung Hohensalzburg over the city
Watch outdoor cinema at the Sternenkino
Every summer (usually late June / early July), free German films are shown for ten days in the Kapitelplatz. Food trucks are present on site as well as a limited number of chairs so you can grab a delicious dinner and then watch the film. I recommend bringing your own picnic blanket in case it's busy! The films will play no matter the weather.
Watch the Fackeltanz
The opening of Salzburg's world-famous Festspiele, running annually since 1920, is marked by a Fackeltanz (a torch dance) in the Residenzplatz on the first night of the festival, a tradition which was added in 1952. Approximately 100 couples from traditional dance groups across Salzburgerland dance, creating different shapes with their candles, to live music by the Salzburg City Music Orchestra.
Attend the world-famous Festspiele (or watch free reruns at Siemens)
Salzburg is famous for its annual Festspiele at the Festspielehaus, bringing world-class performances to the stage. Running for six weeks every summer, you'll see people dressed to the nines for some of the best in performing arts.
→ Check out the Festspiele schedule.
If you didn't get tickets, you can watch reruns of previous years' performances for free on the big screen in the Kapitelplatz during the Siemens Festival!
Go out dancing!
Many people complain that Salzburg nightlife is non-existent. Sure, it can't compete with big cities, but I actually love our small night life because it doesn't get outrageously loud and unruly. There are a few really fun clubs to go dancing in and really... a few good ones are all you need. My favourite is reggaeton at Pepe's Club which is in the same neighbourhood as most other dancing spots. Start your night with drinks at Mentor's (they do some really great mocktails, too) and then head out!
Go hiking
The mountains around Salzburg - both in Austria and across the border in Bavaria, Germany - are seriously astounding. Probably my absolute favourite summer activity of all is just to be out hiking in the mountains.
→ Check out all my Austrian hiking guides and my German hiking guides!
Schafbergspitze above Wolfgangsee, Austria
Königssee in Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany
Explore the grounds of Schloss Hellbrunn
You can reach Schloss Hellbrunn on foot, by bike, by car or by public transport. The park is free to visit. Right at the entrance to the park you'll spot the pavilion from Sound of Music where where Liesl sang her "I am 16, Going on 17" song. They actually only used this pavilion for the outdoor shots as they need a more open and larger one to get the right angles for the indoor shots, but it's still fun to twirl around.
→ Check out other filming locations of the Sound of Music around Salzburg!
Then you can meander your way through the idyllic park and walk up the hill in the centre with sweeping views of the park, the city and the surrounding mountains.
Wander through the Mirabell Gardens
I visited Salzburg just once before I moved here, on a day trip with my parents in 2001 when I was five years old. My mum and I have a photo together in front of the fountain in the heart of the Mirabell Gardens and it remains a dear memory.
Mirabell, along with the Palace at the end of it, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palace features the Marmorsaal where Mozart used to perform and where you can go watch live performances to reminisce on what it might have been like.
The gardens were also famously used as the filming location for the scene in the Sound of Music where the Von Trapp family and Maria sing "Do-Re-Mi" in their clothes converted from curtains.
→ Check out other filming locations of the Sound of Music around Salzburg!
Watch the sunset from the top of the Gaisberg
One of my favourite places to go for a hike or for sunset views is the Gaisberg, Salzburg's city mountain. Take bus 151, hike two hours up or drive for about 25 minutes out of Salzburg and you’ll come to this incredible viewpoint.
Spot the hydrangeas
Summer is hydrangea season in Salzburg! Lining the Salzach you can find these gorgeous blooms, bringing so much extra joy to the city! My favourite one is the big hydrangea bush outside the Sacher Hotel at Marko-Feingold-Steg bridge.
Pick your own berries at Erdbeerland
Anyone else spend childhood summer days picking berries? At Lehners Beeren just south of Salzburg, you can relive all those nostalgic memories and pick your heart out with all sorts of yummy berries! Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and more await you fresh off the vine. There is also a cafe, ice cream stand, playground for the kids, farm shop and flowers for sale on site… it’s a wonderful place!
Austria can be visited all year-round, depending on what you're interested in. Austria is lucky in that it experiences all four seasons fully: flowers in the spring, heat and sun in the summer, changing leaves in the autumn and full-on snow and Christmas in the winter.
This guide is specifically catered towards visiting Salzburg in the summer. You can check out my other Salzburg guides by clicking on the photos below:
Salzburg in Winter
Salzburg in Spring
Salzburg in Autumn
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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.
