Salzburg Austria Two Day Itinerary for First-Timers
It is difficult to determine how to best use your 48 hours in Salzburg Austria, there are so many great things to see and do. Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for the Sound of Music. The city sits in a valley at the foot of the Alps on the Salzach River and is full of cathedrals, courtyards, passageways, iron signage, love locks, city walls, cobbled old town, viewpoints, a castle, museums, a palace with trick fountains, gardens, the Sound of Music, and amazing viewpoints. This 2-day itinerary is jam-packed with must-see sites and top attractions, including, Hohensalzburg Castle, Mirabell Palace, Residenzplatz, Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg Cathedral, Sphaera, and more. Have more time? Add a day trip from Salzburg to Hallstatt or Innsbruck. It is possible to travel the world with limited PTO, here’s how to visit Salzburg in two days. Enjoy your time out of the office!
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Tip: Save 84 euros on this itinerary with the Salzburg Card!
How to Spend Two Days in Salzburg Austria
Day One: Gardens, Castles, and Cathedrals
8 am Grab a coffee and make your way to Mirabell Palace, don’t miss the gnome garden. Tour Mozart’s House before walking across the Makartsteg Bridge. Ride up to the Mönchsberg viewpoint and photograph the city and castle.
12 pm Take a walk down Getreidegasse admiring the iron signage. Learn about the Trapp family at Sound of Music World.
12 pm Ride the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Castle. Photograph the city rooftops and tour the castle. Visit the long gallery and cemetery of St Peters Abbey.
3 pm Visit the Salzburg Cathedral and tour the Residenzplatz. Photograph the Salzburger Glockenspiel bells and Sphaera in Kapitelplatz.
5 pm Take a cruise on the Salzach River and enjoy the city views.
7:30 pm Enjoy a Mozart Dinner Concert at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, Europe’s oldest restaurant.
Day Two: Mountain Top Views and Trick Fountains
9 am Take the bus to the Untersberg Cable Car stop. Take the ride up the mountain for amazing views. Go for a hike or rent a deckchair and relax with a coffee and a pastry.
12 pm Stop at Hellbrunn Palace on your way back to the city. Have lunch in the garden, explore the trick fountains, take a walk through the park, and browse the Folklore Museum.
4 pm Attend the Sound of Music at the Marionette Theater.
6 pm Have dinner and cocktails before returning to the hotel.
Looking for more options? Continue reading for additional things to do in Salzburg to supplement this itinerary.
Additional Things to Do in Salzburg Austria
Have more time? Supplement this day trip itinerary with these additional things to do in Salzburg.
- Take a Sound of Music film location tour
- Taste schnapps at Sporer Schnapps Pit
- Wander the old town and shop for souvenirs
- Check out the city walls (Bürgerwehr)
- Photograph the doors along Steingasse
- Stop in the Panorama Museum to see Salzburg in 1892
- Buy mustard souvenirs
- Eat Salzburg Nockerl (vanilla dessert soufflé) and cheese strudel
- Add a love lock to the Makartsteg Bridge
- Browse the Museum of Modern Art
- Visit a beer hall (or two) and drink a Radler
- Take a Christmas cookie and apple strudel cooking lesson
- Explore the city squares: Mozartplatz, Residenzplatz, and Domplatz
- Take a bike ride along the Salzach River
- Have a cocktail with a view of the fortress at Unikum Sky
- Learn about Salzburg’s culture, history, and art at the Salzburg Museum
- Have lunch at St. Peter’s Stiftskeller, the oldest restaurant in Europe
- Check out the smallest house in Salzburg (next to Café Tomaselli)
- Browse the Museum of Natural History
- Explore Klessheim Palace, now Salzburg Casino
- Tour the Stiegl-Brauwelt brewery and enjoy a tasting
- Stop in a Café Sacher Wien and enjoy a slice of Sacher torte (chocolate cake)
- Treat yourself to Mozartkugeln (chocolate balls) or buy some for souvenirs
- Visit the Christmas Museum
- Grab some bread from Saint Peter’s Bakery
Check the Salzburg Austria Tourism Board website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
Plan Your Trip to Salzburg Austria
Austria Travel Guide
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Salzburg Austria Attractions and Day Tours
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