City Guide for Salzburg

Get prepared for your visit to Salzburg with the Free Walking Tour Blog written by a local, licensed Tour Guide. Topics range from Sightseeing to Day Trips to Food and Drinks.

A local’s Salzburg travel guide with advice on where to go AND what to do.

Things to See and Do in Salzburg

Photographer hiking Kapuzinerberg via the Imbergstiege in Salzburg

This is your guide to my hometown. Discover what to do and see, where to stay, and what to eat in Salzburg. Find out about Salzburg’s best day trip destinations and how to reach them. There is more to Salzburg than the Sound of Music and Mozart.

My name is Gerhard. I am deeply rooted in Salzburg Tourism and passionate about traveling and travelers. Passionate about meeting and guiding you. It’s my desire to share what I love and know about my city. I believe and hope that my knowledge in form of this Salzburg City Guide will prove useful to you on your journey.

Your Comprehensive Salzburg travel guide to help you plan better and explore more.

All Salzburg Blog Posts

  • String Puppet Museum

    Von Trapp Saga: The True Story Behind the Sound of Music

    The story of the von Trapp family, as depicted in “The Sound of Music,” has captivated audiences for decades. The movie draws an estimated 300.000 visitors to my hometown of Salzburg every year, even though…
  • Vanitas Symbol at Sebastiansfriedhof Cemetery

    Decoding Mozart’s Death: Facts, Myths, and Mysteries

    Many myths revolve around Mozart’s death. Some believe he was poisoned, and many think he was buried in a paupers’ grave. Why do we not know where his grave is, and is there really a…
  • Salzburg Glockenspiel Bell Tower

    Echoes of History: A Visit to Salzburg’s Glockenspiel Tower

    The Salzburger Glockenspiel, even though not many tourists climb the tower, is one of the landmarks of the town. It’s located right in the heart of the old town at residence square. Public tours only…
  • Safety: Is Salzburg Safe for Independent Travelers?

    My name is Gerhard, and I have been working as a tour guide, a Rikscha driver, and in hostels in Salzburg for over ten years now. I have met travelers who have expressed their concerns…
  • The Hohensalzburg Fotress at Sunset

    1000 Years: A Brief History of the Hohensalzburg Fortress

    If I could only recommend one sight in Salzburg, it would be the Hohensalzburg fortress. First of all because of the three viewing platforms, but also because of the building, the museums, the funicular, and…
  • Hellbrunn Castle in Winter

    Hellbrunn Palace: An Introduction to Salzburg’s Trick Fountains

    Hellbrunn might be the most visited place in the surroundings of Salzburg. On the one hand, that’s because of its proximity to the city and because the castle and the trick fountains are included in…
  • Backpackers at the Ceconi Weather Station at Alter Markt in Salzburg

    Best Time to Visit Salzburg: A Seasonal Travel Guide

    Salzburg is beautiful all year round, but the best time to visit Salzburg depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for perfect weather and lots of tourists, high season (June–August and December) is…
  • On the Train from Vienna to Salzburg

    The Best Way to Travel Between Vienna and Salzburg

    Heading from Vienna to Salzburg? The train ride between these two Austrian cities is not just a mere transfer. Fast and convenient, the train stands out as the go-to mode of transport but I will…
  • Hiking Path on Capuchin Mountain in Autumn

    Hiking in Salzburg City: 3 Urban Trails to Tranquility

    Many summer mornings I got up at 5 am to hike one of the city mountains next to my house and take photos. Yes, hiking in Salzburg city is so close. In this article, I…
  • Rathaus and Mozartstatue on the main square in Sankt Gilgen

    Things to Do in St Gilgen: From Mountain Tops to Lakeside Spots

    Are you planning a trip to Salzburg and are looking for day trips? The Salzkammergut, Lake District, is one of three main areas to visit on day trips from Salzburg, and this article will tell…
  • Hohenwerfen Fortress

    Should you visit the Fortress in Werfen? Is Hohenwerfen worth it?

    In Werfen, there are the largest Ice Caves in the world. That’s why Werfen is one of the most popular day trips from Salzburg. But while the ice caves are the main attraction in Werfen,…
  • The cue at the entrance to the Ice caves

    What to Expect from a Visit to the Werfen Ice Caves?

    The Ice Caves in Werfen, Austria are the largest Ice Caves in the world. They are convenient to reach from Salzburg, and besides the Lake district and Berchtesgaden, the Werfen Ice Caves in summer are…
These posts are probably worth your time. Straight from a local guide.

Recommended Reads

  • Gerhard Reus and the 24 hour Salzburg Card

    Salzburg Card Secrets: The Complete Guide to Salzburg Cards

    The Salzburg Card allows you admission to most of the attractions in Salzburg at a fixed price. There are 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hour Salzburg cards, allowing you free admission within those timeframes. You can visit all the museums, head out…
  • Königsseeschifffahrt

    7 Best Day Trips from Salzburg: A Local’s Guide to Top Spots

    You can explore the essentials of Salzburg in a day or two. If you are a curious traveler, you could keep going and won’t run out of new discoveries in the old town. However. If…
  • Photographer hiking Kapuzinerberg via the Imbergstiege in Salzburg

    Salzburg in One Day: The Perfect Itinerary for Independent Travelers

    There are certain ingredients for the perfect day in Salzburg. In this article, I will give them to you. This article will help design your day from start to finish, so you don’t miss anything….
  • Free Walking Tour Postcard

    The Definitive List of 100+ Things to Do in Salzburg

    Salzburg is small. You could see the main sights in a day or even half a day. However, there are many more things to do in Salzburg than just the essentials. We need the details…
  • String Puppet Museum

    Where the Hills are Alive: The Sound of Music Locations in Salzburg

    Most Austrians have never seen the Sound of Music, but as a local guide with over a decade of experience, first navigating the streets on a bike taxi and now on foot, I’ve gone deep…
  • Landestheater Salzburg and Hotel Bristol Salzburg

    The 15 BEST Hotels in the Old Town of Salzburg

    Are you looking for the perfect place to stay while visiting Salzburg? Salzburg’s Old Town is one of Austria’s most precious gems and showcases the country’s best-preserved architectural and cultural monuments. A stay in the…

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