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

  • View from Mozartblick in Sankt Gilgen

    Walk from Fuschl to St Gilgen – Hiking the Salzkammergut Lake District

    The more I explore places around Salzburg, the more I appreciate when places are still off the beaten path. As much as I love being among fellow travelers and as much as I am dedicated…
  • 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…
  • 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…
  • Stadtalm viewpoint next to Bürgerwehr in Salzburg

    Scenic Stays: 7 Hotels with a Stunning View of Salzburg

    As a tour guide and photography enthusiast, I’m always looking for great views in Salzburg. And when it comes to hotels, nothing beats waking up to a stunning panorama of the city. Whether you’re a…
  • Interior of the Church of Saint Peter in Salzburg

    22 Churches in Salzburg: A Guide to the City’s Sanctuaries

    If you have been to Salzburg, you know that the old town is small. It’s just about 1.5 km². How many churches can there possibly be in the old town, you ask? In the old…
  • ÖBB Travel Lounge and Ticket Office in Salzburg

    The 10 CLOSEST Hotels near Salzburg Train Station

    Are you planning a trip to Salzburg and looking for a hotel near the train station? Look no further! While it may not be necessary to book a hotel at or near the train station…
  • 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…
  • Inneneinrichtung vom Cafe Tomaselli, dem ältesten Cafe Salzburgs

    Where to find Traditional Austrian Cafés in Salzburg?

    Are you wondering why Viennese coffee house culture became part of the UNESCO World Heritage? In this article, I will tell you why and point you to the best Viennese Coffee houses in Salzburg. I only…
  • Hotel Sacher Salzburg Suite

    Ultimate List of the Best Luxury Hotels in Salzburg

    As a local who works in tourism, founded the Free Walking Tour Salzburg, and runs this travel blog you are reading, I have had the pleasure of experiencing some of the most luxurious hotels in…
  • 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…
  • Gerhard Reus at Andreas Hofer

    The 8 Best Restaurants for Austrian Food in Salzburg

    The aim of this article is to guide you through some of the best restaurants in Salzburg, each offering a variety of recommended traditional Austrian dishes. These restaurant recommendations are in different areas of the…
  • The Austrian Lake District - Sankt Wolfgang Seeufer

    What to Do in St Wolfgang in the Salzkammergut Lake District

    Salzburg may be the second most famous Austrian city after Vienna, but it’s just a stone’s throw away from some of the countries most spectacular natural wonders. The Austrian lake district is one of them….
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…

Have you booked your tour yet?

Spots fill quickly, so it’s best to book your Tour in advance. A couple of hours that give you stories, context, and tips for the rest of your stay.