Mirabell Palace was built in 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich and later remodelled in Baroque style, and today it houses the mayor’s offices, which is why most visitors know it for its gardens and its Marble Hall. The gardens are free and open every day, laid out in geometric beds of flowers and box hedges that line up perfectly with the cathedral domes and the fortress on the far side of the river. Sound of Music fans come for the Pegasus Fountain, the hedge tunnel and the steps where Maria and the children finish singing Do-Re-Mi, and children love the Dwarf Garden with its stone figures. The Marble Hall, once the archbishops’ banqueting room and now a much-loved wedding venue, is the setting for the Salzburg Palace Concerts, one of the best-known chamber music series in the world. This page links to the Tiqets ticket for an evening Mozart concert in the Marble Hall.
How to visit: the gardens are open daily and cost nothing; just walk in from Makartplatz or Mirabellplatz. The concert starts at 20:00 and lasts about an hour and thirty-five minutes with an intermission, featuring works by Mozart, his contemporaries and other composers. Category I seats are numbered in the central rows one to ten and allocated after booking, while Category II is unnumbered seating behind and beside them. Cancellation is free until the day before.
What to expect: the Marble Hall is intimate, with gilded stucco and mirrors, so the music feels close and personal. Drinks, Mozart chocolates and CDs are sold in the interval and are not included. In winter the flower beds are bare, but the views of the fortress are, if anything, clearer.
Making the most of it: walk the gardens in the late afternoon, eat early nearby, then return for the concert. If you book Category II, arrive in good time to choose your seat. In summer the gardens are at their most colourful and photographers come at sunrise for the classic shot of the fortress behind the Pegasus Fountain.
What to expect
The experience
Free formal gardens by day, and a chamber concert of Mozart and his contemporaries in the gilded Marble Hall in the evening.
Best time
Gardens early morning or late afternoon; concerts start at 20:00.
How long
Half an hour for the gardens; about an hour and thirty-five minutes for the concert.
Tips
Book Category I for numbered seats near the musicians, or arrive early with Category II to choose your spot.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A classic Mozart evening in a historic hall where he played, plus the most photographed garden in Salzburg.
- Families
- The free gardens, Dwarf Garden and Do-Re-Mi steps suit all ages; the concert suits older children.
- Couples
- A sunset walk in the gardens followed by the concert in the Marble Hall is hard to beat.
- Pair with
- The old town walking tour, which starts here, and the Mozart Residence on Makartplatz next door.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
Are the Mirabell Gardens free?+
Yes, the gardens are free and open every day. You pay only for concerts in the Marble Hall.
How long is the Mirabell Palace concert?+
About one hour and thirty-five minutes, starting at 20:00, with an intermission. The programme features Mozart, his contemporaries and other composers.
What is the difference between Category I and II seats?+
Category I seats are numbered in rows one to ten in the central section and allocated after booking. Category II is unnumbered seating behind and beside those rows.
Where was Do-Re-Mi filmed in the Mirabell Gardens?+
Around the Pegasus Fountain, through the hedge tunnel and on the steps at the end of the gardens. All are free to visit.
Can you visit the inside of Mirabell Palace?+
The palace houses city offices, so the Marble Hall is best seen at a concert. The staircase and gardens are the other highlights.
