Three days is the ideal length for Salzburg. It is long enough to see the headline sights without rushing, to add a concert or two, and to spend a day in the mountains or by a lake, yet short enough that you never run out of things to do. The plan below puts the old town first, music and gardens second and the countryside third, and it leaves room to swap days around if the weather changes.
Before you go
Decide whether the Salzburg Card suits you. If you plan to visit the fortress, both Mozart houses and the DomQuartier, a 48-hour or 72-hour card usually saves money and covers the city buses, the Mönchsberg lift and a river cruise in season. Book a day trip and an evening concert a few days ahead, and check which days your chosen museums are closed, since the DomQuartier shuts on Tuesdays.
Day one: the old town and the fortress
Start early on the Getreidegasse, when the shops are still shuttered and the wrought-iron guild signs are easy to photograph, and join the queue for Mozart’s Birthplace as it opens. From there, wander through the squares to the cathedral and the DomQuartier, a suite of palace rooms, galleries and terraces that tells the story of the prince-archbishops. Have lunch in one of the old town’s traditional inns, then ride the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress in the afternoon and give yourself time for the State Rooms and the ramparts. In the evening, come back up for a fortress concert, or book a Mozart dinner concert in the Baroque hall beside St Peter’s Abbey for a full evening of music and food.
Day two: Mozart, gardens and the river
Cross the Salzach to the Mozart Residence on Makartplatz, where the family lived from 1773, and then stroll into the Mirabell Gardens, which are free and at their best before the tour groups arrive. Take a Salzach panorama cruise in the afternoon if it is the season, since it is a restful way to see the city from the water. If you are a fan of the film, join the Original Sound of Music Tour, which visits locations in the city and the lake district beyond. End the day with a Mozart concert in the Marble Hall of Mirabell Palace, where the young Mozart once performed, and walk home along the river as the fortress is floodlit.
Day three: a day out
Choose the day trip that suits the weather and your energy. Hallstatt is the classic, with its lakeside village and Bone House, and a guided half-day tour makes the logistics easy. The Hallein salt mine is the best wet-weather option, with its mine train, wooden slides and underground salt lake. If you prefer big mountain scenery, take a day to Königssee across the Bavarian border, or ride the Untersberg cable car for a half-day panorama just south of the city. In the warmer months, the Werfen ice caves are the most adventurous choice, although they require a full day and plenty of stamina.
Wet-weather swaps
Salzburg gets its share of rain, and the locals even have a word for the fine, steady drizzle that can last all day. If it sets in, swap the river cruise and the gardens for the Stiegl-Brauwelt brewery museum, the Mozart Residence or the salt mine, and move the fortress to a clearer day. Churches, museums and cafes are never far away, and the covered passages of the old town are a gift on a wet afternoon.
Where the Salzburg Card helps
The card covers the fortress and its funicular, both Mozart houses, the DomQuartier, Hellbrunn in season, the Stiegl-Brauwelt, the Untersberg cable car and a river cruise, plus the city buses. The savings are largest if you pack the museums into two days, so group them on days one and two and keep day three for a paid excursion. Concerts and day trips are not included, though some are discounted.
Getting around
The old town is compact and best explored on foot, and most things on this itinerary are within fifteen to twenty minutes of each other. Buses take over for Hellbrunn, the Untersberg and the brewery, and the main station is a short bus ride or a twenty-minute walk from the centre. Wear comfortable shoes, since the cobbles are unforgiving.
Where to base yourself
The old town is the natural choice for a three-day trip, because you can walk home after an evening concert, and Hotel Goldgasse and Hotel Elefant both put you in the middle of it. If you prefer a good-value base with easy access to day-tour departure points, Motel One Salzburg-Mirabell is near the Mirabell Gardens and the main station.
If you have a fourth day
Add Hellbrunn Palace and its trick fountains from spring to early autumn, or spend a slow morning in a coffee house followed by a visit to the museums you missed. Salzburg rewards a slower pace, and a last evening on the riverbank with a view of the fortress is a fine way to end the trip.
