Salzburg is a city in Austria, near the border with Germany's Bavaria state, with a population of 157,000 (2020). It was the setting for the 1965 movie The Sound of Music, so you may think you know all there is to see in Salzburg if you have seen the movie. Admittedly, it is difficult not to burst into song when you're walking along the Salzach River, or climbing up to the Hohensalzburg fortress, which looms over the city. But there is a lot more to this compact, courtly city than Julie Andrews and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born here.
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Salzburg, which has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, is the fourth-largest city in Austria (after Vienna, Graz and Linz) and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. In 45 AD, it was a Roman establishment. The Bavarians took over in the 6th century. At the end of the 16th century, under Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, the transformation of the medieval town into the "Rome of the North" began, with new buildings following the Italian baroque style. The buildings from this era are mostly in the "Old Town", as it is known today. The old town is one of the best-preserved city centres in the German-speaking world and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
The best way to get around Salzburg is by foot. There is a network of city buses, the StadtBus, with numbers from 1 to 10, 12 and 14 (O-Buses, electric, trolley-bus) and 20-27 (fuel-powered). From the bus driver, you only get a single A single ticket for €3. The other option is buying a 5-ticket-strip in advance (€11,50). A 24-hr ticket costs €4.70, when bought at the vending machine (all prices from 2024). There are also daily, weekly and monthly passes. The Salzburg Verkehr application allows you to buy these tickets from your mobile phone. Make sure that you do not catch one of the last buses.
The Salzburg Altstadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its well-preserved Baroque architecture and rich cultural heritage. Nestled along the banks of the Salzach River and surrounded by the Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg hills, the Altstadt is home to many architectural landmarks. Notable sites include the Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of Europe's largest medieval castles; Salzburg Cathedral; and Getreidegasse, a bustling shopping street known for its high townhouses and as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The area also features charming squares such as Mozartplatz, which hosts a monument to Mozart, and Residenzplatz, known for its impressive fountain.
Casino Salzburg, 5071 Wals-Siezenheim, ☏ +43 662 85 44 55. Open daily except for December 24. Slot machines: 12:00-03:00, Live games: 15:00-03:00. Free admission. 1 Salzburg Zoo, Anifer Landesstr 1, ☏ +43 662 820176-0, office@salzburg-zoo.at. Daily 09:00-23:00. The zoo is in south Salzburg and is open 365 days a year. It also has a petting zoo for children. There is a restaurant on site serving traditional Austrian dishes. Adults: €10.10, students (under 27): €7, children (4-14): €4, family: €26.50. 2 Untersberg. The mountain is perennially popular with tourists due to its proximity to the city of Salzburg, less than 16 km to the north of the mountain and within easy reach by bus.
A typical dessert from Salzburg is the Salzburg Nockerl, a tasty baked soufflé best served with ice cream, berries and whipped cream. Good places make it to order, which takes at least 30 minutes, and the serving size is huge: one Nockerl is easily enough for four! 1 Salzburger Würstelkönigin, Ferdinand-Hanusch-Platz 5. Gorgeous hotdogs and great spot to chill by the Salzburg river. The grilled meat sandwich with the Century Sauce (Jahrhundertsoße) is amazing. You can meet the whole world here. (updated Sep 2022) 2 Heisse Kiste, Schwarzstraße 4. An institution. Recommended are the Leberkäs and the Käsekrainer. Real sausage culture - very tasty.
1 Augustiner Bräustübl, Lindhofstrasse 7 (near Muller Hauptstr, or Augustinergasse 4, On the Mönchsberg, bus stop Landeskrankenhaus, or a 20-min walk along the river from the city center), ☏ +43 662 431-246. Augustine monks have been brewing here since 1621. Today it's Austria's largest beer hall, with a lovely garden outside when the weather is nice and enormous inside halls when it isn't. Grab a table, a few ceramic steins of Märzenbier beer straight from the barrel, and pick your favorite Austrian dishes from the market-style shops. Or you can bring your own food (not drinks!) if you want. 1/2L beer €3.60.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Salzburg typically sees ~23°C daytime highs and 21 rainy days.
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