Salzburg is a gorgeous city, surrounded by breath-taking nature. If it is possible, we highly recommend booking a few days extra to take in the beauty of this region. Especially in summer, the possibilities for a few days in and around Salzburg are endless. We’ve compiled a few suggestions for you!
In Salzburg
Museum der Moderne: overlooking the beautiful old town of Salzburg, high up on the Mönchsberg, resides a remarkable building. It is the Museum der Moderne, a museum for modern art in a contemporary setting opened in 2004. With three separate floors, the museum hosts exciting expositions of modern art, both from Austrian and international artists. There is no need to walk up the Mönchsberg to reach the museum: you can take the Mönchsberg Aufzug to enjoy the view in just a few minutes.
Festung Hohensalzburg: while you’re on Mönchsberg, it is only a short walk to the Fortress, right on the other side of the mountain. It is the biggest fully preserved castle in Central Europe, and hosts several exhibition spaces that will tell you more about Salzburg’s rich history. If you decide to skip Museum der Moderne, you have the choice of hiking up to the castle by foot, or taking the funicular.
Haus der Natur: Google ‘rain in Salzburg’ and it will quickly become clear that the weather is not always on our side in this beautiful town. If that’s the case, we highly recommend Haus der Natur, the museum for nature and technology. Inspiring kids and adults alike, the museum host an aquarium and a reptile zoo, as well as a science discovery center. You’ll find the museum in the heart of the old town.
Trick Fountains in Hellbrun: fair is fair, this must-see is located a little bit outside of the center of Salzburg, but definitely worth visiting on a beautiful summer day. A truly unique experience of fully mechanical water games, as you’re being toured through the beautiful gardens of Schloss Hellbrun, complemented by a beautiful walk through Hellbrunner Park. Take bus 25 from Mirabellplatz.
Hiking
With so many beautiful mountains around, it’s no wonder that one of the Austrian’s favorite pastimes is hiking. Several beautiful trails are accessible by public transport or by bike. Here is a brief selection:
Gaisberg: just east of the city, the beautiful Gaisberg is located. There are several hiking trails that go all the way up to the top, but if you’ve forgotten your hiking boots: no worries! You can also take the ‘Gaisberg bus’ (regionalbus 151) from Mirabellplatz square to the top of the Gaisberg. We would advise you to get off one stop earlier, though, on the ‘Rundwanderweg’: a relatively flat trail that takes you all around the mountain in five kilometers.
Nockstein: surmounted in less than 1,5 hours, the Nockstein-tip is a great afternoon workout. Take bus 150 or 155 from Mirabellplatz to Koppl. Within 15 minutes, you can cross the little town to Gasthof am Riedl, where the hiking trail starts. For the hardcore hikers: you can cross from Nockstein to Gaisberg (or the other way around). Be advised, you will be hiking for a good three to four hours if you do this, though!
Kapuzinerberg: just across the river from the old town, still very much in the city center, the Kapuzinerberg lies. Entering through the Franziskuspfort in Linzergasse, you will pass the Kapuziner Monestary.
Biking
Salzburg is small, and one of the best cities for biking in Austria. City bikes, e-bikes and mountainbikes can be rented at several locations in Salzburg. With the citybike system, bikes can be rented at Hanuschplatz, and returned around the clock. The first hour is free, after that you pay €1 to €4 depending on the duration of the rental period. If you need a more powerful bike, have a look at Radsport Wagner, where you can rent anything from a trekking bike to an electric mountain bike, starting at €30 per day.
Swimming
There are over 50 beautiful lakes in Salzburgerland, but for a short trip, we’ve selected two spots to visit.
Waldbad Anif: the Waldbad is a well-maintained, natural swimming pool with crystal clear water, green grass to spread your towel on, volleybal fields and a little restaurant/kiosk. You can either bike all the way down the right-hand side of the Salzach, or take Bus 170 to the Maximarkt. From there, it’s about a kilometer by foot. A daily card for the Waldbad will run you €7.
Königsseeache: don’t feel like paying to take a swim? Continue a little bit further along the Salzach, and you will reach a split where one of the arms of the Königssee meets the Salzach. Here, you will be able to take a dip in the ice cold water dripping down from the Berchtesgaden Alps.