Salzburg in 3 days

Mozart's baroque birthplace: a fortress-topped old town, Sound of Music scenery and Alpine lakes on the doorstep. Best time to visit: May-September; December for Christmas markets. Average daily budget: $110 to $180 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Altstadt (Old Town), The UNESCO baroque core: Getreidegasse, Residenzplatz and the cathedral.

Morning: Hohensalzburg Fortress. Ride the funicular up to one of Europe's best-preserved castles.

Afternoon: Explore Altstadt (Old Town), The UNESCO baroque core: Getreidegasse, Residenzplatz and the cathedral.

Evening: Mirabell Palace & Gardens. Manicured baroque gardens made famous by The Sound of Music.

Eat: Salzburger Nockerl, the giant sweet soufflé

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Mönchsberg, The wooded clifftop with the fortress, the modern art museum and views.

Morning: Mozart's birthplace & old town. Getreidegasse, the cathedral and the composer's yellow birth house.

Afternoon: Explore Mönchsberg, The wooded clifftop with the fortress, the modern art museum and views.

Evening: Day trip to Hallstatt or the lakes. Postcard-perfect lakeside villages in the Salzkammergut.

Eat: Wiener schnitzel with potato salad

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Right bank (Neustadt), Mirabell Palace and gardens, plus quieter cafés and shops.

Morning: A beer in the garden of Augustiner Bräustübl, a centuries-old monastery brewery.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Right bank (Neustadt), Mirabell Palace and gardens, plus quieter cafés and shops.

Evening: The view from the Mönchsberg lift, skipping the fortress crowds.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Bosna, the local spicy sausage sandwich

Hidden gems

A beer in the garden of Augustiner Bräustübl, a centuries-old monastery brewery.
The view from the Mönchsberg lift, skipping the fortress crowds.
Hellbrunn Palace's trick fountains, especially fun in summer.
An evening Mozart concert in a baroque hall or the fortress.

Getting around

The old town is entirely walkable and largely pedestrianised. Buses cover the outskirts and Hellbrunn cheaply. For day trips, trains and post buses reach Hallstatt and the lakes; renting a car gives more flexibility for the Salzkammergut if you're short on time.

Safety

Salzburg is extremely safe and clean. The main considerations are summer and Christmas-market crowds in the old town, slippery cobbles in wet or icy weather, and booking accommodation early during the July-August festival season when prices spike.

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