Salzburg, the City of Mozart
Our top insider tips
Baroque domes, a river winding its way through the Old Town, and mountains that gently slope down into the city – Salzburg has many faces, of which Mozart’s name is just one. It is hardly surprising, then, that the old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: pleasure, historic charm and a hospitality that needs no introduction are found here in closer proximity than almost anywhere else.
From our hotel, all of this is close enough for a carefree day out in the city of Salzburg, yet far enough away to return to the tranquillity of the Gaisberg in the evening.
Good to know
- Bus route 151 – free with the Guest Mobility Ticket
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996
- Annual cultural highlight: the Salzburg Festival
- Sporer – homemade fine spirits & a local institution
- Salzburger Nockerl – Salzburg’s most famous dessert
Mozart's birthplace in the famous Getreidegasse is one of the most visited museums in the world, and yet even its façade conceals a detail that many people overlook: a narrow plaque featuring a musical sketch from Köchel catalogue number 265 – the melody known in this country as ‘Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann’.
If you follow the trail further, you’ll end up at Café Tomaselli, where Mozart’s widow Constanze once lived, or at St Peter’s Cemetery, where his sister Nannerl is buried. Even the Mozartkugel itself has a birthplace: in 1890, at the Fürst confectioner’s on the Alter Markt, Paul Fürst created the ball made of pistachio marzipan and nougat, coated in dark chocolate.
Hohensalzburg Fortress towers over the Old Town and can be reached on foot or by the historic fortress funicular – it is already visible to the naked eye from the Gersberg Alm.
Those wishing to dive deeper into history will find the Baroque world of the Prince-Archbishops in the DomQuartier, contemporary art with views over the rooftops at the Museum der Moderne on the Mönchsberg, and an overview of the centuries in between at the Salzburg Museum.
A little-known fact: on the Kapuzinerberg, one of Salzburg’s three city hills, a small herd of chamois lives year-round – right in the heart of the city, a curiosity one would hardly expect to find here.
Austria’s oldest continuously operating coffee house is not in Vienna, but in Salzburg: Café Tomaselli on the Alter Markt has been serving coffee since around 1700 and is now run by the fifth generation of the family. Those who prefer a more traditional experience will find fresh wood-fired bread at the Stiftsbäckerei St. Peter, which looks back on over 700 years of baking tradition.
And on busy market days, it’s well worth a detour to the Grünmarkt on Universitätsplatz, for regional fruit, vegetables and cheeses straight from the surrounding farms.
Our insider tip: the best spots are often not found on the main squares, but just off the beaten track, in the narrow lanes of the Old Town – where local restaurants and cafés reveal themselves without making a fuss.
As Salzburg’s Old Town is bathed in a sea of lights, it follows a rhythm that is far older than any string of fairy lights: the Christmas market on Cathedral Square and Residenzplatz traces its roots back to the late 15th century, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in the German-speaking world.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, the scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, and the traditional tower trumpet fanfare, there is an atmosphere that is almost impossible to put into words, yet it is one that moves us anew every year.
Those who prefer a quieter atmosphere will find it at the Salzburg Advent Singing: for 80 years, this mystery play has been putting the city in the Christmas spirit – not a spectacle, but a moment of reflection, completely free from the hustle and bustle of the market stalls.
Even away from the big stage, Salzburg has its own deeply rooted festivals: Around 24 September, the Old Town is transformed for several days into a traditional parish fair with market stalls and brass band music during the 'Rupertikirtag', the name day of the region’s patron saint, Rupert. A small foretaste of what is to come on a grand scale during Advent.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
How far is it from the Gersberg Alm to the old town?
Around 10 minutes by car or taxi, or just as easily by bus 151 (a journey time of 15–20 minutes).
What should you definitely not miss in Salzburg’s Old Town?
Hohensalzburg Fortress, the DomQuartier and a stroll down Getreidegasse are among the classic attractions – but if you’d like to explore a little more deeply, there’s plenty to discover beyond these too.
- Getreidegasse & Durchhäuser
- Mozart’s Birthplace
- Mozart’s Residence
- Mirabell Palace & Mirabell Gardens
- Festival Quarter with the Great Festspielhaus & Horse Watering Place
- Hellbrunn Palace
Is Salzburg’s Old Town easily accessible even without a car?
Yes. With the included Guest Mobility Ticket, you can easily reach Salzburg’s Old Town by bus in just 15–20 minutes – take the number 151.