Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Salzburg?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Salzburg?
Many visitors spend three to five days in Salzburg during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the historic old town, the quaint atmosphere, the beautiful scenery, and the live music.
Salzburg a beautiful Austrian city near the border with Germany. It's part of the Eastern Alps and it has a beautiful old town that is filled with music and nice architecture. The city is the birthplace of Mozart and there are several museums relating to his life. Salzburg is also the setting for the famed Van Trapp family whose story is retold in the classic "Sound of Music."
Do you have one or two days to visit Salzburg? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Salzburg?
With only one day, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, Salzburg offers plenty of activities and attractions and remains a top choice for tourists. To fully embrace Salzburg, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate at least 3 or as many as 5 days to admire the historic sights, appreciate the quaint setting, admire the wonderful scenery, and enjoy the live music scene. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
How to spend a day in Salzburg
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. This beautiful old town is filled with cafes, restaurants, and churches. You can enjoy local music performed by street performers as you soak in the atmosphere and the regular chime of the church bells really gives the city personality. There are also frequent markets and shops to explore.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Salzburg Oldtown: Sightseeing Walking Tour with Licensed Local Guide ($10)
- Salzburg Small-Group Introductory Walking Tour with Historian Guide ($125)
- Salzburg Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour ($180)
Salzburg is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. This stunning city is known for its beautiful churches and hillside views.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Salzburg Oldtown: Sightseeing Walking Tour with Licensed Local Guide ($10)
- Salzburg Small-Group Introductory Walking Tour with Historian Guide ($125)
- Salzburg Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour ($180)
Salzburg is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The old town is very walkable, but if you stay outside of the main tourist areas, you'll likely want to take a bus.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Salzburg?
The very popular city of Salzburg has many activities and attractions for visitors. A weekend is probably not enough. You'd feel rushed to see the main attractions of Salzburg such as the great charming old town along with the terrific quaint atmosphere. To thoroughly enjoy all that the city has to offer, you'll probably want more than just a 2 day trip. Most travelers schedule at least 3 or as many as 5 days to fully experience this city. Nevertheless, if a weekend is all you can spare, we have some suggestions for your weekend getaway to Salzburg below.
How to spend 2 days in Salzburg
With a weekend (two to three days) in Salzburg, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Salzburg offers a charming atmosphere that's hard to find anywhere else. Spend part of the day exploring the scenery. Music really does fill the streets, as street performers of impressively high quality perform daily.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Salzburg Oldtown: Sightseeing Walking Tour with Licensed Local Guide ($10)
- Salzburg Small-Group Introductory Walking Tour with Historian Guide ($125)
- Salzburg Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour ($180)
Live music is very popular in Salzburg, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. Although most people think of Mozart and the Sound of Music when they think of this city, there are also many music festivals, including the famous Salzburg Music Festival, as well as concert venues and an independent music scene that is excellent.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Lonely Goatherd Bike Tour: Cycle Salzburg's Surroundings with the Sound of Music ($33)
- Dinner Cooking Class - Prezels, Dumplings, Apple Strudel & Music ($87)
- Salzburg Marionette Theater: The Sound of Music ($47)
The public transit in Salzburg is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. Trolleys and buses make it easy to get around town.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Salzburg, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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