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Trip ideas  /  Europe  /  Austria  /  Salzburg, Salzburg  /  2-day itinerary
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Salzburg, Salzburg: 2 days in SalzburgPhoto: Noahidsmith, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Romance CherishTrip idea · Salzburg, Salzburg

2 days in Salzburg

The 4-day plan, rearranged for 2 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.

2 daysAnyoneLate May8 places
Copy this plan to your own trips, then change anything you like.
Salzburg
Photo: Jiuguang Wang, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Salzburg
Photo: Rafa Esteve, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
How many days?Pick yours and the plan rearranges.
Rearranged from the 4 day plan. See it as written

Best time to go

June and September to October are the most comfortable months for walking around.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Arrival day

Before Day 1. The old town is small and the lanes are cobbled, so travel light and unpack in no hurry.Details
By air or by rail
Salzburg has its own airport close to the city, and trains link it with Munich and Vienna. Check the current timetables before you book, and look up how to reach your hotel from the airport or the station.
Cobbles and bags
The old town is paved with cobblestones and many lanes are narrow. A bag with soft wheels or a backpack is easier here than a stiff case. Many streets in the center are closed to ordinary traffic.
If it rains
Showers are common in the Alps, even in late spring. Pack a light rain jacket, and know that every day here has a museum, a church or a cafe nearby to wait under cover.
The evening you land
Cross the river on foot, find a table in a beer garden and let the church bells set the hour. Day 1 begins in the old town, so you will already be close.

Day 1. The old town and Mirabell and the river

7 stops · 6.8 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Salzburg Cathedral

    The baroque cathedral of the old town, with a pale stone front, a great dome and a tall bright interior. Mozart was baptized here. Step inside and look up into the dome.

    Go when Early morning, before the tour groups arrive.

    Local tip Stand in the middle of the nave and look straight up into the dome. The bells of the old town ring at the hour, so listen for them.

    Salzburg Cathedral, Salzburg
    Photo: Bede735c, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 5 min walk0.4 km
  2. 2
    MorningWorth the time

    Hohensalzburg Fortress

    The huge medieval fortress on the hill above the old town, one of the largest castles in Europe that still stands whole. Walk up the path, or check ahead for the funicular.

    Go when Morning, when the paths are cool.

    Local tip The walk up is steep and takes some effort. Check ahead for the funicular if you want to save your legs, and go up to the walls for the view over the roofs.

    Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg
    Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  3. Lunch

    A sausage and a roll

    A simple stand lunch in the old town is a hot sausage in a crusty roll with mustard. Eat it on a bench and keep moving.

    Local tip Walk a few steps from the busiest corner of a square. The stands in the side lanes are quieter.

    A sausage and a roll
    Photo: Andy Li, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 16 min walk1.3 km
  4. 3
    MorningWorth the time

    Mirabell Gardens

    Formal gardens with clipped hedges, flower beds, statues and a long path of fountains, with the fortress on the hill behind. A free, lasting garden, and a well-known spot from a famous film.

    Go when Morning, with the fortress behind the hedges.

    Local tip Find the long flower beds and the Pegasus fountain. The steps at the end of the garden are a well-known spot from a famous film.

    Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg: a large white building surrounded by lush green grass
    Photo by Gianluca Carenza on Unsplash
    About 2 min walkunder 0.1 km
  5. 4
    MorningWorth a short visit

    Mirabell Palace

    A baroque palace built for a prince-archbishop, with a grand marble staircase and rooms used today for concerts and ceremonies. Check ahead if you want to go inside.

    Go when Morning, when the gardens are quiet.

    Local tip Walk up the marble staircase if it is open, and look at the angels on the balustrade. Check ahead for concerts in the hall.

    Mirabell Palace, Salzburg
    Photo: Cezar Suceveanu, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 7 min walk0.6 km
  6. 5
    MiddayWorth the time

    Getreidegasse

    The best-known lane of the old town, narrow and lined with tall old houses, each with a hand-made iron sign hanging above the door. Look up as you walk.

    Go when Late morning, before the lane is full.

    Local tip Look up for the iron signs, and walk through the narrow passages that open off the lane into small courtyards.

    Getreidegasse, Salzburg
    Photo: Snotty, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 2 min walkunder 0.1 km
  7. 6
    AfternoonPick your rooms

    Mozart's Birthplace

    The yellow house on Getreidegasse where Mozart was born and lived as a child, now a museum of his life and music. It is a lasting visit, so check ahead before you plan around it.

    Go when Afternoon, after lunch.

    Local tip It is a small museum on a few floors, so it is easy to see in a short visit. Check ahead for the way it is run.

    Mozart's Birthplace, Salzburg
    Photo: Yair Haklai, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 13 min by car or transit4.4 km
  8. 7
    AfternoonWorth the time

    Hellbrunn Palace

    A summer palace of the prince-archbishops with a garden full of trick fountains that spray the guests. You will get a little wet, so wear what dries quickly, and check ahead for the tour.

    Go when Afternoon, on a warm day.

    Local tip Go with a guide, as the fountains are shown on a tour, and be ready to get a little wet. Check ahead on whether the tour runs on your day.

    Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg
    Photo: Nicholas Even (own work), CC BY 2.5 on Wikimedia Commons
  9. Dinner

    A dinner in the old town

    After the south edge of town, come back to the old town for a trout from a nearby lake or a plate of schnitzel. Salzburg is a good place for a quiet dinner by candlelight.

    Local tip Book a table ahead if you want a particular lane or a window seat.

If it rains. Salzburg Cathedral, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mirabell Palace and Mozart's Birthplace are covered, so keep them. Move Mirabell Gardens, Getreidegasse and Hellbrunn Palace to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. The Salzkammergut lakes

1 stop · 25.2 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Drive from Hellbrunn PalaceAbout 38 min by car25.2 km
    Where Day 1 ended.
  2. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Mondsee Abbey

    The pale twin-towered church of a former abbey, in the middle of a small lakeside town. Look at the yellow baroque front and step inside.

    Go when Morning, as the town wakes.

    Local tip Look at the bright church interior, then walk out to the lake shore. The church is also known from a famous wedding scene in a film.

    Mondsee Abbey, Salzburg
    Photo: Carsten Steger, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. Everything today is indoors, so rain does not change the plan.

Departure day

After the last day. The city is small, so a morning of loose ends still fits before you leave.Details
Before you leave
Ask your hotel to keep your bags while you walk one more time through the old town, or sit by the river. Allow extra time on the way out, since the lanes slow a wheeled bag.
Onward by train or plane
Look up the route to the station or the airport the evening before. Trains to Munich and Vienna leave through the day, and it is worth checking ahead on the day you travel.
A sweet souvenir
Mozartkugel, the round chocolate with pistachio and nougat, is the classic gift from the city. Buy it on your last morning, and check your airline's rules before you pack food.
One last walk
Cross the river by the footbridge once more and look back at the roofs and the fortress. It is the calmest view of the old town, and it needs no ticket.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Salzburg?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, June and September to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Salzburg. This plan is built for late May, which is a good month. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Salzburg, planned for late May. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 6.8 kilometers between its stops, and 6.8 kilometers in all across 2 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Keep exploring

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More guides to Salzburg

Other guides with a page about Salzburg. Each one opens in a new tab.

Photo: Bede735c, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Carsten Steger, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Andy Li, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo by Gianluca Carenza on Unsplash

Make this plan yours

Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.

A trip idea · Updated October 2026

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