2 Days in Salzburg: Explore the Old Town and Have a Day Trip
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Did you know that Salzburg is the capital of Salzburgerland — a province in Austria that’s packed with rich cultural heritage and picturesque natural landscapes? It’s located north of the Alps, which naturally attracted me to explore it.
And when I explored the area, I was quite amazed by everything I discovered. It surpassed my expectations, not only because Salzburg is such a beautiful city, but also because there are charming alpine villages, hilltop medieval castles, and palaces home to unique masterpieces — all of which you can quickly visit from the Salzburgerland capital.
One of them is absolutely breathtaking. Another one seems like it’s straight out of a fairytale movie. That’s why I can’t stress this enough: if you’re planning a trip to Salzburg that lasts more than a day, it’s definitely worth considering at least one day trip to the nearby destinations.
Good idea, you ask? Absolutely! The two-day itinerary for Salzburg that I’m about to share should give you a clear picture of what I mean.
Following my itinerary,
- On the first day, you’ll be immersing yourself in the charm of Old Town Salzburg. This includes strolling through its lovely streets, trying something unique, and marveling at some of the city’s remarkable architectural landmarks and historical sites. Also, you’ll get to admire the stunning skyline of Salzburg from its picturesque viewpoints, visit Sound of Music filming locations, and learn more about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
- On the second day, depending on your preferences, you’ll explore one or two incredible nearby attractions. There’s so much I want to tell you, so let’s start!
Good to know
- Extending your stay in Salzburg? I’ve got a relaxed 3-day itinerary for you.
- On a budget? I’ve also prepared a cost-effective one-day itinerary for Salzburg.
- Check out my ultimate 10-day Austria Itinerary if you also want to visit the breathtaking city of Innsbruck and the magnificent Austrian capital, Vienna.
2-Day Itinerary
With this two-day Salzburg itinerary, I promise an experience-focused trip that makes the most of every hour.
Day 1: Old Town
During the first day, you’ll be visiting:
- Hettwer Bastion in Kapuzinerberg (optional) – for a stunning first impression of Salzburg from a breathtaking perspective.
- Getreidegasse – to explore the unique shopping district and most charming street in Salzburg.
- Mozart’s Birthplace – to learn about Mozart and discover the origin of Salzburg’s musical heritage.
- DomQuartier – to get a glimpse into the lives of the prince-archbishops who ruled Salzburg for centuries.
- Salzburg Cathedral – for a musical experience and to admire the Baroque splendor.
- Hohensalzburg Fortress – to uncover Salzburg’s history, discover heritage from cannons to marionettes, and marvel at the magnificent architecture of the princely chambers.
- Salzach River Cruise – to relax and appreciate the lovely appearance of Old Town Salzburg from the river.
- Mirabell Palace and Garden – to continue relaxing in the beautiful Sound of Music garden and listen to a concert in one of Salzburg’s most gorgeous halls.
Amazingly, all of these tourist attractions are packed within the compact Old Town and are located within walking distance of each other. It’s possible to visit them all in one day, but you’ll need to stick to a schedule and spend just the right amount of time at each attraction.
The Salzburg Card covers most of the attractions on the first day of your two-day trip to Salzburg.
So, if you have one, you won’t need to worry about booking tickets for individual attractions. However, there are some exceptions for events during noontime and evening, which we’ll discuss later.
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Day 2: Day Trip
While there are still plenty of activities and attractions to enjoy within the Old Town, it’s hard not to recommend exploring the tourist attractions outside the city.
Considering the amount of new fascinating discoveries, fun experiences, and breathtaking sights, these day trips from Salzburg surely exceed the worthiness of the ones that are left in the city. Take a deep breath of fresh air, visit charming places with fewer crowds, and discover the enchanting side of Salzburg.
Don’t worry about spending too much time traveling — the journey is short and the views along the way are a treat in themselves. On the second day of your 2-day Salzburg itinerary, you can choose from any of these destinations for your day trip:
St. Gilgen is an alpine village nestled on the shores of Lake Wolfgang, considered one of the most charming villages in Austria.
Come here to relax by the lake, wander through the picturesque village, take in the scenic mountain scenery, and discover a few hidden gems.
Time to spend in St. Gilgen: whole day or half day.
Hellbrunn Palace is a 17th-century palace located 25 minutes from Salzburg by bus.
It’s famous for its Trick Fountains, which can be considered one of the earliest forms of artistic pranks. The palace is also home to marvelous halls and fascinating museums, providing insights into Salzburg’s folklores and traditions.
Time to spend in Hellbrunn Palace: half day.
Hohenwerfen Fortress is the sister fortress of Hohensalzburg. It’s hailed as one of the most beautiful fortresses in Europe, and prominent online publications such as Conde Nast Traveler agree.
Perched atop a hill overlooking the Salzach Valley, Hohenwerfen Fortress is both breathtaking and time-transporting. But there’s more to experience and discover here, like falcons and witchcraft!
Time to spend in Hohenwerfen Fortress: half day.
Berchtesgaden is a Bavarian town less than an hour away from Salzburg by bus, worth visiting for its incredible natural scenery, which is one of the best in Germany.
Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, it’s home to the Eagle’s Nest, a WW2 historic landmark with panoramic views of the mountains. There’s more to see, though, like Königssee (the cleanest lake in Germany) and the Salt Mine (the oldest salt mine in Germany).
Time to spend in Berchtesgaden: whole day or half day.
Hallstatt is the most iconic village in Austria, famous for its fairytale-like appearance.
Its pastel-colored houses sit beside a tranquil lake, with the majestic mountains of the limestone Alps providing a stunning backdrop that is sure to bring your fantasies to life. But there’s more to see than just the village in Hallstatt: visit the oldest salt mine in the world, Salzwelten; explore a natural spectacle, Dachsteinhöhlen; relax by taking a boat ride, and more!
Time to spend in Hallstatt: whole day (half day if visited with St. Gilgen)
If you like, you can visit more than one destination during the second day of your 2-day trip to Salzburg. This is doable since these attractions are only a few kilometers away from Salzburg and from each other.
Alternative Attractions
So, that’s it! That’s how you can spend 2 days in Salzburg, seeing its highlights and visiting fantastic destinations outside the city.
If you’re looking for more things to do in Salzburg or want to replace something in the itinerary, there are still more than a dozen attractions and activities to choose from. Looking for guided tours? Check this list of things to do in Salzburg.
Check out these other places of interest in Salzburg:
Dinner With a View at Monchsberg
Monchsberg is a mountain that offers some of the best views of Old Town Salzburg (Humboldt Terrace and Richterhöhe).
It’s also home to the Museum der Moderne, which has a restaurant (M32) next to it that offers an overlooking view of the city. If you’re looking for a restaurant with a great view of Salzburg at night, this could be one of the restaurants you’re looking for.
Don’t worry if you don’t want to climb stairs and hike uphill to get to these great places. The mountain has an elevator located in Old Town Salzburg that takes you straight to the museum or restaurant. If you have a Salzburg Card, you can use the elevator for free and access to the museum is also free.
Unique Experience from Nonnberg Abbey
Nonnberg Abbey is the oldest continuously existing nunnery in the German-speaking world and offers a unique cultural experience: the Gregorian Chants of the nuns, which take place every morning around 6:45 am.
Nonnberg Abbey is also one of the filming locations for the movie The Sound of Music. If you’re a fan and want to see all of the filming locations for The Sound of Music in Salzburg, you might want to visit Nonnberg Abbey before leaving Salzburg on your third day.
Resources
As promised, here are the links that you might need to polish your 2-day Salzburg trip.
- Regional bus 150 Timetable: Salzburg – St. Gilgen – Bad Ischl
- Regional bus 542 Timetable: Bad Ischl – Gosaumühle
- Regional bus 543 Timetable: Gosaumühle – Hallstatt Lahn
- Bus 840 Timetable: Salzburg – Hellbrunn – Berchtesgaden
- Bus 25 Timetable: Salzburg – Hellbrunn
- Bus 170 Timetable: Hellbrunn – Hallien (train station to Werfen)
- OBB Scotty Route Planner / Online Tickets
- M32 Restaurant (Monchsberg)
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