Visiting Kapuzinerberg: Best Views of Old Town Salzburg

Salzburg, located north of the Alps, stands out as one of Europe’s most panoramic cities. 

Do you need proof? All you need to do is head to Kapuzinerberg, and you’ll see! Visiting Kapuzinerberg, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views that include the Baroque skyline of the city, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzach River, and the Alps. A picture-perfect sight.

Let me share with you everything that you need to know about visiting Kapuzinerberg, from how to visit Kapuzinerberg to the best time to visit Kapuzinerberg. Let’s get started!

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While Kapuzinerberg may not be a top attraction in Salzburg, it is one of the places I strongly recommend visiting.

To me, Kapuzinerberg is an unmissable place to visit in Salzburg for its unique perspective and breathtaking views of the Old Town.

Its vantage points offer some of the loveliest sunset views in the city. Lovers would be thrilled to come to Kapuzinerberg before their day in Salzburg ends.

For everyone — of course, you’ll also love visiting Kapuzinerberg even if you travel by yourself! 

Especially if you share my interest in having an experience that can leave you feeling inspired and in awe of the panoramic beauty of a city you’re visiting, visiting Kapuzinerberg would be a good idea.

Where Is Kapuzinerberg

Kapuzinerberg is one of the mountains in Salzburg, situated in the core zone of the UNESCO Heritage site of the Historic Center of the City of Salzburg.  

It is specifically located east of Old Town Salzburg and, along with Mönchsberg and Festungsberg, forms the valley where Old Town is nestled. 

Discover: Mönchsberg — 5 Things To Do on This Hill in Salzburg

Kapuzinerberg stretches in a west-east direction. It starts at Linzer Gasse in the Old Town Salzburg on the banks of River Salzach and ends at Inneres Parsch in the east and Schallmoos Ost in the north-east

From Old Town Salzburg, it’s easily identified with Kapuzinerkloster, a Capuchin monastery, that sits on its slopes, overlooking Salzach River.

What Is the View from Kapuzinerberg

Kapuzinerberg serves today as a popular recreation area for city hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. And of course, at the same time, a scenic spot for people wanting to see a unique view of Old Town Salzburg.

If you don’t yet have an idea of how stunning the view from this mountain can be, take a look at some of the photos below to inspire you.

From the pastel-colored houses lining the banks of the Salzach River to the baroque domes and spires of Old Town Salzburg, it will all be yours to take in from Kapuzinerberg

Kapuzinerberg provides a unique and unparalleled view of the Hohensalzburg Fortress, perched atop Festungsberg. If the weather is on your side, you may even be able to catch a glimpse of a few peaks within the Bavarian Alps peeking over Festungsberg.

Discover: Visiting Salzburg Fortress Hohensalzburg: What to Do Inside

The Museum der Moderne, which sits atop Mönchsberg, is also visible from Kapuzinerberg. If you visit the viewpoints at night, you’ll see it glowing amidst the darkness of the surrounding forest.

How to Visit Kapuzinerberg

If you’re already in Old Town Salzburg, getting to Kapuzinerberg is easy.

Two of the entryways to the mountain, Imbergstiege (staircase) and Stefan-Zweig-Weg (pathway), are located in the historic center of Salzburg.

Using these pathways, you can reach the nearest vantage point of the city on Kapuzinerberg within 30 minutes no matter where you are in Old Town Salzburg. 

Alternatively, you can also access Kapuzinerberg via Doblerweg (pathway) and City Wall-Klettersteig, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Doblerweg, which begins behind the Zentrum im Berg shopping center on Fürbergstrasse, is far from the Old Town of Salzburg, where you will probably come from.

On the other hand, the City Wall-Klettersteig, located on the north face of Kapuzinerberg is only for adventurous people who know how to rock climb.

So, let’s talk about Imbergstiege and Stefan-Zweig-Weg — the two easiest ways to get to Kapuzinerberg and begin exploring the mountain.

Imbergstiege (and Hettwer Bastion)

Imbergstiege is a 261-step, 51-meter high stairway in Salzburg Historic Center that links Steingasse in Old Town and Capuchin monastery in Kapuzinerberg.

How to get to Imbergstiege?

You can start at Linzer Gasse Platzl, which is the square closest to Staatsbrücke — the widest bridge in Salzburg that connects the two sides of the historic center.

If you are now in Linzer Gasse Platzl (square) and facing the River Salzach, the alley to your left is Steingasse.

Walk into Steingasse and you should see Imbergstiege on your left after a few steps. The staircase is easy to find, especially since its entrance is marked with a crucifix.

Between Imbergstiege and Stefan-Zweig-Weg, Imbergstiege is shorter and should lead you more quickly to Kapuzinerberg’s most accessible viewpoint of Old Town Salzburg, called Hettwer Bastei (Hettwer Bastion).

This viewpoint is located just below the Capuchin monastery and can be reached via Basteiweg, which is connected to the middle part of Imbergstiege.

From Hettwer Bastei, you can see a panoramic view of Old Town Salzburg, including Hohensalzburg Fortress, overlooking the city and the Salzach River.

The top of Imbergstiege is also a viewpoint (Aussicht Kapuzinerberg Nord), but the view is not as overwhelming as the one you can see from Hettwer Bastei. 

Anyway, you might still like to continue climbing to the top of Imbergstiege, which will take you to Stefan-Zweig-Weg and more places in Kapuzinerberg.

Stefan-Zweig-Weg (and Franziskischlössl Fortress)

Stefan-Zweig-Weg is the 1.5-kilometer path in Salzburg’s Historic Center that connects Franziskuspforte, a portal along Linzergasse, to Franziskischlössl or the little fortress on top of Kapuzinerberg.

It is also connected to Imbergstiege near the Capuchin monastery.

Finding Franziskuspforte and starting your journey onto the mountain is simple.

You just have to get to Linzergasse, the street closest and goes straight in parallel with the north side of Kapuzinerberg.

With the stone bricks forming the portal’s arch, you should be able to quickly identify Franziskuspforte as you walk along Linzergasse. 

Franziskuspforte is also distinguishable by the coat of arms of Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus (an ibex) at its apex. 

There is also a relief marble above it, depicting the image of St. Francis and the six-winged seraphim. Fascinatingly, this relief is over 400 years old, dating back to 1617.

On your way up, you may find that some parts of Stefan-Zweig-Weg, from Franziskuspforte to Capuchin monastery are steep.

Good thing there are stairs beside the pathway. You can use them to easily maintain your balance as you climb the mountain.

Also, know that cars and taxis can also access Stefan-Zweig-Weg, but only residents are allowed to do so.

What To Do In Kapuzinerberg

Besides visiting Hettwer Bastei (bastion) for panoramic views of Old Town Salzburg, there are a few other places to visit and things to do in Kapuzinerberg.

However, I would not recommend them unless you enjoy visiting off-the-beaten-path destinations, communing with nature, and taking photos of unique city views.

Hiking to Franziskischlössl

If you’re staying in Salzburg for a few days and need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, Kapuzinerberg is the perfect place to go.

This forest-covered mountain offers plenty of hiking opportunities to help you recharge and connect with nature.

For the best experience, take the Stefan-Zweig-Weg path from Old Town to Franziski-Schlössl. This 1.5-kilometer hike takes about 2 hours round trip and offers stunning views along the way.

You’ll pass by a Mozart monument, a wooded fountain, and several unique viewpoints of Hohensalzburg Fortress.

The highlight of the hike is Franziskischlössl, a historical site that’s part of Salzburg’s old fortifications.

Built in 1629 by Prince Archbishop Paris Count Lodron, this rustic building sits nearly 640 meters high.

From here, you’ll have a breathtaking view of the northern part of Salzburg. As you stand on the observation deck, you can imagine yourself as a medieval guard on duty, watching for approaching enemies.

Years ago, there was a restaurant in Franziskischlössl. After your hike to the top of Kapuzinerberg, you can have some refreshments with a view.

But the last time I checked, it was closed. I heard the city of Salzburg is looking for another tenant for Franziskischlössl.

See more views along Basteiweg

Basteiweg is another hiking path in Kapuzinerberg which can get you to Franziskischlössl from Old Town Salzburg.

It’s a historical 1.7-kilometer-long trail that starts at Hettwer Bastei and winds along the Lodronsche defensive walls and watchtowers on the southern and eastern slopes of Kapuzinerberg.

You can complete a round trip hike along Basteiweg in less than 2 hours, depending on your pace.

As you hike along the Basteiweg, you’ll have the opportunity to see Old Town Salzburg and the Bavarian Alps from different perspectives, which are the best parts of the hike.

However, be aware that the path is narrow and passes through steep and overgrown areas, making it a slightly adventurous hike. (A lot of stairs, too!)

For your safety, please wear appropriate footwear when hiking on the Basteiweg. 

By the way, if you want to see breathtaking Bavarian Alps up close, have a day trip to Berchtesgaden. Learn more: Berchtesgaden Day Trip From Salzburg.

Best Time to Visit Kapuzinerberg

Kapuzinerberg is accessible at any time of day, but the best times to visit are sunrise to early morning and late afternoon to sunset, when the views of Old Town Salzburg from the mountain are stunning.

When the weather is ideal, visiting Kapuzinerberg during the time of day I mentioned would be a great experience.

The weather can also have a significant impact on the view from Kapuzinerberg, though. So, you should check the weather app before going to the mountain.

However, you would definitely be so fortunate if you visit Kapuzinerberg very early in the morning and the weather in Salzburg is sunny and misty.

The view is particularly magical when you see Hohensalzburg Fortress illuminated by warm morning light while it is faintly veiled in mist.

On the other hand, the view of Old Town Salzburg from Kapuzinerberg is breathtakingly dramatic at sunset.

If the weather is good, you may be able to see a golden sky over Salzburg from a completely breathtaking perspective.

The silhouette of Hohensalzburg Fortress is straight out of a fantasy movie — an absolute romantic scene to see.

You might want to bring a tripod with your camera so you can capture time-lapse videos of the moment you’re taking in these beautiful scenes.

Hiking Kapuzinerberg in the winter is not recommended. However, if the weather is good, you may want to spend some time in Hettwer Bastei (Bastion) for some amazing views.

Just be careful, as there may be snow and the path to the bastion can be very slippery. Visit at your own risk.

How Much Time to Spend in Kapuzinerberg

The amount of time you should spend in Kapuzinerberg depends on the activities you plan to do.

A leisurely visit, including a stop at Hettwer Bastei and a round-trip hike to Franziskischlössl along Stefan-Zweig-Weg, should take 2 to 3 hours.

If you just want to watch the sunset or take pictures of Salzburg from a unique perspective, you can spend one hour or less.

Resources: Visiting Kapuzinerberg

That is all I can share about Kapuzinerberg for now. I hope you find this post helpful and enjoy your visit to Kapuzinerberg!

If you would like to learn more about Kapuzinerberg and the landmarks on this mountain, you can check the links below.

• Salzburg Wiki — Kapuzinerberg
• Salzburg (official website) — Kapuzinerberg
• Capuchin Monastery in Kapuzinerberg

Staying for two or more nights in Salzburg? Here’s where you can find the best hotel deals in the city. 

Use the map search feature of the hotel browser I just linked to easily find the accommodation located at the most convenient spot for you.

For more places of interest you can visit in Salzburg (which I have not mentioned in this article), see my other posts linked below.

• Mozart’s Birthplace — Mozart’s Birthplace: Interesting Things To Discover Inside — see what makes Salzburg unique; discover Mozart and the musical heritage of the city.
• Mirabell Palace — Mirabell Palace In Salzburg: 5 Reasons Why You Must Visit — from its Marble Hall to the filming location of the Sound of Music movie in its picture-perfect garden, Mirabell Palace is one of the most beautiful places in Salzburg to visit.
• Hellbrunn Palace — Hellbrunn Palace: 5 Things To Do (a Must Visit in Salzburg) — discover not only the watery marvelous works of engineering, but also the wet pranks and spectacles by the prince archbishops of Salzburg.
• Nonnberg Abbey — Visiting Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg: Tips and Information — an off-the-beaten-path destination in Salzburg; another Sound of Music movie filming location.
• Salzburg Cathedral — Salzburg Cathedral: Complete Guide (with Facts and Visit Information) — an architectural highlight of Salzburg; pray, take a tour, listen to concerts, and more.
• St. Gilgen — Visiting St. Gilgen: 7 Things To Do In This Beautiful Village — one of the best day trips from Salzburg and one of the most charming villages in all of Austria.
• Hohenwerfen Fortress — 5 Reasons To Visit Hohenwerfen Fortress in Salzburg — listed as Conde Nast Traveler’s most beautiful fortress in Europe. Come to see eagles fly, the dark side of Salzburg, breathtaking views of Salzach valley, and more.