Salzburg Itinerary: 2 Days in Salzburg, Austria

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Only in Salzburg for a couple of days? That’s great! Here’s my itinerary for 2 days in Salzburg with some of the best things to see & do in the city!

Are you only in Salzburg for a couple of days? Then this is the blog post for you! In this post I’ll show you how to have the perfect 2 days in Salzburg featuring some of the best things to see & do in the city.

This is the Salzburg itinerary I’ve followed myself so I know all of this is possible in just 48 hours. Make sure you read on as I feature a couple of unique places to visit too.

What can I say about Salzburg? It’s the birthplace of Mozart. Home to the Sound of Music. And a place that has truly captured the magic of Austria. I don’t know if you can tell yet but I really love Salzburg.

A city that’s surrounded by mountains and forests with a river running through the middle, Salzburg is certainly beautiful. For me though, it’s all about the amazing architecture everywhere that really makes the city what it is.

It’s so easy wandering around the Old Town getting lost in side streets and coming across brightly coloured shops interspersed between 15^th century churches. When it comes to sights and attractions though, you certainly won’t be scrambling around wondering what to do in Salzburg that’s for sure!

If you’re looking for a couple of my other posts on the city, then check out ‘Where to Stay in Salzburg‘ and ‘Day Trips from Salzburg‘ for some more information.

Quick overview

• How long do you need? Two days is enough for the Old Town, the fortress and the Mönchsberg. Add a third if you want a day trip to the lakes.
• Getting there: The fastest trains from Vienna take around 2 hours 22 minutes, and Munich is about an hour and a half away.
• Getting around: The Old Town is compact, so you’ll walk almost everywhere. A funicular and a lift do the hard work on the hills.
• Salzburg Card: From €38 for 24 hours (April to October) or €35 (November to March), including most sights in this itinerary and local buses.
• Currency: Euro.

Things to do in Salzburg in summer

From visiting Mozart’s birthplace to climbing to the top of Hohensalzburg Fortress for some of the most magnificent views of the city below, this is my Salzburg itinerary. Tick off a few of these (or even all of them!) and you’re in for an incredible time.

One of my favourite things about Salzburg is it’s such an easy city to get around. Even though the streets are tight and compact, it’s easy to walk everywhere. There’s even a lift to the top of the hill so you can avoid the steps if you want to. 

Also, for those of you who are fans of the Sound of Music, no trip here would be complete without visiting the Mirabell Gardens, just one of many locations where they shot the film in the city. You can start practicing the Do–Re–Mi tune now! Anyway, without further ado, here’s what I suggest you do for 2 days in Salzburg.

Day 1

Wander around Mirabell Gardens and Mirabell Palace

The Mirabell Gardens & Mirabell Palace are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Salzburg, so be prepared for the crowds. The palace was built in 1606 but shot to world-wide fame when it was featured in the film The Sound of Music.

If you’re a big Sound of Music fan, there are tours of Salzburg that include a stop at the Mirabell Gardens. The gardens are absolutely gorgeous, especially when they’re in full bloom in summer. However, if you’re not a fan of the film and want to take in the palace and gardens without the crowds, it’s best to visit either early in the day or late in the evening when the tour buses have left. Then you can have the place to yourself.

In the summer when the sun’s out, lots of people head here for a picnic on the grass. I really recommend coming down here with friends in the evening too. While you’re in the gardens, pop into the Orangery. It opened in 2026 as a small museum about Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage status. The star of the show is Johann Michael Sattler’s huge circular panorama of the city, painted between 1825 and 1829. It shows Salzburg on an autumn afternoon, so you can compare it with the real thing when you’re up at the fortress later. Entry is €8 and it’s open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Tickets for the Sound of Music Tour cost €70, lasts 4 hours and runs daily at 9.15am and 2pm. They really do take you to all the best spots in the city on this tour.

Visit Mozart’s birthplace and see where the magic happened

Mozart’s birthplace is one of the top attractions in Salzburg. Even walking past this place can be a struggle as everyone stops outside to take photos of the building. Mozart was born in 1756 and his family lived here for 26 years. The magic happened RIGHT HERE in these rooms. Today, Mozart’s birthplace is a museum to his life, and tickets cost €18 regular, or €25 for the combined ticket with the Mozart Residence. It’s so fascinating walking around and seeing the exact spot where he learned to play piano and compose music. It really gives you a feel for the person behind the music.

This is a pilgrimage site for all classical music lovers from all over the world and is well worth visiting while in the city. Understandably, the historic centre of the city of Salzburg is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Another really popular tour is a music concert at Mirabell Palace. Here you can listen to the works of Mozart and his contemporaries in such a stunning setting.

Grab a coffee and some strudel at Cafe Tomaselli

Cafe Tomaselli has become a bit of an institution in the city becoming one of the top places to visit in Salzburg. Situated right in the heart of the Old Town, Café Tomaselli is Austria’s oldest coffee house, with roots going back to 1700. The Tomaselli family bought it in 1852 and they still run it today. You can see that old-school family tradition wherever you look.

Cafe Tomaselli is really famous for its cakes. A woman with a tray of freshly made cakes will come over to your table to show you what’s on offer. Being in Austria, I had to go for the apple strudel and it didn’t disappoint!

The best thing to do here is order yourself a cake, a coffee, and watch the world pass you by. It’s such a good people-watching spot.

Wander around Kapitelplatz (Chapter Square)

If you’re walking to the DomQuartier or up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, chances are you’ll pass through Kapitelplatz.

It’s also home to Sphaera, a giant golden sphere with a man standing on top. It’s by the German artist Stephan Balkenhol and was installed in 2007. It’s part of the Walk of Modern Art, a trail of free-to-see contemporary artworks around the city. I love the juxtaposition of the modern art surrounded by the centuries-old buildings. So cool!

Hohensalzburg Fortress

I’ve saved Hohensalzburg Fortress for the end of your first day. For me, this is where you can get the best views of Salzburg and the surrounding countryside. Work on the fortress began in 1077, but much of what you see today dates from the late 15th and early 16th centuries. This fortress is such a good example of an old-school European fortification. Find the highest point, build a massive castle on top of it, defend the city.

You can get to the top of Hohensalzburg Fortress via the funicular (which takes just 54 seconds), or you can walk it in about 20 minutes. Be warned: it is very steep so I’d recommend the funicular. It’s a lot of fun too. As I said though, for me it’s all about the views from the top – I mean, just look at the panoramic views you get!

Tickets to Hohensalzburg Fortress costs €15.50 and includes the funicular up and down. The All-Inclusive ticket costs €19.20 and adds the Princes’ Rooms. If you walk up, prices drop to €12 and €14.50, and you can still take the funicular back down.

Day 2

Have lunch with a view at M32

Right, it’s the second day of your two days in Salzburg. Take it easy in the morning, or join the Sound of Music tour, then head up the Mönchsberg for lunch.

Another one of my favourite views in Salzburg is from the Museum of Modern Art on the Mönchsberg (tickets to this are included in the Salzburg card if you pick one up). Bolted on to the side of the museum is M32, a stunning restaurant with some beautiful views of the city below.

I think the best time to come here is for lunch during the day when the sun is out. The menu is really light too which I loved (though it can be a little expensive for main courses). I went for a smoked mackerel dish with an asparagus salad on the side and it was delicious – not what you expect Austrian food to be.

Also, a glass of red wine with that view? Yes please. Honestly, there aren’t many places in the city with a better terrace than this one.

Take in the views along the Salzach river

One of the best things to do in Salzburg is to go on a Salzach river boat tour. The views up the river with Hohensalzburg Fortress on one side and the churches and mansions really highlights the beauty of the city. It’s so green too, especially during summer.

Like most boat tours, there’s a audio guide in English (other languages available) so it’s a great way of learning more about the city while taking in the beautiful views. There are a few different tours available but I went for a 45-minute tour which was definitely enough time.

Tickets cost around €19 per person for 1-hour tour and includes a guide. If you’re travelling on your own this is a really good way of meeting like-minded people too.

Climb the Mönchsberg for some more views of the city

One of my favourite views of Salzburg is along the Mönchsberg. Along from M32 is a pathway that takes you along the Mönchsberg and the views of the city are incredible. There are a few breaks in the trees where you can take photos like this one.

The best time to come here is at sunset. There are a few benches here so it’s very relaxing watching the sunset over the city. As you can see, it’s such an amazing photo spot too. Also, it’s very near Augustinerbräu so beers afterwards.

Drink beer and eat meat at Augustinerbräu

I just had to feature this place on my Salzburg itinerary. I mean, Augustinerbräu is legendary after all. Augustinerbräu is an old-school beer hall, so forget the museums for a bit and knock back a few litres of beer. And I really mean litres.

Augustinerbräu is heaving during winter with every room and table packed with people, but in the summer everyone spills out into the beer garden in big groups.

The done thing here is to walk around deciding what meat you want – they’ve got pretty much everything but I went for some bbq ribs and a couple of different sausages, with a couple of pickles and cabbage of course. Then you choose what size beer you want and get your mug filled to the top with the good stuff. They also have one of the biggest beer gardens in the city too.

Honestly, this place has such a good atmosphere and it’s always so much fun to visit. Augustinerbräu is definitely a must on any trip to the city.

Got a third day? Head out of the city on one of my favourite day trips from Salzburg, like Hallstatt or the Dachstein Ice Caves.

Planning your trip to Salzburg

Getting to Salzburg

Salzburg is really easy to reach by train. The fastest Railjet services from Vienna take around 2 hours 22 minutes, and trains from Munich take about an hour and a half. You can compare times and book tickets on Omio.

If you’re flying in, Salzburg Airport is only a few kilometres from the city. Bus 2 runs to the main train station and bus 10 heads into the city centre, or a taxi takes around 10 to 15 minutes. From the main station, it’s about a 20-minute walk to the Old Town, or around 10 minutes on buses 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6.

If you’re coming from the capital, here’s my full guide to travelling from Vienna to Salzburg by train, car or plane.

Getting around Salzburg

Once you’re in the Old Town, you won’t need much transport at all. Everything in this itinerary is within walking distance, and the funicular and the Mönchsberg lift take care of the hills. Local buses cover the rest and they’re free with the Salzburg Card.

Is the Salzburg Card worth it?

For this itinerary, I think the 48-hour Salzburg Card is worth it between April and October. It costs €45 and covers the fortress and funicular, Mozart’s Birthplace, the Salzach boat trip, the Mönchsberg lift and the Museum der Moderne. Paying separately for the first four alone comes to €57.30.

From November to late March, the boat isn’t running and the 48-hour card drops to €41. Without the boat, you’d only break even if you added another museum or two. Children aged 6 to 15 pay half price.

When to visit Salzburg

Summer is gorgeous, with the Mirabell Gardens in full bloom and the fortress open until 8pm. It’s also the busiest time of year, especially during the Salzburg Festival in July and August, so book your hotel early.

In winter, the Christmas markets take over the Old Town from late November. Just bear in mind that the Salzach boat doesn’t run and the fortress closes at 5pm.

For me, May, June and September are the sweet spot. The days are long, the boat is running and it’s a lot quieter than peak summer.

What’s new in Salzburg for 2027

Salzburg isn’t standing still, and 2027 is shaping up to be a big year for the city. Here are the new openings and events I’d plan a trip around.

• Belvedere Salzburg and a new Salzburg Museum – The Neue Residenz, right next to the cathedral, has been closed for a major rebuild. It’s due to reopen in autumn 2027 with a revamped Salzburg Museum and Belvedere Salzburg, a new outpost of Vienna’s famous Belvedere gallery. There’s also a new courtyard garden and walkways linking Mozartplatz and Kaigasse.
• Sound of Music Salzburg – This new museum opened in September 2026 in the grounds of Hellbrunn Palace, right next to the famous gazebo. It tells the story of the film, the musical and the real von Trapp family. It reopens for its first full season on 20 March 2027 and tickets cost €8. Bus 25 gets you there in around 25 minutes, or you can take the Amadeus boat down the river.
• The Easter Festival turns 60 – To mark its 60th anniversary, the Salzburg Easter Festival is starting a new Ring cycle, just like it did in its very first year. Die Walküre runs from 20 to 29 March 2027, with Kirill Petrenko conducting and Lise Davidsen singing her first Brünnhilde.
• Mozart Week – Mozart Week runs from 21 to 31 January 2027, around the composer’s birthday. This year’s theme is Mozart & “Mozarts”, and the highlight is a new semi-staged Così fan tutte, which completes the festival’s Da Ponte opera cycle.
• Salzburg Festival – The summer festival runs through July and August as usual. If it’s on your list, I wouldn’t wait too long. The Großes Festspielhaus is due a major renovation, so it’ll only be partly usable in 2028 and closed in 2029 and 2030.

This post was in association with Visit Austria and Visit Salzburg promoting some of the best things to do in Austria during the summer – it’s not all about the winter sports here! As always, views are entirely my own and without bias.

Travelling around Austria? Then check out my guides to Alpbach, Graz, Innsbruck, Vienna, Wildschönau and Zell am See.

What did you make of my Salzburg itinerary? What’s the one thing you’re most looking forward to doing? Let me know in the comments below!

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