Best tours of Salzburg

A tour of Salzburg is well worthwhile, as it is a city with many nuances. Its streets are lined with old buildings that have been preserved over time. In fact, the Mozart House and the oldest restaurant in Europe are located here.

Among the best things to do in Salzburg are the gastronomic and cultural tours, as well as tours of the areas where the film The Sound of Music was filmed. In addition, you can also enjoy a private, personalised walking tour.

Salzburg is a historic city, ideally located on the Austrian-German border. A guided tour is the best way to get to know this Austrian region from a unique perspective, allowing you to explore the best attractions.

Guided tours offer four different options:

• 2-hour tour: a short but enriching itinerary. It allows you to visit the Mirabell Palace, whose gardens change their colours and geometry according to the season. You can also enjoy a walk through the old town, as they are very close to each other.
• 3 hours tour: the tour is extended a little bit, as you will also be able to visit the Kollegienkirche church, located in the University of Salzburg. During the tour be prepared to enjoy the courtyard of St. Peter's Abbey.
• 4-hour tour: a similar tour to the previous ones, with the added bonus that it takes you to visit the Salzburg Cathedral. A mandatory stop, as it is one of the most important monuments. You can access this baroque building from 5 €.
• 6-hour tour: includes the same itinerary, but also offers entrance to the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the largest in Europe. It dates back to 1077 and offers museums and viewpoints with privileged views.

If you choose a tour of at least three hours, such tours also include entry to Kollegienkirche and the courtyard of St Peter's Abbey. For tours of around four hours, the Salzburg Cathedral pass is also covered. If you want access to all entrances, you can purchase the Salzburg Card.

Interesting details

• Price: from 159 € per person. Prices may vary depending on the number of participants in the group.
• Duration: approximately two to six hours.
• Means of transport: these tours usually include transfers to and from hotels located in the old part of the city.
• Advantages of this option: these are private activities, where only your group can participate, so the experience is personalised.
• Disadvantages of this option: to enter the church and cemetery, you must do it on your own. Guides are not allowed in this area, due to abbey rules.

The Sound of Music is a musical film from 1965, considered a Hollywood classic. Iconic locations can be found in Salzburg and a tour is the best way to discover them. Some of the ones you can visit are:

• Mirabell Gardens, where the Trapp children sing the Do-Re-Mi led by Maria.
• Lake Leopoldskron, one of the most famous scenes of the film was filmed here.
• The gardens of Schloss Hellbrunn, like the lake, are located in the castle Schloss Leopoldskron, a magical place where you can stay.
• Nonnberg Abbey, the monastery where Mary was a novice.
• Mondsee Lake, an area by the river near St. Michael's Basilica, where the wedding of Maria and Baron von Trapp was filmed.

You can learn more about the filming and the history of the film, while visiting each stop with a professional guide. You can also visit on your own St. Peter's Cemetery, where the family fled from the Nazis; or Frohnburg Palace, where the Von Trapps lived and where several musical scenes were filmed.

Interesting details

• Price: from €61 per person.
• Duration: approximately four hours.
• Means of transport: the tour takes place in an air-conditioned bus.
• Advantages of this option: free time in Mondsee.
• Disadvantages of this option: no food and drink included.

If you are looking for activities to do with children in Salzburg, a tour on the city's sightseeing bus is a great option. You'll be able to get around Salzburg quickly and comfortably.

This hop-on, hop-off bus tour concentrates on the 12 main s ights of the city. When taking this tour of Salzburg, you should take into account that:

• It offers an audio guide available in English.
• It is valid for 24 or 48 hours.
• The ticket is activated after the first use.
• You can get on and off wherever you want, with no limitations.
• You will discover the filming locations of The Sound of Music and Tears.
• In high season (March to January) buses run every 30 minutes, while in low season (January to March) the wait is approximately 45 minutes.

Interesting details

• Price: from 29 € per person.
• Duration: about one hour.
• Means of transport: you will travel around the city in a comfortable double-decker bus. The lower deck is air-conditioned, while the upper deck is open-air.
• Advantages of this option: you can organise your own route, ideal if you are short of time and want to visit Salzburg in one day.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not wheelchair accessible.

Salzburg holds the most interesting stories about Mozart, a world-renowned opera composer. This kind of tour allows you to get to know the musical culture of Austria, as well as the personal and professional life of this artist. During the tour you can visit places such as Mozart's Birthplace, where he lived for approximately twenty years.

You can plan this activity months in advance, as they are usually very flexible and allow cancellations up to twenty-four hours in advance. This is a great option if you want to skip the queues, as the most famous spaces associated with the composer are usually very crowded.

Additionally, you can take advantage of the opportunity to sign up for a Mozart concert to get the full experience. Some of the places you can visit are:

• Mozart's Birthplace, nowadays it is a kind of museum, but Mozart was born here in 1756 and you can still find objects and instruments relevant to his musical training.
• Mirabell Palace, a very special place where Mozart used to go to play with his father and brother.
• Mozart Monument, a statue dedicated to this important musician, located in Mozart Square. A historical landmark you can't miss.

Interesting details

• Price: from 244 € per person.
• Duration: approximately two to three hours.
• Means of transport: usually includes a return transfer, only for those staying in the Old Town area. In general, the tour is on foot.
• Advantages of this option: this experience is usually available in several languages such as Spanish, English, French, German, Russian and Italian.
• Disadvantages of this option: Tickets for the Mozart concert are usually not included in this type of tour.

Salzburg is a city known for its food, which has a German influence. A walking tour will give you access to an enriching experience, where the culinary scene will surprise your palate.

It is an excellent option to get to know the local markets, or traditional food restaurants. Additionally, the spice trade is very important in Salzburg, and during this tour you can explore its history.

You can also sample snacks, such as the original Mozartkugel. This is a kind of dessert made of marzipan, pistachios, nougat and chocolate, which you can accompany with a Viennese coffee. If you have a special diet, please notify in advance as there are vegetarian options. Some of the places you will visit are:

• Residenzplatz Residence: it is a palace located in the historical centre. Important dinners were held here, so it is a tasting space par excellence.
• Mozart Statue: located at Mozartplatz, it is a landmark honouring the famed composer. Here you can also learn about the salt trade and the history of local beer.
• St. Peter's Abbey: known as St. Peter's Abbey, it is a quiet square where Europe's oldest restaurant is located.
• Grosses Festspielhaus Theatre: this auditorium was built in 1960 and hosts the Salzburg Festival where the most important traditional restaurants take part.
• University Square: the best greengrocers of the city are located in this square, you can take advantage of the street stalls to taste typical dishes.

Interesting details

• Price: from 392 € per group.
• Duration: approximately three hours.
• Means of transport: these are walking tours and do not include return transfers.
• Advantages of this option: these are private and personalised activities. Some complimentary local tastings are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: no tips are included, which is common practice in Austria. It is advisable to leave 5-10% of the total amount.

Be punctual

Punctuality is highly valued in Austria and your guide will most likely be at the meeting point at the agreed time. Be aware that being late is considered disrespectful. In case a tour vehicle is picking you up, I suggest you to be at the hotel lobby a little earlier.

If you plan to visit Salzburg in 1 day, you have little time. You should make the most of it, to see most of the sights. In case you arrive late, there is accessible transport in most of the city, but you run the risk of missing part of the itinerary.

Use public transport

During your visit you can take a bus tour with free stops, or opt for a tour that includes transport. However, there are options which do not include transport, or which give you the freedom to move around as you wish.

In such cases, you can use **Salzburg'**s public transport:

• Trolleybus: also known as Obus or Albus, it has twelve lines interconnecting the whole city. It runs from early morning and also has night lines, called NachtStern and Bustaxi. The fare per trip is about €2. If you buy the Salzburg Card, you can get unlimited travel.
• Bus: Buses reach areas outside the Old Town, but also operate in the surrounding area and to nearby towns. Ideal if you're planning an excursion from Salzburg.
• Bicycle: Salzburg is an environmentally friendly city, so you'll find free or cheap bicycles. Rentals usually start at €7 per day.

Respect Austrian customs

As you tour the city, you'll have the opportunity to explore its culture and customs. Here are the most important ones.

• Austrians often use a particular greeting, which consists of holding your gaze as you shake hands.
• When leaving a place, say goodbye. Leaving an evening without warning is considered rude.
• For evening food tours, it is important to wear an elegant or semi-formal dress code.
• If you are looking for things to do in Salzburg in winter, you should know that they organise more than 300 balls during this season.
• For the best opera concerts, head to the Salzburger Landestheater for an unrepeatable show.

Learn basic words

German is the most widely used language in Austria. In fact, different words are used, so it's considered the German of Austria. Although they share many similarities, there are considerable changes between the two dialects.

You can find people who understand English or Spanish, but it is very rare. Here are some basic words to help you communicate during your stay.

• Good morning: grüss gott.
• How are you? wie gehts es ihnen?
• See you later: auf wiedersehen.
• How much is it... wieviel kostest es?
• Please: bitte.
• I am a vegetarian: ich bin vegetarier.
• Yes: ja.
• No: nein.
• Nice to meet you: sehr angenehm.
• Idon't speak German well: ich kann nicht so gut Deutsch sprechen.
• Do you speak Spanish? sprichst du Spanisch?
• Help! hilfe!
• How much does it cost? wie viel kostet das?
• Where is...? wo ist...??
• How can I go to...? wie komme ich nach...?

Choose the best season

Determining the best time to visit Salzburg will help you to be clear about what you can visit. Don't worry! All attractions are available, regardless of the month you choose. This is just a guideline, depending on the weather and the number of tourists.

• High season: between June and August, prices shoot up considerably. Plus, summer is here, so there are a lot of tourists wandering around. It is a great option if you want to enjoy warm tours.
• Mid season: this is an excellent option if you want to take advantage of the good weather with few tourists. It occurs between April and May, as well as between September and October. It corresponds to spring and autumn; bear in mind that at the end of the autumn season, it can snow.
• Low season: these are cold and rainy months, specifically from November to March. It's ideal if you want to make the most of things to do in Salzburg in December, as the Christmas shows are well worth seeing.

Remember that for some tours, it's important to have good weather, as rain can make your itinerary difficult. In addition, take your precautions for summer and winter. Wear appropriate clothing and choose the best things to do in Salzburg according to the season.

To schedule a tour of Salzburg, it's best to book online. In high season, prices skyrocket and attractions sell out faster. Plan your trip if you want to save a few euros. Most tours offer a cancellation policy, which allows you to get a refund up to 24 hours in advance.

Before you book, consider where you want to go. It is important that you define whether you want a cultural, gastronomic or historical tour. Of course, consider how long you will be in the city. It is advisable to take a 2-day itinerary to Salzburg, as a minimum.

A tour is a complete experience, which is usually guided, private or personalised. You will save yourself a lot of headaches, as you don't have to plan every detail. When you visit a city on your own, it is difficult to choose the most appropriate tour.

In addition, these types of adventures are embedded in little-known historical facts. They are often available in English, which makes it easier to visit a city where German is the main language.