Anna Cullen

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers

Salzburg is a beautiful city on the border with Germany, overlooking the Eastern Alps. This baroque city is where W. A. Mozart was born and was the shooting location for “The Sound of Music”.  The city has many churches, castles, and palaces and its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I would recommend visiting this lovely city for 2 days, and overall I think it is safe for solo female travellers.

How to get there

You can fly direct from Dublin to Salzburg Airport via Ryanair. The flight length is about 2 hours and 25 minutes.

As I was already in Hallstatt in Austria, I got the OBB train from Hallstatt Bahnhof to Salzburg Hbf, with a stop-over in Attnang-Puchheim. This journey took about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Language, Currency & Weather

The official language in Salzburg is German, however I managed just fine speaking English. Austria’s currency is the Euro. 

Winter in Salzburg is very cold with frequent snow. Temperatures can vary between 3 and -5 degrees Celsius, so if you are travelling at this time make sure to bring warm clothing. Summer temperatures range between 14 and 24 degrees Celsius, and thunderstorms occur often.

Public Transport

Salzburg has an eco-friendly public transportation system that includes electric powered trolleys as well as buses. The trolley buses run every 10 minutes during the day, and most regular buses operate every 15 minutes.

There are both single and 24-hour tickets available at the kiosks (“Trafiken”) throughout the city or from a ticket machine. If you plan on staying longer than 4 days in the city, purchasing a weekly pass is worthwhile.

From Salzburg Airport, the trolley bus lines 10 (direction Sam – 15 minute journey) and 2 (direction Obergnigl – 20 minute journey) will take you to the centre of the old town.

Where To Stay

Accommodation in Salzburg is expensive, so it can be difficult to find somewhere affordable yet comfortable. Be prepared to spend extra cash in order to stay in this city.

For something pretty central, I would opt for Austria Trend Hotel Europa, H+ Hotel or Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt.

Motel One Salzburg-Süd, Cocoon Salzburg or Das Jedermann Boutiquehotel mit Stadtgarten are also good options.

There are a few hostels in the city, but be prepared to spend more than usual. YoHo – International Youth Hostel and The Keep Eco Rooms are good options.

Where To Go & What To Do

Austria’s fourth-largest city, Salzburg, offers something for everyone. I would recommend visiting the Old Town, also known as Salzburger Altstadt. It’s located on the left bank of the Salzach River, and has beautiful medieval and baroque architecture, including Salzburg Cathedral, as well as narrow winding streets and pastel-coloured buildings. While you’re in the Old Town, stop by the Old City Hall (‘Altes Rathaus’ in German) and check out its prominent clock tower.

Next up is a visit to Mirabell Palace and Gardens, which is a Baroque palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and featured in the film ‘The Sound of Music’. While you’re there, don’t forget to visit the Pegasus Fountain, the Rose Garden, Dwarf Garden and Hedge Theatre.

If you are prepared for a steep hike (I warned you!) or a funicular ride, I would recommend visiting Fortress Hohensalzburg for the best view of the city and surrounding Alpine scenery. The complex features chapels, dungeons, courtyards, and living quarters. Pay a visit to the Fortress Museum, the Marionette Museum, State Rooms and the Golden Chamber.

St Peter’s Abbey, also known as Stift St. Peter, is definitely worth a visit. This ancient monastery is one of the oldest monastic establishments in the German-speaking world.

If you love museums, then the DomQuartier Salzburg should be top of your list. It has a series of interconnected buildings including the Salzburg Cathedral and Residenz, the former residence of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg.

If you’re interested, I would advise you to stop by Mozart’s family townhouse, known as ‘Mozarts Geburtshaus’. The quaint yellow townhouse has been transformed into a museum where you can explore Mozart’s personal belongings, musical instruments, family portraits and more.

Stroll down one of Salzburg’s main pedestrian-only streets, Linzergasse and have a look at some of the best boutiques and art galleries. Finally, walk along the Makartsteg, which is also known as the Love Lock Footbridge and is one of the best ways to see the Salzach River.

What & Where To Eat

Whether you’re looking for schnitzels or salzburger nockerls, Salzburg has a variety of bars, restaurants and cafes to choose from, so it was hard for me to choose just a few for this post.

For breakfast I stopped by Café Habakuk which was delicious, with great coffee and even better pastries. The staff were very friendly too.

For lunch, I would recommend Goldene Kugel for Gröstl, which is a traditional Austrian dish. This bacon, onion, and potato fry-up tastes great served with a fried egg.

Visit Café Mozart for coffee and a snack. The world-famous cafe is located on Getreidegasse in the old town near Mozart’s birthplace.

In the evening, pop by the trendy M32 Café for a drink. Not only is it a café, but it is also a rooftop bar on the top floor of the Museum der Moderne Salzburg.

For dinner, try St. Peter Stiftskulinarium which is the oldest restaurant in Europe and some of the past diners seemingly include Christopher Columbus and Mozart. It’s located in the walls of St. Peter’s Abbey and serves a range of food including traditional Austrian cuisine.

Have fun in Salzburg!