5 Best Salzburg Tours

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

Among the best things to do in Salzburg are the food and culture tours and the tours of the areas where the film The Sound of Music was filmed. Read on to find out about the best tours of the city.

Salzburg is a historic city with a privileged location on the border between Austria and Germany. A guided tour is the best way to get to know this Austrian region from an exclusive perspective that will allow you to explore the best attractions.

These tours offer four different options:

• 2-hour tour: a short but enriching itinerary. It allows you to visit Mirabell Palace, whose gardens change colour and shape depending on the season. You can also enjoy a stroll through the old town, as they are very close to each other.
• 3-hour tour: this tour is a little longer, as you can also visit the Kollegienkirche church, located at the University of Salzburg. During the tour, get ready to enjoy the courtyard of St. Peter's Abbey.
• 4-hour tour: similar to the previous tours, with the added bonus of visiting Salzburg Cathedral. A must-see, as it is one of the most important monuments in the city . You can visit this Baroque building from £4.
• 6-hour tour: includes the same itinerary, but also offers admission to Hohensalzburg Fortress, the largest in Europe. Dating back to 1077, it offers museums and viewpoints with spectacular views.

If you choose a tour of at least three hours, this type of tour also includes admission to the Kollegienkirche and the courtyard of St. Peter's Abbey. For tours of around four hours, it also covers admission to Salzburg Cathedral. If you want access to all the attractions, you can purchase the Salzburg Card.

Details of interest

• Price: from £159 per person. Prices may vary depending on the number of participants in the group.
• Duration: approximately two to six hours.
• Transport: these tours usually include return transfers from hotels located in the old town.

The Sound of Music is a 1965 musical film considered a Hollywood classic. Salzburg is home to iconic locations, and a tour is the best way to discover them. Some of the places you can visit are:

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

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

Details of interest

• Price: from £55 per person.
• Duration: approximately four hours.
• Transportation: by air-conditioned bus.

If you are looking for activities to do with children in Salzburg, a tour on the city's tourist bus is a great option. You can explore Salzburg quickly and comfortably.

This hop-on hop-off bus tour focuses on the 12 main points of interest in the city. When taking this tour of Salzburg, please note that:

• An audio guide is available in Spanish.
• It is valid for 24 or 48 hours.
• The ticket is activated upon first use.
• You can hop on and off wherever you want, with no restrictions.
• You will discover the filming locations of The Sound of Music.
• During high season (March to January), buses run every 30 minutes, while during low season (January to March), the wait is approximately 45 minutes.

Useful information

• Price: from £29 per person.
• Duration: approximately one hour.
• 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.

Salzburg is home to the most interesting stories about Mozart, a world-renowned opera composer. These types of tours allow you to learn about Austria's musical culture, as well as the personal and professional life of this artist. During the tour, you will 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 before the tour. This is a great option if you want to skip the queues, as the most famous sites associated with the composer tend to be very crowded.

Additionally, you can take advantage of signing up for a Mozart concert to get the full experience. Some of the sites you will visit include:

• Mozart's Birthplace, now a museum, is where Mozart was born in 1756 and where you can still find objects and instruments relevant to his musical training.
• Mirabell Palace is a very special place, as Mozart used to go there to play with his father and brother.
• The Mozart Monument is a statue dedicated to this important musician, located in Mozart Square. It is a historical landmark that you cannot miss.

Interesting details

• Price: from £244 per person.
• Duration: approximately two to three hours.
• Transport: usually includes return transport, only for those staying in the old town area. The tour is generally on foot.

Salzburg is a city known for its German-influenced cuisine. A walking tour will give you an enriching experience, where the culinary scene will surprise your palate.

This is an excellent option for discovering local markets and traditional restaurants. In addition, 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 with marzipan, pistachios, nougat and chocolate, which you can enjoy with a Viennese coffee. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know in advance as there are options for vegetarians. Some of the places you will visit are:

• Residenzplatz Residence: this palace is located in the historic centre. Important dinners were held here, so it is a tasting venue par excellence.
• Mozart Statue: located in Mozart Square, this is a landmark that honours the famous 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, this 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, in which the most important traditional restaurants participate.
• University Square: the best greengrocers in the city are located in this square, where you can take advantage of the street stalls to try typical dishes.

Interesting details

• Price: from £392 per group.
• Duration: approximately three hours.
• Transport: these are walking tours and do not include return transport.

Be punctual

Punctuality is highly valued in Austria, so your guide will most likely be at the meeting point at the agreed time. Keep in mind that arriving late is considered disrespectful. If a tourist vehicle passes by you, I suggest arriving a little early at the hotel lobby.

If you plan to visit Salzburg in one day, you have little time. You should make the most of it to see as many places as possible. If you arrive late, there is transport available in most parts of the city, but you run the risk of missing part of the itinerary.

Use public transport

During your visit, you can take a hop-on hop-off bus tour or opt for a tour that includes transport. However, there are options that do not include transport or that give you the freedom to move around as you please.

In these cases, you can use Salzburg's transport system:

• Trolleybus: also known as Obus or Albus, it has twelve lines that connect the entire city. It runs from early in the morning and also has night lines, called NachtStern and Bustaxi. The fare per trip is approximately £2. If you purchase the Salzburg Card, you can get unlimited travel.
• Bus: these reach areas far from the old town and also operate in the surrounding area and to nearby towns. They are ideal if you are planning a day trip from Salzburg.
• Bicycle: Salzburg is an eco-friendly city, so you will find free or very inexpensive bicycles. Rentals are generally available from £7 per day.

Respect Austrian customs

As you explore the city, you will have the opportunity to discover its culture and customs. Here are some of the most important ones.

• Austrians tend to use a particular greeting, which consists of maintaining eye contact while shaking hands.
• When leaving a place, say goodbye. Leaving an evening event without notice is considered rude.
• For evening food tours, it is important to dress elegantly or semi-formally.
• If you are looking for things to do in Salzburg in winter, you should know that more than 300 dances are organised during this season.
• To enjoy the best opera concerts, visit the Salzburger Landestheater theatre for a unique show.

Learn basic words

The most widely spoken language in Austria is German. In fact, different words are used, so it is considered Austrian German. Although they share many similarities, there are considerable differences between the two dialects.

You may 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 geht's es Ihnen?
• See you later: auf wiedersehen.
• How much is it? wieviel kostest es?
• Please: bitte.
• I'm a vegetarian: I am a vegetarian.
• Yes: ja.
• No: no.
• Nice to meet you: very nice.
• I don't speak German very 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 get to...? Wie komme ich nach...?

Choose the best season

Deciding on the best time to visit Salzburg will help you decide what to see. Don't worry! All attractions are available regardless of the month you choose. This is just a guide based on the weather and tourist numbers.

• High season: between June and August, prices rise considerably. In addition, summer arrives, so there are many tourists around. This is a great option if you want to enjoy warm weather.
• Mid season: this is an excellent option if you want to take advantage of the good weather with fewer tourists. It occurs between April and May, as well as between September and October. This corresponds to spring and autumn, but bear in mind that it can snow at the end of the autumn season.
• Low season: these are cold and rainy months, specifically from November to March. It is ideal if you want to take advantage of things to do in Salzburg in December, as the Christmas shows are well worth it.

Remember that for some tours, it is important to have good weather, as rain can make the itinerary difficult. Additionally, take precautions for summer and winter. Bring appropriate clothing and choose the best things to do in Salzburg according to the season.

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

Before booking, consider where you want to go. It is important to decide whether you want a cultural, gastronomic or historical tour. Of course, take into account how long you will be in the city. We recommend a 2-day itinerary in Salzburg, at least.

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

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