Salzburg in 1 day
The fortress while the cheapest ticket is valid, then downhill through the town to Mirabell — a day arranged by opening hours.
- How long
- 1 for the city
- The fortress
- 8.30–20 from May to September
- Fortress tickets
- Panorama on foot €9.80
A day in Salzburg starts at the fortress when it opens: the cheapest ticket is valid until ten, and the funicular down is included in every ticket. From there the rest of the day is on foot and downhill, in the order the doors open and close — and in a different order on Sundays.
May to September, on a weekday
Hohensalzburg at opening, up the footpath from the Festungsgasse. Enter before ten and you can take the Panorama ticket (€9.80): the courtyards, the bastions and the panorama tour, without the museums. The museums need the Basic ticket, and the Prince's Chambers and the Magic Theatre only the dearest one.
Back down by funicular, since the ride down is included even in the footpath tickets. The lower station is on the Festungsgasse, a few steps from St Peter's cemetery; the catacombs in the rock above the graves open at ten (€2), and the cemetery is free.
The cathedral, across the Kapitelplatz. On weekdays it opens at eight.
Lunch at the Grünmarkt, the market on the Universitätsplatz, from the stalls. It runs from seven to seven on weekdays and only until three on Saturdays.
The Getreidegasse, reached from the Universitätsplatz through the passageways. Mozart's birthplace at number 9 is open daily from 9 to 17.30, last entry half an hour before closing, and a visit takes about an hour.
Across the river on the Makartsteg footbridge to the Mirabellplatz.
The Mirabell gardens, open from six in the morning until dusk and free. The palace with the Angel Staircase opens only Monday to Saturday, until about six.
If you missed the fortress in the morning
From May to September the Panorama ticket is valid again from six to eight in the evening, while the fortress stays open until eight. The plan then turns round: the town in the morning, Mirabell after lunch, the fortress at the end of the day. From October to April the fortress closes at five, so the Panorama ticket only covers half past nine to ten, and there is no evening slot.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Which fortress ticket should I buy?
If you enter before ten or after six and the museums are not the point — the Panorama ticket, going up on foot. For the museums the Basic ticket, €12 on foot or €15.50 by funicular. The dearest ticket only adds the Prince's Chambers and the Magic Theatre.
Is it worth walking up to the fortress?
Going up, yes: the footpath ticket is cheaper, and the funicular down comes with every ticket. When the funicular is closed for maintenance, the footpath stays open.
What changes out of season?
From October to April the fortress is open from 9.30 to 17, so the morning Panorama slot lasts half an hour and there is no evening one. The catacombs close at five then, and the Mirabell gardens are partly closed.
Ready for Salzburg?
Where to next
Day trips from Salzburg
→The Fuschlsee and a salt mine half an hour away, Hallstatt at ninety minutes — the city here is a base, not a…
Hallstatt · 52 km
→A village that lived off salt for seven thousand years, and off photographs for the last ten
How well does Salzburg suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
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