How to Spend 2 Days in Salzburg

Two days in Salzburg is enough time to explore the city, unraveling its connections with Mozart and The Sound of Music, and experiencing the glorious lake and mountain scenery of the surrounding Salzkammergut lake district and Bavarian Alps. Here are our ideas for a perfect two days in this Austrian gem.

Day 1: Sights, Sleighs, and Shows

Morning: Board a hop-on hop-off bus to view Salzburg’s landmarks and create your own itinerary. Alternatively, save your feet with a short panoramic bus tour followed by coffee and cake at a city-view restaurant. To go deeper, choose an on-foot tour—visiting must-sees including Salzburg Cathedral (Dom) and Getreidegasse with a guide.

Afternoon: After admiring Salzburg’s sights, dive into its music and movie history. Save time by prebooking admission to its two Mozart museums—Mozart’s Birthplace (Mozart Geburtshaus) and Mozart’s Residence (Mozart Wohnhaus)—to explore independently. Or, join one of The Sound of Music coach tours for a tour of important filming locations.

Night: If you’re in Salzburg in winter, finish with a private horse-drawn sleigh ride, gliding through the snowy Salzkammergut woods in a blanket-lined carriage. Alternatively, discover Salzburg’s proud marionette tradition. Book ahead to watch wooden puppets perform The Sound of Music or Mozart’s The Magic Flute in the Marionette Theater.

Day 2: Strudel, Summits, and Scenery

Morning: Now that you've seen Salzburg’s top sights, delve into the city’s cuisine. Learn to make classic apple strudel at a cooking class before enjoying your creations over lunch. If you wish, push your skills further with a class that includes nockerl soufflé—another local favorite.

Afternoon: Experience Salzburg’s countryside with a trip into the Bavarian Alps or Salzkammergut region. Take a private or shared tour to the Eagle’s Nest—once Adolf Hitler’s mountaintop lair—perhaps combining it with Berchtesgaden’s 500-year-old salt mine or the emerald-green King’s Lake (Königssee).

Night: Mozart Magic

End your Salzburg stay on a high note with a Mozart dinner concert. Take your pick from the many variations available, and book in advance to ensure your place. Venues include the Salzburg Fortress (Festung Hohensalzburg) and the frescoed Baroque Hall of St. Peter—where costumed performers sing Mozart’s works around candlelit tables.