One day in Salzburg: Top things to see and do

Salzburg in Austria is a beautiful city to visit. It’s famous as the setting for the film The Sound of Music, but there’s more to this city as well. Here’s how to enjoy one day in Salzburg.

Updated: February 2025

Salzburg is a small city in Austria. Its small size means that one day in Salzburg is the perfect amount of time to visit the top sights and things to do. Of course, you could always spend more than one day in Salzburg, and there’s enough to do in this small city for several days. But with 24 hours in Salzburg, you can still see lots of amazing things.

Salzburg in Austria is a great city to visit all year round. My favourite time of year to visit Salzburg is the summer. In Salzburg in the summer, the warmer weather make it easy to wander around enjoying the sights while pretending you’re in The Sound of Music. But you can easily enjoy lots of the top things to do in Salzburg all year round.

Salzburg is also really well connected to lots of other places in Austria. Salzburg is a great city to visit combined with other places in the area. After enjoying the top things to do in Salzburg, I definitely recommend heading into the nearby Austrian Alps and enjoying the scenery of the nearby mountains. But before organising trips away from Salzburg, make sure you enjoy the best activities and things to do in Salzburg.

Here are my top 10 things to do in one day in Salzburg. Many of these things to do are free or cheap, and many of these will be highlights if you’re a fan of the film The Sound of Music or a fan of the composer Mozart.

1. Mirabell palace and gardens

If you’ve ever watched the film The Sound of Music, then the first thing you’ll want to do on your one day in Salzburg is to visit the Mirabell palace and gardens. You’ll definitely recognise the palace gardens from the song Do-Re-Me. In the film, Maria and the children dance around and jump up and down the steps, with the Salzburg Fortress in the background.

Even if you’re not familiar with the film, you should still visit the Mirabell palace and gardens. The gardens here really come alive in summer, with vibrant colourful flowers. It’s a lovely place to walk around on a sunny day, enjoying the gardens and the flowers.

2. Mozart Geburtshaus

As well as being famous for the film The Sound of Music, Salzburg’s second claim to fame is the city where Mozart was born and lived. This famous composer has had a big impact on the city, and the bright yellow house where he was born in 1756 is now open as a museum. You can learn more about Mozart’s early life and works and appreciate the rich cultural history of Salzburg. It’s a fairly small museum so won’t take much more than an hour to look around. Visit the website for opening times and prices.

3. Fortress Hohensalzburg

One of the most famous images of Salzburg is the fortress at the top of the hill that overlooks the whole city. Salzburg’s 11th century fortress sits at the top of a hill and is visible from lots of places around the city. You can admire it from the city streets, or alternatively you can climb to the top and visit the fortress itself. Visit the website for the latest opening times and ticket prices.

4. Salzburg Altstadt – Old Town

If you’re spending 24 hours in Salzburg, you’ll definitely be spending some time walking around Salzburg Aldstadt. The Old Town area of Salzburg is stunning. There are cute cobbled streets lined with colourful shops and cafes. Salzburg has a lively, bustling feel in the summer and the old city centre is a great place to be. The streets give way to large squares, many with pavement cafes in the summer. If the weather is nice, you can sit outside at one of the cafes with a drink and watch the sights and sounds of the old city around you. It’s a really lovely, characterful old centre. Your one day in Salzburg itinerary definitely has to include some time walking around the beautiful Aldstadt of Salzburg.

5. Residence Fountain

Another iconic image from the film The Sound of Music is the Residence Fountain. This baroque fountain features in the song I Have Confidence, sung by Maria. The huge horses on the fountain are instantly recognisable from the scene where Maria splashes the horses in the song before running across the square. It’s a must-visit destination for any fans of the film. Or even if you haven’t seen the film, you can still admire the intricate carvings on the fountain. It’s set in a pretty square in the centre of the city, so it’s easy to find and spend some time here before moving on.

6. Getreidegasse

One of the most famous streets in Salzburg, Getreidegasse is a bustling, lively street with a variety of shops and cafes. It’s one of the main streets in Salzburg, and really encompasses the life and soul of the city. Mozart Geburtshaus is along this street, along with souvenir shops and many clothing shops.

7. Sacher Torte

One of the most famous foods in Austria is Sacher Torte. You can eat Sacher Torte at the Hotel Sacher in Salzburg as well as in Vienna. This super rich chocolate cake is indulgence at its very best. It’s a great place to stop for an afternoon snack during your one day in Salzburg. The cafe at the Hotel Sacher, where you can eat Sacher Torte, is a really beautiful, decorative room.

8. Salzburg Cathedral

The 17th century Baroque Cathedral in Salzburg stands in its own square, with the iconic Austrian/central European cupolas on the towers. As with most European cathedrals, it’s an impressive sight. It looks lovely in the evening light. It’s worth going inside the Cathedral as well, where you can admire the ornate decoration. Salzburg’s Cathedral is right in the middle of the city, so it’s easy to see the Cathedral and pop inside in your one day in Salzburg itinerary without the visit taking too much time out of your day.

9. Mozarts Wohnhaus

If you’re looking to learn more about Mozart in your time in Salzburg, the house where he lived from 1773 to 1787 is now also a museum. Also known as Mozart’s residence, this museum is also fairly small but gives an insight into the later life of this famous composer before he moved to Vienna, including displaying his original piano. Visit the website for opening times and prices.

10. River Salzach

The last of my top things to do in Salzburg is to spend some time walking along by the river. Salzburg is built over the River Salzach, so you’re bound to come across the river at some point during your visit. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a sunny day, it’s lovely to have a stroll along the river or take a sightseeing boat trip and admire the city from a different angle. You can get lovely views across the river to the beautiful city and fortress. It can be really relaxing to walk along the river, and it’s a great way to escape from the busy city centre and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Enjoy your trip to Salzburg in one day! If you’re looking for more things to do in Austria, why not head into the mountains and explore the Alps. You can go hiking in Kitzbuhel in summer, go E-Biking in Alpbach in summer, or relax by the lake in Zell am See in summer. Or if you’re looking for another Austrian city break, you can visit Innsbruck in the summer, or the vibrant city of Vienna, full of fascinating history and culture.