Things to know before traveling to Salzburg

Salzburg is a gorgeous, vibrant metropolis, a Unesco World Heritage Website with an astonishingly wealthy cultural heritage.

The birthplace of Mozart, it’s additionally the gateway to the stunning Salzkammergut area, with its fabulous lakes and mountains. Town additionally performs host to one of many world’s biggest classical music festivals. Whereas it’s marvelously simple to really feel at dwelling right here quickly after you arrive, familiarizing your self with the lay of this Alpine land forward of time will allow you to make most of your go to.

Accordingly, listed below are 12 issues each Salzburg native is aware of – and that first-time guests ought to, too.

What to do in Salzburg (together with in winter, when it rains and at night time)

Salzburg has some unmissable museums and sights – Mozart’s Birth House, the DomQuartier (comprising the Cathedral and former Residence of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg, with its magnificent state rooms), the Hohensalzburg Fortress and the actually fantastic Seventeenth-century Mirabell Palace and Gardens, to call only a few. 

However the true star of the present is town itself: Salzburg has a fantastically preserved previous baroque city middle, which merely oozes ambiance and attraction at each nook. So be sure to permit time to simply wander down streets like Goldgasse and Getreidegasse, and alongside the River Salzach. If it rains, duck into a restaurant to take pleasure in some severely good espresso and heavenly truffles, or spend a while in one in every of Salzburg’s wealthy museums.

Festivals about in Salzburg – the world-famous Salzburg Festival in July and August, in fact, but additionally Mozart Week (on and across the nice composer’s birthday each January), the Easter Festival and the Whitsun Festival, Jazz in the City in October, and the massive Christmas market in December. You may as well do any variety of day journeys from Salzburg. Hallstatt and the Eagle’s Nest are two of the most well-liked, whereas a slew of different beckon. Specifically, the Salzkammergut area has infinite lakes to swim in and an virtually limitless scope for climbing.  

How lengthy ought to I spend in Salzburg?

Salzburg is a splendidly attention-grabbing and fulfilling metropolis to spend time in at any time of 12 months. We suggest a minimum of three days on the town to do it justice and expertise it at a relaxed, leisurely tempo. Keep just a few days longer when you plan to discover the area via day journeys. 

Is Salzburg costly?

Salzburg is likely one of the costlier cities in Austria, although no more so than many different well-known cities in western Europe, and still considerably less than Paris or London. You’ll find cheaper however nonetheless high-quality lodging when you look exterior town middle. Restaurant costs fluctuate (clearly), but you possibly can eat very nicely in Salzburg with out breaking the financial institution. 

For those who go to outside the high season (July or August, coinciding with the Salzburg Pageant) you’ll discover lodging costs decline. Entry tickets to museums and different sights are fairly affordable year-round, and some free strolling excursions supply a cheap strategy to get to know town. Shopping for a Salzburg Card is mostly one other great way to economize in Salzburg.

The city center is small and easy to navigate on foot, so there’s no have to fork out on taxi fares; a dependable bus service to and from the airport is sort of low cost. While you do have to get a neighborhood bus or trolleybus, shopping for tickets from the machine on the bus cease slightly from the motive force saves you a bit. Public transport makes widespread day journeys from Salzburg simple and fairly low cost – and don’t overlook that kids underneath 6 journey free on trains in Austria, and for half worth as much as the age of 15. 

Open rehearsals by the completed music college students at Mozarteum College are free to attend. You may as well get low cost tickets when you plan forward. Seats with a barely restricted view for operas on the Salzburg State Theater price lower than €20 (US$20.80), and in January you possibly can attempt to guide standing tickets for live shows on the Salzburg Pageant as quickly as reservation requests open.

What to pack for Salzburg

Summer time temperatures in Salzburg are pleasantly heat. Shorts, a skirt or summer season gown, and short-sleeved shirts or T-shirts are the order of the day between June and the September, when the temperature reaches a median excessive of round 20–24°C (68–75°F). You would possibly nonetheless get some cooler days in the summertime, so pack lengthy pants and a light-weight fleece, too. 

Having one thing slightly smarter for live shows (together with the Salzburg Pageant) will allow you to mix in. When visiting church buildings, you shouldn’t put on garments which can be too revealing. Don’t overlook sunscreen, sun shades and a solar hat, significantly when you’re doing summer season climbing. 

Undoubtedly deliver a refillable water bottle: the faucet water is okay to drink, so there’s no want to purchase disposable plastic ones. A swimsuit is unquestionably a good suggestion in the summertime, as Salzburg and the encircling area supply a huge number of places to swim, from gorgeous lakes to sparkling rivers. Salzburg will get fairly a little bit of rainfall all year long, together with in the summertime, so that you received’t remorse bringing a light-weight, packable waterproof jacket or small umbrella. Winters are chilly in Salzburg, so pack heat gloves and a hat, a winter jacket and an additional fleece layer. With loads of snow on the bottom within the winter months, heat, waterproof boots are all the time a good suggestion. Plus, a superb pair of climbing boots offers you the choice of performing some winter walks or snowshoeing within the surrounding hills and mountains.

Does Salzburg get snow?

Sure. On the sting of the Alps, winters are chilly, snowy – and magical. The primary snow sometimes arrives in November (you possibly can anticipate it in October within the surrounding mountains), turning into heavier in December and persevering with via to the tip of March. You would possibly even get some snow as late as April. January and February are the coldest months, with temperatures round or extra probably just a few levels beneath freezing.

Reserving tickets for the Salzburg Pageant 

An annual custom since 1920, the Salzburg Pageant is town’s greatest cultural occasion, in addition to one of many world’s biggest classical-music festivals. Because it’s additionally extraordinarily widespread, you must guide tickets as far prematurely as doable. 

Whereas bookings for pageant tickets open in January, tickets received’t be confirmed till early April. There is no such thing as a assure till this level that you simply’ve really acquired tickets, since pageant patrons have precedence, with all different tickets allotted after that. (Word that you simply received’t need to pay till your tickets are confirmed.) Early April can also be when direct ticket gross sales open – a minimum of, for these few seats nonetheless out there. 

Ticket costs might be extraordinarily excessive, however you will discover cheaper ones when you search for standing tickets or ones with a barely restricted view – although these are inclined to promote out quick. Lodging in Salzburg in the course of the pageant (mid July to the tip of August) additionally tends to be booked out or come at a premium – once more, guide as far prematurely as doable. 

The way to get from the airport to town middle by bus

Buses 2 and 10 run each 10 or 20 minutes between the airport and Salzburg Hauptbahnhof. The journey time is round 20 minutes, and the fare (€2.50/$2.60) is way lower than you’d pay for a taxi. Simply stroll out of the principle airport doorways, go straight throughout the automobile park and the bus cease is in your proper. Purchase tickets from the machine or from the motive force.

Suggestions for utilizing the Salzburg S-Bahn

Salzburg’s S-Bahn rail community is the quickest strategy to take longer journeys throughout town (for brief journeys, strolling or taking a bus is extra handy). There are 4 traces plus one extension that cowl town and its suburbs and even spill over the border into Germany. Trains are inclined to run each hour, with low-entry doorways for wheelchair customers; you possibly can even take bikes on them (for an additional cost). Purchase tickets from machines on the station.

The way to catch a bus or trolleybus in Salzburg

Salzburg is roofed by a complete community of bus and trolleybus routes, most of which run each 10 minutes or so in the course of the day and evenings. Shopping for tickets from the ticket machines at bus stops is cheaper than shopping for them from the motive force (€2.10/$2.20 versus €3/$3.15 for a single grownup fare), or you should purchase a 24-hour ticket (which you’ll have to stamp on the bus in your preliminary journey). Bus and trolleybus journeys are additionally coated by the Salzburg Card. 

Discovering your approach round Salzburg Hauptbahnhof

Most guests to Salzburg will use the Hauptbahnhof (major railway station) in some unspecified time in the future throughout their keep. You’ll discover an ÖBB (Austrian Railways) workplace the place you should purchase tickets, in addition to ticket machines, an ATM, bogs, a few cafes and a really helpful Spar grocery store. Escalators lead as much as the platforms from the concourse, and there are lifts for step-free entry. 

The station has two major exits – one opening onto Südtiroler Platz, the place you’ll discover the native bus and trolleybus station, the opposite main onto Lastenstraße, from the place it’s a 20-minute stroll to the previous city. 

Bike and e-bike leases in Salzburg

Salzburg is a superb metropolis to discover by bike. Cycle lanes abound (however not on all streets), with devoted cycle paths alongside each side of the Salzach and elsewhere. There’s a listing of charging stations for e-bikes on the Salzburg Tourist Office website. You possibly can hire a motorbike or e-bike at a number of locations, together with aVelo. 

Is Salzburg an accessible metropolis?

Accessibility in Salzburg is mostly superb. Most buses have low-entry doorways and a ramp for wheelchair customers, and at Salzburg Hauptbahnhof platforms might be accessed by elevator. Obtain the free SalzburgMobil app (for iOS or Android), which has dwell bus occasions in addition to indications relating to wheelchair entry. Visitors ranges are low throughout the previous city itself, and whereas cobblestones are pretty widespread they are usually comparatively unobtrusive. 

Lots of Salzburg’s museums present step-free entry and are accessible to wheelchair customers – although the historic Mozart’s Delivery Home is just not amongst them, sadly. The Vacationer Workplace web site has a listing of wheelchair-accessible hotels. 

What to put on on the Salzburg Pageant

Formal gown isn’t required for the Salzburg Pageant, however many individuals do gown up for performances – so bringing one thing to put on which feels slightly extra swank than shorts and a T-shirt might be a good suggestion when you’ve been fortunate sufficient to get tickets.

Do I have to tip in Salzburg?

It’s standard to go away a tip in eating places and cafes in Salzburg and elsewhere in Austria; the truth is, not doing so would possibly suggest you have been dissatisfied with the service indirectly. Whereas how a lot you need to depart is as much as you, 10% is an effective rule of thumb.

Do you have to get a Salzburg Card?

A Salzburg Card consists of free entry to museums and different sights within the metropolis, in addition to free use of buses and trolleybuses (although not the S-Bahn), and is available in durations of 24, 48 and 72 hours. Some motels supply packages that embrace a three-night keep and 72-hour Salzburg Card – one thing price contemplating whenever you’re trying the place to remain. You should purchase the cardboard on-line, obtain a digital model in your cellphone and begin utilizing it as quickly as you arrive, or decide up a plastic model on the resort reception or from vacationer info places of work. 

Day journeys to Hallstatt and throughout the Salzkammergut

One of the crucial widespread day journeys from Salzburg is a go to to the picture-perfect (and Unesco-listed) lakeside city of Hallstatt and its historic salt mine. It’s simple sufficient to do on public transport, however widespread sufficient that the next suggestions will in all probability show helpful. The 150 bus to Dangerous Ischl leaves from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof. Whereas you should purchase your ticket from the motive force, it’s price getting your tickets on-line, which suggests you’ll nonetheless get on the bus even when it’s full (which it usually is). 

At Dangerous Ischl, take a prepare going south towards Hallstatt and Obertraun. Hallstatt station is on the alternative facet of the lake from the city itself, and connects to a small passenger ferry to the village. There’s a ticket workplace and ticket machines for trains on the station in Dangerous Ischl; at Hallstatt prepare station there’s only a machine, usually with a queue. Because you face a positive when you get on the prepare with no ticket, it’s most secure to purchase your prepare tickets forward of time.

Although Hallstatt is deservedly widespread, there are actually dozens of different attractive locations in Salzkammergut which you may get to simply as simply from Salzburg, whether or not for a swim in a lake, a rewarding hike or epic mountain views. 

Is Salzburg protected?

Austria has one of many lowest crime charges on the earth, and Salzburg is a really protected metropolis to journey in. Nonetheless, use frequent sense and take precautions as you’ll in another metropolis. Don’t depart luggage open or unattended, keep away from leaving your pockets or digicam on the desk at a restaurant and so forth.

In case of an emergency…

We hope you by no means have to seek the advice of this part. However when you do want emergency providers wherever in Austria, name 112 (the European Emergency Quantity, which you may as well name from a locked cellphone). An operator will then direct you to the related emergency service.

You may as well name the emergency service you require straight: the police by dialing 133, an ambulance at 144, an emergency physician at 141, hearth providers at 122, mountain rescue at 140 and site visitors emergencies at 120.