My Photography & Travel Guide to Salzberg, Austria
Salzburg, Austria, is a UNESCO Heritage city and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. I have always enjoyed visiting.
It is a small town, so walking to all the photography locations is easy. The city is, of course, famous for being the birthplace of Mozart and the location of the Sound of Music. You only need 2 to 3 nights to visit everything the city has to offer.
Salzburg is, of course, a very culturally active city, hosting more than 4,000 events per year, including the internationally renowned Salzburg Festival. The old town is charming, and there are tons of fantastic restaurants and cafes where you can try their famous apple strudel.
When to Go?
I don’t think there is a bad time to visit. We have visited several times during different times of the year in September, December, and April. Each season has its charms. However, the weather from September to October is beautiful.
The only problem about visiting during the summer is the increased traffic, crowds, temperatures and prices.
If you visit in December, you can visit the beautiful Christmas markets, which should be missed. In fact, it’s worth visiting just to see the Christmas Markets.
Where to Stay?
When choosing hotels in Salzburg, I advise staying within walking distance of the old town. We have stayed at the Hotel Sacher each time we have visited. The location is fantastic. However, the hotel is definitely beginning to show its age despite the attempts to renovate.
Recently, the Rosewood Salzburg opened, and I would definitely try it the next time I visit.
Sacher Hotel
Where to Eat?
You will definitely not starve in Salzburg. There are so many good restaurants. Here are a few of our favorites.
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium - I highly recommend trying this restaurant. We absolutely loved it!! In the summer, you will eat outside in a grotto by the mountainside. It is one of the oldest restaurants in the world. It has been open since the 15th century.
L’Osteria Salzburg - if you are in the mood for Italian, the Osteria is a good choice.
Sacher Cafe - this is a great spot for an afternoon coffee. It is where the house-made Sachertorte is made. They have an incredible hot chocolate. as well.
Café Tomasell- Café Tomaselli is located in Old Town on the Alter Markt and has been run by the Tomaselli family for generations. It is the oldest coffee house in Austria, visited by famous figures, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, and Max Reinhardt.
Cafe-Konditorei Fürst GmbH - is also located in the old town. An old classic cafe that has been serving visitors for more than 100 years. In the summer, it is such a nice place to sit outside.
Photography Locations
Salzburg is a small town. You can probably walk across the city in 10-15 minutes. So it is quite easy to find most of the locations. The only challenging location is the castle since it is a steep walk. However, they have a funicular that is much faster.
Makartsteg
The Makartsteg is a footbridge that connects the right and left banks of the old town, crossing the Salzach. For years, locks of lovers have been hung up there again and again. However, the city of Salzburg removes them once a year.
A photo taken through the lock-covered bridge gives a special view of the old town and the Hohensalzburg Fortress.
Street Photography
One of the best things to do in Salzburg is to walk through the streets of Old Town and discover the city. The Getreidegasse is especially well-known for its wrought-iron guild symbols and passageways. Many of the buildings that line Getreidegasse have public passageways on the ground floor that connect with the Griesgass and courtyards.
Kapitelplatz & Sphaera
Today, the golden globe with the man on top is the unofficial landmark of Salzburg. The artwork Sphaera by Stephan Balkenhol was installed at the Kapitelplatz in 2007 and is a wonderful photo, especially when there are only a few people around.
Fortress Hohensalzburg
The Fortress Hohensalzburg is a hilltop castle overlooking Salzburg and its surrounding neighborhoods. It is one of the largest existing 11th century fortress complexes in Europe. While it was built to protect the prince-bishops and the principality itself from attack, it was never actually attacked.
To get to the castle, jump on the Festungs Bahn funicular located in the Old Town. Alternatively, you could walk up, which is quite challenging. Tickets for the funicular and entrance to the castle can be purchased as an all-in-one at the funicular station.
Once you arrive at the top, the castle is fun to explore. In the Summer, there are festivals that take place in the castle. The first thing to do is stop on the terrace for the views over the rooftops of Salzburg. There is a lot to explore on the castle grounds.
Mirabell Palace & Gardens
Mirabell Palace was built in 1606 by Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich for his wife. The most famous room inside is the Marble Hall and the Angel Staircase that leads up to it. It is stunning! The rest of the palace houses the administrative offices for the city and the Mayor of Salzburg.
Mozarts Geburtshaus
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756 in the “Hagenauer Haus” of Getreidegasse 9. Today, the house is a museum dedicated to the life and work of Salzburg’s most famous son.
In addition to Mozart’s birth house, there are many other Mozart-related landmarks in Salzburg where he lived, composed, and performed during the course of his lifetime, including the Mozart Residence, the Mozart Sound and Film Collection, and the Magic Flute House.
Petersbrunnen and St. Peter Church
St. Peter’s Church in Salzburg is definitely worth exploring. There is a small fee to enter but it's magnificent.
The Christmas Market
The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt at the Dom and Residenzplatz has deep historical roots and is one of the world’s oldest Christmas markets. Its unique setting in the heart of Salzburg’s World Heritage-listed Old City, the traditional market stands, and its long history make the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt a truly special market.
Day Trips from Salzburg
There are so many places you could visit for a day trip from Salzburg. I would highly recommend Hallstatt, which is a place everyone has most likely heard of visiting. Another excellent idea is to drive 20 minutes into Germany and visit the Maria Gern Church.
The Maria Gern Church in Germany
Final Thoughts
Salzburg feels like a city that was designed with photographers in mind. Mountains in the background. A river cutting cleanly through the center. Fortress walls rising above baroque rooftops. It almost feels unfair how beautiful it is.
And yet, what keeps me coming back is not just the postcard view. It is the mood. Early mornings along the Salzach are quiet and reflective. The light hits the Hohensalzburg Fortress in a way that feels dramatic but never harsh. By late afternoon, the Old Town glows warm and golden. At blue hour, the bridges light up, and the whole city feels intimate and cinematic.
For photographers, Salzburg is about layers. Use the river as a leading line. Climb higher for perspective. Return to the same viewpoint at sunrise and again at sunset. You will get two completely different stories from the same frame.
For travelers, Salzburg invites you to slow down. Walk through narrow lanes without a plan. Step into a café. Listen to church bells echo between the hills. The city is compact, but it never feels small.
Salzburg does not overwhelm you. It gently wins you over. And by the time you leave, you realize you were not just taking photos. You were collecting moments that feel almost musical, lingering long after the shutter closes.
If you are interested in joining one of my photography workshops, you can find the details through the link. You can also follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or subscribe to my newsletter for more travel photography tips and behind-the-scenes insight.
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