Salzburg can feel terribly grand, with its parade of palaces and squares, where the prince-archbishops once wafted around and horse-drawn carriages clip-clopped past evoking the glory days of the Hapsburg Empire. So it comes as a (very pleasant) surprise that you can see so much of the city without spending a single cent.
Mozart symphonies, skipping Marias (as in The Sound of Music), gorgeously manicured parks, public art, abbeys, cathedral concerts, jazz jam sessions, and wild canal swims — time your visit right and you can soak up culture and the outdoors in Salzburg for nothing. And, frankly, you’ll have a much better experience than if you’d stuck to the usual tourist trail. Here’s your guide to seeing the city for free.
Get Your Mozart and Maria Fix
You can’t move for Mozart and Maria in Salzburg. While it’s tempting to take an official tour of the composer’s neighborhood and The Sound of Music film locations, you can see plenty without spending a single cent.
Piece together your own self-guided walking tour — GPSMYCITY offers a free Mozart Walking Tour to get you started, which covers highlights like Mozartplatz, Residenz, where he gave his first court concert at the tender age of six, and the Dom where he was baptized in 1756.
If The Sound of Music is more your style (and, let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good mountain and yodeling nun), you can easily devise your own tour of the film locations. Top of your list should be stops like Benedictine convent Stift Nonnberg, where the nuns waltzed on their way to mass, Residenzplatz where a fountain-splashing Maria belts out “I Have Confidence”, and the fortress-facing Mirabell gardens where she teaches the kids to sing “Do-Re-Mi”.
Spend Time Outdoors
With uplifting views of the Alps and a shockingly turquoise river running through it, Salzburg offers a delightful combination of urban exploration and outdoor activities. Its gardens are fabulous and free, from the sculpture-dotted parterres, rose gardens, and leafy arbors of Schloss Mirabell (the best vantage point for photos of the fortress-topped Altstadt) to the Volksgarten, with its summer lido and beach.
Rent a bike and you can pedal along the riverbanks, mountains looming on the horizon, on the 4.5km route to Schloss Hellbrunn, where it’s free to explore the sculpture-strewn palace gardens, and sing your heart out at The Sound of Music pavilion of “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” fame.
See the City from On High
Salzburg is at its most breathtaking from above. One of the most memorable ways to see the city away from the hustle is to hike above its skyline of elegant rooftops, spires, and domes. Take the Nonnbergstiege to Stift Nonnberg for stunning views of the Festung Hohensalzburg and beyond.
Devote an afternoon to wandering the 540m peak of Mönchsberg, a picturesque area with wooded trails. A scenic hike leads 4km from Stift Nonnberg to the historic brewery Augustiner Bräustübl, where you can relax under the chestnut trees with a refreshing beer.
Across the river on the Right Bank is the forested, 640m-high hump of Kapuzinerberg, which frames the Altstadt like a postcard. Paths twist past chapels to the Capuchin abbey at the top. Despite the glorious views, it’s rarely busy — hence the reason it is still home to a colony of nimble-footed chamois, which you might spot if you’re lucky (and quiet).
Go for a Canal Swim
Flowing through the city since the Middle Ages, the Almkanal provides a splash of history. In summer, you can cycle or walk to Schloss Leopoldskron (the palatial backdrop for the lake scene in The Sound of Music) for a bracing swim in the canal’s chilly turquoise waters. If you have a board handy, you can join surfers to ride the canal’s wave just north of Weidenstrasse bridge.
Swan Around a Palace
Schloss Mirabell is fantasy Salzburg in a regal nutshell. Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau had the palace built in 1606 to woo his lovely mistress, Salome Alt, who later bore him 15 children. In the 18th century, Hapsburg “starchitect” Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt worked his baroque magic here, and you can take a peek at his handiwork for free whenever the palace is open. The scene-stealer is the Marmorsaal (Marble Hall), a feast of marble, carved and gilded stucco, and weighty chandeliers.
The marble Engeltreppe (Angel Staircase) sweeping up to the hall is festooned with playful cherubs. Legend claims that you will be blessed with good fortune in your marriage if you slap one on the bottom…
Marvel at Holy Wonders
One glance at the spires and domes encrusting Salzburg’s skyline conveys that this city is built high and mighty on faith. A great way to grasp the city’s spirit is by crafting your own mini tour of its places of worship. Start at Salzburg’s cathedral, or Dom, a baroque architectural masterpiece. It’s free to see its immense copper dome, the nave adorned with frescos recounting the Passion of Christ, and the bronze font where Mozart and Silent Night lyricist Joseph Mohr were baptized.
Catch the cathedral at its most atmospheric by attending 10am Sunday mass, when the organ is cranked into action for a free concert of Mozart’s sacred music. The composer was once an organist here.
From here, it’s just a short stroll to Stift St Peter—founded around 700 AD by Frankish missionary Rupert, this is the oldest abbey-church and monastery complex in the German-speaking world. It’s free to visit the church, which bedecks you with baroque ornament, including eye-catching altarpieces. Among the cemetery’s wrought-iron crosses, you’ll find the graves of classical composer Michael Haydn, opera singer Richard Mayr, and Salzburg confectioner Paul Fürst.
One of the most atmospheric experiences in Salzburg is walking up the Nonnbergstiege to Stift Nonnberg as the rising sun illuminates the city’s rooftops and the haunting sound of nuns singing Gregorian chants drifts from the 1300-year-old Benedictine convent.
Explore Public Art
Art is not just confined to museums in Salzburg. There is a rich array of public art spread throughout the city, providing a cultural experience without any cost to you.
The Walk of Modern Art should be on your agenda, spotlighting commissioned installations and sculptures throughout the city. Key highlights include James Turrell’s exposed-to-the-elements Skyspace atop Mönchsberg, Stephan Balkenhol’s giant man-on-a-golden-globe Sphaera on Kapitelplatz, and Anselm Kiefer’s winged book stack The Language of Birds at Chiemseehof.
In warmer months, wander the cobbled streets of Steingasse, the main trade route to Italy in the Middle Ages, to reach Schloss Arenberg. Built in the 14th century for the prince-archbishops, the palace grounds conceal the Würth Sculpture Garden, brimming with contemporary, thought-provoking artworks.
Feel the Festive Groove
Being a vibrant city full of music and culture, Salzburg celebrates a packed calendar of events, some of which are free. In summer, brass bands resonate through the Altstadt when Vielklang comes to town. Kapitelplatz hosts free opera screenings during the Salzburg Festival on a big screen. It also hosts free movie nights at Sternenkino during late June to early July.
Mid-October brings Jazz & The City, showcasing jazz acts from rising stars to renowned musicians across various venues, from baroque churches to beer halls. If you miss it, catch free jam sessions every Tuesday at Jazzit.
