If you’ve ever dreamed of strolling through a city steeped in musical history, nestled against a backdrop of stunning Alpine scenery, then Salzburg is your go-to destination. With a mere 48 hours at your disposal, you might think that the city of Mozart and “The Sound of Music” is too rich to explore in such a short timeframe. However, our comprehensive Salzburg 2 day itinerary is designed to prove that assumption wrong.
In just two days, this guide will take you through Salzburg’s cobblestone streets, past its Baroque architecture, and into its lush gardens. You’ll get a taste of its world-renowned cultural heritage, from the Salzburg Cathedral to the Mirabell Palace, without missing out on its modern-day delights.
Whether you’re an aficionado of classical music, a history enthusiast, or simply a lover of picturesque landscapes, this rapid yet enriching tour will offer you a slice of all the elements that make Salzburg a unique and unforgettable destination.
So if you’re ready to immerse yourself in a city where every corner sings a melody and every building tells a story, grab your walking shoes and prepare to fall in love with Salzburg—48 magical hours await.
Here is my Salzburg 2 day itinerary.
Salzburg 2 Day Itinerary
2 Days in Salzburg: Day One
Did you know it was salt that financed Salzburg? It was mined in the nearby mountains and created enormous wealth for the residents of the area – who then lavished it on the palaces, churches, and castles of Salzburg.
It is a stunning city – and this was possibly one of the reasons it was chosen to appear in the iconic Sound of Music movie – more on that to come.
Spend your first day exploring the old town of Salzburg. Start off on the Festungsbahn funicular railway in the old town and head up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress for amazing views of Salzburg and the surrounding mountains. This is one of the most photogenic things do in Salzburg. Don’t miss seeing Salzburg made out of salt.
Then it is time to pay tribute to Mozart. Head to his birthplace on the third floor of the Hagenauer House, at 9 Getreidegasse, then to the historic Mozart’s Residence and if you’re still interested then visit the Residenz Palace where Mozart played some of his first concerts as a prodigy.
Stop off for an awesome schnitzel in the old town at Gasthof Goldgasse. The street of Goldgasse has some fantastic shopping for after lunch.
Check out the oldest bakery in Salzburg Stiftsbäckerei St Peter and try one of their amazing buns. They have their own still functioning water wheel. Then head to St Peter’s Abbey for one of the most picturesque cemeteries I have ever seen.
Walk down old Salzburg’s main street Getreidegasse and admire the beautiful iron work signage on many of the shops. Then head to Mozart Square and visit the charming Salzburg Christmas Museum. The museum features items collected by Ursula Kloiber related to christmas and New Year between 1840 and 1940. This unique little museum is a real Salzburg hidden gem.
⇒ Book Your Salzburg Walking Tour
OR I had a private tour of the Salzburg Old Town with the wonderful Michaela Muhr, owner of Salzburg Experience. She can work with you to develop the perfect tour.
Top Tip: Don’t miss the Salzburg Card. The ticket has 24, 48, and 72-hour options and is fantastic value for money. It provides free entry to most of the main tourist attractions in Salzburg, free public transport, discounts, and more.
Head to Wein and Co for a pre-dinner glass of Austria’s signature grape, Gruner Veltliner.
Salzburg is home to the oldest restaurant in Europe, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium. It is believed that this restaurant in St Peter’s Abbey has been running since 803 AD. In my experience, these types of restaurants tend to be very old-fashioned. However, that assumption was utterly incorrect for St Peter Stiftskulinarium.
This is an old restaurant that has kept up with the times. In addition to the traditional style indoor eating area there is a beautiful Instagram friendly courtyard. And it is known, even by locals, to have some of the best food in Salzburg.
You might enjoy reading some of my other articles on Austria:
–Austria 7 Day Itinerary
–Austria 5 Day Itinerary
–Naturhotel Forsthofgut Review
–One day in Innsbruck
–Things to do in Graz
–Things to see in Vorarlberg
–Hotel Arosa Kitzbuehl Review
Salzburg Boutique Hotels
Amadeus Boutique Hotel
I stayed at the charming and well named Amadeus Boutique Hotel when I was in Salzburg. It has a fantastic location just across the river from the old town. It is located on a bustling pedestriansed street so there are lots of great places to eat and drink just a short walk away.
This four star boutique hotel has only 20 rooms all of which are furnished with some lovely ornate touches like baroque wall paper and chandeliers. The hotel has two terraces and the ground floor has a large comfortable sitting area. Coffee and tea are available on the ground floor 24/7, there is an honor bar and warm croissants are served in the morning.
🛏️ Check Prices and Availability for Amadeus Boutique Hotel
Hotel Goldgasse
If you would prefer to stay in the heart of Salzburg’s old town, check out the 700 year old Hotel Goldgasse. This art hotel has just 16 beautiful rooms and an amazing location.
🛏️ Check Prices and Availability for Hotel Goldgasse
Hotel Stein
For a room with a view, check out the adults only Hotel Stein. The hotel is located by the River Salzach and has amazing views of Salzburg’s old town. It is also only a short walk from the old town.
🛏️ Check Prices and Availability for Hotel Stein
Salzburg Travel Itinerary 2 Days: Day Two
Head to the Rooftop restaurant at Hotel Stein (if you’re not already staying there) for a fantastic breakfast with one of the best views of Salzburg’s old town. Or head here for a pre dinner drink tonight. Just don’t miss the view!
Then take the two most popular tours in Salzburg. First up is The Sound of Music Tour. When it comes to what to see in Austria, the Sound of Music tour is high on the list of many visitors.
The major scenes for the movie were shot in the Salzburg city center, just outside and then further afield. In the city center is the Palace of Mirabell, where the Do-Re-Mi scene was shot in the gardens and St Peter’s Cemetery was where the tension-filled shots towards the end of the Sound of Music were filmed.
Nonnberg Abbey is not only the oldest female convent north of the Alps, but it was also home to the real Maria AND where the movie was filmed.
The tour will take you to see the two different filming locations for the Von Trapp family home, the laneway Maria skips down with her guitar at the beginning of the film, the I am 16 going on 17 gazebo, the church where Maria and Captain Von Trapp go married plus some great views of Salzburg’s lake district.
The tour guides tend to be quite entertaining and share lots of stories about the filming itself as well as some insider gossip. Best of all they will play the soundtrack and get the whole bus singing along!
⇒ Book your Sound of Music Tour from Salzburg
The second half day tour of the day is Eagle’s Nest. Eagle’s Nest is actually located over the border in Germany (don’t worry you don’t need your passport). The Nazi Party used Eagle’s Nest during World War Two and Adolf Hitler visited multiple times. The building itself sits on top of the Kehlstein and is a bit of a marvel of engineering.
The views from Eagle’s Nest are extraordinary and well worth seeing. The building contains many elements that are original to the time when the Nazi Party used it. Most Eagle’s Nest tours include a stop in the nearby pretty town Berchtesgaden.
⇒ Book your Eagle’s Nest Tour from Salzburg
You will be hungry after a big day of tours, so head to Wirsthouse Zwettler’s for the best goulash in Salzburg. The restaurant is located in the old town and has loads of pretty outdoor seating for goulash and people watching.
How to Get to and around Salzburg
Salzburg Airport has direct flights to and from London.
It is very easy to walk around Salzburg and there is no need to hire a car.
I hope you enjoyed this Salzburg 2 days Itinerary and that it helps you plan an amazing trip to this beautiful city.
Who Paid for What in this Post
I covered most of the costs involved in writing this article. If you click through on the links in this post and make purchases, it is highly likely that I will receive a small commission. Just wanted to make sure you knew.
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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.