I got in Salzburg as part of a road trip, but there are direct trains from Vienna as well that can get you to Salzburg for a day-trip.

The following are the main attractions that should be visited and that will let you know the city.

The day started in the morning and the first stop was Franziskaner Kirke.

Franziskaner Kirche (Franciscan Church)

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✏️The Franciscan church is one of the oldest churches in Salzburg's Old Town, being built in the 8th century, so it’s history extends all the way back to the early days of Christianity in Salzburg. Until 1139 it belonged to the Benedictine Monastery of St. Peter. 🕘Opening hours: Daily 6:45-7:45 pm (the visits are not recommended during the mass) 💲Price: Free entrance

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A five minute walk will get you to St Peter Abbey, which has one of the most beautiful cemeteries, and even if this might be a bit weird or unsettling, you should visit it as it has a peaceful and nice atmosphere with people painting and enjoying the quietness.

St. Peter's Abbey

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✏️This is one of the oldest monasteries in Austria, dating from the 7th century. Its catacombs are spectacular, being carved into the fortress mountain, but those did not serve from the beginning as burial sites, but as Christian meeting places. 🕘Opening hours: ▪️Catacombs: May-September: Daily 10:00-12:30, 13:00-18:00 October-April: Daily 10:00-12:30, 13:00-17:00 (last admission 20 minutes before closing) Closed: 1 Jan, 24-26 Dec, 31 Dec ▪️Abbey Church of St. Peter: Daily 8 am-noon and 2:30 pm-8 pm (the visits are not recommended during the mass) ▪️St. Peter Cemetery: April-September 6:30-20:00 October-March 6:30-18:00 💲Prices: ▪️Catacombs: Adults € 2.00 Children/youths (6-18 years) € 1.50

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The trip continues with the Hohensalzburg Fortress. You can get to it by taking the funicular, at 6 minutes away from St Peter’s Abbey, you can find it as Festungsbahn. You can also get to the fortress by foot, it requires a bit of effort, but it’s totally worth it.

Festungsbahn (Funicular to the Fortress)

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✏️The Festungsbahn runs every 10 minutes and the ride lasts for about a minute. The valley station is located in the heart of the historic district (No. 4 Festungsgasse). The total distance of a funicular ride is of 198.5 m, beginning at 437 m altitude and rising to 536 m. 🕘Opening hours: January-March, November: 9 am-5 pm April, October, December: 9 am-8:30 pm May, June, September: 8:30 am-8:30 pm July, August: 8:30 am-9:30 pm 24 December: 9 am-7 pm 31 December: 9 am-5 pm (after 5 pm only for restaurant and concert guests with reservation) 💲Prices: ▪️Ascent or descent Adults € 3.50 Children (6-14,99 years) € 1.30 Groups of 10 adults or more, per person € 3.00 Seniors € 2.40 Dogs free ▪️Ascent and descent Adults € 5.50 Children (6-14,99 years) € 2.10 Groups of 10 adults or more, per person € 4.90 Seniors € 3.70 Dogs free

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Hohensalzburg Fortress

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✏️Hohensalzburg, placed on the Festungberg mountain, is the biggest fully preserved fortress in Central Europe. 🕘Opening hours: January-April*: 9:30 am-5 pm May-September: 8:30 am-8 pm (Museums, princes' chambers, magic theater 9 am- 7 pm) October-December*: 9:30 am-5 pm *Easter and Advent weekends: 9:30 am-6 pm Dec. 24: 9:30 am-2 pm (last admission 30 minutes before closing) 💲Prices: https://www.salzburg.info/en/sights/top10/hohensalzburg-fortress#price-acc-detail-1

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Going back down from the fortress, you can get through the Kapitelplatz and then visit the Salzburg Cathedral, which is right next to the square. The greatness of the Salzburg Cathedral can be seen in the city’s skyline, which can be observed from the Hohensalzburg Fortress.

Kapitelplatz

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✏️Kapitelplatz is located between the Salzburg Cathedral and the Hohensalzburg Fortress. It’s most proeminent feature is a work of art, called “Sphaera”, created by Stephan Balkenhol, which represents a huge golden globe with a statue of a man standing on top of it. In the square there are also multiple sales booths, an oversized chess board and a Neptune’s Fountain, built in 1732 on the site of one of the old horse ponds, which shows the God of the Sea holding a trident and a crown while being mounted on a seahorse spurting water.

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Salzburg Cathedral

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✏️Salzburg Cathedral is a Baroque cathedral built in the 17th century, dedicated to Saint Rupert and Saint Vergilius. The cathedral was destroyed by a number of fires, then rebuilt and expanded. The years displayed on the wrought-iron gates – 774, 1628 and 1959 – recall the three occasions the cathedral was consecrated. In the cathedral, Mozart was baptized a day after his birth in 1756 and later in his life performed there. 🕘Opening hours: ▪️Cathedral: - January, February: Monday-Saturday 8 am-5 pm, Sunday & public holiday 1 pm-5 pm - March-July: Monday-Saturday 8 am-6 pm, Sunday & public holiday 1 pm-6 pm - August: Monday-Saturday 8 am-7 pm, Sunday & public holiday 1 pm-7 pm Festival season: modified opening hours on days of "Jedermann" rehearsal/performance in dry weather! - September-October: Monday-Saturday 8 am-6 pm, Sunday & public holiday 1 pm-6 pm - November: Monday-Saturday 8 am-5 pm, Sunday & public holiday 1 pm-5 pm - December: Monday-Saturday 8 am-6 pm, Sunday & public holiday 1 pm-6 pm No visits during mass and Music at lunchtime. Due to rehearsals and performances of "Jedermann" on the Domplatz, there will be modified closing times on some days in July and August. Special opening hours: https://www.salzburger-dom.at/besuch-planen/oeffnungszeiten ▪️Cathedral crypt: Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday & church holiday 1 pm-5 pm ▪️Music at lunchtime: "Exceptional sound experience on the unique organ landscape of Salzburg Cathedral" Daily, except Sundays and public holidays. Duration: approx. 30 minutes (noon-12:30 pm) 💲Prices: Conservation fee adults € 5.00 Children and youths up to 18 years free ▪️Guided tours of the cathedral: Adults € 9.00 Children up to 18 years free ▪️Music at lunchtime: Adults € 9.00 Children up to 18 years free Tickets available at the ticket offices in the cathedral vestibule and via the webshop

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After you visit the Cathedral, after a five minutes walk, you will get to the two adiacent squares, Mozartplatz and Residenzplatz, which are two of the main squares, Residenzplatz being the main square in Salzburg and Mozartplatz being one of the smaller squares, but will amaze you with its special charm.

Mozartplatz

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✏️A lovely square which brings a tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which was born in Salzburg and lived in the city part of his life. It was formerly named Michaelsplatz, but this was changed in 1841, when it was renamed after Mozart. In the center of the square there is a statue of Mozart in his memory.

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Residenzplatz

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✏️The biggest square in Salzburg, it has the Salzburg Cathedral on one side, and the Residenz (Bishop′s Palace), the Neue Residenz (New Bishop′s Palace) and a row of houses on the other side. Residenzplatz hosts the Residenz fountain, which is the biggest baroque fountain from the Central Europe and it was built from marble from the Untersberg mountain.

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The trip continues to the University square where you should try a Prezel, as Salzburg is renowned for them. If you exit the square through one of the arcaded passageways, you will get right next to Mozart's birthpalce.

University Square

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✏️The University Square is mostly known for the farm market, also known as the “Green Market”, that takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This traditional farm market takes place since the 18th century and it was formalized in 1857.

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Mozarts Geburtshaus (Mozart's Birthplace)

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✏️This is the house in which the famous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on 27th of January 1756 and where he lived his childhood and youth. His family lived in this house, in an apartment at the third floor, for 26 years, until 1773, when the family moved to the house known today as the "Mozart Residence", in the Makartplatz Square. The house is now a museum which presents the composer's early life and his interest in music and opera. 🕘Opening hours: Daily: 9 am-5:30 pm 24 Dec: 9 am-3 pm (last admission 30 min. before closing) Closed periodically during Mozart Week when concerts take place. 💲Prices: Adults € 12.00 Children (6-14 years) € 3.50 Youths (15-18 years) € 4.00 People with disabilities (disability pass) € 10.00 - accompanying person free, if indicated on disability pass Families (2 adults and children under 18) € 25.00 Groups of 10 adults or more, students (up to 27 years), senior citizens, per person € 10.00 School groups (6-18 years), per person € 3.00 SalzburgCard: one time free admission Combined ticket: Residence and Birthplace Adults € 18.50 Children (6-14 years) € 5.00 Youths (15-18 years) € 6.00 People with disabilities (disability pass) € 15.50 - accompanying person free, if indicated on disability pass Families (2 adults and children under 18) € 39.00 Groups of 10 adults or more, students (up to 27 years), senior citizens, per person € 15.50 School groups (6-18 years), per person € 4.50 SalzburgCard: one time free admission

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The street where Mozart’s birth house is located, Getreidegasse, is also the most famous street in Salzburg and a perfect place for shopping expeditions.

Getreidegasse

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✏️Getreidegasse is the most famous shopping street in the historic center of Salzburg, and it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. If you are looking at the architecture of the street, a special feature are the many houses with public passageways on the ground floor. These passages connect the Getreidegasse with the Griesgasse and with the University Square.

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After a nice walk on the Getreidegasse, you will pass the Salzach River and walk towards Mirabell Palace. The views from the other side of the river are mesmerizing.

Mirabell Palace

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✏️The Mirabell Palace and its gardens are listed as a cultural heritage monument and part of the Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the present the palace houses the city’s administration and the mayor’s offices. In the gardens you can explore the following highlights: Pegasus Fountain, Grand Fountain, Hedge Theater, Dwarf Garden, Rose Garden and Orangery 🕘Opening hours: Mirabell Palace and Angel Staircase: daily from 8 am-6 pm Marble Hall: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8 am-4 pm, Tuesday and Friday 1 pm-4 pm / no visit in case of special occasions Mirabell Palace Church: open during services and concerts All other rooms are used by the city administration and can therefore not be visited. Mirabell Gardens: daily from approx. 6 am to dusk, partial closures in winter Hedge Theater: closed during the winter months Orangery: open all year round, daily 9 am-4 pm Dwarf Garden: closed during winter months 💲Price: Free entrance

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These are my recommendations for a day in Salzburg, all of these places are a must see and will definitely make you love the city.

✨Thank you and I hope you enjoyed this guide

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I hope that my experiences and recommendations helped you organize your vacation easier and everything turns out smooth.