Things To Do in Berchtesgaden Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog

by Emily | posted in: Germany | 0

Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Discover the best one-day Berchtesgaden itinerary for top things to do in Berchtesgaden and the surrounding area including the Königsee ferry boat ride, Hitler’s infamous Eagle’s Nest, Jenner Mountain cable car, Ramsau and Hitersee, and more.

Berchtesgaden is a charming, postcard-perfect town, with easy access from Salzburg or Munich. Located on the German-Austrian border, it is ideal for a one or two-day itinerary across the border to Germany from Salzburg. Beautiful mountains, valleys, and glacial lakes surround the region and attract all kinds of nature lovers.

While most visitors only plan for a one-day itinerary in Berchtesgaden. So we highly recommended keeping your itinerary for the major sights.

There is plenty to do in Berchtesgaden National Park and the surrounding area. Nestled in a valley between the Jenner, Hagen, and Watzmann Mountains, you hardly can miss the chance to visit Königssee for its emerald mirror lakes at the foot of snowy mountains. Enjoy a ride on one of their eco-friendly passenger boats, which operate on Berchtesgaden’s pristine lake. Not to forget take a visit to Hitler’s infamous Eagle’s Nest for a marvelous and unforgettable view over the eastern alps.

Learn about how to plan your one-day Berchtesgaden itinerary from Salzburg, Munich, and discover the hidden natural gem in this stunning protected park in the Alps.

Berchtesgaden Transportation Guide

From Salzburg To Berchtesgaden

Getting To Berchtesgaden From Salzburg By Bus

From Bus: Take Bus RVO#840 which jointly operated by the RVO (Regional Verkehr Oberbayern) and SVV (Salzburger Vekehrsverbund), which known as “Watzmann Express”. Buses leaves from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof to Berchtesgaden Hauptbahnhof with 45 minute ride, as early as 8 a.m.

While the bus stop for the RVO bus at Salzburg hbf is located on Karl Wurmb Straße, between the Forum One buildings and McDonald’s. Please double-check the bus schedule posted at the bus stop to make sure you are boarding the correct bus.

By Train: Train departs from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof to Berchtesgaden Hauptbahnhof, with a one-time change required at Freilassing. The train journey takes approximately 75 minutes.

By Car: The most convenient way to explore Berchtesgaden is by self-driving. Compare the car rental price at Rentalcar.com from various reliable rental car companies to guarantee the best price. Added, please make sure you have proper snow tires and equipment for travel between October and April.

From Munich To Berchtesgaden

By Train: No direct rail services connecting Munich and Berchtesgaden. From München-Ostbahnhof or München Hauptbahnhof, change to Salzburg train and next at Freilassing before reaching Berchtesgaden Hauptbahnhof. The journey usually required two to three hours with changeover times between trains.

Consider travel as early as possible as the train journey take more than two hours.

Getting Around In Berchtesgaden

Getting around in Berchtesgaden by public bus is the most convenient way to visit this German National Park. The main bus station is just right in front of Berchtesgaden Hauptbahnhof.

It is super easy with a well-connected bus schedule. Once you get there, you can board the next buses to the Obersalzberg (#838) where the Eagle’s Nest, Kehlsteinhaus buses leave from, to beautiful Lake Königsee and Jennerbahn (#841 & 842), Ramsau and Hintersee (#846), and the salt mines (#848). And return to Salzburg, please board (#840) bus.

A single bus ride is cost €1.5. So it is best to use a day pass to save money.

Berchtesgaden Travel Tips: Download the latest RVO Bus Schedule and plan for your Berchtesgaden itinerary.

Money-Saving Tips for Getting Around In Berchtesgaden

Consider getting the day ticket to save some money if you plan on doing some exploring in Berchtesgaden and its surroundings. There are a few transportation deals available and choose the best one for your trip.

RVO (Regionalverkehr Oberbayern) Tagesticket from Watzmann expres will cover your return bus trip from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden and any buses in Berchtesgaden. The last bus from Berchtesgaden back to Salzburg at 18:15. The ticket cost 10,40€/person.

BGL-Tagesticket, Bus & Bahn includes the RVO bus Watzmann Express from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden, trains from Salzburg Hbf to Berchtesgaden Hbf via Freilassing, and most of the buses in Berchtesgaden. Ticket cost 12€/person.

Gästekarte, Guest pass. Most of the hotels in Berchtesgaden will give a guest pass to hotel guests which entitled to receive free rides on all the local buses. It will valid from the day of arrival to the day of departure.

Bayern-Ticket or Bavaria ticket allows unlimited train travel through Bavaria (except the fast, intercity ICE trains) and also the RVO buses in Berchtesgaden for the day.

Starting from €25 for the first person, €7 for each additional person up to five. The more people, the less per person. A good option for larger groups, longer distances, or those that take more than one train trip in a day, as in there-and-back. Start your train journey from 9 a.m. on weekdays or anytime during the weekend. See the Bayern ticket for more info.

Berchtesgaden Travel Tips: If you consider to spend one night in Berchtesgaden, Hotel Bavaria Superior is a great option. It is a mid-high range accommodation with 10 minutes walk to Berchtesgaden station. Popular pick in Berchtesgaden.

One Day Berchtesgaden Itinerary

Berchtesgaden is very ideal for those who prefer spending their most valuable time closer to nature and mountain scenery. You cannot imagine how diverse Berchtesgaden and its surroundings are. It offers numerous things to do and waiting for you to self-exploring it.

Things to do for Berchtesgaden itinerary:

Ferry boat ride in Königssee (King’s Lake) to St. Bartholomä and Salet
From Salet, hike to Lake Obersee and the Röthbach
Hiking in Ramsau, Zauberwald, and Hintersee
Take the gondola ride to Jenner Mountain
Explore Wimbachklamm Gorge
Visit Obersalzberg’s Eagle Nest

It would be worth spending a few days in Berchtesgaden. While some of the attractions in Berchtesgaden are still close during April, we only have one day extra to spend during our Central Europe Trip. So we have come out with this Perfect one-day Berchtesgaden itinerary which covers things we want to see yet is not tightly packed.

If you are planning on a Berchtesgaden itinerary from Salzburg like what we did, please continue reading on for some inspiration on your planning. Our trip to Beschtergaden starts early from Salzburg by bus with the RVO ticket, which covered the whole transportation fee to all the attractions. We spend our day in Konigsee with a lovely boat tour to St. Bartholomä, enjoy the fresh trout caught from the lake, and take a leisure hike at Ramsau from Saint Sebastian Church through the Zauberwald (Enchanted Forest) and end at Hintersee.

Königsee, The King’s Lake

Königssee, also called King’s Lake is one of the most majestic places in Germany. It is an angelic emerald fjord lined by powerful Alpine mountains that never fails to wow its visitors. This picturesque emerald lake sits at the foothills of the mountains with a reputation as Germany’s cleanest lake.

It’s easy to get to Berchtesgaden with short 10 minutes bus ride from the bus station.

Ferry Boat Tour Coupled with Enchantingly Trumpet Echoed

For an enchanting alpine lake experience, a ferry boat trip on the Königsee is well worth considering. The boats run all year round except when the lake freezes.

The boat journey will feast your eyes on the dramatic alpine landscape of the lake.

Tours on the lake take place on lovely environmentally friendly electric passenger ferries which quietly glide past lazy boathouses, roaring waterfalls, and lofty mountain faces. The Scenery is gorgeous with crystal clear waters surrounded by rugged mountains.

The incredibly stunning views are coupled with a beautiful haunting trumpet melody that’s enchantingly echoed from the steep Königsee rock face.

St. Bartholomä Church

There are only two stops: St. Bartholomä and Salet for the Königssee ferry boat ride. About two-thirds of the way out, roughly 30 minutes, is the Saint Bartholomä.

While founded in 1134, this Roman Catholic pilgrimage church is picture-perfect with its red onion-domed roof and sits on the edge of Königsee with the rugged Alps providing a stunning backdrop. The interior of the church is designed in stucco style.

You can get there off at St. Bartholomä stop and explore around. Take a hike along the edge of the lake, climb 6 km up to the Ice Chapel, or enjoy your meal at the restaurant. During summer, the restaurant serves fresh and smoked trout and whitefish, pulled from right the lake.

We spend an hour strolling around, then back to the pier by boat and had a wonderful lunch at a restaurant nearby.

Salet (am Obersee)

We are unable to sail to Salet as it still closing in early April. During summer from mid of April through October, the ferry will sail to the southern end of the Königsee, Salet. From here, walk for another 15 minutes to the hidden treasure of Konigsee, Lake Obersee, and the Röthbach Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Germany.

The gorgeous views of the mountains reflected in the mirror-like surface at Lake Obersee are pristine beauty which well worth the time and money!

Getting to Königsse

Several buses (#841 and #842) stop at the Königsee with 10 minutes bus ride from Berchtesgaden station. A quick taxi journey to the lake will cost a couple of Euros.

Return ferry tickets are €15.50 – €19 (depending on destination) for adults, €9.50 for children over 6, and family tickets are available.

Travel Tips: Getting to the King’s Lake as early as possible to beat the lines, especially during peak season. The full round-trip boat ride will take around 2 hours (35 minutes to the church, 20 minutes to the end, and back). Expected an average of 4-5 hours if you choose to hike up to Obersee during summer. Don’t miss the last return ferry trip as there is NO footpath to get you back to the pier.

If you have a plan to hike to Obersee, we highly recommended you direct go to Salet and only take your visit to St. Bartholomä during your return.

Ramsau, Zauberwald And Hintersee

Ramsau is Germany’s first mountaineering village on the edges of Berchtesgaden that has been lining postcards for as long as we can remember. Photographers will love taking photos are this riverside St. Sebastian Church which is awesome any time of year.

Take a half-day walk to a lovely mountain village at Ramsau. The walking trail is one of the beautiful footpaths at Ramsau and is perfect for a nice leisure walk even for small kids.

The best way to do the Ramsau hike is to start from Saint Sebastian Church through the Zauberwald (Enchanted Forest), along with wild mountain streams to the alpine lake, Hintersee. And, this is what we did during the second half of the Berchtesgaden trip. The whole journey is about 4.2 kilometers with approximately one to two hours of hiking.

Saint Sebastian Church

Saint Sebastian Church, is a charming riverside church framed by lush trees and a quaint footbridge with Alpe Mountain as a backdrop. This picture-perfect view is well famous and ends up put into many local postcards. Gorgeous!

We take a lot of nice shots here and truly admire this charming lovely church.

Zauberwald (Enchanted Forest)

Cross the rushing river using the footbridge and started your hiking route toward the magical forest, Zauberwald. The rushing water in the river, tall trees, and moss-covered rocks make it a special place and worthwhile to visit.

Hintersee

Follow the easy, well-signposted paths along the trails. The short hike will lead you to the lake, Hintersee. Admiring the clear lake and the reflection of the mountains at Hintersee.

The whole hiking journey took us about two and a half hours including the time for taking photos.

Getting to St Sebastian Church, Ramsau: Bus (#846) leaves from Berchtesgaden Station every hour to Ramsau. Get down at Ramsau Kirche, the 9^th stop from the station with St Sebastian Church right in front of you.

Other Things To Do In Beschtergaden

While there are still many other things to do in Berchtesgaden and well worth spending one, two, or three days exploring around. Our one-day itinerary in Berchtesgaden does not include the below-listed attractions due to not being in season and time constraints.

Jenner Mountain

Jenner Mountain is the highest peak in Berchtesgaden and promises a jaw-dropping panorama of the German and Austrian Alps. The peak can be reached by two-person gondolas (Jennerbahn) and its new spacious 10 person cabs which started operating in June 2019 to the top station.

Sail over dark forests, alpine lakes, and rugged mountain terrains gracefully to the top of the mountains at 1,800 meters. From here you can look into the whole Berchtesgaden National Park, or gaze down to emerald Königssee.

Come to enjoy the wonderful view of mountains and lakes during summer. More active travelers can try paragliding, hang-gliding, or hiking here. In winter, join for their winter activities like skiing and snowboarding here.

Getting to Jennerbahn: Take the same bus (#841 and #842) going to Konigsee if you wish to get to Jennerbahn from Berchtesgaden station. A five-minute walk from the Königsee parking lot brings you to the Jennerbahn. Round trip to the top cost €27.50. You can also choose to leave the cable car at the halfway station and continue with hiking paths down to the lake.

Wimbachklamm Gorge

Wimbachbrücke Gorge is one of the hidden gems at Berchtesgaden located at Ramsau village. Thousands of years of trickling melt and rainwater created the Wimbachklamm Gorge out of the rocky stone.

Today, visitors can explore this natural beauty along wooden boardwalks through the gorge. The trail starts at the bottom and gradually goes uphill with icy glacial waters winding through the landscape. It is a great place for photos at every turn. The gorge is not long and takes about 20-30 minutes to finish.

Getting to Wimbachklamm: Take Bus (#846) and get off at Ramsau Wimbachbrücke, the 5th stop from Berstegaden station. Or choose to walk from St Sebastian church with 1.5 miles away.

Please take note that Wimbachklamm is only open between May and October.

Eagle Nest

Lastly on this Berchtesgaden itinerary guide is the Eagle Nest. The Obersalzberg’s Eagle Nest, a building is perched at the summit of Kehlstein Mountain with an elevation of 1,834 meters. It was built as a 50th birthday present to Adolf Hitler, although he visited relatively few times.

To reach Eagle’s Nest, you will ride on the Kehlsteinhaus bus and take the world-famous elevator to the top of the mountain. Once you go out of the elevator, you will reward with a marvelous and unforgettable view over the eastern Alps of Germany and Austria.

You can also consider visiting the Dokumentation Obersalzberg, which cost €3 for information collection and exhibitions about Nazi history.

Getting to Eagle Nest: Take (#848) bus to the Obersalzberg and get your Kehlsteinhaus bus ticket to the top of the mountain. Be sure to make your reservation for the return bus journey when you arrived at the top. Suggested two hours is good for strolling around at the summit and photo shooting. Highly suggest coming early as possible as the crowd is huge, especially the long line waiting for the elevator.

Alternatively, you can get the Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden Tour from Salzburg. Led by an expert guide, this half-day tour will bring you through the stunning scenery of the Bavarian Alps of the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s former mountain retreat, from Salzburg. If you are from Munich, then this Berchtesgaden and Eagle’s Nest Day Tour from Munich will be the best pick for you.

Accommodation Guide: Where To Stay

Most people will choose to stay in Berchtesgaden town within walking distance of the bus stop. There are ample accommodation options at a reasonable price, modern or traditional hotels are worth considering. The good thing about staying at Berchtesgaden is that you are entitled to the Gästekarte, a Guest pass for the free local bus ride in Bestesgaden and surrounding.

Consider the Hotel Bavaria Superior, a mid-high range accommodation with 10 minutes walk to Berchtesgaden station. Warming and cozy stay with a friendly host.

Don’t forget to check on Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden, family-run accommodation at Berchtesgaden. Spacious and clean room with a spectacular view of snow-capped mountains. Complimentary coffee, tea, and snack for free are available 24 hours. Best value for money. Alternatively, look for Hotel Edelweiss, which is also highly recommended by travelers.

But if you opted for a day trip from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden, we highly recommended choosing your accommodation close to the train/bus station which greatly helps for moving around. Hotel choice nearby Salzburg Hauptbahnh: arte Hotel, H+ Hotel and ACHAT Plaza Zum Hirschen with walking distance to bus/train station.

For more accommodation options, free feel to read through our accommodation guide on where to stay in Berchtesgaden.

Salzburg Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog

by Emily | posted in: Austria | 0

Last updated on May 15th, 2026

There are many reasons to visit Salzburg. This Salzburg itinerary is packed with all the great things to do, food to eat, and how to get to Salzburg for one day or two days trip. An ultimate travel guide to Salzburg!

Salzburg, literally translated as “salt fortress” is the fourth largest city in northwest Austria with spectacular views of the Eastern Alps at the German border. Well, most people are familiar with the fact that Salzburg is the place where the world-famous classical movie “The Sound of Music” was filmed and the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the greatest classical composer of all time.

The preserved picturesque city has many wonderful attractions including baroque architecture, splendid gardens, and medieval fortresses, all made Salzburg listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Many people visit Salzburg as part of the Central Europe trip by spending one and a two-day trip in Salzburg. However, the strategic location of Salzburg at the border of Germany and Austria, makes Salzburg a great home base to explore nearby places like Hallstatt, Berchtesgaden, and Munich.

Let’s check out our Salzburg travel guide blog, including what to do and see, the best food to eat, and some useful tips when visiting Salzburg.

How to Get to Salzburg

Historical Centre of the City of Salzburg

Salzburg is readily accessible from every direction due to its ideal location at the border of Austria and Germany. There are many options available to the City of Mozart; air, rail, bus, or car.

By Flight: Airlines flying non-stop to Salzburg including British Airways and RyanAir in a cheaper fare. Salzburg W.A. Mozart Airport (SZG) is the second largest airport in Austria with a 4-km distance from Salzburg city center. The public bus connected the airport with the city center and train station in 15 minutes ride with a single ticket cost €2.50. While a taxi ride should cost less than €20 to the city center.

Check Skyscanner for the best rate

By Train: Located right on the border with Germany, Salzburg Hauptbahnhof is administered jointly by Austrian Railways (ÖBB) as well as German Rail (DB). The excellent rail network well connected Salzburg with numerous domestic as well as international cities. Travelers can visit Salzburg from Budapest, Bregenz, Linz, Innsbruck, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich with a fast and convenient rail journey.

By Bus: Long-distance coach travel is often the best option for budget travelers. Numerous bus companies including FlixBus, GoEuro, and Leo Express offer a fast, simple, and great money-saving way of getting to Salzburg. Bus stations are located right in front of Salzburg Main Station.

By Car: Salzburg is easy to access by car and is a great stop point for a road trip through Austria and Bavaria. However, all parking is fee-based in downtown Salzburg. So it is still highly recommended to use public transport to travel to the city center. If you need to rent a car to visit Salzburg, make sure to compare your price at Rentalcars.com with the best rate offer and high reputation from customers.

Getting Around Salzburg

Salzburg is a compact city with most main attractions are within the city center in Old Town (Altstadt). All places can be reached on foot and mostly are pedestrianized. While certain places like Untersberg, Schloss Hellbrunn, and Salzburg Stiegl-Brauwelt are located out of town they are required to take public transport to get there.

Salzburg has an excellent public transport system which greatly helps visitors to explore the city. A single ride on the bus cost €1.80 pre-paid, and €2.50 on board. Consider getting the 24 hours Transportation Pass if you don’t plan to visit any attraction but are required to ride the public transport. Save By 24 hours Transportation Pass. 2x will ride cost €5 while an unlimited 24-hour pass at €5.50!

Save By 24 hours Transportation Pass2x will ride cost €5 while unlimited 24-hour pass at €5.50!

Where To Stay

There are plenty of accommodation options in Salzburg. We will help to explain the best places to stay in Salzburg that we recommended based on your preference and budget.

For your best sleep in Salzburg, we recommended below:

Best Luxury Stay: Hotel Bristol Salzburg and Hotel Schloss Mönchstein
Old Town: IMLAUER HOTEL PITTER Salzburg and Hotel am Mirabellplatz
Nearby Salzburg Station: H+ Hotel Salzburg and ACHAT Plaza Zum Hirschen
Best Place to stay on a budget: Pension Jahn and MEININGER Hotel Salzburg City Center

More accommodation options and detail: Where To Stay in Salzburg: Best Hotel For Holiday

Salzburg Travel Tips

Salzburg Card is essential as an all-inclusive travel card when visiting Salzburg. With a Salzburg card, free admission to mostly all Salzburg attractions including a museum, city attractions,s and a discount on concerts or other events. It also includes the free public transportation ride in the city center, including the rides on the Festungsbahn funicular, Untersberg Cable Car, Mönchsberg lift, and Salzach River Tour I.

Salzburg Card For One, Two, Three DaysThe Salzburg Card is available in 24, 48 and 72 hours. While the entrance fee for places visited in Salzburg is not cheap, consider getting Salzburg Card if you have plans to visit Hellbrunn Palace and/or ride the Untersberg Cable Car.

Get Salzburg Card if you plan to visit at least three attractions. A single ride to Untersberg Cable Car already cost €25

Salzburg Itinerary

There are so many interesting places to plan for your 1-Day Salzburg itinerary. While most people are mainly looking for what to do and food to eat in Salzburg. No worry. We listed below must visit and eat in Salzburg for your day trip.

Things To Do for One Day Salzburg Itinerary:

Ride The Cable Car At Untersberg
Splash By Water At Trick Fountains, Schloss Hellbrunn
Enjoy The Salzburg Beer in Stiegl-Brauwelt
Take The Sound Of Music Tour
Exploring Salzburg’s Old Town
Visit The Mirabell Palace And Garden
Exploring Linzer Gasse Platzl
Wandering At Getreidegasse
Visit Mozart Birthplace
Residenzplatz With Salzburg Cathedral And DomQuartier
Take Funicular Ride To Hohensalzburg Fortress
Kapitelplatz with Golden Sphere

Whether you want to visit top sights in Salzburg or only indulge in some super fun based on your interest is all depends on you. Trust me, even in just visiting with one day Salzburg itinerary, there are so many unusual but joyful things that can be done in Salzburg.

Salzburg Travel Tips: Relive your favorite scenes from the classic musical “The Sound of Music” on this Salzburg sightseeing tour. It is so much fun seeing all of the filming sites and exploring Salzburg. One of the most pupolar tour in Salzburg!

You can check on more detail for The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg from Viator (A TripAdvisor Company)!

Ride The Cable Car At Untersberg

Untersberg is one of the mountain peak recreation areas for locals and visitors. With just 10 minutes of the Untersberg cable car ride, you can have an incredible panorama view of Salzburg City and the nearby Berchtesgaden, Germany at the height of 1,776 m.

Once you reach the top, you will be mesmerized by the majestic view at the peak of the mountain. In good visibility, you can even see out to the Salzkammergut lakes as well as Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria. Hikers can also spend time exploring the hiking trail at Untersberg.

Splash By Water At Trick Fountains, Schloss Hellbrunn

Schloss Hellbrunn - Trick Fountains — Trick Fountains in Schloss Hellbrunn

Schloss Hellbrunn was the summer palace built by the prince-archbishop of Salzburg, Markus Sittikus as a place to relax and entertain between 1612 and 1615. While the Trick Fountains were once used by Markus Sittikus to entertain his guests by surprising them with hidden water spray. Trick fountains can still be visited today to surprise unsuspecting visitors when touring the Palace.

Trick Fountain At Schloss Hellbrunn — Wasserspiele Tour

The Wasserspiele Tour can be very fun and refreshing to kids or even adults, especially during the hot summer. The good thing about the Trick Fountains is you can join this fun tour for free by Salzburg Card

Enjoy The Salzburg Beer in Stiegl-Brauwelt

Salzburg’s Stiegl-Brauwelt — Enjoy The Salzburg Beer in Stiegl-Brauwelt

One of the oldest breweries in the world opened in 1492 and still working today. Salzburg Stiegl-Brauwelt is a popular brewing exhibition and offers tours to visitors to know more about history.

The guided tours are only running in German but the 270 brew cinema and exhibition display are clearly labeled in different languages including English. You will get some souvenirs and a glass of beer for free at the end of your visit.

Take The Sound Of Music Tour

A Salzburg trip cannot be deemed complete unless you take the Sound of the Music tour. It will be once in a lifetime experience especially if you’re a fan of the classic movie.

On Sound of Music Half Day Tour, original shooting locations can be visited. A trip down memory lane, with the scenes from the Sound of Music being experienced live.

Exploring Salzburg’s Old Town

The good thing about Salzburg is most of the attractions are concentrated around the old town (Altstadt) within walking distance from one another. Exploring by foot is one of the best things to do in Salzburg.

Their proximity makes it easy for visitors who only have a short amount of time to spend in Salzburg.

Visit The Mirabell Palace And Garden

Stop by at Mirabell palaces and its beautiful garden. For Sound of Music fans, Mirabell Garden is not to be missed. The Pegasus fountain in the Mirabell garden is where the children danced around and sang “Do Re Mi” in the movie scene.

If you have time, don’t forget to visit Mozart’s Residence, a lane away from the Mirabell Garden. Mozart-Wohnhaus is special for Mozart’s fans and now is a museum where you can admire several artifacts used by the famous composer himself. An audio self-guided tour takes approximately 30 minutes.

Exploring Linzer Gasse Platzl

Linzer Gasse Platzl is one of Salzburg’s most enchanting little pedestrian streets. The street is filled with great restaurants, charming coffee shops, and storied hotels. It is a great place to go for a walk and enjoy the city’s beautiful architecture.

Cross The Makartsteg Bridge

Padlocks at Makartsteg Bridge — Makartsteg Bridge – the bridge of love

Take a short walk to the Makartsteg Bridge – the bridge of love. The bridge on the Salzach River is lively with beautiful views and thousand of padlocks left by locals and visitors, merely seeking to “lock” their love or memory of visiting Salzburg.

Cross the bridge to the other side after you admire the nice scene on the bridge.

Wandering At Getreidegasse

Continue your short walk to the Getreidegasse, Salzburg’s most famous shopping street. Enjoy wandering around the cobbled stone street with wrought-iron guild signs hanging along the street. You can also spend some time shopping if you feel like it.

Visit Mozart Birthplace

To continue your exploration of the city’s rich history, you can visit Mozart’s birthplace in Old Town Salzburg, on no. 9 Getreidegasse street.

The canary yellow building is where Mozart lived from birth until age 17. You will find impeccably preserved writings and musical instruments on display including one of Mozart’s baby-sized violins.

Residenzplatz With Salzburg Cathedral And DomQuartier

Heading east until you reach the 16th-century square with a baroque fountain in its center. The square, called Residenzplatz, is bordered by the Salzburg Cathedral on the south side and Salzburg DomQuartier on the west.

Salzburg Cathedral is a seventeenth-century Baroque cathedral and was rebuilt in 1181 after a fire. While DomQuartier Salzburg is a large Baroque complex with tours that let you learn more about Salzburg’s art and cultural history with numerous paintings, old furniture, and religious art.

Take Funicular Ride To Hohensalzburg Fortress

Salzburg is overlooked by its key landmark, Hohensalzburg Fortress on the southeastern summit. Take the short funicular ride or pleasant 20 minutes walk to the Hohensalzburg Fortress on your Salzburg day trip.

Awesome View Over Salzburg at Hohensalzburg Fortress

This ride is officially known as the Festungsbahn. Once you make it to the fortress, there are museums including Fortress Museum, Rainer Regiment Museum, and Golden Rooms to tour. However, the best part of visiting the fortress was the awesome view over Salzburg and the countryside with mild wind keep blowing.

Kapitelplatz with Golden Sphere

After getting down from Hohensalzburg Fortress, continue walking to the western side of Salzburg to Kapitelplatz. Kapitelplatz features an oversized chessboard and a golden large sphere in the middle. This prominent attraction is an art piece called “Sphaera” with a perched on top.

Best Time To Visit Salzburg

Salzburg can be visited year-round. Similar to many other European cities, the peak season for visiting Salzburg is July until August during the summer holiday. While Salzburg Festival is held during this time, so expect large crowds to come to visit Salzburg.

If you want nice weather but fewer crowds, the best time to visit Salzburg would be May, September, and October.

Day Trip To Nearby Salzburg Attractions

Salzburg is located close to the border between Austria and Germany, so it’s pretty easy to cross the border to the west to Germany for the best day trip from Salzburg. Consider adding a few days’ stays at Salzburg into your itinerary to fully appreciate the beauty of Austria.

Here are some recommended places for a day trip from Salzburg:

Hallstatt and the Dachstein Salzkammergut – undoubtedly one of the most picturesque towns in Austria. Take a day trip to Hallstatt to explore the “world’s most beautiful town” from Salzburg. Consider staying one or two nights at Hallstatt to visit the Hallstatt Salzwelten, one of the oldest salt mines, and Dachstein Krippenstein for its Giant Ice Cave and Five Finger.

Berchtesgaden National Park – Germany’s only Alpine National park with tons of offers. The beautiful Berchtesgaden can be reached by an hour of bus ride from Salzburg. Admire spectacular views at Eagle’s Nest which was created as a gift for Adolf Hitler, and was well preserved from World War II. Or take a ferry boat tour to Bavaria’s deepest lake at Konigsee to see the crystal clear water and quaint Church of St Bartholoma.

Bavarian capital, Munich – Direct train links connect Salzburg and Munich for an incredible city with a lot of things to see, foods to eat, and beer to drink. Join the crowds of tourists at beer halls like Hofbrauhaus for a pint of beer.

Recommended Tour from Salzburg

For hassle-free, you can consider taking the day trip from Salzburg. There is plenty of tours that can be planned on your Salzburg itinerary.

Wrap-Up: Planning on Salzburg Itinerary

With a well-planned Salzburg itinerary, it is possible to see Salzburg in one day! Places to visit in Salzburg include the world-famous Hohensalzburg Castle, Mirabell Palace, and Gardens, Mozart’s birthplace, or as simple as strolling around the Salzburg old town. For sure, it is impossible to indulge in all of them in just one day. But if you have a well-plan Salzburg itinerary, you’ll still be able to see most of the top sights and attractions on your Salzburg one-day trip.

During our trip to Salzburg, we spend one whole day in Salzburg and found there are lots of things to do and see. We join the Wasserspiele tour at Schloss Hellbrunn, enjoy a glass of fresh brew at Stiegl-Brauwelt, and visited most of the famous attractions in the old town. Unfortunately, Untersberg is close to maintenance in April. Else it will be great to put the cable car ride and Schloss Hellbrunn together as both are located in the south of Salzburg.

There are so many things to do in a 1-day Salzburg itinerary. If possible, make your Salzburg visit for two days to explore the town or nearby in more detail.

Lastly, here is some travel guide for you to plan on your trip to Salzburg:

Best stay in Salzburg: Where To Stay in Salzburg: Best Hotel For Holiday
What and where to eat: Salzburg Food Guide

Other Beautiful Places For Central Europe Visit

Done planning on your Salzburg itinerary? If you are interested, please continue to read about our Central Europe visit to countries and places nearby. Hopefully, our nice scene photo will inspire you to start planning on your travel journey.

How To Plan Your Central Europe Itinerary: Top 3 Must Visit Countries

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