Salzburg Travel Information, Logistics, and Planning on Concierge.com

Overview

Why Go
Fact Sheet

Salzburg's Alstadt, or Old Town, sits on the south bank of the Salzach River. This is where you will find most of the city's famous attractions and its eternally beating Baroque heart. But some of the city's best theaters, including the Landestheater, lie on the River's north bank, and the southern edge of town is home to must-see sights such as Schloss Hellbrunn.

WHEN TO GO

Salzburg, situated next to the Prealps, has a fairly classic Alpine climate, meaning long, dry, snow-laden winters and short, hot summers. The latter is a busy and exciting season, thanks partly to the Salzburg Festival. Winter is also busy: A ski shuttle service ferries snow bunnies to surrounding resorts, and in town, December brings a world of Christmas markets, Glühwein, and carols. Joseph Mohr, composer of "Silent Night," was born here, after all.

HOW TO GET THERE

Salzburg's W.A. Mozart Airport is two miles from the city center (www.salzburg-airport.com). There are no direct flights from the United States, but the airport is served by Austrian Airlines, Air France, and Lufthansa. Public buses between the airport and Salzburg's main railway station leave at ten-minute intervals; the trip takes about 20 minutes. The average cost of a cab into town is around $17.

GETTING AROUND

Since Salzburg's best-known attractions are clustered in the dense Alstadt, you can do most of your sightseeing on foot. If you need to get to the north bank of the river, though, the city offers a very efficient trolleybus and bus system, and taxis are relatively cheap (and easy to nab) if you're heading for outlying attractions.