Where to stay in Salzburg
Salzburg is small. From the Altstadt you can walk to the station in twenty-five minutes, and almost everything you came for sits within a mile of the cathedral. Stay in the Altstadt for atmosphere and the shortest walks, in the Neustadt on the far bank for the station and better value, and in Nonntal or Steingasse for quieter evenings. Mülln is the choice for beer and a local feel, and Riedenburg for a calm base behind the Mönchsberg. The one thing to plan around is the Salzburg Festival: in July and August, and over the Christmas market weeks, prices climb and the good rooms go first.
The short answer
- First trip
- The Altstadt, with a room at the back, or the Neustadt if you want to save money and still walk in.
- Couples
- Nonntal below the fortress, or Steingasse on the far bank of the Salzach.
- Families
- The Neustadt, near Mirabell Gardens, the station and a wider choice of rooms.
- Tight budget
- The station area or the Neustadt, outside festival weeks.
- Beer and evenings
- Mülln, by the Augustiner brewery, and the Altstadt for a drink after dinner.
How we judge an area of Salzburg: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Salzburg's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Cathedral | Mirabell Gardens | Hauptbahnhof | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altstadt | A first, short visit | Busy until late on Getreidegasse | 5 min | 10 min | 25 min | On foot; buses at the edges | €€€€ |
| Neustadt and Mirabell | Value, trains, families | Quiet | 15 min | 5 min | 15 min | Buses at Mirabellplatz | €€€ |
| Nonntal | Quiet, residential | Quiet | 10 min | 25 min | 35 min | Local buses | €€ |
| Mülln | Beer, evenings out | Lively near the brewery | 20 min | 10 min | 20 min | On foot; local buses | €€ |
| Riedenburg | Quiet, with a car | Very quiet | 15 min | 20 min | 30 min | Local buses | €€ |
| Steingasse and Kapuzinerberg | Couples, quiet charm | Quiet | 10 min | 10 min | 20 min | On foot; local buses | €€€ |
| Station area | Trains, tight budgets | Busy around the station | 25 min | 10 min | 5 min | Station; local buses | €€ |
Walking times run from the middle of each area: the straight line plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until prices from the booking sites replace it. The center is flat; only the paths up the Mönchsberg and the Kapuzinerberg climb.
Where the neighborhoods are
The Altstadt, for a first trip on foot
Getreidegasse, the cathedral and the funicular to the fortress on your doorstep, at the top price.
The Altstadt is the old town on the left bank of the Salzach, packed under the Mönchsberg cliff: Getreidegasse and Mozart's birthplace, the cathedral and Residenzplatz, and the funicular up to the Hohensalzburg fortress. Everything a first visit needs is within ten minutes' walk.
It is the dearest part of Salzburg and the most visited, and the lanes are full of day-trippers from mid-morning. Church bells ring through the day, and it is loudest around Getreidegasse and the squares with bars. Many hotels are in old houses with small rooms, steps and no lift: ask for a room at the back or on a courtyard.
Good for
- A first trip of two or three nights
- Walking to every main sight
- Being in the lanes early, before the groups arrive
Think twice if
- You want value: this is the dearest part of Salzburg
- You need a lift or step-free access: many old houses have neither
- You are driving: the old town is mostly closed to cars
The Neustadt and Mirabell, for value and trains
The right bank around Linzer Gasse and the gardens: five to ten minutes over the bridge, with more rooms to choose from.
Across the Salzach from the old town, the Neustadt runs from Mirabell Palace and its gardens along Linzer Gasse and Makartplatz. Mozart's family home is here, the Mirabell Gardens give the best-known view back at the fortress, and the main station is about fifteen minutes' walk north.
Hotels are a little larger and cheaper than in the old town, and there are more of them. The Staatsbrücke gets you to the Altstadt in five to ten minutes, and it is a calmer place to sleep. Linzer Gasse is a busy shopping street by day but quiet at night.
Good for
- Value close to the old town
- Families, with the gardens and the station nearby
- More hotels with lifts and parking
Think twice if
- You want to wake up in the old town lanes
- You want the fortress in your window
Staying in Neustadt and Mirabell: nearby sights, food and getting around
Nonntal, for quiet evenings below the fortress
A residential quarter south of the old town, ten minutes from the cathedral, with some of the calmest streets.
Nonntal lies south-east of the old town, below the fortress, with the Nonntaler Hauptstraße as its spine and part of the university nearby. The cathedral is about ten minutes' walk, and the footpaths up to the fortress start close by.
It is a place people live in, with a few small hotels and guesthouses, a bakery or two and little nightlife. You pay less than in the Altstadt and sleep better, and you walk or take a bus to reach the main sights. Buses are less frequent late in the evening.
Good for
- Quiet nights close to the old town
- Walking up to the fortress on foot
- Slightly lower prices than the Altstadt
Think twice if
- You want bars and restaurants at the door
- You are arriving by train: the station is a bus ride or a long walk away
Mülln, for beer and a local evening
On the other side of the Mönchsberg, with the Augustiner brewery and its beer hall.
Mülln sits at the northern end of the Mönchsberg, just outside the old town. Its landmark is the Augustiner Bräu, where beer is poured from wooden kegs and drunk in a long hall and a big garden, with the Müllner church above. The Neutor tunnel through the cliff puts the old town about fifteen minutes away on foot.
Evenings out are the draw: the brewery, a few good inns, and bars along Müllner Hauptstraße. It is livelier than Nonntal and can be loud on warm nights. Choose a room away from the main road if you sleep lightly.
Good for
- Beer, and a table at the brewery
- Evenings out without the old town prices
- Easy walks onto the Mönchsberg
Think twice if
- You want to be inside the old town
- You sleep lightly and the room faces Müllner Hauptstraße
Riedenburg, for a calm base behind the Mönchsberg
Quiet residential streets on the far side of the cliff, with paths onto the Mönchsberg.
Riedenburg is the district behind the Mönchsberg, west of the old town. It is residential and green, with guesthouses and apartments rather than large hotels, and it is the starting point for walks up onto the hill.
The old town is about twenty minutes away on foot, and buses link the two. You gain peace and lower prices and lose the feeling of being in the middle of things. It suits visitors with a car or an early bedtime.
Good for
- Quiet nights and parking
- Walking and running on the Mönchsberg
- Lower prices than the center
Think twice if
- You want to walk home from dinner in the old town in five minutes
- You are arriving by train with heavy bags
Staying in Riedenburg: nearby sights, food and getting around
Steingasse and Kapuzinerberg, for a quieter old lane
A medieval lane on the far bank, under a wooded hill, with the old town across a footbridge.
On the right bank, opposite the old town, Steingasse is one of Salzburg's oldest streets, a narrow lane of tall houses along the foot of the Kapuzinerberg. Hotels and guesthouses here are small, and the bridges over the Salzach bring you to Getreidegasse in about ten minutes.
Evenings are quiet apart from a few bars at the bridge end, and there are views of the fortress from the Kapuzinerberg paths. The lane is narrow and cobbled, which is awkward with a suitcase, and the main station is a twenty-minute walk away.
Good for
- Old-town atmosphere with fewer people
- Couples and walkers
- Views across the river
Think twice if
- You are traveling with heavy luggage on cobbles
- You want a large hotel with a lift
Staying in Steingasse and Kapuzinerberg: nearby sights, food and getting around
The station area, for trains and a tighter budget
The cheapest beds near the center, a twenty-minute walk or a short bus ride from the old town.
Around the Hauptbahnhof are the largest number of mid-range and budget hotels in the city. Trains to Munich, Vienna and Innsbruck leave from here, the airport bus stops at the station, and the Mirabell Gardens are ten minutes' walk.
It is not pretty, and the streets right by the station can feel rough late at night, though Salzburg is generally a safe city. You take a bus or walk twenty minutes to the old town, which is flat. It is a practical base for day trips by rail, and a sensible saving outside festival weeks.
Good for
- Day trips by train, or an early train out
- A tight budget
- The airport bus at the door
Think twice if
- You want charm outside your door
- You will be walking back late through the streets by the station
Staying in Station area: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Salzburg, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Salzburg. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room in the old town in festival weeks, if price matters
The Salzburg Festival in July and August fills the city, and rates in the Altstadt run well above the rest of the year. Stay in the Neustadt or by the station and walk across, or book the old town months ahead.
- A room on Getreidegasse or Residenzplatz, if you need sleep
The busiest streets in the city, with bells and crowds. Ask for a room at the back or on a courtyard.
- An old-town house without a lift, if stairs are hard
Many beautiful buildings have steep staircases and no lift. Check the floor and the lift before you book.
- A cheap room out by the airport or in the outer suburbs, for a city break
The rate looks good until you add the bus each way. Salzburg is small: stay near the center.
- Salzburg as a base for Munich or Vienna sightseeing
Salzburg to Munich is about an hour and a half by train, and Vienna more than two. Choose Salzburg as a base for the lakes and the Alps, not for big-city days out.
Which neighborhood suits you
First time in Salzburg
The Altstadt for two or three nights, or the Neustadt to save money and still walk in.
Couples
Steingasse or Nonntal, quiet and a short walk from the lanes.
Families with children
The Neustadt, near Mirabell Gardens, with larger hotels and lifts.
A tight budget
The station area or the Neustadt, outside festival weeks.
Peace and quiet
Nonntal or Riedenburg.
Day trips by train
The station area or the Neustadt.
Driving
Riedenburg or the Neustadt, where hotels more often have parking.
Before you book a room in Salzburg
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Salzburg makes a good stay.
- The accommodation taxThe city of Salzburg charges €3.50 per person per night: the €3.00 Nächtigungsabgabe plus a €0.50 mobility contribution, which rises to €1.10 from May 2027. It is usually paid at the hotel and often isn't in the price the booking sites show.
- The Salzburg FestivalThe festival runs through July and August. Hotel rates climb and the central rooms go first, so book months ahead or stay further out. The Christmas market weeks in December are the other busy season.
- From Salzburg airportBuses 2 and 10 run from the airport into the city. Bus 2 goes to the main station and Mirabellplatz in about twenty to twenty-five minutes; bus 10 serves the city center. A taxi takes about fifteen minutes. Check Salzburg AG's timetable for your day, since late runs are less frequent.
- By trainThe main station is a twenty-five minute walk or a short bus ride from the old town. Trains to Munich take about an hour and a half.
- The Salzburg CardIt covers many sights and the city's buses, and is worth it if you plan three or more attractions. Check what it includes against your list.
- Lifts and stairsMany old-town hotels are in medieval houses with steep stairs, small rooms and no lift. If stairs are hard for you, check before you book, not when you arrive.
Where to stay in Salzburg: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Salzburg for a first visit?
The Altstadt, for a short trip: Getreidegasse, the cathedral and the funicular to the fortress are all within ten minutes' walk. The Neustadt, across the river, is the value choice, about ten minutes from the old town.
Is it better to stay in the old town or the Neustadt?
The old town for atmosphere and the shortest walks, at a higher price and with more noise. The Neustadt for more choice of rooms, easier access to the station and lower prices, still within a ten minute walk of the lanes.
Where should I stay in Salzburg for the festival?
Book months ahead, and look at the Neustadt, the station area or Mülln rather than the old town, where festival rates are highest. Everything in the city is within a walk or a short bus ride of the festival halls.
Is Salzburg safe at night?
Generally yes. The old town and the Neustadt are fine to walk at night. The streets right by the station can feel rougher late in the evening, so choose a hotel on a busier side street.
Can you walk everywhere in Salzburg?
Mostly. The old town, Mirabell Gardens and the Neustadt are all within about twenty-five minutes of each other on foot. The fortress is a climb or a funicular ride, and Hellbrunn Palace is a bus ride south.
Which area is best for day trips?
The station area or the Neustadt, close to the main station. Trains and buses leave from there for the lakes of the Salzkammergut, Hallein and Munich.
How do I get from Salzburg airport to the center?
Bus 2 runs to the main station and Mirabellplatz in about twenty to twenty-five minutes, and bus 10 serves the city center. A taxi takes about fifteen minutes.
How much is the accommodation tax in Salzburg?
€3.50 per person per night in the city of Salzburg, made up of €3.00 and a €0.50 mobility contribution that rises to €1.10 from May 2027. It is paid at the hotel, usually on top of the price shown online.
