Bucket List for Salzburg

Salzburg Open Air Museum  - view of the museum railroad that covers the area for 2 km
Salzburg Open Air Museum - Museum railway

What is more satisfying than checking off to-do lists? Checklists aren’t just for everyday work, they can also be useful when visiting destinations. Salzburg’s sights contain a lot of insider tips – it would be a pity not to discover them all and check them off of your virtual bucket list.

#1 VISIT THE STATE ROOMS IN THE DOMQUARTIER

For a few years now, the DomQuartier in Salzburg has made it possible to explore previously closed rooms. A new tour leads through many passages that were inaccessible for centuries. In the former center of the archiepiscopal power in the middle of the Salzburg old town, church- and art history as well as architecture are impressively presented. A special highlight are the 15 state rooms of the Residenz palace, where opulent ceiling stucco work and valuable interiors are exhibited. The collection of the Museum of St. Peter includes 40,000 exhibits, a small part of which can be seen on the tour.

Info

DomQuartier Salzburg
Residenzplatz 1/Domplatz 1a, A-5020 Salzburg
www.domquartier.at

DomQuartier Salzburg - Long Gallery St. Peter with paintings
DomQuartier Salzburg - Long Gallery St. Peter with paintings

#2 VISIT AUSTRIA’S OLDEST SALT MINE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

As incredible as it may seem, 400 years have passed since the Dürrnberg welcomed guests for the very first time. Can you imagine what they might have seen before their eyes, deep below ground, when mining was in its heyday? Nowadays, a visit to Salzwelten Salzburg is certainly a lot more pleasant than it was then – though no less adventurous. Where else, after all, do you have the opportunity to take a ride into the mountain on an authentic mine train? And that’s far from all. The path taken by visitors through the millennia-old tunnels also leads down slides and across a subterranean lake. Along the way, you will learn all about the significance of salt in the history of the province. Not surprising, really, when you consider that white gold, salt (“Salz” in German) is even part of Salzburg’s name.

Info

Salzwelten Salzburg
Ramsaustraße 3, A-5422 Bad Dürrnberg
www.salzwelten.at

Salzwelten Salzburg - visitors on the mine train ride deep into the mountain
Salzwelten Salzburg - visitors on the mine train ride deep into the mountain

#3 TAKE A LOOK INTO THE TORTURE CHAMBER AT THE HOHENSALZBURG FORTRESS

The Hohensalzburg Fortress is probably the best known landmark in Salzburg. The castle from the Middle Ages is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and is also very well preserved. The more than 900-year-old fortification sits high on the fortress mountain southwest of the old town of Salzburg. In the courtyard you’ll already feel as if you’ve been transported back a few centuries and at the latest you’ll feel that way during a guided tour, in which the history contained in the thick walls and irregularly shaped rooms is brought to life. The Fortress Museum also provides an insight into the history of the architecture and life in the castle. With some courage, a visit to the torture chamber is also worthwhile – goosebumps are guaranteed!

Info

Festung Hohensalzburg
Mönchsberg 34, A-5020 Salzburg
www.salzburg-burgen.at/en/hohensalzburg

Fortress Hohensalzburg - view over the old town of Salzburg to the Mönchsberg with fortress
Fortress Hohensalzburg - view over the old town of Salzburg to the Mönchsberg with fortress

#4 GET WET AT THE TRICK FOUNTAINS IN HELLBRUNN

Hellbrunn Palace was planned and built in the early 17th century. Under the supervision of Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus a pleasure palace was created – an area that invited one to celebrate, enjoy and relax. A special highlight of the Hellbrunn Palace Park are the famous trick fountains. These work just as they did 400 years ago. When it’s least expected water from all of the nozzles and fountains spray and surprise visitors with a refreshing shower. Don’t worry – the water pressure is kept within limits and only causes a delighted outcry from you or someone else.

Info

Schloss Hellbrunn
Fürstenweg 37, A-5020 Salzburg
www.hellbrunn.at

Hellbrunn Palace & Water Games - View of the Prince's Table with the Palace in the Background
Hellbrunn Palace & Water Games - View of the Prince's Table with the Palace in the Background

#5 STEP INTO 500-YEAR-OLD HOUSES IN THE SALZBURG OPEN AIR MUSEUM

About 15 kilometers from the city of Salzburg, in the municipality of Grossgmain, is the lovely Salzburg Open Air Museum. On a total of 50 hectares of museum area, old buildings from the province of Salzburg have been collected, reconstructed and furnished. The way of life and the living conditions between the 16th and 20th centuries are preserved and presented in the open-air museum. The area is divided into the five regions of the province of Salzburg and is home to over 100 buildings from the fields of agriculture, crafts, trades and industry, which are just waiting for a visit.

Info

Salzburger Freilichtmuseum
Hasenweg 1, A-5084 Großgmain
www.freilichtmuseum.com

Salzburg Freilichtmuseum - visitors in front of the Mesnerhaus with stable in the section Flachgau
Salzburg Freilichtmuseum - visitors in front of the Mesnerhaus with stable in the section Flachgau

#6 COME FACE TO FACE WITH BIRDS OF PREY FACE AT THE HOHENWERFEN FORTRESS

The Hohenwerfen Fortress flies high in the truest sense of the word. Atop the 155 meter high rocky prominence stretches the castle complex, which in the late Middle Ages served mainly as a defensive fortification. In addition to exciting adventure tours for the whole family, in which the armory, the castle chapel, the state room and the bell tower are placed under the magnifying glass, the birds of prey demonstrations are a special highlight. At the shows, falcons, vultures, kites and other birds of prey present their impressive flying skills. At the birds of prey show and at the falcon show you can look deeply into the eyes of the animals and become spellbound.

Info

Erlebnisburg Hohenwerfen
Burgstraße 2, A-5450 Werfen
www.salzburg-burgen.at/en/werfen

Hohenwerfen Adventure Castle - falconer with a bird of prey on his glove in the open-air area on the Lindenwiese
Hohenwerfen Adventure Castle - falconer with a bird of prey on his glove in the open-air area on the Lindenwiese

#7 VISIT THE WORLD'S LARGEST ICE CAVE IN WERFEN

Fascinating and gigantic ice forms and imposing ice sculptures await visitors inside the Eisriesenwelt in Werfen. The entire cave system extends over 40 kilometers in length and is like a cave labyrinth. The Eisriesenwelt is not called “the largest ice cave on earth” in vain. Guides lead groups through the ice palaces and monumental formations between May and October. Do not forget to wear sturdy shoes and warm clothing during the trip to the ice kingdom!

Info

Eisriesenwelt Werfen
Eishohlenstrasse 30, A-5450 Werfen
www.eisriesenwelt.at

Eisriesenwelt Werfen - path through ice formations inside the cave
Eisriesenwelt Werfen - Ice Cave

#8 DRESS UP IN MEDIEVAL GARB AT MAUTERNDORF CASTLE

Would you like to travel back in time to the 15th century? Then come to Mauterndorf Castle, where the everyday work life in the Middle Ages is experienced first hand. On an adventure tour through the castle exhibition, the area can be individually explored by means of an audio guide. For the little ones there is even a special children’s version, as well as a specially designed knight’s playground. Especially fun is a visit to the wardrobe, where you can dress up in medieval clothing. Other interesting places are the rock cellar, the 700-year-old defense tower, the castle tavern and the Lungau Regional Museum.

Info

Burg Mauterndorf
Markt 27, A-5570 Mauterndorf
www.salzburg-burgen.at/en/mauterndorf/

Mauterndorf castle - children dressed as knights at knight games
Mauterndorf castle - children dressed as knights at knight games

#9 DRINK COFFEE WITH A VIEW OF A WATERFALL

The Krimml Worlds of Water are located directly at the entrance to the Krimml waterfalls. Here everything revolves around the elixir of life, water, which is impressively and entertainingly presented. The innovative area houses a water theme park including an outdoor area for children to play in and the “Aquaszenarium” projection show. Incidentally, the Krimml Waterfalls are the highest falls in Europe and the water plummets down from a height of 380 meters. You’ll have great views in the course of a 1.5-hour hike or on the panorama terrace of the Worlds of Water, where the water masses can be listened to while enjoying a cup of coffee.

Info

Krimmler WasserWelten
Oberkrimml 45, A-5743 Krimml
www.krimmler-wasserwelten.at

Krimmler WaterWorlds - children enjoying water fun and Kneipp in the outdoor "Aquapark" facility
Krimmler WaterWorlds - children enjoying water fun and Kneipp in the outdoor "Aquapark" facility

#10 EXPLORE THE INTERIOR OF A DAM WALL AT THE KAPRUN HIGH MOUNTAIN RESERVOIRS

The Kaprun high mountain reservoirs are an impressive experience for the whole family. Between high mountains and alpine meadows they are set like fjords in the middle of the glacier world of the High Tauern mountains. At over 2,000 meters above sea level, electricity is generated and there is an opportunity to visit this “wonder of technology”. This includes entering the dam wall, which can be visited from the inside. Inside the huge structure a lot of interesting information about its construction, operation and maintenance is provided. In the Electricity Adventure World you will also learn a lot about the interplay of glacier, power plant construction and power generation.

Info

Hochgebirgsstauseen Kaprun
Kassa: Kesselfallstraße 98, A-5710 Kaprun
www.verbund.com/kaprun

Kaprun Hochgebirgsstauseen - In front of the Verbund Info Center with mascot and exhibited water turbines
Kaprun Hochgebirgsstauseen - In front of the Verbund Info Center with mascot and exhibited water turbines

#11 WATCH IBEXES ON THE GROSSGLOCKNER HIGH ALPINE ROAD

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road connects the two Austrian provinces of Salzburg and Carinthia. It runs from Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße over the mountain passes Fuscher Törl and Hochtor. Stops can be made at the two branches to the Edelweiss peak and Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe. The Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe is the most popular stop. From there, a hiking trail leads to the Gamsgrube, where you can relax in nature. With a little luck, even rare ibexes and chamois can be seen in the wild!

Info

Großglockner Hochalpenstraße
Taxenbacher Fusch 96
A-5672 Fusch a.d. Großglocknerstraße
www.grossglockner.at

Großglockner high alpine road - Pasterze with view of Wilhelm Swarovski observatory
Großglockner high alpine road - Pasterze with view of Wilhelm Swarovski observatory