Longer Stays Around Salzburg

Longer stays around Salzburg

Salzburg itself rewards two to three days. Beyond that, the city works as a base for lakes, Bavarian mountains and a classic Austrian rail route. The plans below are sorted by length, with 2026 fares and notes on what closes in winter.

Two to three days: the city

Spend day one in the old town: Hohensalzburg Fortress, the cathedral, Getreidegasse and Mozart’s Birthplace, then dinner at the Augustiner Bräustübl. Use day two for Mirabell Gardens, the DomQuartier and an afternoon at Hellbrunn, reached by bus 25. Hellbrunn is open until 1 November 2026. If you have a third day, add the Haus der Natur or a river cruise.

Four days: lakes and a steam railway

  1. Day 1 and 2: the city as above, finishing with an evening show at the Marionette Theatre.
  2. Day 3: bus 150 to St. Gilgen, a ferry across Lake Wolfgang to St. Wolfgang and the SchafbergBahn to the 1,783 metre summit. The return ticket is EUR 61 for adults and EUR 18.40 for children aged 4 to 14. The line runs until 1 November 2026. Sleep in St. Wolfgang or nearby Strobl.
  3. Day 4: walk part of the lakeshore, or take a bus to Bad Ischl, home of Emperor Franz Joseph’s Kaiservilla and the Zauner pastry shop, before returning.

Four days: mountains and ice

  • Days 1 and 2: Salzburg.
  • Day 3: Bus 840 to Berchtesgaden and the Königssee boat to St. Bartholomä (EUR 23.40 return) or Salet (EUR 29.80 return). Stay overnight in Berchtesgaden.
  • Day 4: train to Werfen. Eisriesenwelt is open from 1 May to the end of October, and Hohenwerfen Castle runs falconry displays. From November to April, swap in the Hallein salt mine, open on shorter hours.

Seven to eight days: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck

This rail trip links three cities. Allow days 1 to 3 for Vienna’s Hofburg, Schönbrunn and the Kunsthistorisches Museum. A Railjet express from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Salzburg takes around 2 hours 22 minutes, with advance fares starting at about EUR 19.90. Days 4 and 5 go to Salzburg and one lake day. A second Railjet takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to Innsbruck, where days 6 and 7 cover the Goldenes Dachl, the Nordkette cable car and the Bergisel ski jump.

Planning notes

  • A 72 hour Salzburg Card costs EUR 49 for adults in high season (April to October) and EUR 44 in low season. It excludes the regional S-Bahn trains.
  • The Untersbergbahn, a cable car to a high-alpine summit, is closed 2 November to 13 December 2026 for revision, so it is not available on a November trip.
  • The Salzburg Festival runs from 17 July to 30 August 2026, and Advent markets run roughly from mid November. Rooms get scarce in both periods.
  • Pack warm layers for ice caves and summits.

Read more: Salzburg day trips and the 3 day Salzburg plan .

Sources: SchafbergBahn timetable and prices and Untersbergbahn information . Rooms: Salzburg stays on Booking.com .