Where to Stay in Salzburg First Time
Salzburg, Austria, was one of my favorite stops on our big family trip to Germany and Austria to celebrate my dad’s milestone birthday. Since it was my dad’s trip, he got to pick where we went, and I suggested that we go to Salzburg after our time in Munich, Germany, for Oktoberfest because it was a short train ride away.
Located on the western side of the northern half of Austria along the border with Germany, Salzburg is only a two-hour train ride from Munich and is a popular day trip destination. It’s most well-known for being the home of Mozart and is where The Sound of Music was filmed. We ended up staying two nights in Salzburg, but that didn’t feel like enough! I definitely want to stay longer next time.
Below, I shared a review of where my partner and I stayed for our first trip to Salzburg along with a round-up of other places to stay in Salzburg if you’re planning your own trip to this beautiful Austrian city! Salzburg is one of the prettiest places in Europe and is magical at any time of year.
READ NEXT: What to Do in Salzburg in a Day
Where to Stay in Salzburg First Time
If it’s your first time visiting Salzburg, I recommend staying within walking distance of most of the sights and things to do. Salzburg is split by the Salzach River; the “new” town is on the northeast side of the river (neustadt), and the “old” town is on the southwest side (altstadt).
Even if you’re traveling on a budget and opt to stay somewhere outside of the city center, Salzburg operates a great bus system, and you can ride for free with the Salzburg Card (ask the front desk at your accommodation). If you plan to take advantage of the buses, make sure to pick a home base close to a bus stop.
There are 24-, 48-, and 72-hour Salzburg Card options, and prices vary based on whether you visit during high season or low. A 48-hour Salzburg Card for adults during high season was 40 Euros (fall 2023); we purchased our cards at our accommodation but had to use cash. In addition to riding the city buses for free, you can get free entry to many popular tourist attractions with the card!
Read on for my review of the unique hotel we stayed at in Salzburg, the best areas to stay in Salzburg, and a list of the best places to stay in Salzburg for your first trip, no matter the time of year! There’s also a map at the end of the post with tons of hotels and vacation rentals ready for you to browse and book in Salzburg.
Guest House in the Seminary Review
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You read that right: For our first trip to Salzburg, we stayed at the Guest House in the Seminary (Gästehaus im Priesterseminar Salzburg)! I grew up Catholic and attended Catholic school, so the (former) Catholic in me thought it would be interesting to stay in an active seminary. You don’t get that experience often! Korri was up for it, so I went ahead and booked our room for two nights.
Located in city center Salzburg about a 10 minute walk across the river from old town and only steps away from the bus, the seminary is situated in a beautiful Baroque building. It’s calm and (mostly) quiet behind the walls and the perfect spot to rejuvenate after a long day spent sightseeing.
The guest house in the seminary offers 23 single rooms, 23 double rooms, and 6 studio apartments. The single rooms have only one room, and the double rooms are offered as “double bed rooms” (two separate beds) or “double room standard” (two beds next to each other, which is what we booked).
For a family of four, look for the “double room family” that features one double bed and one sofa bed. All rooms have private bathrooms with showers (no tubs). Free wifi is available, but there are no TVs in these rooms. The studio apartments (also called the “superior double rooms”) feature a bed, private bathroom, sitting area with TV, and small kitchen.
All the guest rooms are located along the main street, which can get loud at times depending on activity outside, but they do offer ear plugs if you need. We ran the fan in our room, which helped drown out outside noise. I don’t believe there is air conditioning and that’s what the fans are there for. Luckily, it didn’t get too hot in our room even though it was so warm outside in late September!
I will say that it seemed like the private bathrooms in each room were more recent additions, and ours got QUITE steamy when showering. There are also unfortunately no bathtubs.
A lovely little breakfast spread was offered every morning with a seating area next to the plaza. I loved that! Breakfast was fortunately included in our rate.
There was an elevator you could take if needed (it’s so nice to not have to carry bags up stairs!), and laundry facilities are also available to guests. Unfortunately, the washer wasn’t working during our stay, which I had been planning on using.
We enjoyed our stay at the seminary and would definitely stay there again for our next trip to Salzburg!
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Best Areas to Stay in Salzburg
If you want to be within walking distance of most of the sites in Salzburg, I recommend staying south of the train station and train tracks in “new town” Salzburg or just across the river in “old town” Salzburg. This area is where you’ll find the highest density of hotels. The seminary we stayed at is in “new town”/city center Salzburg, and it was a super quick bus ride from the train station.
There are hotels outside of the city center that are generally less expensive if you’re on a budget; take advantage of Salzburg’s bus system if you opt for one of those hotels. A hotel outside of the city center might also be a better option if you have a car.
Best Hotels to Stay in Salzburg Austria
I rounded up 10 hotels worth checking out for your stay in Salzburg, including locally-owned boutique hotels as well as boutique-style hotels operated by international chains. The first five are located on the northeast side of the river closer to Mirabell Garden, and the last five are on the southwest side of the river closer to the Salzburg Cathedral. There are so many highly-rated hotels in Salzburg that you really can’t go wrong!
Cityhotel Trumer Stube
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This is the hotel where my family stayed. It was right around the corner from the seminary. The rooms were smaller at this hotel (more typical of European hotel rooms), but otherwise, they enjoyed this spot; the only real downside seemed to be that they’d get awoken by the church bells right behind the hotel. Get directions.
Hotel Sacher
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Looking to indulge in a luxury, 5-star experience in Salzburg? Check out Hotel Sacher located along the Salzach River overlooking old town. This Austrian hospitality company put together everything you’ll need for a relaxing trip in Salzburg. Eat at the two restaurants on site, and take advantage of the full spa on the property. Get directions.
Hotel Bristol
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This 5-star, family-run hotel is located adjacent to Mirabell Palace and right across the street from the seminary. The breakfast buffet gets rave reviews, so this is one I would consider if you want the ease of a hotel breakfast (most paid-for hotel breakfasts in Europe aren’t as good as eating out elsewhere). This hotel is a more expensive option. Get directions.
Leonardo Boutique Hotel
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This boutique hotel that is also near the seminary offers air conditioning and mini fridges, so if you like to take your leftovers or grab a few groceries, you can keep things cold in your room. There is even a rooftop suite with incredible views! A reviewer noted that the restaurant offered plentiful alternatives for food intolerances. Get directions.
Hotel Stein
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If you’re traveling sans kids and want to enjoy an adults-only hotel in Salzburg, check out Hotel Stein on the banks of the Salzach River. They only accept guests older than 16. Indulge in the on-site sauna, and enjoy the rooftop bar and restaurant with sweeping views of the river and old town Salzburg, including the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Get directions.
Hotel Goldener Hirsch
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On the other side of the river in old town Salzburg, you’ll find Hotel Goldener Hirsch on the west end of Getreidegasse, a picturesque shopping street and home to Mozart’s birthplace. It’s truly in the heart of it all. Enjoy dining at the restaurants on site, including afternoon tea if that suits your fancy. There is also laundry available. Get directions.
Hotel Wolf
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Hotel Wolf is a small, family-run boutique hotel located in old town (altstadt) Salzburg just steps away from Mozartplatz Square and the Christmas market if you visit during the holiday season. This hotel features 16 unique rooms, and there is also an elevator, which is great for guests needing the accessibility or if you have lots of luggage. Get directions.
Boutique Hotel am Dom
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This historic boutique hotel is located mere steps away from the Salzburg Cathedral (Dom). It’s very centrally located if you’re planning to do any sort of walking tours or other group expeditions in Salzburg. The rooms feature modern amenities, including wifi, heating, and air conditioning. Bathtubs are unfortunately not available in the private bathrooms. Get directions.
Hotel Goldgasse
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Hotel Goldgasse is Salzburg’s only Small Luxury Hotel (SLH). Located off of an alleyway in old town Salzburg, there are only 16 rooms in this boutique hotel. There is a restaurant on site, Gasthof Goldgasse, that is open daily from 7 am to 11 pm. The rooftop terrace suite has panoramic views of Salzburg from your own private terrace and balcony! Get directions.
Hotel Elefant
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Also located off of a quiet alley, this family-run hotel is just around the corner from Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg. It’s a fully-renovated accommodation situated in a 13th-century building and features air conditioning and other modern amenities. It’s family-friendly, and the rooms feature pull-out couches for little ones to sleep on. Get directions.
