The most sought-after areas where to stay in Salzburg are the Altstadt and Nonntal, areas that make up the old town and where many of its tourist attractions are located. Besides these there are other interesting areas both for their proximity and for the prices they offer that you should consider.
Salzburg is known as the world capital of classical music. This is because it is the birthplace of the great music composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and also because it hosts the most important music festival in the world.
The meaning of the name Salzburg is “city of salt”. In the past there were salt mines, which were the main economic resource of the area. Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a beautiful European city, well worth a visit.
Due to its cultural tradition, its medieval and baroque architecture, castles, palaces, churches, as well as the surrounding mountains and lakes, and its many years of history, Salzburg is a unique gem.
This Alpine city is relatively small and can be easily walked around, so no matter which quarter you choose, you’ll have no trouble getting around.
Do you want to plan your next trip to this Austrian city? As far as accommodation is concerned you will have no problem. This city offers a huge choice of luxury hotels, family hotels, others adapted to limited budgets, and backpacker hostels.
The best areas and neighbourhoods to stay in Salzburg
Here are the best places to stay in Salzburg.
Altstadt
Altstadt, the Old Town, is the most popular and central area of the city and boasts a wealth of architecture and history. It is the preferred sleeping area in Salzburg for first-time visitors.
In addition to the fact that a large number of tourist attractions are concentrated in this district, it offers a wide range of bars, restaurants and shopping options. As if this were not enough, it also offers the best nightlife in the city.
The area is characterized by a very well preserved baroque architecture, including churches and townhouses from the 14th century. Today these houses are home to luxury businesses, such as cafes and souvenir shops. In its narrow streets you will find many architectural wonders that you should visit at your leisure.
The best thing about this neighborhood is that it offers you the opportunity to see the evolution of its architecture from the 12th century to the present day.
If you are a classical music lover and have been lucky enough to get tickets for one of the concerts at Mozart’s House, such as “The Marriage of Figaro” or “Don Juan”, then this is the place for you. But if you haven’t been so lucky, the district can offer you other popular attractions, such as Mozart’s birthplace and the Salzburg Museum.
Altstadt has a high concentration of restaurants, and many of them boast of having earned the famous Michelin stars. A stop at the famous Café Tomaselli, where Mozart tasted hot chocolate, is a must.
During the day you can enjoy the exquisite pretzels and a good cup of coffee in any of its cafes. When night falls, enjoy its nightlife by visiting its traditional bars, its Irish influenced taverns, where live music plays, and its discos.
To do your shopping, or just to take a walk, go to the main street Getreidegasse, where you will find a lot of shops. The whole neighbourhood can be covered on foot, so you can enjoy everything without using public transport.
The area provides some of the best hotels in the city, but it also has offers for all kinds of pockets. So staying in Salzburg, and even more so in this neighborhood, won’t be a problem.
Accommodations in Altstadt
Schallmoos
Located north of Salzburg, this neighborhood is residential and is in continuous expansion. It is known for its townhouses and low-rise buildings. The southernmost part of Schallmoos is within walking distance of Old Town, so you can reach the city centre in just fifteen minutes.
Traditionally, this was not a popular sleeping area in Salzburg due to the high concentration of immigrants and railway lines. However, over the years the neighborhood has improved a lot and is now one of the booming areas of this city.
Although Schallmoos does not have the great attraction of Altstadt, the northern area of Kapuzinerberg offers an atmosphere of great melancholy, thanks to its parks and monuments. In addition, the villas of Robinighof and Rauchenbichlerhof, as well as the Baron-Schwarz park, are among the sights.
Schallmoos is an excellent choice for shopping, since the neighborhood has developed a lot on a commercial level, and also a wide range of affordable restaurants.
This neighborhood does not have a high offer of places to stay in Salzburg, although its hotels are much more modern than those in other areas and offer good value for money. The main advantage of the area is its proximity to the train and bus station.
Schallmoos Hotels
Elisabeth-Vorstadt
It is a centrally located, modern and well-kept neighborhood that has been rebuilt three times after the bombings during World War II. It is densely populated, so traffic is often heavy.
It is a residential neighborhood that is not far from major tourist attractions. Altstadt can be reached in a 15 minute walk. And if you don’t want to walk, you can always use public transport or go to the old town by bike along the cycle paths that run along the river bank.
One of the most popular places to make tourist stops is the Mirabell Palace with its gardens, which date back to the 17th century.
The restaurants, cafés and breweries are all reasonably priced, and there are good shopping facilities. We recommend a stop at the Kiesel Shopping Centre, which offers a variety of shops.
If your goal is to be close to the main station (Hauptbahnhof) it is a good option to stay in Salzburg. In addition, it is one of the easiest neighborhoods to find cheap accommodation in Salzburg.
There you can get accommodation at lower prices than you usually get in the centre, on average about 60 euros per night during the low season.
Accommodations in Elisabeth-Vorstadt
Maxglan
Located west of the historic centre, but not far from it, is the quintessential working class residential neighbourhood of Salzburg that offers the highest quality of life to its inhabitants. The area’s landscape is characterized by old villas, and it also offers an exquisite selection of good restaurants and charming shops.
Although this area is a little removed from the main tourist attractions that Altstadt has to offer, it is a good place to immerse yourself in the local culture of the city.
One of the sights is the 14th century church of St Maximilian, as well as Hangar-7, which houses the airplane collection of Dietrich Mateschitz, owner of Red Bull.
The most popular shopping destinations are the Maxglaner Hauptstrasse and the Europark Shopping Centre. Maxglan’s nightlife is embellished by the Salzburg Casino. There you can have fun and try your luck.
This neighborhood is a little far from the historical center, but it is close to the airport and has convenient public transportation. Bearing this in mind, and although it offers little in the way of accommodation it is cheaper than other areas, it may be an option to consider for accommodation in Salzburg.
Hotels in Maxglan
Nonntal
Another good place to stay in Salzburg is the Nonnberg district. Located south of Salzburg’s historic city centre, just a short distance from it is the Salzburg Fortress, or Hohensalzburg, on top of a hill with fantastic views of the old city,
The University of Salzburg, the Erhard Church and Nonnberg Abbey, which contains 12th century frescoes as well as Gothic-era artifacts, are located in this area.
A culinary walk is a must in this neighborhood. The area, once home to wealthy 17th century merchants, is capable of satisfying any palate. There you will find famous restaurants and taverns, where you will be able to taste not only local but also international dishes.
From Nonntal you can reach the centre in a ten minute walk. Staying in Salzburg in this neighbourhood is an excellent option both because of its proximity to Altstadt and because of its accommodation offer that includes from luxury to the most economical ones.
Nonntal Accommodations
Leopoldskron-Moos
It’s a peaceful and very picturesque neighborhood. It is a very beautiful, though expensive, residential area. It is not one of the areas that usually choose most tourists who visit the city for the first time because it is a little far from the center.
Leopoldskron- Moos is not a very big district, and is inhabited by approximately two thousand five hundred people. The landscape has an abundance of green areas, which were once old agricultural settlements.
This peaceful neighborhood is known for housing the Leopoldskron Palace, famous for appearing in the film “The Sound of Music”, next to the large pond. Today it is a hotel and the main icon of the area.
If you decide to stay a few days in this neighborhood you can go downtown by public transport or on foot. By car it will take you ten minutes, while a walk will take you about thirty minutes.
Sleeping in Salzburg in this area is expensive, especially if you want to stay in the palace.
Leopoldskron-Moos Accommodations