What to do in Salzburg when you’re on a tight budget? The good news is that there are a lot of free things in this beautiful Austrian city. You do not have to spend money to have fun in the hometown of Mozart and the renowned locations of The Sound of Music. Salzburg is a big threat to low costs, and I am going to show you how to tour it without whipping out your wallet.
What to Do in Salzburg: 10 Free Things You Can’t Miss
Walk Around the Old Town
Simply get on a stroll through the old part of the city. The avenues are quite lovely with decaying buildings of every colour. The central shopping street is Getreidegasse, and though you may not purchase anything, it is nice to window shop with all the fancy signs that are placed outside the stores.
It has a massive square known as Residenzplatz that has a huge fountain in the centre. Here, people are loitering, street entertainers work, and you can simply sit and watch everything. The cathedral is immediately next door as well. You may look out of the way, but it is excellent.
Walk Up to the Fortress
To enter Hohensalzburg Fortress, you have to pay, but there is no charge associated with walking up the hill. It lasts approximately 20 minutes, and well, it is quite expensive, but the sight there is spectacular. It overlooks the entire city, river and mountains. Take some water, and wear good shoes. It is worth the climb, and even more so when the sun is setting. It all looks beautiful and golden.
Check Out Mirabell Gardens
Such gardens are free, and they are lovely. All is beautifully furnished with flowers, statues, and fountains. This is where they shot the Do-Re-Mi song in case you have watched The Sound of Music. The gardens are worth visiting even in the case you are not interested in the film because the gardens are part of the larger Historic Centre of Salzburg, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You may sit on the grass, have a picnic or simply stroll around. This is where there are weird yet interesting dwarf statues. When people ask what to do in Salzburg for free, this is always at the top of my list.
Find Sound of Music Spots
Lots of what to do in Salzburg connects to The Sound of Music. The filming locations are all free, and you can visit on your own without having to pay for a tour. Visit Nonnberg Abbey, where Maria, the real one, was a nun. It is based on a hill, and it has an outside that one can walk around. And there is the Leopoldskron Palace with the lake where the children in the film fell out of the boat. You will be able to stroll around the lake and take photographs.
Walk Along the River
Salzburg is located in the middle of the Salzach River. It is very pleasant to walk along it and completely free. It has a bridge that has a lock, and couples leave their locks. You will find people jogging and riding bikes, and during the summertime, you will find people even swimming in the river. You see much of the fortress down by the water as well. This is one of those relaxing activities that shows that what to do in Salzburg doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
See Mozart’s House from the Outside
Mozart was born in Getreidegasse 9 in a yellow building. It is not free to enter, but it is free to stand outside and take pictures. It has information that is posted outside about his life. There is music playing in neighbouring stores, and it is just a privilege to be there. Another Mozart house is on Makart Platz, where his family lived later on, which you can see as well. For more on historical homes in Salzburg, see the provincial government of Salzburg (Land Salzburg) site.
Go to the Cemetery and Churches
The city of Salzburg is endowed with beautiful churches that you can walk in and are free. They have paintings and gold everywhere inside decorating them. Franziskanerkirche is also a sight worth seeing, and so is the Kollegienkirche. The St Peter Cemetery has been considered to be one of the oldest in Europe and is, in fact, very peaceful and pretty. It contains ancient graves and tombstones and is erected right into a cliff. You can stroll through it and view the catacombs externally.
Hike the Mönchsberg
It is the large hill above the old town. There are hiking paths throughout the woods up there, and it is free of charge. Locate the stairs which are located close to the Festival Halls and ascend. When up there, there is a forest trail and areas where you can view the city with spectacular views. You can sit down on the bench and simply stare at it all. The place is calm there and not like the streets down there.
Listen to Free Music
Salzburg is a music city, and there is the opportunity to listen to free concerts relatively frequently most of the time, particularly in summer. Music is performed in the squares and gardens. There are professionals, and some are students – all of them are really good. During the services in churches, there is free organ music and choir performances. You should look into what is going on there since there is always something happening. If you’re wondering what to do in Salzburg in the evenings, catching one of these free performances is perfect.
Just Hang Out and Watch People
At times, all that you need is to just sit somewhere and watch. Sit in one of the squares or by the river. Observe tourists taking pictures, locals carrying on with their business, and children playing. It is good to go and look through the shop windows even when you are not making a purchase. The exhibits demonstrate the traditional Austrian items, which are interesting to visit. Bring your own snacks to have an opportunity to spend longer without spending money in the cafes. Such is what Salzburg is all about.
Final Thoughts
A holiday in Salzburg does not necessarily need to be expensive to the pocket. Low Cost Vibes is out to demonstrate that. Whether as a passerby through the beautiful streets of the Old Town and walking along the Salzach River, resting in Mirabell Gardens or exploring historical churches and cemeteries, there are a host of free experiences to be had in Salzburg. Even the most popular cultural destinations, such as the filming locations of The Sound of Music or the heritage sites of Mozart, do not require any money to be spent.
You will find with Low Cost Vibes that you do not need to spend a lot of money on tours around Salzburg and the fancy restaurants they offer, but rather on the streets, the gardens, the music that fills the air and the history surrounding you. Pack some comfortable shoes and a camera, and Low Cost Vibes will bring you on a holiday in Salzburg, making it an adventure that you will never forget without opening your wallet.
FAQs about What to Do in Salzburg
Two or three days are enough to see all the free things without rushing. You can walk around the old town, hike up to viewpoints, see the gardens, and find hidden spots at a relaxed pace.
Winter is beautiful in Salzburg. The snow makes everything look like a fairy tale. Walk through the snowy streets, see Christmas decorations, and go to church services with seasonal music. The gardens are pretty even with snow. What to do in Salzburg in winter? Same things, just dress warm.
Yes, but they work on tips. You don’t pay upfront, but you’re expected to tip the guide at the end based on what you thought it was worth. They’re good for learning history and getting tips about what to do in Salzburg that you might miss on your own.
Definitely. All the filming spots are public and free. Use your phone to find them on a map and just go see them yourself. You save money and can go at your own speed.
Kids love running around in Mirabell Gardens. The riverside is good for walking with strollers. You can feed ducks by the river. The old town has interesting buildings to look at. The Mönchsberg has easy trails. Parks around the city have playgrounds that are free.
Cafes and restaurants usually have WiFi. Download maps on your phone before you go so you can navigate without internet. Tourist offices give out free paper maps, too.
Sundays are actually great for free things because all the outdoor things are still open gardens, trails, river walks, and churches. Shops are closed, but that doesn’t matter when you’re not shopping anyway. Streets are less crowded, so it’s better for photos and peaceful walks.
