Looking to travel somewhere that is off the beaten track in Europe without many tourists? Well, we may have found the destination that is just for you.
It has majestic churches and monasteries, spacious squares and splendid palaces. Where is the place you ask? Salzburg in Austria.
The buildings date back to the centuries-long reign of the prince-archbishops, who turned the wealth accumulated through salt, ores and precious stones into magnificent architecture.
It has laid down the foundation for Salzburg to develop into a town of music, art and culture.
So, if you’re interested let’s take a look at what there is to do in the Austrian city of Salzburg.
Things to do in Salburg?
Some of the architectural highlights include Salzburg Cathedral and DomQuartier Salzburg.
Salzburg Cathedral was founded in 774 and is dedicated to Saint Rupert and Saint Vergilius.
The Baroque cathedral has a Google rating of 4.7 with one user writing: “One of the nicest cathedral in the world. Amazing architecture and art. Entry is only possible with a ticket, which you can buy there for five euros, it really worth it!”
Another said: “Absolutely stunning building. Entry is five euros. Worth a visit to see the beautiful artwork and masonry.”
A third commented: “The building was stunning, with lofty ceilings filled with art. There are 4-5 different organs and we attended a Christmas concert with a duet between a saxophone and organ that was gorgeous. So much to see!”
Meanwhile, DomQuartier Salzburg is a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum offers tours showcasing 1,300 years of reigning power, music, art and architecture.
The museum itself has a Google rating of 4.6 with one user writing: “Visited Salzburg last week and this was one of the best places I went. There’s so much to see and a lot of history. Plan on spending at least three hours if you pay to go into the museum.”
Another said: “Beautiful and splendid, definitely worth it. The ticket is not expensive but inside is huge and lots of things to see. Everyone there is nice and friendly. The whole visit takes about 1.5 hours to two hours.”
A third commented: “Fascinating palace with some stunning rooms. The audio guide was definitely necessary otherwise I would have missed a lot of interesting points. The exhibition and cathedral were also well worth seeing. It is very big, so a lot of walking around but enjoyable nonetheless.”
Other great places to go and explore in the city include Hellbrunn Palace & Fountains and the Museum of Folk Culture.
However, if you’re after something more energetic then head to Salzburg Festival. It runs from July 18 – August 31, 2024 and is set to make the 104th year of the festival.
The new drama director is theatre-maker and playwright Marina Davydova. Besides world-famous operas and the annual highlight, Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s Jedermann in the Cathedral Square and the lesser-known Ouverture spirituelle.
There are also plenty of theatres and venues you can take a visit to including Salzburg Marionette Theatre, Salzburg Landestheater and Sommerszene Salzburg which is currently taking place.
Let’s not forget one of the things that the Austrian city is known for is its Christmas Market.
Taking place from November 21, 2024 – January 1, 2025 is Residenzplatz as well as the Christmas market on the Mirabellplatz, November 21 – December, 24 2024.
Meanwhile, Salzburg’s Adventsingen in the large Festival Hall is taking place from December 1-17, 2024 where you can expect plenty of festivities.
How to get to Salzburg?
Thankfully there are plenty of flights from the UK to Salzburg. Airlines including EasyJet, Ryanair and Jet 2 all fly directly to the Austrian city. You can travel from London to Luton, Gatwick and Stansted.
Meanwhile, there are direct flights from Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle. Even better it takes less than two hours flying from the capital to the destination.