What I Loved Most About Salzburg

When many people think about visiting Austria, they first think of Vienna or going to the mountains to ski. As someone who didn't know what to expect from Salzburg, I can tell you—it’s absolutely a can't-miss destination. It's almost storybook-like when you walk through the timeless, historic-rich city. Below is a list of what I loved most about Salzburg. You can view in video form (and more detail) on our Instagram page.

Our stay at Hotel Kasererbraeu

There were four of us, so we opted for the Suite Festung Hohensalzburg which was perfect for us and a very affordable price. We could see Fortress Hohensalzburg from our suite which was really cool to wake up to each day. The hotel also makes its own beer, so we had some as soon as we got there to celebrate our arrival. The staff was extremely welcoming and helpful. The food offered was top notch. One of the most captivating things about the hotel was that it has "probably the oldest cinema in the world." We watched a movie in there the first night since we were too tired to go out. It was a fun experience!

View of Hohensalzburg Fortress from the suite

Altstadthotel Kasererbräu is said to have "probably the oldest cinema in the world"

Walking around the empty winter streets with a hot coffee and pastry

The winter scenery in Salzburg is straight out of a fairytale, but I am sure any time of year here is just as enchanting as ever. One morning, I woke up before everyone and strolled the somewhat empty streets. It was a good way to see the city without worrying about crowds, although it didn't get too crowded anywhere when we were there (which was mid-January). Don't look at a map and just explore—you will find magic in every corner!

View of the alps and city

Strolling the streets

Eating a pretzel with a city view

A beautiful church - it's even better inside!

Beautiful evening views

Love the old architectural designs of the doors!

Yummy pastries

View of Salzburg from the river

Neat building in Salzburg near our hotel

Pop-up coffee shop

Zum Zirkelwirt restaurant

Eating at Zum Zirkelwirt

View of the shopping area

Fortress at night

Fortress Hohensalzburg up above

Visiting the 947-year-old Fortress Hohensalzburg

It's a hike to get up to the fortress, but it is definitely worth visiting. It's a majestic site both inside and out. Perched high above Salzburg, Fortress Hohensalzburg is one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved medieval castles. With panoramic views of the city and the Alps (make sure you go outside at the top), this iconic fortress offers a fascinating glimpse into Austria’s rich history and architectural grandeur.

Top of Fortress Hohensalzburg

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium

St. Peter, the oldest restaurant in Europe, has welcomed guests and served culinary delights since 803—over 1,200 years! Within its historic walls in Salzburg’s old town, visitors can enjoy an ideal blend of gourmet cuisine, lively atmosphere, and rich traditions of wine and music. This place is incredibly cute and charming inside, perfectly capturing the dreamlike atmosphere of Austria. You can make a reservation here.

Outside of St. Peter Stiftskulinarium

Walking into St. Peter Stiftskulinarium

Good vibes only at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium

Where we met the hostess at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium

Dining area

Steak with veggies

All of our desserts

Dogs are welcome everywhere!

This isn't just in Salzburg, but majority of Europe has a rule that dogs are welcome everywhere. It's much different than in the U.S. A lot of dogs aren't even on leashes when running outside (which makes me nervous and happy at the same time)! This cutie below was in the scarf shop we went into.

Dog in scarf shop

We stayed in Salzburg for two days, but I'd love to go back for a longer time to do more in-depth exploring, like visiting Mozart's birthplace. Have you visited Salzburg? What was your favorite part? I'd love to hear it!