Salzburgerland
Go for Mozart's birthplace and a baroque old town, then trade the city for lake towns and glacier views in the Austrian Alps.
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Salzburgerland is the state of Salzburg in western Austria, on the German border with Bavaria. Its center is the city of Salzburg, a compact old town of baroque churches and narrow streets on the banks of the Salzach River. The city is the birthplace of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the Hohensalzburg Fortress rises above the rooftops. The name points to salt, which was mined in the region for centuries and shaped its history.
Beyond the city, the land rises into the Alps. Zell am See sits on a lake with mountain views and is a base for lake days and trips up to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. The Hohe Tauern National Park covers high valleys and peaks in the south of the state. Late spring through early autumn suits hiking and lake swimming, and winter brings skiing around Zell am See.
Salzburgerland in five
- Buy a motorway vignette before driving in AustriaMotorways and expressways need a valid vignette, sold at gas stations and online. Driving without one can bring an on-the-spot fine.Getting around
- Check the Salzburg Card before buying ticketsThe Salzburg Card covers entry to many city sights and public transport, so it pays off only if you visit several. Add up single tickets for your list first.
- Ride the Festungsbahn up to HohensalzburgThe funicular saves the steep climb to Hohensalzburg Fortress from the old town. The walking path is the alternative if you want the climb.
- Plan the Grossglockner road for a clear dayThe Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a toll road that closes in winter. Check its opening dates and the weather before you drive it.
- Set up an eSIM before you landMobile signal is strong in the towns but weak in narrow mountain valleys. Download offline maps for the Hohe Tauern routes before you go.Phones and eSIM
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Salzburgerland, the full guide
Salzburg
- Price band: $$$
Zell am See
- Price band: $$
Things to do in Salzburgerland
See all attractions in Salzburgerland
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen rules; visa-free for many passports, check yours before you fly Read more
- Emergency
- 112 EU-wide; 133 police, 144 ambulance, 122 fire
- Tipping
- Round up the bill or add about 10% in restaurants
- Time
- UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 with daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow15 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh4°Low-4°Cold, ski seasonJanuarySnow
Good
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, ski season
- FebruaryRain13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh7°Low-2°Cold, ski seasonFebruaryRain
Good
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, ski season
- MarchRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh10°Low0°Snow, thawingMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, thawing
- AprilRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh14°Low3°Mild, quieterAprilRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- MayRain18 rainy daysHigh18°Low7°Mild, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 170 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Long days, festivalJuneRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 142 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, festival
- JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Hot, festival crowdsJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 182 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, festival crowds
- AugustRain16 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Warm, busyAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Mild, clearSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 147 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain12 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh9°Low1°Quiet, greyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, grey
- DecemberRain14 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Christmas marketsDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Salzburg, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Salzburgerland
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
4
- Feels like
- 2°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 20%
Salzburg
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°4°20%Monday: Fog. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Tue8°3°13%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Wed9°1°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu7°2°0%Thursday: Fog. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri5°2°0%Friday: Fog. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat7°0°2%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun9°-1°8%Sunday: Fog. High 9°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 06:14 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Coming up
Every year
- JanMozart WeekSalzburg, a day trip
- Mar–AprSalzburg Easter FestivalSalzburg, a day trip
- Jul–AugSalzburg FestivalSalzburg, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Zell am Seeabout 1.5 hours by trainA lake town with mountain lifts, a good day out from Salzburg.Read the guide
- Salzburgabout 1.5 hours by trainThe city of Mozart and the festival, a base for the region.Read the guide
- Kaprunabout 20 minutes by car from Zell am SeeThe Kitzsteinhorn glacier and lift, reached from the valley floor.
Before you go to Salzburgerland
Rules for Salzburgerland, checked
- Buy a vignette before driving on Austrian motorways and expressways; check the rules and sales points at asfinag.at.
- Schengen short-stay rules apply; check entry requirements on the official EU travel site before you book.
- Drone flights are regulated; check the rules with Austro Control before you fly one in Salzburgerland.
- Stay on marked paths in Hohe Tauern National Park, and check the park's rules before a hike.
Plan around Salzburgerland
Old town, museums, festival venues and walking routes
Read the guideZell am See guideLakeside stays, mountain lifts and summer and winter activities
Read the guideGetting around the regionTrains, buses and driving between Salzburg, the lakes and the valleys
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa for Austria and the Schengen area, and how to check
Read the guideWhere to stayCompare the old town, the lake shore and the valley bases
Read the guideFestivals and eventsThe summer festival season and the Christmas markets, with dates to check
Read the guideSalzburgerland FAQ
How many days do you need in Salzburg?
Two days covers the old town, Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mozart's birthplace. Add a day for a trip out to Zell am See or to Berchtesgaden in Germany.
Is Zell am See worth visiting in summer?
Yes, if you want to swim in the lake and walk in the mountains. Summer days are long.
Do you need a car in Salzburgerland?
Not for Salzburg city, which is walkable and has public transport. A car helps for the Grossglockner road and the high valleys.
Should I stay in Salzburg or Zell am See?
Stay in Salzburg for museums and a city base. Stay in Zell am See for the lake and mountain lifts; the train between them takes about 1.5 hours.
When is the best time to visit Salzburgerland?
May, June, September and October suit walking and sightseeing. July and August are busy with festival visitors, and December is busy for the Christmas markets.
Is the Salzburg Card worth it?
It pays off only if the sights and rides you plan add up to more than its price. Add up single tickets before you buy.