1Composer museum
Mozart’s Birthplace
Visit the rooms and displays in the Getreidegasse house where Mozart was born. Give the museum a proper visit before browsing the street outside.
3-day itinerary · Austria
3 Days in Salzburg
Three Salzburg days linking Mozart’s old-town birthplace, the fortress and Mönchsberg, then Mirabell and a separate Hellbrunn outing. Hill visits and museum time are kept together.
- 3days
- 12sights
- 2.0 kmon foot between sights
Updated 11 September 2026 · 4 official sources checked · report an error
The plan at a glance
Mozart, the fortress, hilltop art and Hellbrunn
Give Salzburg three full days, rearranging the hill day for suitable weather and the modern art museum’s opening calendar. The two Mozart museums are separate buildings with separate visits. Hellbrunn’s palace and trick fountains are seasonal: outside their operating period, use the grounds only or spend a slower afternoon in the centre. Hotel and station journeys are additional.
Day 1Mozart and the lower old townMozart’s Birthplace · Getreidegasse · St Peter’s Abbey and cemetery · Salzburg Cathedral · Alter Markt5 sights · 830 m on foot
Day 2The fortress, Nonnberg and MönchsbergHohensalzburg Fortress · Nonnberg Abbey · Mönchsberg viewpoints · Museum der Moderne on Mönchsberg4 sights · 850 m on foot
Day 3Mirabell, Mozart Residence and HellbrunnMirabell Palace gardens · Mozart Residence · Hellbrunn Palace and grounds3 sights · 350 m on foot
At a glance
Ways to use these days
Day 1
Mozart and the lower old town
Begin at Mozart’s Birthplace before browsing Getreidegasse. Continue to St Peter’s precinct, then take lunch before visiting the cathedral and Alter Markt. Check church visiting windows and swap the two church stops if worship requires it.
- 5 sights
- 830 m on foot
- Longest walk 410 m
Morning
Right next door
2Old-town street
Getreidegasse
Follow a selected stretch of the street and its passageways, looking up at the signs and façades. A long shopping session needs more time than this walking stop.
410 m · about 6 min on foot
3Abbey precinct
St Peter’s Abbey and cemetery
Visit the accessible church and take a respectful walk through the cemetery. The catacombs are an optional short substitution if their entry window fits.
Midday
LunchStop in the old town and leave a full break between the museum and afternoon cathedral visit.
Afternoon
130 m · about 2 min on foot
4Cathedral
Salzburg Cathedral
Explore the visitor-accessible cathedral interior and the surrounding squares. The DomQuartier museum circuit is a separate visit and is not hidden inside this hour.
250 m · about 4 min on foot
5Historic market square
Alter Markt
Pause in the old market square to look at the fountain and surrounding buildings. It makes a gentle end to the lower old-town circuit.
Evening
DinnerChoose dinner nearby. A concert is a separate reservation and needs its own arrival time.
Day 2
The fortress, Nonnberg and Mönchsberg
Use the funicular for a focused fortress visit, then continue to Nonnberg before lunch. After the break, return toward a suitable Mönchsberg access point, walk a short hilltop section and visit the modern art museum. Protect the museum’s afternoon entry time.
- 4 sights
- 850 m on foot
- Longest walk 500 m
Morning
1Hilltop fortress
Hohensalzburg Fortress
Explore a selected fortress circuit, including the courtyards, views and museum rooms covered by your ticket. The allowance includes using the funicular; walking both steep approaches needs longer.
350 m · about 5 min on foot
2Abbey church
Nonnberg Abbey
Follow the approach to Nonnberg and enter the church when visitors are admitted. The cloister and residential monastery areas are not included.
Midday
LunchEat after Nonnberg, before moving toward the Mönchsberg access point. Avoid a long detour into the shopping streets.
Afternoon
Allow about 35 minutes from the Nonnberg area back toward a suitable Mönchsberg access point, including the chosen ascent or lift connection; the short hilltop walk follows.
3Hilltop walk
Mönchsberg viewpoints
Use a short, marked hilltop section on the approach to the modern art museum. The allowance covers a selected viewpoint walk, not a full traverse of every trail.
500 m · about 8 min on foot
4Modern art museum
Museum der Moderne on Mönchsberg
Choose a focused visit to the exhibitions at the hilltop Mönchsberg venue. The Rupertinum in the old town is a different location and is not included in this stop.
Evening
DinnerAllow another 20–30 minutes to descend and return toward dinner, depending on the chosen route. In poor conditions, use the lift and omit the hill walk.
Day 3
Mirabell, Mozart Residence and Hellbrunn
Start in Mirabell’s public gardens and visit Mozart Residence on Makartplatz. After lunch, travel out to Hellbrunn for the palace, trick fountains and a selected garden walk when operating. In the off-season, the grounds or a slower central afternoon replace the palace programme.
- 3 sights
- 350 m on foot
- Longest walk 350 m
Morning
1Formal gardens
Mirabell Palace gardens
Explore the public gardens and views toward the fortress. The route does not assume access to palace offices, performance rooms or every enclosed garden area.
350 m · about 5 min on foot
2Composer museum
Mozart Residence
Visit the Mozart family’s former home on Makartplatz and its displays. The museum occupies the house on Makartplatz, distinct from the birthplace across the river.
Midday
LunchEat near Makartplatz before the Hellbrunn journey. Check the booked fountain slot and last entry before leaving.
Afternoon
Allow about 45 minutes for waiting, the local bus or other suitable connection and the approach to Hellbrunn. Check the current route and departure point.
3Palace and gardens
Hellbrunn Palace and grounds
In the operating season, combine the palace and trick fountains with a short garden walk. Outside that season, use the public grounds only or replace the outing with more time in the central museums.
Evening
DinnerAllow about 45 minutes for the return connection toward central Salzburg before dinner; this return is additional to the visits shown.
Before you go
Good to know in Salzburg
Tickets and separate locations
- Mozart’s Birthplace is on Getreidegasse; Mozart Residence is at Makartplatz 8. Check combined-ticket validity against the days you plan to use it.Source: International Mozarteum Foundation · checked Sep 2026
- Fortress ticket products cover different areas and may include different transport options. Select the funicular option that matches this plan and check last admission.Source: Salzburg castles — Hohensalzburg · checked Sep 2026
Hilltop art and seasonal Hellbrunn
- Use the Mönchsberg museum location for day 2 and check its exhibition calendar. The old-town Rupertinum is a separate venue.Source: Museum der Moderne Salzburg · checked Sep 2026
- Hellbrunn’s palace and trick fountains operate seasonally, with their own last entry. The public gardens have a different schedule. Check both before choosing the third afternoon.Source: Hellbrunn · checked Sep 2026
Questions
3 days in Salzburg: quick answers
Are the two Mozart museums the same place?
No. The birthplace is on Getreidegasse and the later residence is on Makartplatz. This plan gives each its own visit.
Can I follow this itinerary in winter?
Yes, with changes. Choose safe hill conditions and replace the seasonal palace and fountains programme at Hellbrunn with a grounds walk or more time in the centre.
Is a Sound of Music tour included?
No. A tour beyond the city needs its own transport and would replace a substantial part of a day.
Does the fortress visit include walking uphill?
The time allowance assumes the funicular. Walking up and down the steep routes needs more time and a shorter afternoon.
Do the transport estimates include returning from Hellbrunn?
The displayed transfer is the outbound connection. Allow a further 45 minutes before dinner for the return to central Salzburg.
More time or less
Other Salzburg itineraries
Keep exploring
