City of Salzburg

Not far from the Bavarian border lies the important Austrian trade fair and congress city of Salzburg on the Salzach river. In addition to a beautiful, historic old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Salzburg has one of the largest medieval castle complexes in Europe, Hohensalzburg Fortress. Salzburg Cathedral, Mirabell Palace with its beautiful gardens, Hellbrunn Palace and the Franciscan Church are also unmistakable features of Salzburg.

Numerous museums in the city invite you to immerse yourself in the past or other worlds. Restaurants, theaters, galleries and shops make for an entertaining and varied day. Due to its manageable size, the city is best explored on foot. Just let yourself drift through the old town, explore the small alleys away from the hotspots, and be sure to climb the odd hidden staircase to the top, where you will often be surprised by a fantastic view of the city.

When the hustle and bustle of the city gets too much for you and you long for peace and nature, you won't have to look far in Salzburg. On the one hand, the many green spaces and parks offer opportunities for walks and short breaks. On the other hand, Salzburg's mountains are the center of sports activities in the middle of the city. Whether it's a short city walk, a jog or even a climbing route, the city mountains are the ideal recreational area for Salzburgers and their guests and also offer the most beautiful views of the city.

The Festungsberg and the Mönchsberg rise up in the middle of the old town. They can be perfectly integrated into a sightseeing tour of the Old Town. On the other side of the Salzach is the Kapuzinerberg. Here you will find not only the best views of the city, especially the Mönchsbergblick, but also beautiful paths where, with a little luck, you might even meet Salzburg's city goats. Yes, that's right, a dozen chamois live on the Kapuzinerberg. This is unique in the world. But it's not just the chamois that make the Kapuzinerberg so special, it's also the city wall via ferrata, Salzburg's only via ferrata.

Salzburg is not only a great city for hikers, walkers and trail runners, Salzburg is also the cycling capital of Austria. In no other city are more trips made by bicycle. A well-developed network of cycle paths, especially along the Salzach, makes Salzburg a real everyday cycling paradise.

The surrounding countryside is also very easy to explore by bike. In the north, cycle routes on side roads and freight roads lead into the Salzburg Lake District and further into the Innviertel. Similarly relaxed routes take you into neighboring Bavaria or along the Salzach to the south of the state. All of these routes are also a pleasure on a road bike.

If you prefer to get off the beaten path, there are also plenty of trails in Salzburg. Gravel bikers can explore the long gravel paths in the Salzkammergut mountains. The routes to the Genneralm or along the old Postalm road are absolute highlights. The beautiful climbs up the Gaisberg or the Rossfeld are not only interesting for road bikers, but also for gravel bikers.

Mountain bikers don't have it quite so easy: in the immediate vicinity of the city, the number of approved routes is limited. The Heuberg Trail has recently become the first legal MTB trail. It is, however, quite challenging and only suitable for experienced bikers. Last but not least, one of Austria's most famous long-distance cycling routes, the Ciclovia Alpe-Adria-Radweg, starts in Salzburg.