Two Days in Salzburg, Austria with the Family

On the German-Austrian border lies one of the most famous cities in Europe, thanks to the 1965 movie, The Sound of Music. While there are plenty of tours that will bring you to the original home of the Von Trapps: most kids aren’t going to be thrilled by a full day of bus tours and travel guide lectures.

Instead, you can visit this Salzburg with kids and pack a ton of memorable experiences into two wonderful days.

Plan your Salzburg family trip

Getting to Salzburg: Salzburg has its own small international airport (SZG) with direct flights from major European hubs. Many families fly into Munich (MUC) instead and take the 90-minute train or drive to Salzburg, which can be cheaper from the U.S. and gives you a chance to combine Bavaria and Austria into one trip. The train ride is scenic and easy-ish with kids. Within Salzburg itself, the old town is walkable, and buses cover the rest of the city well.

When to go: Late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October) are the sweet spots for Salzburg with kids. Weather is mild, gardens are in bloom, and crowds are manageable. July and August are peak tourist season with higher prices and longer lines, but the festival energy is real if your family doesn’t mind crowds. December brings stunning Christmas markets, though the cold can be a lot for younger kids.

Where to base yourself: Old Town (Altstadt) is the most picturesque base and puts you walking distance to most of the Day One stops, though it can be busy. The Right Bank near Mirabell Palace is quieter and still walkable to everything. Family-friendly hotels worth researching include the Hotel Sacher Salzburg (luxury, central, has a family suite), Hotel Stein (rooftop bar with views, modern rooms), and the Arthotel Blaue Gans (boutique, walkable to all old town stops). For groups or longer stays, an apartment rental near Mirabell can give families more space and a kitchen.

How long to spend: Two days is the right length for a focused Salzburg-with-kids trip. If you have a third day, see the “more time” expansion at the bottom of this guide.

Jump to a section

• Day One: Sound of Music and Old Town
• Day Two: The Salt Mine
• If you have more time in the region
• Read more European family travel guides

Day One: Sound of Music & Old Town

Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn) 

Schloss, which means castle, is an accurate description for this gorgeous mansion. It was finished in 1619 by the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg as a pleasure house. Today, this location still has a reputation for bringing joy to visitors and it will be a huge hit with the kids.

The inside of the building is filled with rooms. Each one has a specific theme that tells about the history of the castle and a bit about the region. Kids will not want to leave the room with the stunning floor to ceiling paintings and a spinning couch that lets you take it in from every angle. But the interior of this castle is not even what makes Hellbrunn a top family-friendly destination in Salzburg.

So what actually makes it so special? The grounds!

Just outside lies the gardens, which are filled with grottos to explore, a tiny mechanical theater, and a plethora of trick fountains at every turn. DISCLAIMER: You will get wet. The kids will be thrilled by the floating crown, spitting statues, and doorways that know exactly when you will be crossing over them.

If you happen to be a Sound of Music fan, the pavilion where Liesel and Franz meet up to sing “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” lives on the edge of the park near the entrance.

Mirabell Gardens

Your next stop on day one is iconic: Mirabell Gardens. The gardens outside of Mirabell Palace was a location featured in the Sound of Music, and it is free to the public today. The gardens are small, but have stunning views of the Hohensalzburg Fortress on the hill in the distance. This is the perfect place for kids and parents alike to stretch their legs while enjoying the beautiful sights and smells of all the flowers in bloom. Don’t forget to stop at the dwarf garden to say hello to all the dwarf sculptures!

Salzburg Cathedral & Residence Fountain

A thirty minute walk from Mirabell Gardens brings you down to the heart of Salzburg. Among many cobblestone streets, nestled behind shops and restaurants, you will find the stunning Salzburg Cathedral. Adults will be enthralled by the architecture and art on the inside. For the kids, the true gem lies just outside.

There are a few statues in the plaza where the cathedral sits. But the massive Residence Fountain with four snorting horses emerging from the rock will captivate the kiddos. Who doesn’t love a good fountain?

If time allows, real horses pulling carriages are plentiful in this area. They’re waiting to take your family on a tour of the old town.

Hohensalzburg Fortress

Your last stop of day one is just a short walk up the hill from Salzburg Cathedral. Hop on the funicular—a railcar that brings you up a mountainside—and visit the exhibits throughout the fortress showcasing what life was like for the prince archbishops. Some of the exhibits are interactive, and the dungeon-like room filled with wooden marionettes is a bit creepy.

The fortress lives on the perfect hill to take in the sight of Salzburg as the sun goes down over the city at the end of the day. Be warned, however—your kids’ favorite part of this experience is likely to be the funicular.

When you arrive back at the bottom of the funicular, start walking uphill about 50 meters until you find Stieg Keller. The restaurant has some really nice authentic Austrian food, some even better beers, and gorgeous views of the city of Salzburg while you enjoy them both.

Day Two: The Salt Mine!

Salzwelten Salzburg

There is only one stop on your second day in Salzburg with kids in tow, partly because it lies a bit outside the city and partly because your kids will want to spend the entire day here.

A 30-minute drive from the city center will bring you to the world’s oldest salt mine. The experience starts with all family members suiting up into bright white jumpsuits. Then you head outside to the trains that bring you down through the tunnels to the heart of the mine. What is lovingly deemed a “train” is actually more akin to a lunchroom bench. Here all the participants will straddle the bench and hold tight to the person in front of them for the 10-minute ride into the mine. (And please, hold tight! This train moves pretty quickly. The kids will LOVE it.)

Upon arrival in the depths of the earth you will get a few lectures from your tour guide about the history of the mine, about the salt itself, and how it all works. However, you’ll also get to board a barge. Take a short ride across an underground lake and take a ride on a salt miner’s slide.

This long wooden slide is unlike any you’ll find at your local playground. Here, only your butt fits into the narrow slide area and your legs flow over the sides. You will move fast down this thing! And at Salzwelten you’ll even have the opportunity to race other family members on your way down. 

As you walk through the mine tunnels, you’ll briefly cross over into Germany and then back into Austria, so you can be in two countries at once if you wish!

After you ascend back to the surface, there is a full Celtic Village replica on the mountainside. The kids (and adults!) can explore what life was like in this area thousands of years ago.

Noshing in Hallein

Once you finally peel the kids away from the Salt Mine, I recommend stopping in nearby Hallein for a meal. Danijel’s Restaurant & Vinothek will absolutely hit the spot. Tucked among a bunch of old buildings down a cobblestone street, this eatery was a bit hard to find. But, I’m glad we did. We actually were headed to a different place, but they were closed when we arrived!

Danijel’s is a Croatian restaurant that is cozy and clean—and also filled with locals. We nabbed a table in the very back. Then, we enjoyed one of the most delicious meals I’ve had in all of Europe.

If you have more time in the region

If your family has a third day in Salzburg or you’re combining the trip with broader Austria or Bavaria travel, here are a few worthwhile add-ons:

Werfen Ice Caves (Eisriesenwelt). About 45 minutes south of Salzburg, the largest ice cave in the world is a half-day excursion with a cable car ride, a guided walking tour, and stunning frozen formations. Best for kids 6 and up because of the stairs and cold. Open May to October only.

Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus). Across the German border near Berchtesgaden, this mountaintop building is a piece of WWII history (originally a gift for Hitler) now operating as a restaurant with panoramic views. The bus ride up is dramatic. The history conversation is heavy and best for older kids who can engage with it meaningfully.

Lake Wolfgang and Hallstatt. A bit further afield (90 minutes each way) but the Lake District east of Salzburg is truly stunning. Hallstatt is the famous postcard village. It gets very crowded in peak season, so go early morning or stay overnight to experience it at quieter hours.

Munich day trip. Munich is about 90 minutes by train from Salzburg and works as an easy add-on. The Deutsches Museum and English Garden are family-friendly highlights.

For multi-country Europe trips with kids, see the Romantic Road Germany itinerary, which pairs naturally with Salzburg.

Adults may be thrilled to visit Salzburg for the pure nostalgia—and because the hills are alive!—but the entire family will enjoy all the outdoor activities this destination has to offer. Just two days here will allow you to explore the city, the countryside, and a few iconic Sound of Music spots that every member of the family will love.

Read more European family travel guides

• The Sound of Music: It’s Still One of My Favorite Things (Family Vacation)
• Road Tripping in Europe: Driving the Romantic Road Germany Itinerary
• 12 Alluring Days in Scotland: Itinerary
• Classic Italy in 7 Days: Venice, Florence, and Rome
• Greece for Families: A Multi-Generational Travel Guide
• Lovely London with Littles: Best Things by a Local