Salzburg is one of the most beautiful places in Austria. Visiting in winter can feel like you’re stepping into a postcard! Salzburg with kids can be a lot of fun, even in the snow. Walking around the city with the snow falling really felt like being in a winter wonderland. We only had a little over one day in Salzburg to explore, here’s what we did and some extra ideas to fill your Salzburg itinerary. There is a good mix of things to see outside and places you can go to warm up.

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MOZARTPLATZ

Salzburg’s most famous son has his own statue here. Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756. You cannot visit Salzburg without paying homage to the prolific composer! This statue is set in a beautiful square where you will also see horse-drawn carriages. With the snow, the buildings, and the statue it really feels like you are in picture-perfect Europe!

Have more time? Read this for what to do with one week in Austria!

GETREIDGASSE

This is Salzburg’s best shopping area. The street is lined with everything from boutiques to big box stores like H&M. Perusing the shops for local treasures and Mozart balls (a local candy) is fun and entertaining for everyone. Don’t forget to admire the shop signs hanging above the street. Even McDonald’s has a fancy wrought iron sign!

You can also find Mozart’s birth house here, and you will see plenty of shops selling Mozart merchandise. Mozart’s birthplace is a museum you can tour. With our small children and double stroller, we opted to just admire the yellow house from outside. It would be an interesting place to tour though if you don’t have kids who can handle a quieter environment.

Take a trip to Garmisch, Germany in the Winter! Read the Guide to Winter in Garmisch.

SALZBURG CATHEDRAL

Europe is full of beautiful churches and this one is no exception! The Salzburg Cathedral was originally founded in 774. Mozart was Christened here as well. We lucked out that our son who was 18 months at the time, fell asleep right as we arrived. We were able to pop inside for a quiet walk around. We enjoyed admiring the interior and lighting a candle. We were also treated with church bells upon leaving. It was a really neat moment to exit the church, hear the bells, and see the snow falling heavily over the city.

SALZBURG CASTLE/FORTRESS HOHENSALZBURG

Salzburg Castle covered in snow upon a hill overlooking the town.

The castle fortress sits on a hill above Salzburg overlooking the town. Originally we had planned to take the funicular up to the castle to take in the view and explore the complex. However, by the time we were ready, it had really started snowing and the visibility was poor. Also, we were advised that there was a decent amount of stairs. Our son was sleeping in the stroller at the time, so we decided to skip it. Waking him up to haul a double stroller up and down stairs in the snow didn’t sound like a good idea. We missed out, but I would recommend going up to the castle to have a look around!

HAUS DER NATUR

Haus der Natur was so much fun for the kids! We only spent an afternoon here but we could’ve easily been here all day. There was a whole side of the museum we didn’t really get to enjoy because we ran out of time. This is the perfect place to escape the winter weather and let kids have a little bit of fun.

There were many different exhibits on the natural world, including a small aquarium and reptile zoo. There was also plenty of hands-on fun! We spent time constructing objects with straws, learning about energy, and experimenting with sound. There is a cafe here if you need to take a break to get something to eat.

MARKARTSTEG (LOCK BRIDGE)

Family picture on a lock-covered bridge with snowy Salzburg in the background.

Walk to this bridge to see all the love locks and the fantastic view of the town with the castle in the background. This is the best family photo spot in Salzburg if you ask me! Our children had fun looking at the locks, dancing to accordion music, and running up and down the sides of the bridge.

MORE SALZBURG IDEAS:

Snowy Salzburg with horse carriage and pastel-colored buildings.

SOUND OF MUSIC TOUR

How could I talk about Salzburg without talking about The Sound of Music?! Many movie fans come to Salzburg to see the locations from the movie. We didn’t have time to do a tour (and probably wouldn’t have done it with our very small children) but this is definitely a highlight for many people! Check out this tour, sure to be a fun day!

SALT MINE

Outside of Salzburg by about 35 minutes is Berchtesgaden salt mine. Salz means salt in German, so you can see that salt played an important part in this city’s economy. I have heard it is a lot of fun, and you should consider a visit! Be advised that it is not stroller friendly, but you can wear a baby in a baby carrier.

SCHLOSS MIRABELL

Schloss Mirabell looks like such a wonderful place to explore. I would’ve liked to spend time wandering the gardens here. I’m sure it is so lovely in the spring and summer. It was featured in The Sound of Music during the song “Do, Re, Mi.” You can also find Mozart concerts here on occasion, so be sure to check the schedule!

DAY TRIP FROM SALZBURG to hallstatt

Lakeside mountain town, Hallstatt in summer. It is still wonderfully beautiful in winter!

The entire Salzkammergut region, a lake district, is just 30 minutes outside of Salzburg. It is well worth a visit any time of year. The most popular destination is Hallstatt, a picture-perfect lakeside town.

You should expect many other tourists to visit Hallstatt. You can reach it by car (parking is limited) or by train and ferry. We took the train to Hallstatt on a different visit to the region and then took the boat across the lake. It is one of the most charming little towns you will see in Europe!

In addition to Hallstatt, there are many other beautiful lakes, gondolas to mountain tops, lake cruises, and other attractions. I highly recommend looking into the possibility of exploring this area when you visit Salzburg!

Visting Austria at Christmas time? See why you should visit Innsbruck’s Christmas Market.

Have you been to Salzburg? What were your favorite things to do? Leave me a comment below!