Where To Stay In Salzburg, Austria: Accommodation & Area Guide (2021)

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Wondering Where To Stay In Salzburg, Austria? Here’s Our Experience!

Heading for Salzburg, Austria? Great idea! The charming city full of historic architecture and stunning natural beauty is definitely worth checking out. However, finding the best place to stay in Salzburg can be tricky. This is because there are so many great options.

We really liked our visit to Salzburg. While we didn’t choose a place to stay in the popular Salzburg Old Town, we stayed in Boutique-Gasthof Überfuhr and really, really liked it.

However, there are many popular hotels in Salzburg – like Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt Salzburg – located closer to the Salzburg city centre.

As for where you should stay around Salzburg, there are a handful of nice neighbourhoods (called Districts) with accommodation styles that are great for solo travellers, couples, and even families.

So, from cozy guesthouses to Salzburg hotels in the Old Town, here’s our guide on Salzburg accommodations and areas to check out.

**Friendly Disclosure: We paid for the accommodation we stayed at ourselves and were not told to include it in this article.

Accommodation Types in Salzburg

Salzburg is the fourth-largest city in Austria and, to be honest, the city doesn’t feel very big. The fact that it is nestled between green hills/mountains makes it feel smaller, too.

The city actually sprawls out quite a bit. If you are visiting Salzburg, you’d only really stay in a handful of areas. These areas are what we cover below in this post.

The nice thing about Salzburg is that accommodation styles aren’t segregated by area. This means you can find a mix of hotels, apartments, and cozy guesthouses all in the city centre. It isn’t just all hotels, for example.

So, this guide is divided into two parts: Salzburg accommodations by type – hotel, apartment, etc. – and then the best areas to stay in Salzburg.

This way, if you know the type of lodging in Salzburg you want you can get looking right now or you can read on about the neighbourhoods further down in this post!

Hotels in Salzburg

white hotel in city sitting along green river bank in salzburg austria
The lovely Sacher Hotel sitting by the river!

It might come as no surprise that – given its popularity – there are a ton of Salzburg hotels. The hotels in Salzburg range from budget all the way up to the luxury hotels along the river and in the Old Town.

If you want a hotel in Salzburg, you will certainly have many to choose from. Having said that, we’ve divided up the hotels by type so you can check out ones that align with your style/needs and budget!

⇒ Get started searching for hotels in Salzburg here

If you are keen to check out some of the most popular Salzburg hotels in great areas that balance value for money, location, and amenities, here are a number of the best hotels in Salzburg, Austria.

Popular Salzburg Hotels

Budget/Cheap Hotels in Salzburg

Even though Salzburg can look and feel like an expensive city, there are a number of hotels that are well within a reasonable budget.

Also, and surprisingly, the cheap hotels in Salzburg aren’t just in the areas really far from top sights and attractions. You can find cheap places to stay in Salzburg in a great area – something you cannot say for all cities!

As for these “budget” hotels, there is absolutely nothing “bad” about them. Often the only differences come down to the services/amenities that they offer compared to the top hotels.

So, if you need a budget place to stay for a few days in Salzburg, consider these hotels in great areas:

Boutique Hotels in Salzburg

Since Salzburg is known for its upscale style, there is no shortage of gorgeous, quirky, and lavish boutique hotel in Salzburg.

To be honest, Austria definitely has a thing for boutique hotels. We stayed in a boutique hotel in both Linz and Innsbruck and they were great.

So, if you want a boutique hotel in Salzburg, you should check out these top choices. From rooftop terraces to unique décor and trendy bars, it’ll be hard to choose!

Luxury Hotels in Salzburg

As a charming city for travellers from all over the world, Salzburg is definitely no stranger to catering to those high-class, 5-star luxury experiences.

As such, there are a number of luxury hotels in Salzburg known for high-rated services and amenities.

The Salzburg luxury hotels below are all five star hotels but located in different areas in and around the Old Town.

  • Hotel Sacher Salzburg – An elegant and upscale hotel right on the river with restaurants, café, and bar (Our Pick)
  • Hotel Goldener Hirsch – A traditional luxury hotel located right in the heart of the Old Town
  • Hotel Bristol Salzburg– An stylish hotel close to the river and Old Town with buffet breakfast, bar, and massages

Guesthouses/Bed and Breakfasts in Salzburg

blue river from bridge with castle and green hill in distance salzburg austria
The view/walk from our guesthouse was along the river – and we loved it.

Often also called “Gasthaus” or “Pension” in German, there are quite a few bed and breakfasts in and around Salzburg. Generally speaking, the guesthouses in Salzburg are in quieter, more residential and often more green areas.

That said, you can actually find some close to or in the Old Town. This means you don’t have to sacrifice a great location for your B&B stay! You can check here for bed and breakfasts in Salzburg.

As mentioned above, we stayed at Boutique-Gasthof Überfuhr. The placed was an authentic guesthouse with a restaurant/beer garden on the main floor, a great breakfast, a super nice host, and free bike rentals for guests (which we used to go to Schloss Hellbrunn)!

We also enjoyed the walk along the river to and from the city each day so we would highly recommend if the above sounds good to you.

Since there are a few more B&Bs/guesthouses to choose from, we’ve included a variety of others to get you started:

  • Sarah’s Altstadt Oase Salzburg – A simple, relaxed guesthouse right in the Old Town with a lovely host and breakfast included (Our Other Pick)
  • The Little Guesthouse – A lovely guesthouse in a green area with free bikes and breakfast located just down the river
  • Adlerhof – An extremely popular and authentic B&B close to the train station with breakfast and transit close
  • Pension Katrin – A simple, cozy family-run guesthouse in Nonntal (with bus route to everywhere nearby)

Hostels in Salzburg

Even though Salzburg is a bit of a glitzy city, there are a handful of really good hostels for budget travellers and backpackers.

You can check here for top hostels in Salzburg. Below are basically the top hostels in Salzburg from names you’d recognize:

Apartments in Salzburg

Although hotels and B&Bs generally dominate the city, there are a number of great apartments in Salzburg to choose from.

Apartments can make a great base to call home while you explore Salzburg with family or with a bigger group.

You can check here for great apartments in Salzburg. Listed below are a few lovely Salzburg apartments or aparthotels in great locatiosn:

Neighbourhoods/Areas in Salzburg

building roofs in city with river running through centre in Salzburg austria old town
Almost all the best places to stay in Salzburg one photograph!

Now that we have covered accommodations in Salzburg by style, let’s go over the best areas to stay in. Divided up by districts, we’ll start with telling you a bit about the area, what’s there, and why it might be a good fit for you.

After that, we’ll dive into a few accommodation choices for you to check out. Generally speaking, we start with the most central locations in Salzburg and work our way outward!

These aren’t all the areas you could stay in. However, this list reflects the top areas as well as a good mix of areas for different kinds of visitors. Remember: the best location to stay in Salzburg will differ by each traveller and their unique interests!

If you know you’re travelling to Salzburg and aren’t too picky, you might be interested in getting started to look for accommodations. If this is you, below is a brief breakdown of featured Salzburg areas that you should aim to stay in and our top pick for each one!

Top Salzburg Accommodation By Area

To be as helpful as possible, we also wanted to include places to stay at/around Salzburg Airport W. A. Mozart (SZG). It’s a fairly small airport – but there are a number of hotels/guesthouses within walking distance.

That said, the airport is not far from the city centre of Salzburg – unlike in Munich, for example. For reference, you can drive from the Central Train Station to the Airport in around 20 minutes (give or take traffic). Any of the hotels are likely to have airport shuttles or they can easily call a taxi for you, too.

A Note About Salzburg Safety: Salzburg is a safe city – even for safe European standards. That said, there are areas to avoid staying in. This is not because they are unsafe – but just because for a first-time visitor there are much better options to choose first.

You might want to avoid staying in Lehen (along the river) since general consensus is that it’s one of the cheaper areas in the city to live. Also, there aren’t a ton of accommodations there anyways.

Altstadt (Old Town) – For Sights & Attractions

large cathedral with green domes and old town buildings in salzburg austria
There’s Salzburg Cathedral (green domes) – and the rest of the historic Old Town around it!

If you want to stay in the most central location, then the Salzburg Old Town (Altstadt) is for you. While most of the Old Town is located on the south bank of the River Salzach, there is a small section designated “Old Town” on the north side touching New Town.

As you can imagine, this is the area is known for history, architecture, and sightseeing. This makes it a great option for those wanting to discover as much as they can, travellers short on time, or for travellers with limited mobility.

colourful old town buildings and archway in salzburg austria altstadt
The architecture in the Altstadt is absolutely lovely…

Another thing you’ll notice about Salzburg (especially the city centre) is that it’s very lavished. It’s a pretty city – and there’s certainly money flowing around it. As such, there are many restaurants, hotels, and services that cater to high-end experiences – especially in the Old Town.

Of course, if you decide to stay here, you’d have a short walk home in the evenings BUT you will also have to be mindful of the crowds during the day and possibly the noise.

That said, you can find top attractions like Fortress Hohensalzburg (the Castle), Mozart’s Birthplace, Salzburg Cathedral, the DomQuartier, Getreidegasse (for shopping) and much more located in the heart of the Old Town!

⇒ Check Here For Accommodations In Salzburg’s Altstadt (Old Town)

Featured Accommodations in the Altstadt (Old Town)

Below are some of the top accommodations in the Old Town area. If you’re wondering where to stay in the Salzburg Old Town, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Below are a good mix of hotels and even a nice guesthouse!

In the end, you can’t beat the location of hotels in Salzburg city centre if you want to be the heart of the action for sightseeing and attractions. So, have a look at these great places below:

Hotel Elefant – Check Now

old signs hanging along old town street in salzburg austria
You can find Hotel Elefant down streets similar this one!
  • Style: A Simple Yet Upscale Hotel
  • Price Range: Mid-Range
  • Location: Right in the heart of the Old Town – couldn’t be any closer
  • Featured Amenities: Excellent breakfast, a perfect mix of value and location for the price point

Sarah’s Altstadt Oase Salzburg – Check Now

  • Style: A Simple and Relaxed Bed and Breakfast
  • Price Range: Mid-Range
  • Location: In the Old Town, with beautiful views of the river
  • Featured Amenities: Daily breakfast, comfy beds, a super nice host

Hotel Goldener Hirsch – Check Now

  • Style: A Traditional Luxury Hotel
  • Price Range: Luxury
  • Location: Right in the heart of the Old Town on Getreidegasse (great for shopping)
  • Featured Amenities: Onsite bar/Austrian restaurant, excellent breakfast

Neustadt (New Town) – For Shopping + Nightlife

red tram crossing bridge over river with old town buildings behind salzburg austria
New Town is just across the river from the Old Town!

If you are travelling to Salzburg with the intention of enjoying the nightlife, then you might want to stay in New Town. Located just across the river from the main part of the Old Town on the north side of the river, New Town is the area known for nightlife, food, bars and more. 

Now, admittedly it’s kind of loosely defined where the Old Town ends and New Town begins. However, for our purposes, the hotels and restaurants that are just south of the central train station and north of the river are New Town – and it’s considered a really good location.

The area itself is also quite historic and features lovely architecture which makes staying here a great option. Depending on the exact street you stay on, it can also be quieter than the Old Town (assuming you don’t stay right beside a bar)!

This whole area is unique in the sense that you’re close to places to eat, bars for drinks – and you’re still only a short walk to the Old Town and to the train station.

You’ll also find a handful of attractions nearby like: Linzer Gasse, (shopping street), Mirabell Palace + Gardens, Mozart-Wohnhaus, and the hike to the Kapuzinerkloster, to name a few.

Featured Accommodations in Neustadt (New Town) Area

Below are a handful of the accommodation options in New Town. It’s mainly hotels that are here. In fact, you’ll find many of the top hotels in Salzburg located here.

However, the area has a nice mix of them. As we mentioned, this area is centrally-located without being too touristy!

The Mozart Hotel – Check Now

  • Style: A Trendy and Bright Boutique Hotel
  • Price Range: Lower Mid-Range
  • Location: In New Town, a short walk across the bridge to Old town
  • Featured Amenities: Great breakfast, bar onsite, friendly staff

Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt Salzburg – Check Now

  • Style: A Clean and Simple Hotel (very popular)
  • Price Range: Upper Budget
  • Location: Just off Linzer Gasse – a short walk to shopping and the heart of the Old Town
  • Featured Amenities: Nice buffet breakfast, parking available, quiet back patio

Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg – Check Now

green and red gardens with paths and historic building in mirabell palace salzburg
You can stay at Imlauer Hotel just outside this attraction – Mirabell Palace!
  • Style: A Bright and Modern Historic Hotel
  • Price Range: Mid-Range
  • Location: Right in New Town walkable to the train station and the Old Town (on a main bus route, too)
  • Featured Amenities: Great breakfast, spacious rooms, amazing views from rooftop patio bar/restaurant

Boutique Hotel AUERSPERG – Check Now

  • Style: A Bright and Trendy Hotel
  • Price Range: Mid-Range
  • Location: In the heart of New Town easily walkable to the Old Town
  • Featured Amenities: Breakfast, garden, parking, and rooftop terrace

Elisabeth-Vorstadt – For Convenience & Transport

city buildings from above with green hills behind in salzburg austria
See the blue building? That’s the arte Hotel Salzburg at the train station!

If you’re visiting Salzburg but staying “on the move”, then you might want to stay close to the Central Bus/Train Station in Salzburg. For this, you can stay in Elisabeth-Vorstadt. Usually areas near train stations have a bad reputation but Salzburg is an exception.

The area close to the train station is packed with a mix of shiny new hotels, classic guesthouses, and budget accommodations that you’d expect to find.

With new development and a bit of shopping around, the area is also a good option for catching public transport.

Another great thing about choosing Salzburg hotels near train station is that – because Salzburg isn’t a huge city – you can still walk to the heart of the Old Town across the river in about 20 minutes.

⇒ Check Here For Accommodations In Elisabeth-Vorstadt

Alternatively, you can take the bus (we did) from this area to anywhere in the city very easily. There aren’t any attractions around but that’s not why you stay here anyway!

Featured Accommodations in Elisabeth-Vorstadt

Below you’ll find some of the best accommodations in Elisabeth-Vorstadt. There are quite a few places packed together – some right at the train station – while others are tucked away a street or two. In general, it’s a great location if you are on the go and you can find deals here, too!

Hotel Der Salzburger Hof – Check Now

  • Style: A Modern and Bright Hotel
  • Price Range: Upper Budget
  • Location: Also right across from the Central Train Station, still walkable to Old Town
  • Featured Amenities: Excellent breakfast, spacious rooms, parking onsite

H+ Hotel Salzburg – Check Now

  • Style: A Bright, Cool Hotel
  • Price Range: Mid-Range
  • Location: Literally right across from the train station
  • Featured Amenities: Nice breakfast, gym/sauna on site, parking for a fee

Adlerhof – Check Now

  • Style: A Charming and Authentic B&B (very popular)
  • Price Range: Upper Budget
  • Location: Basically right across from Salzburg Central Train Station
  • Featured Amenities: Nice big breakfast, friendly staff, bike rentals available

arte Hotel Salzburg – Check Now

  • Style: A Modern and Sophisticated Hotel
  • Price Range: Mid-Range
  • Location: Right at the Central Train Station (seen in photo above) but still walkable to Old Town (or use transit)
  • Featured Amenities: City views, great breakfast, lovely rooftop bar

Nonntal – For Quiet & Authentic Stays

castle high on green hill overlooking old town buildings and river in salzburg austria
The Nonntal area is to the left of the Castle – just away from the Old Town.

If your trip to Salzburg is to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the Austrian countryside, then a stay in Nonntal is for you! Located just south of the Old Town (behind the Castle), this little neighbourhood of Salzburg is known to be very quiet, residential, and peaceful. 

Nonntal is kind of like a hidden gem – but for good reason. The area doesn’t get busy yet it only takes a 10/15 minute walk to the river and the Old Town. The main road is also loaded with bus stops so you can always take transit to the centre (or further to the train station) if needed.

⇒ Check Here For Accommodations In Nonntal

Again, since this is a more green and quiet area, there aren’t too many attractions around. That said, you are so close to the Castle (Fortress Hohensalzburg), Stift Nonnberg, a few parks, the river, and more.

Featured Accommodations in Nonntal

Below are a variety of top accommodations in Nonntal. Since the area is quiet but still very close to the Old Town, these properties would make for a nice quiet base to return to after a day exploring Salzburg!

Pension Katrin – Check Now

green field with houses beside and mountain in distance in salzburg austria
Pension Katrin is JUST behind that Castle tower in beautiful Nonntal!
  • Style: A Simple and Cozy Family-Run Guesthouse
  • Price Range: Upper Budget
  • Location: Right on the main street with views of the Castle (bus stop close but walkable to city centre)
  • Featured Amenities: Daily breakfast, nice hosts, free parking

JUFA Hotel Salzburg City – Check Now

  • Style: A Simple and Clean Hotel (larger rooms good for families)
  • Price Range: Budget
  • Location: South side of the river, very close to the Old Town
  • Featured Amenities: Buffet breakfast, bar and terrace, packed lunches for early departures

Hotel Via Roma – Check Now

  • Style: A Simple and Friendly Hotel
  • Price Range: Upper Budget
  • Location: Right on the main street with castle views (bus stop close but walkable to city centre)
  • Featured Amenities: Large garden terrace, free parking, breakfast available

Maxglan/Salzburg Airport – For Flying

As we discussed briefly above, we also wanted to include hotels near Salzburg Airport. The airport (SZG) is the second largest in Austria because it’s popular to reach the city and some ski destinations.

That said, you can find a mix of guesthouses and hotels near the airport in the area close by called Maxglan.

Maxglan is actually sandwiched between the airport and the Old Town. It’s a large district with commercial space near the airport but also a fairly green and hilly residential area closer to the Old Town (which would be a nice and quiet place to stay).

Keep in mind, you can make it to the airport in under 30 minutes from basically anywhere in the city. So, don’t stress over finding an airport hotel but certainly book one in the area if you have an early flight.

⇒ Check Here For Hotels At/Near Salzburg Airport

Also worth mentioning is the fact that there are actually attractions out this direction for you to explore like Hangar-7 and the Stiegl Brewery.

Featured Hotels in Maxglan/Salzburg Airport

Below are a handful of great hotel/guesthouse options for staying close to Salzburg Airport. Generally speaking, you’d be about a 30 minute walk to the heart of the Old Town from the top two accommodations.

Hotel Himmelreich – Check Now

  • Style: An Authentic and Family-Run Hotel
  • Price Range: Lower Mid-Range
  • Location: Basically right outside the Salzburg Airport terminals
  • Featured Amenities: Great breakfast, garden, outdoor pool, mountain views

Hotel Astoria – Check Now

  • Style: A Simple and Clean Hotel
  • Price Range: Lower Mid-Range
  • Location: Walkable to the city centre but also has bus stop right outside
  • Featured Amenities: Great breakfast, terrace, free parking

Das Grüne Hotel zur Post – Check Now

  • Style: A Cozy Eco-Friendly Hotel
  • Price Range: Upper Budget
  • Location: Quiet area also with bus stop to city centre close by (can also walk)
  • Featured Amenities: Buffet breakfast, free parking, lovely staff

FAQ

If you’ve got questions about where to stay in Salzburg, Austria – whether you’re a couple, exploring Christmas markets, or need the train station – check out these detailed answers just for you!

What are some hotels in Salzburg, Austria near the train station?

If you are looking for hotels in Salzburg near the train station, you are in luck. There are many hotels directly across from the central train station (Salzburg Hauptbahnhof) and a bunch more really well-rated ones in the general vicinity (known as Elisabeth-Vorstadt).

The H+ Hotel Salzburg is just outside the main entrance to the station overlooking the bus station while arte Hotel Salzburg and Hotel Der Salzburger Hof.

Hotels in this area are a good choice for those catching train but you can also walk to the Old Town or catch a bus there for easy exploration of the city.

Where to stay in Salzburg for couples?

The best places to places to stay in Salzburg for couples is one of the hotels with an amazing rooftop terrace. Hotels like Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg will allow you to gaze out over the Old Town and view the beautiful Fortress Hohensalzburg high atop its hill.

Boutique Hotel AUERSPERG is located close to shopping in Neustadt and features a mini-spa with a beautiful rooftop terrace lookout.

For a little peace and quiet to return to nature, we’d recommend Boutique-Gasthof Überfuhr because of the quiet location outside the city centre along the river, the great breakfast, and the free bike rentals – perfect for exploring!

Where to stay in Salzburg for the Christmas markets?

If you are heading to Salzburg to explore the festive Christmas Markets, you can find them located in Domplatz and Residenzplatz in the heart of the Old Town.

So, if you’re looking for where to stay for the Salzburger Christkindlmarkt, anywhere within walking distance to the Old Town (or in the Old Town) would work very well.

Hotel Elefant is located right off Getreidegasse (the main shopping street) in the Old Town which can lead you right to Residenzplatz. You could also stay just across the Salzach River at the Star Inn Hotel Premium Salzburg Gablerbräu for easy access to the Old Town – even in the winter!

Related Articles

If you’re looking for more posts on Salzburg (and Austria, in general), here’s a few more to help you trip plan:

And there you have it – a rundown of where to stay in Salzburg! In the end, this isn’t meant to be all the areas to stay in – only the most popular/best choices for travellers. Different ones will appeal to different travel groups – but we’re sure you can find something that fits your style and needs!

As always, Happy Waddlin’,
-L&E

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