Austria

Where To Stay In Salzburg, Austria: Accommodation & Neighbourhood Guide

building roofs in city with river running through centre where to stay in salzburg austria old town
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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 long you stay in Salzburg, you’re going to need a place to stay!

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

As for where you should stay around Salzburg, there are a handful of neighbourhoods (called Districts) with accommodation styles that are great for solo travellers, couples, and even families. So, from cozy guesthouses to 5-star hotels in the charming Old Town, here’s our guide on Salzburg accommodations and great neighbourhoods to check out.

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

**Friendly Disclosure: We paid for the accommodation we stayed at ourselves and were not told to include it in this article. This is not a “sponsored stay” but our legitimate review.

Where to Stay in Salzburg – Accommodation Options

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 – but if you are visiting Salzburg, you’d only really stay in a handful of areas. These areas are what we cover below.

The nice thing about Salzburg is that accommodation styles aren’t segregated by area – as in you can find apartments, hotels, and cozy bed and breakfasts all in the city centre. It isn’t just hotels, for example.

So, this guide is divided into two parts: accommodations by type – hotel, apartment, etc. – and then the best areas to stay in Salzburg. This way, if you know the type of accommodation 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 where to stay in salzburg austria
The lovely Sacher Hotel sitting by the river!

It might come as no surprise that – given its popularity – Salzburg has a TON of hotels to stay in. 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

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 less expensive hotels aren’t just in the areas really far from top sights and attractions. You can find a deal in a great area – something you cannot say for ALL cities!

As for these “budget” hotels, there is absolutely nothing “bad” about them – 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 hotels across the city. Honestly, you have to check out the photo for some of these hotels:

Luxury Hotels in Salzburg

As a charming city for travellers from all over the world, Salzburg is definitely no stranger to catering to high-class, luxury experiences. As such, there are a number of luxury hotels – many of which are in the Old Town – known for high-rated services and amenities:

  • Hotel Sacher Salzburg – An elegant and upscale hotel right on the river with restaurants, cafe, 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

Bed and Breakfasts in Salzburg

blue river from bridge with castle and green hill in distance salzburg austria guesthouse
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. Again, please note that we paid for our stay ourselves – this is a legitimate review by us. That’s just how we roll here at Penguin and Pia.

Anyways, since there are a few more B&Bs/guesthouses to choose from, we’ve included a variety of the top-rated ones 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

Hostels in Salzburg

Even though Salzburg is a city with money, 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 to choose from around the city. 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 apartments in great location:

You might also just be looking for an Airbnb in Salzburg in which case you might find a great room or apartment to set up a base for a few days while exploring the city. However, we try to avoid booking a whole apartment when using Airbnb. Renting a room in a home can be a great way to get in touch with locals, though.

Where to Stay in Salzburg – Our Top Picks By Area

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

So now that we have covered accommodations in Salzburg by style, let’s go over the best areas to stay. Remember: these aren’t ALL the areas you could stay in. However, this list reflects the top areas with lots of places to choose from as well as a good mix of areas for different kinds of visitors!

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 neighbourhoods that you should aim to stay in and our top pick for each one!

  • Altstadt (Old Town) – Great for Architecture + Top Attractions . Top Pick: Hotel Elefant
  • Neustadt (New Town) – Great for Shopping + Nightlife. Top Pick: The Mozart Hotel
  • Elisabeth-Vorstadt – Great for Train Station + Convenience. Top Pick: Hotel Der Salzburger Hof
  • Nonntal – Great for Quiet + Authentic Stays. Top Pick: Pension Katrin
  • Maxglan/Salzburg Airport – Great for Flying . Top Pick: Hotel Himmelreich

To be as helpful as possible for this post, 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. You can find a whole section on these accommodations at the bottom of this post.

That said, the airport is NOT far from the city centre of Salzburg. 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.

Where to Stay in Salzburg – By Neighbourhood

In the section below, it’s time that we cover the areas mentioned above in more detail. 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!

Salzburg is a very 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.

For Salzburg, 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 where to stay
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 Old Town (Altstadt) of Salzburg 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, 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 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 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, MUCH more!

— Check Here For Hotels In the Altstadt (Old Town) Salzburg

Featured Accommodations in the Altstadt (Old Town)

Below are some of the top accommodations in Salzburg’s Old Town area. There are many to choose from, but the ones below are a good mix of affordable hotels and even a nice guesthouse!

In the end, you can’t beat the location 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 salzburg austria
You can find Hotel Elefant down streets exactly like 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

— Check Out Hotel Elefant Here

Sarah’s Altstadt Oase Salzburg – Check Now

castle on hill overlooking river with bridge across it old town salzburg austria
The building to the far right is Sarah’s Altstadt Oase Salzburg – right on the river!
  • 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

— Check Out Sarah’s Altstadt Oase Salzburg Here

Star Inn Hotel Premium Salzburg Gablerbräu – Check Now

  • Style: A New and Quality Hotel
  • Price Range: Upper Budget
  • Location: Technically in Old Town – on the north side of the river (walkable to the best sights and restaurants are right outside)
  • Featured Amenities: Some rooms with city views, good buffet breakfast, super helpful staff

— Check Out Star Inn Hotel Premium Salzburg Gablerbräu Here

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)!

In the end, with the proximity to places to eat, bars for drinks, the short walk to the Old Town and to the train station it is unlike any other area. 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 but 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

— Check Out The Mozart Hotel Here

Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg – Check Now

green and red gardens with paths and historic building in mirabell palace salzburg austria where to stay
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

— Check Out Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg Here

Hotel & Villa 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

— Check Out Hotel & Villa Auersperg Here

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. That said, with new development and a bit of shopping around, the area is also a good option for public transport.

Another great thing about this area 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. 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!

— Check Here For Hotels In Elisabeth-Vorstadt

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!

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

— Check Out Adlerhof Here

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

— Check Out arte Hotel Salzburg Here

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

— Check Out Hotel Der Salzburger Hof Here

Nonntal – For Quiet & Authentic Stays

castle high on green hill overlooking old town buildings and river 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.

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.

— Check Here For Accommodations In Nonntal

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 nonntal neighbourhood 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, incredible hosts, free parking

— Check Out Pension Katrin Here

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

— Check Out JUFA Hotel Salzburg City Here

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

— Check Out Hotel Via Roma Here

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 the 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, etc.

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.

— Check Here For Hotels At/Near Salzburg Airport

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 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

— Check Out Hotel Astoria Here

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

— Check Out Das Grüne Hotel zur Post Here

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

— Check Out Hotel Himmelreich Here

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 – 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 Salzburg Hotel Waddlin’,
-L&E

Booking Your Trip Soon? This Is How We Do It:
  • Compare flights on Skyscanner
  • Check for Hotel Deals or Book A Hostel
  • Get A Rental Car (depending on the destination)
  • Look Into Travel Insurance
  • Research plug types and possibly get a travel adapter
  • Go over our packing list

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    Author

    Eric is a Canadian & Hungarian content writer with over 45 countries under his belt. From volunteering in Australia to studying his Master's degree abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland, his travel experiences have taken him across the globe. Next to writing on Penguin and Pia, he has been quoted by the BBC, the Travel Channel, USA Today, and Mashable and contributed to companies in the travel space such as Matador, AirHelp, GoOverseas, and Spot.

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