Where to Stay in Salzburg:
From the Salzach riverfront to the Old Town streets, these are the Salzburg hotels we would book.
Salzburg is one of those cities that looks exactly how you imagine it before you arrive. The fortress on the hill, the baroque churches, the Salzach River cutting between the Old Town and the New Town, and then you get there and it is better than the pictures. Choosing where to stay in Salzburg comes down to a simple question: do you want to be inside the Old Town on the left bank, or in the Mirabell and Neustadt area on the right bank with easy access across the bridges?
We have stayed in Salzburg and our pick was the NH Collection Salzburg City, which gets the balance of price and location right better than most options at that level. These picks cover the grand historic hotels along the Salzach, the boutique properties inside the Old Town and the value options that keep you close to everything without the premium pricing.
Best Areas to Stay in Salzburg:
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Old Town (Altstadt). The historic center on the left bank of the Salzach. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Getreidegasse, Mozart's Birthplace and the Cathedral are all here. The most atmospheric area but hotel options are limited and prices are high. Mirabell and New Town (Neustadt). Right bank of the Salzach. Mirabell Palace and Gardens, the best selection of four-star hotels and easy access to the Old Town across the bridges. Best area for first-time visitors who want options. Linzer Gasse. The main pedestrian street in the New Town. Lively, good for shopping and cafes with a local feel. Short walk to the Old Town over the Staatsbrucke bridge. Schallmoos. East of the city center. More residential, good value hotels and easy public transport access to the Old Town. Best for travelers prioritizing value. Monchsberg. The forested hill above the Old Town. Home to the castle hotel Schloss Monchstein and accessed by a lift cut into the rock. Total seclusion with panoramic views. |
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The Salzach Riverfront and Old Town: Grand Historic Hotels
For travelers who want world-class service, historic settings and the most iconic addresses in Salzburg.
Hotel Sacher Salzburg
On our list for next time: the most iconic address in Salzburg
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Along the Salzach River, steps from the Old Town bridges
Why Stay Here: The Sacher is an institution and the Salzburg outpost earns its reputation. Positioned along the right bank of the Salzach with a direct view across the river to the Old Town fortifications, the interiors are opulent without being stuffy. The service is polished and the original Sacher-Torte is served at the cafe as it has been for generations. You are steps from the Old Town via the Staatsbrucke bridge and the riverside setting gives you one of the best walking views in Austria every time you step outside.
Price Range: $$$$
Hotel Goldener Hirsch
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Getreidegasse, inside the Old Town
Why Stay Here: Inside the heart of the Old Town on Getreidegasse, the same street as Mozart's birthplace, the Goldener Hirsch has been welcoming guests since 1407. The rooms are individually furnished with Austrian antiques and hand-painted furniture. You are sleeping inside a medieval building in the most historic street in Salzburg and the service and atmosphere reflect that heritage. This is for travelers who want to feel genuinely immersed in the Old Town rather than just adjacent to it.
Price Range: $$$$
Hotel Schloss Monchstein
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Monchsberg hill, above the Old Town with fortress views
Why Stay Here: Perched above the city on Monchsberg hill, this castle hotel offers panoramic views of the fortress, the city and the surrounding Alps. The setting is extraordinary and the property functions as a genuine retreat with gardens, a rooftop spa and refined dining inside a castle that has stood since the 15th century. You are not walking to the Old Town but there is a lift carved into the rock that connects Monchsberg to the city below. For total seclusion with dramatic views, this is the Salzburg pick.
Price Range: $$$$
Hotel Bristol Salzburg
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Makartplatz, facing Mirabell Gardens
Why Stay Here: A grand Belle Epoque hotel facing Mirabell Gardens with elegant rooms, attentive service and easy access to both the Old Town and the New Town. The Bristol has been part of Salzburg's hotel landscape for well over a century. The combination of the Mirabell-facing location, the heritage interiors and the level of service makes this one of the more reliable five-star choices in the city for travelers who want classic Austrian grandeur.
Price Range: $$$$
Hyperion Hotel Salzburg
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Next to Mirabell Gardens, right bank of the Salzach
Why Stay Here: A more recent addition to Salzburg's luxury scene that has quickly established itself for the quality of its interiors and breakfast. Housed in a restored historic building next to Mirabell Gardens, the Hyperion combines period architecture with contemporary design. The breakfast is genuinely outstanding and the rooms are spacious for the city center. A strong choice if you want modern luxury in a historic shell without the legacy pricing of the older grand hotels.
Price Range: $$$$
Mirabell Gardens and the New Town: Mid-Range and Boutique Hotels
For travelers who want a central base with good value, character and easy walking access to the Old Town.
NH Collection Salzburg City
Where we stayed: great value in a central position between Old Town and the train station
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Near Mirabell Gardens, 10-minute walk to Old Town
Why Stay Here: We stayed at the NH Collection and it earns its place on this list. The location near Mirabell Gardens puts you a pleasant 10-minute walk from the Old Town via the Staatsbrucke and the hotel is well-run with a proper lobby bar and clean, comfortable rooms. For the price point it is genuinely one of the better deals in Salzburg. The short walk to both the Old Town and the train station gives you flexibility without sacrificing a central position.
Price Range: $$-$$$
IMLAUER Hotel Pitter Salzburg
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Near Mirabell Gardens, central New Town
Why Stay Here: The Sky Bar on the upper floors of the IMLAUER is one of the best rooftop views in the city and the hotel itself is a solid four-star with a combination of classic architecture and updated interiors. The location near Mirabell Gardens puts you equidistant between the Old Town bridges and the train station. The rooms are well-maintained and the bar is a genuine reason to be here beyond the accommodation.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Hotel and Villa Auersperg
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Neustadt, 10-minute walk to Old Town
Why Stay Here: A boutique property in the Neustadt with a beautiful garden, spa and a commitment to organic breakfast that sets it apart from the standard hotel experience. The 10-minute walk to the Old Town is gentle and the property itself feels like a proper retreat. Good choice for couples or anyone who values peace, design and a garden setting over maximum proximity to the sights.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Hotel Goldgasse
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Old Town Salzburg, central historic district
Why Stay Here: Tucked into the Old Town in a 700-year-old building, Goldgasse is a boutique hotel that offers individually designed rooms with a genuine sense of history. The stone walls, period details and central location put you in the middle of the Old Town at a mid-range price. One of the better options inside the historic center if you want the location without the grand hotel price tag.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Altstadthotel Wolf-Dietrich
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Old Town, near Linzer Gasse and the Cathedral
Why Stay Here: A family-run property in the Old Town with an indoor pool and sauna which is genuinely unusual at this price level. The rooms are a mix of classic and updated styles and the service has the warmth you get from an independently owned hotel. A good option for families or longer stays where the pool is a draw and the Old Town location matters.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Around the Old Town: Value Hotels and Local Stays
For travelers who want to keep costs down while staying within reach of the sights.
Hotel Drei Kreuz
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: Schallmoos district, close to the Old Town
Why Stay Here: A family-run hotel in the Schallmoos district offering spacious rooms at very reasonable prices. You are a 15-minute walk or a quick bus ride from the Old Town and the atmosphere is residential rather than touristy. Good value for travelers who want space and affordability over a central position.
Price Range: $-$$
JUFA Hotel Salzburg City
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: South of Old Town, with fortress views
Why Stay Here: Well south of the Old Town with fortress views from some rooms. The setup works well for families and groups with clean, functional rooms and good facilities at a very accessible price point. The walk to the Old Town is longer but the views of the Hohensalzburg fortress are genuine and the value is hard to argue with.
Price Range: $-$$
Hotel Hofwirt
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: City center, near Linzer Gasse
Why Stay Here: Dating back to 1878 in the heart of the city near Linzer Gasse, Hofwirt combines genuine heritage with modern comfort. The location gives you easy access to both the Old Town and New Town shopping and the combination of history and central position makes this a reliable choice at the lower end of the price range.
Price Range: $-$$
Hotel IMLAUER and Brau
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: City center, near Mirabell Palace and Gardens
Why Stay Here: The on-site brewery restaurant is the standout feature here. Traditional Salzburg cooking and locally brewed beer in a city center location near Mirabell. The rooms are comfortable and functional and the brewing heritage gives the property more personality than a standard value hotel. A good choice for travelers who want character at a lower price point.
Price Range: $-$$
Motel One Salzburg-Mirabell
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: Along the Salzach River, walkable to Old Town
Why Stay Here: The Motel One formula is reliable and this location along the Salzach delivers it well. Modern rooms, clean design, reasonable prices and a walkable position to the Old Town. For travelers who want predictability and value without sacrificing too much on location, this is the sensible choice in Salzburg.
Price Range: $-$$
Salzburg rewards travelers who get the area right first. Inside the Old Town you are sleeping inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site and everything is on foot. Near Mirabell you have more options, better value and an easy walk across the bridges. The fortress, Mozart's birthplace, the Christmas markets and the Sound of Music locations are all here. Pick the hotel that fits your budget and the experience will do the rest.
FAQ About Staying in Salzburg
For atmosphere and walkability, the Old Town on the left bank of the Salzach is unbeatable. You are inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site and everything is within minutes on foot. For more hotel options and slightly lower prices, the Mirabell and Neustadt area on the right bank gives you easy access to the Old Town across the bridges. First-time visitors usually prefer the Old Town or the Mirabell area. Both are excellent choices.
Yes, comfortably. A full day gives you the fortress and the main sights but you miss the early mornings and evenings when the city is at its best. Two nights is the sweet spot. You can do the fortress and Mozart's birthplace on day one, take a Sound of Music tour or a lake district day trip on day two and still have time to eat well and walk the Old Town without rushing.
The Old Town and Mirabell area are entirely walkable. Most of the key sights are within 15 minutes on foot from either bank. Buses cover the wider city efficiently. Taxis and rideshare apps are inexpensive. For the castle hill you can walk up via the Festungsgasse or take the funicular from Kapitelplatz. No car is needed for the city itself.
May through September offers the best weather with long days and good conditions for the lakes and mountains. The Salzburg Festival in July and August brings world-class performances but also the highest prices and full hotels. December is excellent for the Christmas markets but book early. Spring and early autumn hit the sweet spot of pleasant weather and manageable crowds.
It is on the higher end of Austrian cities, particularly during the Festival and Christmas market periods. Outside peak season there is genuine value to be found, especially in the Mirabell area and the city outskirts. The luxury hotels along the Salzach and in the Old Town command premium prices year-round but the mid-range options near Mirabell offer solid value for the location.
Read More About Salzburg
Looking for more ideas? Read our Salzburg Travel Guide for the fortress, Mozart's birthplace, the Christmas markets and day trips to the lake district.
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