Salzburg Day Trip from Vienna with Melk Abbey and Mondsee

Salzburg Old Town and Salzburg Cathedral

Salzburg grew rich on salt and was ruled for centuries by prince-archbishops, who rebuilt its centre in the Italian baroque style. The result is one of the most harmonious old towns in Europe, listed by UNESCO in 1996: domes and spires tucked between the Salzach river and the Mönchsberg cliff, linked by small squares and arcaded passages. At its heart stands Salzburg Cathedral, consecrated in 1628, with a light-filled marble interior and a grand facade on Domplatz.

On this Salzburg day trip from Vienna your guide walks you through the cathedral squares, past the Residenz, where the archbishops lived and received emperors, and the Festival halls carved into the rock, the main stage of the summer music festival. Many people ask whether Salzburg is worth a day trip: with a local guide and two free hours you see the essential Old Town without rushing, and you can step inside the cathedral during your free time.

Mozart's Birthplace and Getreidegasse

Getreidegasse is the Old Town's most famous shopping lane, a narrow street of tall medieval houses, hidden courtyards and wrought-iron guild signs. At number 9, behind a yellow facade, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756, and the family apartment on the third floor is now a museum with his childhood violin, letters and portraits.

Your guide stops outside Mozart's Birthplace to tell the story of the young composer who toured Europe as a child and later left Salzburg for Vienna. Entry to the museum is not included, but it is an easy visit during your free time if you want to go in. Getreidegasse is also the best place in Salzburg for souvenirs, chocolates and traditional costume shops, and the side passages lead to quiet courtyards that most visitors walk straight past.

St Peter's Abbey, the Horse Well and Hohensalzburg Fortress

St Peter's Abbey was founded around 696 and is considered the oldest monastery in the German-speaking world. Its cemetery, with wrought-iron grave crosses and catacombs cut into the cliff, is one of the most peaceful corners of the city. Nearby, the baroque Horse Well, once used to wash the archbishops' horses, is decorated with painted horse frescoes and a sculpted horse tamer.

Above everything rises Hohensalzburg Fortress, begun in 1077 and one of the largest fully preserved medieval castles in Central Europe. The guided walk shows it from the best viewpoints in the Old Town, and if you want to go up during free time, the funicular from Festungsgasse reaches it in about a minute. Fortress tickets are not included, so plan your two free hours if this is your priority.

Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Across the river in the new town, Mirabell Palace was built in 1606 by a prince-archbishop and remodelled in baroque style in the eighteenth century. Its formal gardens, with geometric flower beds, marble statues, the Pegasus fountain and the hedge theatre, frame one of the best views of the cathedral domes and the fortress on the skyline.

The Mirabell Gardens are also one of the best-known Sound of Music locations in Salzburg: the Pegasus fountain and the garden steps appear in the famous song scene of the 1965 film. The gardens are free to enter and open daily, so they are an easy stop for photos. The best time to visit the Mirabell Gardens is spring and summer, when the flower beds are in full colour.

Melk Abbey above the Danube

About 85 minutes west of Vienna, Melk Abbey sits on a rock above the Danube at the start of the Wachau valley, a UNESCO-listed river landscape. The Benedictine monks have lived here since 1089, and the present abbey, built between 1702 and 1736, is one of the masterpieces of Austrian baroque, with a yellow and white facade more than 300 metres long and a domed church covered in gold.

On this tour the stop at Melk Abbey is a 30-minute photo stop from the outside, enough to walk up to the abbey forecourt and enjoy the view over the town and the river. Entry to the abbey church and library is not included. If Melk is high on your list, it is also a highlight of our Wachau valley day trips from Vienna, which include time inside.

Mondsee and the Salzkammergut lakes

Between Melk and Salzburg the road enters the Salzkammergut, a region of clear lakes, green meadows and limestone peaks. Mondsee, the "moon lake", is one of its warmest lakes, and the small town on its northern shore is known for its pastel market square and the twin-towered St Michael's Basilica, where the wedding scene of the same 1965 film was shot.

The tour makes a 15-minute photo stop at Mondsee to stretch your legs and take pictures of the town and the lakeside. On the road you also pass alpine scenery and other lakes of the region, and the smartphone audio guide explains what you see. In summer the lake is busy with swimmers and sailing boats, while in autumn the colours of the hills make the drive especially beautiful.