Top things to do in Salzburg Austria with kids

Our bucket list trip to Salzburg Austria was one of our most memorable vacations ever!

We are huge fans of the Sound of Music movie, and it was one of the major reasons for our visit.

We spent an amazing five days in Salzburg and loved every minute of it! 

On the blog, I will share the top things to do in Salzburg Austria with kids to help you plan a family visit to one of the most amazing places in Europe!

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How to get to Salzburg Austria

If you’re planning a trip to Salzburg Austria, I highly recommend renting a car and explore the country on a road trip.

Austria is home to some of the most beautiful scenery, and the drive itself is a bucket list item you should tick off!

Another way to get to Salzburg is by train. It’s an easy day trip from Vienna by train, just make a stop at the Salzburg Hauptbanhof.

The train station is a short walk away from the city center, which makes it one of the easiest ways to get to Salzburg.

Some things to know about driving into Austria

 If your driving into Salzburg, you must display a Highway Toll Sticker (Vignette) on the inside of the windshield of your vehicle before you enter Austria.

You can easily purchase one at a gas station when you get close to Austria. A 10-day sticker for private cars is 9.20 euros.

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Top things to do in Salzburg Austria with kids

Go on a Sound of Music Tour 

One of the top things to do in Salzburg Austria with kids is a tour of the filming locations of the Sound of Music movie. We love the movie and the tour was such a bucket list moment for us!

There are many ways to explore the filming locations when visiting Salzburg.

You can either book a tour with the Sound of Music Panoramic Bus tour (which we did), a bike tour, or simply explore the movie sites on a self guided walking tour.

Most of the movie sites are located within a walking distance, and is probably the best way to explore if you’re short on time.

READ MORE: Read more about our Sound of music tour here 

Visit the Salzburg cathedral 

Another Salzburg attraction to add to your family trip is a visit to the Salzburg Cathedral.

This barouque cathedral was built in the 17th century and is one of the most beautiful churches we’ve seen.

One of the highlights of the cathedral is the baptismal font in which composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was baptized in which is pretty cool.

Explore the Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Another must see when visiting Salzburg with kids is the Mirabell Palace and Gardens.

This is absolutely one of the most beautiful gardens in Salzburg, plus there’s a fun playground for the kids as well.

There is also lots of green space for the kids to run around, and it’s the perfect spot to take a break from your Salzburg sightseeing adventures.

The Gardens were also an important shooting location in the Sound of Music movie, and it was amazing to follow the footsteps of the Von Trapp family.

Marvel at the gorgeous green space and flowers, while taking in the views of the Hohensalzburg castle.

Visit a playground

One of the best things about visiting Salzburg with kids are the play areas for kids in the city.

There are a few that we visited during our visit, but our little ones favorite was the Speilplatz Franz-Josef-Kai along the Salzach River. There are slides, swings and other fun little play areas as well.

The Spielplatz und Kletterparcours is located just a short walk away and has a climbing wall and ropes play area along the river as well.

Shop at the Getreidegasse

When planning any family trip, souvenirs are a must especially for the kids. One of the best places to shop in Salzburg is along the Getreidegasse.

The Getreidegasse is a busy shopping street in the historic Altstadt in Salzburg, and is where Mozart’s birthplace is located.

The narrow street is characterised by beautiful town houses, with its wrought iron guild signs, and is just so beautiful.

You can find all sorts of shops here, which is the perfect place to find that one of a kind souvenir!

Visit Mozart’s Birthplace

One tour not to miss when visiting Salzburg Austria is the birthplace of famed composer Mozart, which is located along the Getreidegasse.

The tour highlights some of Mozart’s childhood instruments and more. Tickets can be purchased onsite and costs 12 euros for adults, 3.50 euros for kids 6-14, and 4 euros for youths 15-18. You can also purchase a family pass for 25 euros.

The tour lasts for about an hour, with the last entry at 3:00 pm. Museum hours are from Wednesday-Sunday 10am -3:30pm.

Take in the views at the Nonnberg Abbey

On your sightseeing tour of Salzburg, don’t miss a visit to the Nonnberg Abbey, which is also one of the filming locations in the Sound of Music movie.

The Abbey is a Benedictine monastery, and is the oldest continuously existing nunnery in the world.

Entrance to the Abbey is free and this is also one of the best places to take in the panoramic views of Salzburg with the Alps in the background!

Explore the Hohensalzburg fortress

Another must see when visiting Salzburg Austria with kids is the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Kids love visiting castles, and this one was so cool sitting atop a hill overlooking the city.

Hohensalzburg Fortress is one of the of the largest fully preserved castle complexes in Europe and is so amazing!

Built around 1077,  the fortress started out as a small castle, but was gradually expanded during the following centuries.

From the late 19th century, the fortress has been refurbished and is one of the major tourist attractions in the area. 

If you’re planning to go on a tour of the fortress, you can easily reach the castle on foot, or make your way up on the funicular from the Festungsgasse.

Basic tickets cost 9,90 euros for adults 5,60 for kids (or purchase the family ticket for 24,80 euros). Make sure to purchase tickets online for guaranteed access on your visit.

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Visit St. Peter’s Abbey

One of the most interesting places to add to your Salzburg itinerary is a visit to the Petersfriedhof or St. Peter’s Cemetery.

This is one of the oldest cemeteries in Salzburg, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, with origins dating back to about 700, when the adjacent St. Peter’s Abbey was established.

One of the highlights here are the catacombs that are carved into the rock which stems from the Early Christian days. This is also one of the filming locations in the Sound of Music movie as well.

More fun things to do in Salzburg

• There is so much more to do on a visit to Salzburg Austria with kids. Take in the views of the city on a stroll along the Salzach River. During the weekends there is also a fun market along the river selling some unique items and yummy food!

• Make your way along the Mozartsteg bridge and fulfill your Sound of Music bucket list, its also a great photo op as well.

• You can also commemorate your visit to Salzburg and put a lock on the Makartsteg pedestrian bridge.

• Don’t miss the giant chess game along the Kapitelplatz that will surely keep the kiddos busy for awhile while you admire the views.

READ NEXT: Road trip through Austria

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