Salzburg is the stuff that fairytales are made of. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 27 historic churches, not to mention loads of “Sound of Music” lore from the 1965 movie that was filmed here. Salzburg sits on the border between Austria and Germany, making day trips to Munich or Vienna very easy from a home base in Salzburg.

The Alps are also a stone’s throw away, making Salzburg the perfect destination for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. To help you decide where to stay in Salzburg, we’ve rounded up some of the best Salzburg hotels as well as an overview of the various neighborhoods to choose from. Fortunately, Salzburg is relatively small, and very walkable, so no matter which Salzburg accommodation you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy all that Salzburg has to offer.

We will cover off all types of Salzburg accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Salzburg hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Salzburg 2023, the best Salzburg hotels, best places in Salzburg to visit, the best places to stay in Salzburg, hotels in Salzburg Austria, Salzburg neighborhood guide and many more. So check out our where to stay in Salzburg Austria guide below! 

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Altstadt – Where to stay in Salzburg for first timers

For first-time visitors, Altstadt, or Old Town, is generally the best place to stay in Salzburg. The majority of tourists sites are located in Old Town, on the left bank of the Salzach River and is considered the best area to stay in Salzburg Austria. If you’ve come to Salzburg to explore the Mozart history, you’ll be spending a lot of time in Altstadt.

Narrow, winding streets open up into historic squares, so beyond the usual tourist attractions, Altstadt is great for just wandering around. Some of the best hostels in Salzburg can also be found in Old Town, so that’s great news for anyone visiting Austria on a budget. For first time visitors wondering where to stay in Salzburg, Old Town is the answer.

Where to stay in Salzburg old town

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Altstadt:
Sishaus – View at Mozarts
Institut St.Sebastian
Stadtalm Naturfreundehaus

Budget Hotels in Altstadt:
Berglandhotel Salzburg
Cityhotel Trumer Stube
Hotel Krone 1512
Altstadthotel Weisse Taube

Mid range Hotels in Altstadt:
Hotel Weisse Taube
Radisson Blu Hotel Salzburg
Hotel Am Dom
Altstadthotel Kasererbraeu

Family Friendly Hotels in Altstadt:
Hotel Goldgasse
Hotel Elefant
Cityhotel Trumer Stube
Arte vida boutique guesthouse

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Altstadt:
Hapimag Resort Salzburg
Townhouse Weisses Kreuz
Hotel Bristol Salzburg – The Best place to stay in Salzburg old town
Hotel Sacher Salzburg

New Town – Where to stay in Salzburg for tourists

Of course, where there’s an Old Town, there’s usually a New Town. Salzburg is no exception, with the New Town area across the Salzach River from Old Town. Keep in mind, in Europe “new” still means centuries old, so New Town also has quaint streets, historic buildings and many shops and restaurants to peruse.

The famous Mirabell Palace and Gardens are located in this part of town; another famous “Sound of Music” scene. A bonus of staying in New Town is the pleasant stroll you’ll take across the river when you visit Old Town. For close proximity to Old Town, but a slightly calmer, less touristic atmosphere, New Town is a good choice for Salzburg accommodation. If you’re wondering where to stay in Salzburg on a budget, New Town has a lot of great options!

Best places to stay in New town

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in New town:
Yoho International Youth Hostel
The Keep Eco Rooms
a&o Salzburg Hauptbahnhof
Wolfgang’s managed by a&o

Budget Hotels in New town:
Urban Stay Salzburg City
Hotel Modus
Room 4 Apartments
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Salzburg

Mid range Hotels in New town:
Gastehaus im Priesterseminar Salzburg
Hotel am Mirabellplatz
Star Inn Hotel Premium Salzburg Gablerbrau
Hotel Markus Sittikus Salzburg

Family Friendly Hotels in New town:
Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg
NH Salzburg City
Hotel IMLAUER & Bräu
Atel Hotel Lasserhof

Affordable Luxury Hotels in New town:
Sheraton Grand Salzburg
Hyperion Hotel Salzburg
Hotel Sacher Salzburg
Hotel Schloss Mönchstein

Nonnberg – Where to stay in Salzburg for relaxation

Another cool place to stay in Salzburg is the Nonnberg district. On a hill overlooking Old Town, this is where you’ll find Salzburg Fortress, or Hohensalzburg, as well as the Nonnberg Benedictine nunnery. The 11th century castle is open for tours, and offers some of the best views of Salzburg.

The nunnery, while not open to the public, is where the real-life Maria Von Trapp lived prior to marrying George Von Trapp. Nonnberg manages to be a bit off the tourist path, but again, close enough to experience all that Salzburg has to offer.

Best places to stay in Nonnberg

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Nonnberg:
Eduard-Heinrich-Haus
The Keep Eco Rooms
Stadtalm Naturfreundehaus

Budget Hotels in Nonnberg:
JUFA Hotel Salzburg City
Hotel Neutor Express
MEININGER Hotel Salzburg City Center
Pension Elisabeth

Mid range Hotels in Nonnberg:
Gasthaus Hinterbruehl
Star Inn Hotel Salzburg Zentrum
Hotel Stein – Adults Only
artHotel Blaue Gans

Family Friendly Hotels in Nonnberg:
Hotel Elefant
Hotel Via Roma
B&B Villa Verde
Altstadthotel Kasererbräu

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Nonnberg:
Hotel Goldener Hirsch
Hapimag Resort Salzburg
Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron
Sheraton Grand Salzburg

Elisabeth-Vorstadt – Where to stay in Salzburg for outdoor lovers

For a more local experience, or for those visiting Salzburg on a budget, Elisabeth-Vorstadt is a good option. Only 15 minutes walk from Altstadt, Elisabeth-Vorstadt offers an alternative experience of Salzburg. Walking and cycling paths line the Salzach River, Elisabeth-Vorstadt was once a suburb but is now encompassed into Salzburg.

It stretches from the train station to the river, so transportation options are convenient. Overall, this area is less desirable than other parts of Salzburg, with a few dodgy streets to avoid, but could be considered an “up and coming” neighborhood. If you are visiting Salzburg on a tight budget, this might be a good area to find accommodation deals.

Best places to stay in Elisabeth-Vorstadt

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Elisabeth-Vorstadt:
The Keep Eco Rooms
a&o Salzburg Hauptbahnhof
Wolfgang’s managed by a&o

Budget Hotels in Elisabeth-Vorstadt:
Adlerhof
Hotel Evido Salzburg
Hotel Scherer
Plaza Inn Salzburg City

Mid range Hotels in Elisabeth-Vorstadt:
Mercure Salzburg City
Holiday Inn Salzburg City
Mercure Salzburg Central
Hotel Amadeus Residence

Family Friendly Hotels in Elisabeth-Vorstadt:
Hotel Jedermann
Austria Trend Hotel Europa Salzburg
Wyndham Grand Salzburg Conference Center
K6 Rooms by Der Salzburger Hof

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Elisabeth-Vorstadt:
Cocoon Salzburg
Hotel Bristol Salzburg
Apt. Stone-Lodge
Hotel Sacher Salzburg

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