12 Best Hotels in Salzburg, Austria

A lush, green oasis is tucked between the two buildings that comprise the Auersperg: the hotel, built in 1892 by the noted Italian architect Ceconi, and its neighboring villa. The lobby welcomes you with Biedermeier antiques, and upstairs, the rooms have a fresh, modern feel, accented with classic ornaments. On request, kids' toys, food, and babysitters can be arranged. An extensive local, organic breakfast buffet, bicycles (including one fitted with a toddler trailer), and access to the rooftop sauna, steam bath, and lounge are included, while useful extras like iPads and e-bikes are available for hire. A five-minute walk brings you to the popular shopping street Linzergasse, while the historic Mirabell Palace is 10-minute walk away.

A large lake and expansive grounds surround this historic palace immortalized in The Sound of Music, located less than a kilometer (⅔ mile) southwest of Fortress Hohensalzburg, which was originally built in the 18th century for Archbishop Leopold von Firmian. In 1918 it became the summer residence of Max Reinhardt, founder of the Salzburg Festival, and today you can yourself marvel at the mirrors of the Venetian Room and enjoy the property's two libraries. Coffee and a slice of homemade cake, or a glass of locally produced wine, are best enjoyed on the enchanting terrace overlooking the peaceful lake and jagged Untersberg mountains. The historic Meierhof building offers 55 elegant, modern rooms embellished with artifacts discovered in hotel storage; if you're a fan of The Sound of Music, request one of the handful of rooms adorned with movie and stage memorabilia. There are also 12 luxurious suites in the palace itself.

Tucked away on a tiny street near Residenzplatz, this small boutique hotel in a 14th-century building offers stylish, comfortable rooms, some with oak-beam ceilings. Its location on a quiet street in the heart of the Altstadt is hard to beat, while the prices are fairly low (by Salzburg standards)—especially out of season.

A picture-perfect Alpine chalet on the lofty perch of the Gersberg, high above Salzburg, this hotel is less than 15 minutes by car from the Neustadt. Inside, it has all the warmth and rustic coziness you would expect in a country house; indeed, it was originally a 19th-century farmhouse. Guest rooms have contemporary furniture and wooden balconies overlooking the mountain scenery. The house restaurant is excellent—the seasonal menu changes monthly and serves favorites such as locally caught fish and Tafelspitz (broiled beef). Locals know to request the off-menu homemade Kaiserschmarrn (fluffy, baked, shredded pancake with plum compote) for dessert. The wine list has an outstanding selection of Austrian wines. The outdoor pool and small playground make it an especially nice place for families.

Renovated in recent years, the guest rooms in this 500-year-old house are individually decorated, featuring wooden floors and antique armoires among understated modern accents. Downstairs, greet the day in one of the cutest breakfast nooks in Salzburg. The hotel site was once home to one of Salzburg's communal baths. Back in Wolfgang's time houses didn't have running water, so travelers—especially those arriving through the nearby Linz Gate—would head straight here after their long, dusty trip. Today travelers still make a beeline here. If you're wondering why the hotel has Mozart's middle name, this 500-year-old house is not far from the St. Sebastian church and cemetery where many members of his family are booked in for an eternal stay.

A two-minute walk from the Old City, next to the historic tunnel that plows through the Mönchsberg, and directly in front of a stop on several bus lines, this basic hotel has location and transportation covered. The interior is colorful though very dated, and some of the larger rooms have balconies. Parking is available in the small on-site lot or in the underground garage across the street, and buses connecting to the city center and the main station stop right outside the front door.

Standing tall over the Staatsbrücke and looking across at the Old City, Hotel Stein provides a high-end, design-forward, adults-only accommodation option at the very heart of Salzburg. The building may be historic, but the interior is unapologetically modern, with a blue sky/lagoon theme running throughout the bright and airy lobby, the plushly decorated bedrooms, the soothing wellness center, and even the al fresco Steinterrasse restaurant. Avoid the elevator and take the stairs to see the hotel's most striking design feature: a chandelier-like installation made of hundreds of blue glass discs that hang seven floors down from the ceiling.

The embodiment of Austrian gemütlichkeit (friendliness), just off Mozartplatz, the small, family-owned, in-the-center-of-everything Hotel Wolf (not to be confused with Hotel Wolf-Dietrich across the river) offers spotlessly clean and cozy rooms in a rustic building from the year 1429. Rooms are idiosyncratically arranged on several upper floors, connected by narrow, winding stairs, and are decorated with a pleasing Salzburg mix of rag rugs and rural furniture. It's popular, so be sure to book far in advance.

Located in a residential area just north of the New Town, this smart new hotel (opened in December 2022) offers warm and elegantly designed rooms complete with comfortable king-size beds, stylish furnishings made from natural materials, and modern conveniences including coffee pod machines. Upgrade to a Junior Suite for extra space and riverside views to the Altstadt and the mountains beyond. Downstairs, the Mayburg Living Room—a swanky lounge-bar area—is where meals are served, from the excellent (included) buffet at breakfast to tasty burgers in the evening. There's also an honesty bar with drinks and snacks available 24 hours a day. Guests here will also enjoy the relaxing roof-garden terrace and small gym.

Part of a Spanish hotel chain, this pretty building is in a nice location, around the corner from Linzergasse (the shopping street leading to the Salzach River) and five minutes away from the beautiful Mirabellgarten. The exterior has Art Nouveau awnings, Secession-style sash windows, and white stone trim, and inside all is sleek and comfy. There is a rich buffet-style breakfast, and the restaurant has a garden terrace.

Snuggled under the monument-studded Kapuzinerberg and a two-minute walk from the bridge leading to the center of the Altstadt, the Stadtkrug (dated 1353) hits an idyllic, romantic, and quiet vibe, thanks to its mountainside setting. A traditional wrought-iron sign greets you, the lobby tinkles with chandeliers, and the main-floor restaurant is your archetypal, white, classic, vaulted Salzburg sanctuary. Upstairs you find charming rustic rooms. Head up to the roof to enjoy a restaurant that is terraced into the mountainside and set with statues, potted begonias, echoes of Italy, and lovely views.

This small, family-owned hotel is an inviting choice, with some of the guest rooms including attractive sitting areas; rooms in the back look out over the looming Gaisberg and the cemetery of St. Sebastian. Note that this hotel is divided between houses opposite each other: the main Altstadthotel (no air-conditioning) and the Residenz (all rooms with air-conditioning). The reception, breakfast room, spa, and other public areas are all in the main building. The hotel also has apartments a couple blocks away.