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Salzburg or Innsbruck Overview
Salzburg and Innsbruck are among the most beautiful cities in Austria. Both cities have spectacular settings and incredible architecture. History also runs deep in the two cities with some of the most impressive landmarks in the country. If you are trying to decide between visiting Salzburg or Innsbruck, here is the ultimate guide to help you decide.
Salzburg
Salzburg is the 4th largest city in Austria with just over 150,000 people living there. It was founded in 696 and became wealthy from mining and trading salt. It is one of the most picturesque cities in all of Europe with the mountains to the south and southwest and the Hohensalzburg fortress looming over the city. The fortress is one of the largest and oldest medieval fortresses in Europe.
Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart, the famous composer. Salzburg is known for its Baroque city center which is one of the best-preserved city centers in Europe. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city and surrounding areas are where The Sound of Music was filmed.
Innsbruck
Innsbruck is the capital of the mountainous region of Tyrol. It is known for its stunning setting and historic city center. The city has been a hub for winter sports for decades. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and the Winter Paralympics twice as well. There are eight ski resorts within driving distance of Innsbruck. You can take the Nordkette Cable Car to the top of the mountain and see the incredible views of the city and the Austrian Alps. The riverfront offers incredible vistas of the colorful building overlooking the river with the mountains looming in the background.
Places to See
Salzburg
Fortress Hohensalzburg is one of the largest and oldest fortresses in Europe. It sits on a hill overlooking the city.
Mozart’s Birthplace is where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756. It is now a museum about his life.
Mirabell Palace was built in 1606 and was featured in the film The Sound of Music.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg is a beautiful Catholic church on the west side of the river.
Aussicht Kapuzinerberg is a lookout area on the east side of the river that has panoramic views of the city with the mountains in the background.
Innsbruck
The Goldenes Dachl is a historic building that is known for its fire-gilded copper tiles.
The Hofburg, or the Imperial Palace, is one of the most significant cultural buildings in Austria.
Ambras Castle is a castle and palace built in the 16th century. It is one of the most
The Riverfront is a beautiful sight and is a must if you come here.
The Nordkette is a system of cable cars that will take you to the top of the mountain.
Food
Salzburg
Salzburger Nockerl is a dish that originated in Salzburg. They are basically sweet dumplings served as a dessert. Kasnocken is another Austrian dish that is popular in Salzburg. It is sometimes referred to as Austrian Dumplings filled with cheese and onions. The dish is typically topped with caramelized onions. The Bosna is a type of sausage in Austria that is most commonly served as a fast-food meal. It supposedly originated in Salzburg and spread throughout the region.
Innsbruck
There are quite a few foods that you can try that originate in Tyrol. Tiroler Speckknödels are large breaded bacon dumplings that boiled and served with sauerkraut. Tiroler Gröstl, or Grostl, is a dish of bacon, onion, and potatoes fried with an egg. If you’re in Tyrol, you should definitely give Tiroler Gröstl a try. Innsbruck and other Austrian cities have a lot of foreign foods food that are incredibly good as well so you don’t have to limit yourself to just foods from Tyrol.
Getting Around
Salzburg is a very walkable city pretty much no matter where you stay. Almost every main sight or attraction can be walked to but if you want to save some energy, the city has a good system of buses and trams. The buses can take you to other towns in the area, like Berchtesgaden. If you want to go up to the fortress, you can either walk or take the funicular to the top. You should consider buying the Salzburg Card for your time here. The Salzburg Card will give you access to public transportation, free admission to all tourist attractions and museums, and discounts on excursions.
Most of Innsbruck is easy to explore on foot. If you want to see some of the sights outside of the city center, like Ambras Castle and the Bergisel Ski Jump, you will definitely want to take advantage of public transportation. You can buy a 24-hour public transportation ticket for 5.60 Euros. Buying the Innsbruck Card might be the biggest bang for your buck. You get unlimited access to public transportation, you can take the funicular up the mountain, and have access to all museums and attractions. You can buy the 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour version of the Innsbruck Card.
Nightlife
Salzburg
Salzburg has a large student population so the nightlife can get pretty lively here, although not to the caliber of many larger European cities. The riverfront in the city center has dozens of bars lining it. There are also nightclubs you can hit up too if you want to dance the night away. The clubs here are typically on the smaller spectrum for a nightclub but they can get pretty wild. Some of the best clubs in the city are City Beats, Soda Club, and Rockhouse. Rockhouse is a larger venue that often has live music.
Innsbruck
There are dozens of bars and pubs in the center of the city making it perfect for bar hopping. If you want to go clubbing, some of the best clubs in the city are Project, Club Clinique, and Queens Club. For the most part, Innsbruck has a great nightlife for a city with less than 150,000 people. If you want to party, Innsbruck can provide you with an excellent nightlife experience if you know where to go.
Day Trips
Salzburg
Hallstatt is a picturesque village sitting on a lake in the middle of the mountains. Odds are you have seen pictures of it before.
Berchtesgaden and Eagles Nest is about 30 minutes by bus from Salzburg. Eagles Nest is Hitler’s mountain getaway.
Königssee, or King’s Lake, is a beautiful emerald lake in the mountains near Berchtesgaden.
Innsbruck
Hall in Tirol is a small town only 5km from Innsbruck.
Achensee, or Achen Lake, is a lake surrounded by mountains and near the town of Pertisau.
Kufstein is a city 40 minutes away from Innsbruck. It is known for its fortress overlooking the city.
Munich is not far for Salzburg or Innsbruck, so you may want to take the time the head north to explore the city.
Overall
Salzburg and Innsbruck both have incredible architecture and beautiful settings making them two of Austria’s most beautiful cities. Both cities are absolutely incredible which makes the decision tough to make. If you are coming from Italy or Switzerland, you might want to go to Innsbruck because its beautiful and its closer to you. If you are coming from the east of Austria, or Eastern Europe you might want to go to Salzburg. Deciding to visit Salzburg or Innsbruck can be a hard decision to make which is why I hope this guide could provide some assistance.