Austria, Europe
The best time to visit Salzburg
Mozart's baroque hometown under an Alpine skyline, with two seasons that fill every hotel: the summer festival and Advent.
- Best months
- May to Jun and Sep
- Think twice
- No month is a write-off
- Quietest
- February
- Cheapest
- February
The straight answer
The best time to visit Salzburg is May through June or September: mild weather, the gardens and mountain trips open, and none of the Salzburg Festival's summer prices or the Advent crush.
Go in May, June, or September. The Mirabell Gardens are in bloom, the Hohensalzburg Fortress rises over a green old town, the lakes of the Salzkammergut and the mountain cable cars are running, and the city is busy but not overwhelmed.
Late July and August bring the Salzburg Festival, one of the world's most important classical music and theater festivals. It is spectacular if you have tickets, but hotel prices are at their peak, the old town is packed, and summer is also Salzburg's rainiest season, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and the famous persistent drizzle locals call Schnurlregen.
Advent is the other high season. The Christkindlmarkt on the Cathedral square, the view of the lit fortress, and the Advent singing concerts draw huge crowds, especially on weekends. January to March is cold and quiet, with Mozart Week around his birthday in late January and ski resorts an hour away.
Salzburg, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryQuiet valueCold, highs near 37F (3C), snow possibleQuiet and cheap, except for Mozart Week in late January. Ski resorts are close.CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryQuiet valueCold, highs near 41F (5C)The quietest month. Good for museums, concerts, and day trips to the snow.CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchQuiet valueCool, highs near 50F (10C)Spring is late in the Alps, but Easter Festival concerts begin in some years.CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilGoodMild, highs near 58F (14C), showersGardens start blooming and Hellbrunn's trick fountains reopen. Easter weekend is busy.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayBestPleasant, highs near 66F (19C)Mirabell Gardens in full bloom, mountain cable cars running, crowds manageable.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneBestWarm, highs near 72F (22C), thunderstormsLong days for lake trips and hiking. Summer crowds build late in the month.Hotels for June →CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyTradeoffsWarm, highs near 75F (24C), frequent rainSalzburg Festival starts late in the month. Peak crowds and prices, plus the rainiest weather.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustTradeoffsWarm, highs near 74F (23C), rain and thunderstormsFestival month. Superb with tickets, expensive and crowded without.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberBestMild, highs near 66F (19C), drierSettled weather, quieter old town, and lake and mountain trips still open. The sweet spot.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberGoodCool, highs near 57F (14C)Fall color on the Kapuzinerberg and around the lakes. Some mountain lifts close for maintenance.Hotels for October →CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberQuiet valueGray, highs near 45F (7C), fogQuiet until the Christmas markets open mid to late month.CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberGoodCold, highs near 39F (4C), snow possibleChristkindlmarkt, Advent concerts, and the lit fortress. Weekends are packed; go midweek.Hotels for December →CrowdsPrice
Book Salzburg for May.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for May
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in SalzburgOpens a hotel search for Salzburg in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in SalzburgWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in SalzburgTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Salzburg for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Salzburg
Mozart's city
Mozart was born here in 1756. His birthplace on the Getreidegasse and his later residence are museums, and concerts run year-round.
Baroque old town
The Salzburg historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Cathedral, the Residenz, and squares framed by the fortress and the river.
The Alps and lakes next door
The Salzkammergut lakes, Hallstatt, the Untersberg cable car, and the Eisriesenwelt ice cave are all easy day trips.
The Sound of Music
The film was shot in and around Salzburg, and the Mirabell Gardens, Nonnberg Abbey, and the lakes still draw fans.
Things to do, and when to do them
Hohensalzburg Fortress
One of the largest medieval castles in Europe, reached by funicular. Go early or late afternoon.
Mozart's Birthplace
On the Getreidegasse, the busiest street in town. Visit at opening to avoid the crush.
DomQuartier
One ticket for the prince-archbishops' Residenz state rooms, the Cathedral galleries, and the museum of St. Peter's Abbey.
Hellbrunn Palace and the trick fountains
Water games that soak visitors, open in the warmer months, roughly April to early November.
Untersberg cable car
Rises to about 1,800 meters for Alpine views over Salzburg. Closed for maintenance in some spring and fall weeks.
Eisriesenwelt ice cave
The world's largest ice cave, near Werfen. Open roughly May to October; dress warmly.
Hallein Salt Mine
Slides, an underground lake, and 2,500 years of salt mining. A great day trip in any weather.
Mirabell Gardens
Free baroque gardens with the classic fortress view. Early morning is the only quiet time in summer.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Mozart Week
About ten days around January 27, Mozart's birthday
Top orchestras and soloists playing Mozart. Book tickets well ahead.
Salzburg Easter Festival
Around Holy Week, dates move with Easter
An opera and orchestral festival founded by Herbert von Karajan.
Salzburg Festival
Late July through the end of August
One of the world's great classical music and theater festivals. Tickets and hotels book up many months ahead.
Christmas markets
Mid to late November through December 24 to 26
The Christkindlmarkt on the Cathedral square is one of the oldest in Austria. Advent concerts fill the evenings.
Beat the crowds
- Walk the Getreidegasse and visit Mozart's Birthplace before 10am, when tour groups arrive.
- Stay a few nights instead of day-tripping from Munich or Vienna; the old town is at its best in the evening.
- Go to the Christmas markets on weekday afternoons, not weekend evenings.
- For the Salzburg Festival, book tickets as soon as sales open and reserve hotels at the same time, or stay in a nearby town with a train link.
Open or closed
- Hellbrunn's trick fountains and the Eisriesenwelt ice cave are seasonal, closed in winter.
- Mountain cable cars like the Untersberg close for maintenance for a few weeks in spring and fall.
- Shops close on Sundays and public holidays, though museums and restaurants stay open.
- Christmas markets usually close on December 24 or 26; the city is quiet on Christmas Day.
With kids in tow
- Hellbrunn's trick fountains and the salt mine slides are huge hits with kids.
- The Haus der Natur, a natural history and science museum, is ideal for rainy days.
- The Salzburg Marionette Theater performs operas with puppets, a charming way to introduce children to Mozart.
- Hallstatt and the lakes are easy family day trips, but go early to avoid the crowds in summer.
Getting there
- Salzburg Airport (SZG) is small, with mostly European flights. Many US travelers fly into Munich and take the train, about 2 hours from the airport.
- Trains connect Salzburg with Vienna in about 2.5 hours and Munich in about 1.5 hours from the main station.
- The old town is compact and walkable, and buses cover the rest of the city.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Salzburg for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where Salzburg makes our ranked list.
Salzburg timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Salzburg?
September. The weather is settled and drier than summer, the crowds have eased after the festival, and the mountain trips are still open. May and June are close behind.
What is the cheapest time to visit Salzburg?
February, March, and November, outside Christmas market season and Mozart Week. Hotels are cheapest and the old town is quiet.
When is the Salzburg Festival?
From late July through the end of August every year. Tickets and hotels book up months ahead.
When are the Salzburg Christmas markets?
From mid to late November until around Christmas. The Christkindlmarkt on the Cathedral square is the main market.
When does it rain in Salzburg?
Summer is the rainiest season, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and persistent drizzle. September and October are usually drier.
Is Salzburg worth visiting in winter?
Yes, especially in December for Advent and the markets. January and February are quiet and cold, with ski resorts nearby.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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