The ultimate guide for a road trip to the Salzburg Region
Immerse yourself in this little adventure into some of the most beautiful views in Europe! Enjoy the lakes, great food, and the best desserts in the world!
In this article, I'm going to try something a little different from my regular content. Initially, the plan was to take notes every day, but blogging proved to be a lot more challenging when traveling with the family.
Also, I needed to take some much-needed time off from writing and enjoy this trip. A road trip to Salzburg and its surroundings has been on my bucket list for a very long time. I've been planning ever since I moved to Milan, so I tried to make the most of it!
I didn't completely neglect my blog, though. Plus, I got a little too excited about taking pictures and making videos to make up for not taking notes. So this should be fun!
Preparing your trip
Since this trip was during the summer, you should expect traffic jams! Especially during August. August is hands down the worst month to travel in Italy — by the way, check out my guide on how to plan a trip to Italy. It's pretty helpful! 🙂
Always check the weather well in advance to pack properly and avoid surprises! Being surrounded by mountains means you never know what kind of weather you're gonna get.
Useful facts about Salzburg
- Salzburg is very walkable. You can reach the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart’s house, and Mirabell Gardens within a 30-minute stroll.
- Salzburg Card — A money-saver if you plan to visit multiple attractions. It gives free entry to most museums and sights, plus free use of public transport.
- Best Seasons to Visit — during summer, winter, and the shoulder seasons (April - May, September - October), for fewer crowds, lower prices
- Language — The official language is German, but you can get by pretty well with just English.
- Tipping — Rounding up the bill (5–10%) is customary in restaurants and cafés.
- Shops are closed on Sundays! Be prepared and shop ahead!
What to pack for a road trip to Salzburg
Let's start with some Essentials:
- Driver’s license — check that your driver's license is valid within the EU
- A Vignette/toll sticker — I needed them, as I drove from Milan. If you rent a car in Austria, it's not necessary
- First-aid kit, warning vest, triangle — legally required in Austria
- Reusable water bottle and lots of snacks — great for long drives or alpine hikes
- Sweatshirts and hoodies — but also plenty of summer clothes and hiking apparel
- Water shoes! Oh, my god! These are a godsend when swimming in the lakes!
Bring Food! Lots of food! — For example, snacks to have on the way to Salzburg in the car, sandwiches for lunch, and enough food to cook at home for one or two days, because — let me tell you! — after a long drive to Salzburg, you won't feel like going out right away! So leave the groceries for later because you're gonna have to rest up! Additionally, eating out in Salzburg can be quite expensive. Save some money by cooking at your accommodation every once in a while.
Bring cash with you! — Austria is a very cash-centered country. Some places will not take your credit or debit card under any circumstances. Make sure to have lots of coins too. Some parking lots will only take coins. Some public toilets will only take coins too.
Get an eSIM — I'd like to point out how much Saily saved me when I was running out of data, even if my data plan gives me a couple of gigabytes to use within the EU. It wasn't enough, and staying connected is very important for using Maps, for example, while driving.
I always use Saily for longer trips and trips outside of the EU, like Switzerland… I paid through the nose once while using my phone in Switzerland. Never again!
👉 Get your eSIM from Saily and use the code milanized5 for a 5% discount!
Favorite Restaurants in Salzburg
I'm pretty sure that every restaurant in Salzburg is great. I ate at a bunch of them, but was never disappointed! I will, however, leave a few of my favorites here so you may check them out!
- Fuxn — best schnitzel in town, in my opinion. I already knew this restaurant from a past trip to Salzburg a few years ago, and I loved to go back there again!
- Die Weisse — another great biergarten with an incredible selection of beers and awesome food to go with them. This was my first stop as soon as I arrived in Salzburg, and I'm glad we stopped there!
- Sternbräu — very similar to Die Weisse but with an even bigger garden. Perfect for the summer.
Make sure to bring enough cash with you when going to the restaurants! Many places don't accept cards.
Where to stay in Salzburg
I stayed in Sankt Lorenz for a week. Sankt Lorenz has it all! Beautiful views, mountains, bike lanes, it is not too far away from Salzburg (around 40 minutes by car), and it is the perfect location for easy access to the lakes Mondsee, Fuschlsee, Wolfgangsee, and many others.
Now, for the second week, I stayed in Eben Im Pongau. A bit further away from Salzburg and not that many lakes around, but there's a great outdoor swimming pool called Erlebnisbadesee that's totally worth checking out!
As far as accommodations go, these are the places I stayed, and I wouldn't recommend them otherwise. I'm not even being sponsored by them. They're just that good!
- Alte Fischerei - Apartments am See, Sankt Lorenz — Super spacious and cozy place, with access to the lake
- Kirchner’s Apartments, Eben Im Pongau — This place felt like home away from home
Things to Do in Salzburg
Swimming in the lakes — Like Mondsee, Wolfgangsee, and outdoor swimming in Eben in Pongau. They were all great! Just make sure to take some water shoes with you! The lakes can be pretty rocky and hurt your feet.
Biking — I did not go biking myself this time, but hopefully next time. There are many bicycle paths everywhere you go.
Hiking — many mountains you could hike on, with refuges on top of them, where you can grab a bite to eat or have a drink with a view.
Salzburg Walking Tour — Gain insider knowledge and charming stories with a guided stroll through Altstadt.
Boat Ride on the Salzach River — View the city from a different angle with this very affordable boat ride!
Sound of Music Tour — Explore Salzburg and take in the beautiful views of the nearby countryside while visiting iconic spots from The Sound of Music. Listen to the songs from the soundtrack and learn about historical landmarks along the way!
Cathedral or Fortress Concerts — An unforgettable (though paid) musical experience in historic settings. Worth it if your budget allows.
Explore the little villages in the Salzburg region. Just don't go to Hallstatt! They have enough visitors as it is!
Go up to one of the “huttes” to enjoy lunch with a view. I went to one close to Wolfgangssee, where I could see the whole lake, people paragliding, etc.
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