Salzburg Day Trips from Vienna

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Austria, Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a destination famous for its rich architecture, cultural life and idyllic scenery.

If you are going to spend, for example, 5 days in Vienna or more, it is totally worth organising a visit to this beautiful city and although you will notice that there are many ways to travel or means of transport to getfrom Vienna to Salzburg; I consider that the best alternative is to hire an organised tour with an expert company. If you are up for the adventure today, here are the different types of excursions to Salzburg so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

The most popular standard tour and the one chosen by most travellers is the Salzburg group day trip departing from Vienna city centre. The companies offering this type of service take a small group of travellers from their city location to beautiful Salzburg for a day's adventure outside the capital and to see the highlights of this heavenly destination.

What these excursions include

When booking this type of excursion, it is important to keep in mind that the facilities included can vary greatly depending on the company you hire. For example, many companies in Vienna that offer this type of service include pick-up from hotels in and around the city centre, while others set up a common meeting point in the centre of Vienna.

Other facilities included in almost all excursions to Salzburg are: an expert guide who accompanies the group at all times. In addition, some companies offer small groups of 8 to 12 people to ensure personalised attention, although they tend to be a bit more expensive.

Transport to and from Vienna city centre to Salzburg and back is of course included. The itinerary includes time for sightseeing and sightseeing which could include: Salzburg's old town, Wolfgang Mozart's house, St. Peter's Cathedral and Abbey, or Mirabell Palace (where the famous musical The Sound Of Music (Sonrisas y Lágrimas in Spain) was filmed in the 1960s).

useful information

• Price: For this type of experience you should set aside at least €135 in your budget. Depending on the company you hire and the facilities included, the price can be as much as €250 per traveller.
• Duration of tour: This is a full-day tour, leaving Vienna early in the morning and returning to the city after sunset.
• Recommended if... you're looking for an option that allows you to enjoy the best of Salzburg in comfort but without spending a fortune; the only thing you'll have to adapt to is sharing transport with other travellers like yourself.

A day trip to Salzburg is among the best tours and excursions from Vienna and a favourite activity for Austrians living in the capital.

Therefore, you will find several interesting private tour alternatives designed for those who put comfort and tranquillity first when planning their holiday or for those who are looking for a truly personalised experience.

What these tours include

Private tours to Salzburg from Vienna usually start with the traveller(s) being picked up directly from their hotel and an expert guide accompanies them at all times. This type of tour includes, as you would expect, transportation. Please note that English-speaking guides are less common, so it is advisable to book the tour weeks in advance to ensure availability on the day of your trip.

On your tour you will have free time to walk around Salzburg, see the most interesting sights and those that your guide considers not to be missed. Remember to read the itinerary provided by the tour company carefully, although some of the places you can expect to see include: the locations of the musical The Sound of Music, the historic centre of Salzburg, the legendary Mozart house and museum, a funicular ride through the city and much more.

On both the outward and return journeys you will have the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Austrian forests or the iconic peaks of the Alps.

Useful information

• Price: This is not a budget option, as the private tour to Salzburg can cost around €1,300 per group.
• Duration of tour: You'll need to book a full day of your itinerary, as from departure from Vienna to return at the end of the day, this type of experience usually takes between 12 and 14 hours to complete.
• Recommended if... you want to organise a comfortable and personalised trip; if you are travelling with friends or a large family, the final price you pay may well offset the cost of an individual tour, as most companies allow groups of up to 6 or 8 people.

If you are staying, for example, three days in Vienna or four days in Vienna, but want to see the best of Austria, this type of tour is designed for you.
Vienna's many tour operators have designed an ideal experience for first-time travellers visiting Austria for the first time who want to admire the beauty of its landscapes, lakes and cities.

What these tours include

Lower Austria sightseeing tours start early in the morning with hotel pick-up by the accompanying guide and/or vehicle driver. If you are looking for English-speaking tour guides, it is advisable to book well in advance and confirm availability with the tour operator. Meals and tips are generally not included in the price, but entrance fees to museums are included when included in the itinerary.

In addition to private transport to and from Vienna, the tour operator will provide the traveller with a step-by-step itinerary to explore the best of the three tourist destinations: Melk, Hallstatt and Salzburg.

In Melk you can visit destinations such as the Benedictine Abbey, the tomb of St. Coloman or perhaps get wonderful views of the Danube.

In the village of Hallstatt you will enjoy the breathtaking view of the beautiful lakes and learn interesting facts about the production of salt directly from the salt lakes in the area. Finally in Salzburg you will visit the beautiful old town, the emblematic Mozart's house and the locations where The Sound of Music was recorded.

Useful information

• Price: For this type of experience you will find companies offering prices around €500 per person or other companies offering small group (3-4 people) offers around €800.
• Duration of excursion: Excursions of this type take 12-14 hours to complete. Please note that, despite the private transport, this experience requires you to take time to admire and get to know the different destinations.
• Recommended if... you want to see Austria's most stunning scenery and beautiful villages in a short but worthwhile trip. If you are travelling with friends or family you can get a good deal that includes several members at a reduced price.

When it comes to lakes and bodies of water, Austria has some of the most incredible scenery you're ever likely to see. Whether you are travelling to Vienna in summer or winter, the area known as the Lake District is capable of delivering landscapes designed to enchant.

In the city of Vienna you will find several tour operators that offer combined trips to visit the most beautiful lakes of Austria and the charming city of Salzburg in a day tour.

What these tours include

Depending on the company you decide to hire for the experience, it is possible that the company will arrange a meeting point in a central area of Vienna or offer the traveller the possibility to be picked up directly from their hotel. In any case, pick-up may or may not be limited to the areas closest to the historic centre of the city, so you should make sure you have this information in advance.

Departing from Vienna you will have the opportunity to admire the beautiful countryside scenery against the backdrop of the incredible mountains of the Alps. As for the Austrian lakes, most excursions include a visit to Lake Attersee in the Vöcklabruck district.

They also usually include the village of St. Gilgen, located in the same district of Salzburg, a famous tourist village where the beautiful Lake Wolfgangsee is located.

Finally, during your stop in Salzburg, you will be able to see the exuberant baroque architecture of its historic centre, including places such as Mozart's house and the famous Mirabell Palace.

Useful information

• Price: Small group tours start at €200 per traveller.
• Duration of tour: You'll need to reserve a full day of your itinerary for this tour. You'll usually leave Vienna early in the morning and return after sunset for a tour that will take at least 12 hours.
• Recommended if... in addition to Salzburg you just want to see Austria's beautiful lakes, without visiting other small towns, this tour is ideal for you as it has fewer stops and more time to explore each destination.

As well as being a city famous for being the birthplace of the great Mozart, Salzburg is known throughout Austria for its wonderful Christmas markets, known as the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt. They open each year usually in mid-November and end on the first of January. If you intend to spend Christmas in Vienna, this day trip can make your stay in the city even more magical.

What these excursions include

The companies that offer these tours include an expert guide for the entire trip and transportation to and from your hotel in Vienna. A snack and some kind of drink (possibly a hot drink as it is winter in Vienna) is usually included on the way. Note that lunch is almost never included in the price. However, the smart thing to do is always to read the specifications carefully so you know what facilities you will be getting.

Once you arrive in Salzburg you will have time to take the traditional excursion which includes seeing the locations where "The Sound of Music" was recorded, Mozart's home and the traditional architecture of Salzburg's city centre.

Once in the centre of Salzburg you will have free time to explore the beautiful Christmas markets of this region of Austria, famous for their craftsmanship and creations very much in keeping with local traditions.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience is available from €500 per participant.
• Duration of tour: The round trip from Vienna to Salzburg usually takes about 12 hours in total, so you'll need to set aside a full day of your itinerary for this adventure.
• Recommended yes... if you visit Vienna in December or the weeks when the market is in operation you should take advantage of the classic Salzburg excursion and be sure to include a tour of the Christmas markets.