LANGUAGE

German

CURRENCY

Euro

BEST TIME TO VISIT

September to October

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Salzburg Hauptbahnhof Train Station

NEAREST AIRPORT

Salzburg Airport(SZG)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

112

INTERNET ACCESS

Most of Salzburg’s Altstadt is now a free wi-fi hotspot; no password is necessary – simply accept the terms and conditions of ‘Salzburg surft!’ to get online.

VISA

Austria is part of the Schengen Agreement. A visa generally isn’t necessary for stays of up to three months, but some nationalities need a Schengen visa.

Visas for stays of up to three months are not required for citizens of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA), much of Eastern Europe, Israel, USA, Canada, the majority of Central and South American nations, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia or New Zealand. All other nationalities, including Chinese and Russian travellers, require a visa; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.bmaa.gv.at) has a list of Austrian embassies where you can apply for one, and the Austrian embassy in Washington (www.austria.org/going-to-austria/entry-a-residence-permits) lists all visa-free nationalities. Apply at least three weeks in advance.

If you wish to stay longer than three months you should simply leave the country and re-enter. For those nationalities that require a visa, extensions cannot be organised within Austria; you’ll need to leave and reapply. EU nationals can stay indefinitely but are required by law to register with the local Magistratisches Bezirksamt (magistrate’s office) if the stay exceeds 60 days.

Austria is part of the Schengen Agreement, which includes all EU states (minus Britain and Ireland) and Switzerland. In practical terms this means a visa issued by one Schengen country is good for all the other member countries and a passport is not required to move from one to the other (a national identity card is required, though). Austrians are required to carry personal identification, and you too will need to be able to prove your identity.

Visa and passport requirements are subject to change, so always double-check your home country’s foreign travel or Austrian embassy website before travelling.

HOTEL

Perfect for touring on foot, the picturesque streets of Salzburg’s old town, almost directly under the walls of the formidable Hohensalzburg fortress, contain the cathedral; St. Peter’s Abbey; and the palace, with its state apartments and museums. The funicular to the fortress is nearby, and just across the river is Mirabell Palace and gardens.

LUXURY

Hotel Goldgasse

Hotel Goldener Hirsch

Hotel Sacher Vienna

Hotel Sacher Salzburg

MID-RANGE

Stadtkrug Hotel

Boutique Hotel Am Dom

Crowne Plaza Hotel Salzburg

BUDGET

Star Inn Hotel Salzburg Zentrum

Haus Wartenberg

Pension Adlerhof

COST OF LIVING

In addition to the gorgeous old town in Salzburg, visitors here tend to focus on Mozart-related sights, and those associated with the Sound of Music movie. The Mozart birthplace and the Mozart resident can be a bit dry, but the Sound of Music bus tour is a blast, even for those who might not know the movie well.

Hotels and hostels in Salzburg offer pretty good value for this region, although they can be crowded and/or sold out during the summer festival season, so booking ahead is critical. Food and drinks are also good value for this part of Europe, even at some of the more touristy places in the Old Town and nearby. The Augustiner Brewery is a cheap and unforgettable evening for beers and traditional food. Depending on the time of year you visit, you’ll notice different hotel prices. Summer (May through August) is considered the best time to visit with higher temperatures and flowers in bloom. This is also the time of year when most people visit and when you’ll find higher hotel prices.

Generally, the rest of the year sees less visitors with September and October serving as great months to travel if you’re looking for lower hotel rates while still being able to enjoy many outdoor activities outside of winter sports. If you’re looking to stay in a fancy resort for relatively little money, try visiting between the months of November and February. Although this is the coldest and snowiest part of the year, it’s also a great time to save some money.