5 Best Day Trips from Vienna to Salzburg

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

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

The most popular standard tour and the one chosen by most travelers is the Salzburg group day tour departing from the center of Vienna. The companies that offer this type of service take a small group of travelers from their location in the city to beautiful Salzburg for a day of adventure outside the capital and to see the highlights of this paradisiacal 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 the pick-up of the traveler at the hotels in the center and surroundings; while others establish a common meeting point in the center of Vienna.

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

Transportation to and from the center of Vienna to Salzburg and back is of course included. The itinerary includes time to visit and tour the most outstanding points of interest which could include: the historic center of Salzburg, 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 recorded in the 1960's).

Useful information

• Price: For this type of experience you should reserve at least 135€ in your budget. Depending on the company you hire and the facilities included, the price to pay can reach up to 250€ per traveler.
• Duration of the tour: This is a full day tour, you will leave Vienna early in the morning to be back in the city after sunset.
• Recommended if... you are looking for an option that allows you to enjoy the best of Salzburg comfortably but without spending a fortune; the only thing you will have to adapt to is sharing transportation with other travelers like you.

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

That's why you will find several interesting private tour alternatives designed for those who put comfort and tranquility first when planning their vacation or for those who are looking for a truly personalized experience.

What these excursions include

Private excursions to Salzburg from Vienna usually start with the pick-up of the traveler or travelers directly at their hotel of stay, in addition to providing an expert guide who accompanies them at all times. This type of tour includes, as you would expect, transportation. Keep in mind that Spanish-speaking guides are less frequent, so it is advisable to book the tour weeks in advance to ensure their 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 carefully the itinerary offered by the tour company, although some of the places you can expect to see include: the locations of the musical The Sound of Music, the historic center of Salzburg, the legendary Mozart's house and museum, a funicular ride through the city and many more.

Both on the outbound and return trip you will have the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking scenery offered by the Austrian forests or the iconic peaks of the Alps.

Useful information

• Price: This is not an economical option, as the private tour to Salzburg can cost around 1300€ per group.
• Duration of tour: You will need to reserve 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 organize a comfortable and personalized trip; if you are traveling with friends or a large family the final price to be paid may well compensate the cost of an individual excursion; since most companies admit 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. The many tour operators in Vienna have designed an ideal experience for first-time travelers visiting Austria for the first time and want to admire the beauty of its landscapes, lakes and cities.

What these tours include

Lower Austria excursions start early in the morning with hotel pick-up by the escorting guide and/or vehicle driver. If you are looking for English-speaking guides for the excursion, 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 transportation to and from Vienna, the tour operator will offer the traveler 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 town of Hallstatt you will enjoy the amazing view of its beautiful lakes and learn interesting facts about the production of salt directly from the salt lakes in the area. Finally in the visit to 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 about Salzburg

• Price: For this type of experience you will find companies that offer prices around 500€ per person or other companies that offer offers for small groups (3-4 people) around 800€.
• Duration of the excursion: Excursions of this type take from 12 to 14 hours to complete. Keep in mind that, despite the private transportation, in this experience you have to take time to admire and get to know the different destinations.
• Recommended if... you want to get to know the most amazing landscapes and the most beautiful villages of Austria in a short but well spent trip. If you are traveling 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 will ever have the opportunity to see. Whether you are traveling to Vienna in summer or winter, the area known as the lake district is capable of providing scenery 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 coordinates a meeting point in a central area of Vienna or offers the traveler the possibility to be picked up directly at your hotel. In any case, the pick-up may or may not be limited to the areas closest to the historic center 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 landscapes of the countryside using as a backdrop the incredible mountains of the Alps. Regarding the Austrian lakes, most excursions include a visit to Lake Attersee located in the district of Vöcklabruck.

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, in your stop in Salzburg you can get to know the exuberant baroque architecture of its historic center, you can visit places like Mozart's house or the famous Mirabell Palace.

Useful information about Salzburg

• Price: Small group tours start at 200€ per traveler.
• Duration of the tour: You should reserve a full day of your itinerary for this tour. It usually leaves Vienna early in the morning and returns after sunset in a tour that will take about 12 hours minimum.
• Recommended if... in addition to Salzburg you only want to see the beautiful lakes of Austria, without visiting other small towns, this tour is ideal for you because it has fewer stops and more time to explore each of the destinations.

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

What these tours include

The companies that offer these tours include the accompaniment of an expert guide throughout the trip and transportation to and from your hotel in Vienna. A snack and some kind of beverage (possibly a hot drink as it is winter in Vienna) is usually included on the way. Please note that lunch is almost never included in the price. However, the smartest thing to do is always to read the specifications carefully to know what facilities you can expect.

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

Once in the center 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 attached to local traditions.

Useful information about Salzburg

• 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 should reserve 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 excursion to Salzburg and be sure to include a tour to see the Christmas markets.