Class is synonymous with the glorious Austrian city of Salzburg. Dramatically nestled in the footsteps of majestic Alps, this city is easily one of the most enchanting European destinations. The birthplace of Mozart, an instantly recognizable backdrop of the universally loved 60s movie The Sound of Music, and a postcard-perfect kaleidoscope of old architecture and Austrian elegance, Salzburg is a stunner. It is ready to amaze you all year round, and its beauty is that of bucket list variety.
It’s not a surprise that the hotels in Salzburg are stunning too, offering the highest degree of hospitality and luxury. Let us tell you which ones are the best for an unforgettable Salzburg holiday with a little pinch of Alpine magic.
Hotel Bristol Salzburg
Brilliance at its finest, Hotel Bristol Salzburg is a regal lodging that goes above and beyond to make sure you’ve got a luxurious stay. Enjoying the iconic status among accommodations of the city, this five-star hotel offers truly heavenly views over the Salzburg Old Town. Its rooms are all carefully designed to reflect the rich heritage while giving the most modern amenities to guests. Filled with grandiose halls and authentic interiors, Bristol is the ultimate eye candy immediately transporting you to the times of balls, imperial grandeur, and sparkling opulence.
Hotel Sacher Salzburg
With a prime location next to fantastic Mirabell Palace and Gardens, Hotel Sacher is among the best five-star lodgings in Salzburg. Opened in 1866, it has steadily enjoyed the fame of one of the most fashionable and luxurious places to stay among the noblemen, celebrities, royalty, and artists. Its sumptuous halls and splendidly designed rooms bear a true Old European charm. The setting gives you superb vistas over the fortress-dominated historic center of Salzburg from balconies and windows. Its crown jewel is undoubtfully Sacher Sky Suite with a private rooftop terrace and great interior decorations. And yes, Sacher in the name means that it is a sister hotel of a world-famous Vienna counterpart where the must-try chocolate cake with an apricot filling was born. So be sure to try one here too accompanied by an Einspänner (Viennese coffee with the whipped cream on top).
Hotel Goldener Hirsch, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Not many hotels around the world can trace their origins to the year 1407. The super centrally-located Hotel Goldener Hirsch is one of those who can. With expertly renovated historic interiors reflecting this ancient building’s hunting heritage, it allows you to feel the old appeal of Salzburg and do it in style. With Mozart’s birth house a few minutes away and all the main sights of the city within a comfortable walking distance, there’s hardly a better place to base yourself to have a definitive exploration experience here. The rooms are extra comfortable blending the past and the present in their masterfully crafted interiors. Goldener Hirsch is also a mecca for culinary enthusiasts hosting the eponymously named restaurant serving Austrian cuisine at its best and having fine dining outpost Herzl next door.
Hotel Auersperg
Family-run Hotel Auersperg is Salzburg’s hidden gem. Tucked away from the tourism-heavy city center but still very close to all the sights, it offers a home-out-of-home kind of atmosphere, the one that only boutique hotels possess. With meticulously-designed warm-colored rooms and a wonderful inner garden, Auersperg has an authentic Austrian flare. That basically means a slow, unhurried savoring of life’s delights that is easier in a town that has so much beauty to offer. With the magnificent mountain views from the rooftop terrace, a great spa proposition, and massages offering, Hotel Auersperg is the ultimate city lodging to relax.
Small Luxury Hotel Goldgasse
Right in the heart of the Old Salzburg and a stone’s throw away from gargantuan Salzburg Cathedral, Hotel Goldgasse is an exemplary boutique hotel. With bright and well-designed rooms, painstaking attention to detail, and rave reviews, this accommodation is a perfect pick for a Salzburg break. Their Suite with Terrace is a must-book offering an unparalleled vista over the magnificent Fortress Hohensalzburg, something of a dream when it comes to a romantic getaway. During the summer the whole city becomes a music stage when the famous Salzburg Festival is organized lasting five weeks starting from late July. The Hotel Goldgasse’s location makes it an ideal accommodation choice so be sure to book ahead.
Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron
There’s hardly a more exclusive Salzburg experience than staying in an actual Schloss (or a “palace” in German). Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron is a unique accommodation that allows you to spend an unforgettable holiday right at the centuries-old palace. An elegant lakeside garden is included. It’s one thing to visit such a building as a tourist, it’s the whole another level of sumptuousness to stay at one. You will have a chance to dine at a richly decorated ballroom, walk around the gardens where The Sound of Music scenes were shot and enjoy the spacious illuminated rooms stylishly adapted to modernity. There’s one that deserves special attention and it’s the fantastic Max Reinhardt Suite with authentic decor, a secret passage to the library and mountain views. The person behind the name was the founder of the Salzburg Festival and one of the palace’s owners.
Hotel Wolf
Make the most of Salzburg’s Old Town choosing the pretty boutique Hotel Wolf. Ideally situated on the picturesque medieval Kaigasse street opposite the Salzburg Museum, this accommodation offers stylish lodging in a renovated 15th-century burgher house. There are 16 charming rooms that reinterpret historic decoration for a comfortable and hassle-free stay. From here it’s easy to discover magnificent Salzburg. Get to the top of the city by taking the 1882-constructed Festungs Bahn cable car to the Fortress Hohensalzburg, marvel at the superb architecture of Nonnberg Abbey and visit Haus der Natur that is among the most fascinating natural history museums in Europe.
Cool Mama
With its skyscraper looks, uber-modern designs and minimalist approaches, Cool Mama would feel at home in New York or Tokyo. The fact that accommodation like that exists in classical Salzburg adds some hip sauce to the city’s hotel scene. Located on the town’s outskirts close to the German border, Cool Mama provides a fresh alternative to the touristy center and delivers a classy stay in a vibrant setting. Perfect for business tourists, remote workers and free spirits, you will have fun spending time in its spacious new rooms, profiting from the spectacular rooftop vistas of the Panorama Sky Restaurant and spending time in a gym. The Alps around and the city of Salzburg view in the distance definitely add to the allure.
Laschenskyhof Hotel & Spa
One of the great advantages of Salzburg is its proximity to the postcard-perfect Alpine countryside. Laschenskyhof Hotel & Spa is an excellent family-run boutique lodging located just a few kilometers from the city center. It offers a chalet-like experience boasting large rooms that feature lots of wood. You will have magnificent views of the surrounding nature, a great restaurant serving local fare, and a spa complex to help you completely rewind. But the real draw that is rarely found in Salzburg city center is an expansive heated indoor-outdoor pool that can be enjoyed all year round.
Boutiquehotel am Dom
Old wooden ceilings go well with contemporary interiors at this outstanding Salzburg design hotel. If you’re in the city to explore, that’s the place to base yourself in. Boutiquehotel am Dom is right in the center of the action allowing you to navigate the colorful streets easily. Guests loved the cleanliness, the welcoming attitude of the staff and the central Goldgasse street setting. While in Salzburg it’s hard not to be obsessed with all things Mozart, the genius composer was born and spent many years of his life here. Of course, today every place associated with Wolfgang Amadeus is an extra touristy spot with varying degrees of interest for a traveler. If you enjoy such a pastime, you can pay a visit to Mozart’s birth house, Mozart Residence and have a Mozart classical evening at one of the numerous Salzburg theatres.
