A Weekend in Salzburg & Beyond

A WEEKEND IN | CABANA TRAVEL | WORLD OF CABANA

Few European cities possess such a perfect sense of composition as Salzburg, writes Fabrizia Caracciolo. Set between river and mountains, its domes, towers and Baroque façades rise against the austere drama of the Alps, while the sound of church bells drifts through the clear mountain air. Fabrizia shares an insider's itinerary for a memorable weekend in Salzburg – and for those who can linger longer, Salzkammergut, Austria’s celebrated Lake District.

BY FABRIZIA CARACCIOLO | CABANA TRAVEL | 27 MARCH 2026

It is no coincidence that this great city became the stage of the Salzburg Festival, nor that generations of composers and aesthetes have regarded it one of Europe’s most perfectly composed cities. Its beauty lies in a delicate equilibrium between grandeur and intimacy. From the majestic Cathedral on Domplatz to the princely chambers of the Residenz; from the carved rock arcades of the Felsenreitschule to the quiet Biedermeier salons hidden behind wrought-iron signs; from the ritual elegance of Festival evenings to the simplicity of a riverside stroll at dusk, Salzburg reveals itself as a composition of restraint and refinement.

Where to Stay

Hotel Sacher Salzburg: With its extraordinary position facing the Salzach, impeccable service and sumptuous interiors, this historic hotel offers ceremonious elegance and front-row views over the Old Town, particularly magical during Festival season. Its restaurants serve refined Austrian and international cuisine, while the adjoining café offers the irresistible Sachertorte, one cannot leave Salzburg without bringing at least one home.

Hotel Goldener Hirsch: On the central Getreidegasse, the famous medieval street where Mozart was born, this is perhaps the most traditional and atmospheric address in town, especially during the Festival. Painted ceilings, antique cupboards and creaking wooden floors evoke the romance of an old Austrian inn. Its adjoining Goldener Hirsch Restaurant, with vaulted rooms, candlelight and immaculate deer-printed tablecloths, is a destination in itself.

Schloss Leopoldskron: Just beyond the city centre, this Rococo palace unfolds beside its quiet lake in a scene of mirrored façades, theatrical gardens and timeless serenity. In the warmer months it offers a refreshing retreat from the city’s summer heat.

Where to Eat

Herzl Restaurant: One of the most atmospheric traditional restaurants in the Altstadt, tucked inside the historic Goldener Hirsch. Come for refined Austrian classics served in intimate candlelit Stube rooms.

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium: Set within the Benedictine St Peter’s Abbey at the foot of the fortress, this remarkable establishment is considered one of the oldest restaurants in Europe.

Bärenwirt: For comforting Austrian classics—bratwurst, Wiener schnitzel and the celebrated Salzburger Nockerl, served beside the Salzach.

Ikarus: For a contemporary and avant-garde experience. Located within the futuristic Red Bull Hangar near the airport, it hosts one of the most remarkable Michelin-level gastronomic programmes in Europe, with guest chefs from around the world.

What to See & Do

Kollegienkirche: This Baroque masterpiece is celebrated for its “cloud altar”, an entirely white sculptural composition depicting the Assumption of Mary, surrounded by swirling stucco clouds and angels. The effect is deliberately theatrical; a Baroque vision of heaven opening above the altar. Its striking resemblance to Serpotta’s stuccoes in Palermo likely derives from a shared inspiration: Bernini’s dramatic Baroque language.

The Felsenreitschule: A monumental open-air theater carved directly into the rock of the Mönchsberg. During the Salzburg Festival it becomes one of the principal stages for opera and theatre; during rehearsals, music often echoes through the vast stone arcades, one of the most evocative moments in the city.

Mozart Geburtshaus: The great composer's birthplace, at No. 9 Getreidegasse, remains one of Salzburg’s most celebrated historic houses and is well worth a visit.

St. Peter’s Cemetery: Where chapels are carved directly into the mountain rock. It feels less like a cemetery than a secluded garden enclosed by monastery walls and cliffs.

Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac: Housed in a grand 19th-century villa, this gallery has museum-scale exhibitions, such as Kiefer, Baselitz, Alex Katz, and Antony Gormley. They create a striking contemporary counterpoint to the Baroque city.

Don't Miss: The Cathedral and the ceremonial rooms of the DomQuartier; the princely apartments of the Residenz; and the medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress, which dominates the skyline. It is one of the largest and best-preserved castles in Europe.

Where to Shop

Lanz Trachtenmode: For the most authentic and beautifully made dirndls, with impeccable tailoring and heirloom fabrics worn with quiet pride.

Salzburger Heimatwerk: On Residenzplatz beside the cathedral, this is both a shop and a cultural institution devoted to the preservation of regional craftsmanship.

Azwanger Delikatessen: On Getreidegasse, this historic gourmet shop – the oldest delicatessen in Salzburg – is beloved by locals and aesthetes alike.

Handmade Mozartkugeln: You must try this Austrian classic [small, round Austrian sweets filled with pistachio-marzipan, nougat, and covered in dark chocolate] at Café-Konditorei Fürst, which is where the original recipe was created.

Beyond the City: The Salzkammergut

Beyond Salzburg begins the Salzkammergut, Austria’s celebrated Lake District, a landscape of crystalline waters, forested mountains and villages that appear suspended between reflection and sky. The name literally means “Salt Chamber Estate”, referring to the region once administered directly by the Habsburg court because of its valuable salt mines. For centuries it has attracted emperors, writers, artists and travellers drawn by its serenity and elegance.

What to See, Do & Shop

Fuschlsee: A short drive from Salzburg, this lake glimmers in deep emerald tones beneath wooded hills, watched over by Schloss Fuschl, a luxurious Rosewood hotel.

Wolfgangsee: Further east lies the luminous Wolfgangsee, where Belle Époque villas line the shores and historic paddle steamers glide across deep blue waters. The charming Gasthof zur Post in St. Gilgen is particularly worth noting.

Mondsee: Wide and luminous, this “Moon Lake” unfolds beneath its twin-towered basilica, the water opening gently toward the mountains.

Hallstatt: At the far edge of the Salzkammergut region, Hallstatt rises in delicate tiers between lake and mountain – a village so perfectly composed that it almost appears theatrical. It is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Altaussee: Yet perhaps the most serene of all is Altaussee, where the lake lies silver and still beneath the Dachstein massif. Long favored by writers, artists and discreet European families, it remains a refuge of silence, pure air and contemplative beauty.

Mayrlife: Above the lake, Mayrlife reflects a distinctly Austrian philosophy of well-being: precision diagnostics, mineral broths and long mountain walks: restoration pursued with discipline, yet softened by landscape. Here the atmosphere of the “enchanted mountains” blends with advanced medical practice.

Bad Ischl: The former summer residence of the Habsburg court, is where Emperor Franz Joseph first met the young Elisabeth—the future Empress Sissi—in 1853, beginning one of Europe’s most romantic imperial stories. Do not miss the charming Bittner Hütte if you wish to find a traditional Tracht hat to wear with dirndls and lederhosen.