Overview
Explore Salzburg’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, wandering the charming Getreidegasse and visiting Mozart’s Birthplace. Take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for panoramic views. Stroll through Mirabell Gardens, famous from The Sound of Music. Enjoy classical concerts, sample Austrian cuisine, and use Salzburg as a base for alpine hikes or lakeside excursions in the surrounding Salzkammergut region. The best hotels and top suites of Salzburg are this week’s feature.
1. Hotel Goldener Hirsch
Forbes Travel Guide reports, “Hotel Goldener Hirsch’s accommodations have a classic feel, but that’s entirely intentional. Countess Harriet Walderdorff redesigned the entire property herself before its post-war reopening in 1948 and Marriott has taken care to keep that authentic charm intact. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better location to call your Salzburg home. The luxury hotel’s address in the heart of the Old Town lies just off Getreidegasse, the main stretch where you’ll find many of the city’s historic attractions. Adding to the hotel’s historic charm is attentive staff dressed in traditional Tracht-inspired uniforms reminiscent of early 19th-century Austria. Traditional Austrian cuisine gets an elegant upgrade at Restaurant Goldener Hirsch. The fine-dining venue sources as much of its fare as possible from local producers with a list of Austrian wines (among other European vintages) to match.
Two-Bedroom Suite
The Two Bedroom Suite spans 968-sq.ft. with a living room and sitting area, and two separate ensuite bedrooms.
More suites at Hotel Goldener Hirsch.
2. Rosewood Schloss Fuschl
The Telegraph says, “This lakeside castle is a year-round watery wonder. In summer jump into the clear water or enjoy a drink on the deck of the See Club; in winter retreat to the top-class spa and feast on schnitzel in front of the fire. No wonder the hotel was awarded three Michelin Keys just months after opening. Schloss Fuschl has been a hotel since 1947, but has reached new heights since being transformed by Rosewood in 2024. The heart of the property is a castle that dates back to the 15th century and was originally built as a hunting lodge for the Prince of Salzburg. It’s highly atmospheric with its vaulted ceilings, stone floors and low doors but manages to flow neatly into the newer parts of the hotels.”
Kaiser Franz Joseph House
The Kaiser Franz Joseph Four Bedroom House is the property’s largest residence spanning over 2,900-sq.ft. Situated on the upper floors of the castle, the house has spacious terraces with breathtaking views overlooking Lake Fuschl and the surrounding landscapes.
More suites at Rosewood Schloss Fuschl.
3. Hotel Sacher Salzburg
Michelin Guide says, “Though it joined the Sacher family a scant thirty years ago, the Hotel Sacher Salzburg is actually the elder, pre-dating the Sacher Wien by a full decade. It’s as grand as they come, occupying a privileged position in Salzburg’s old town, along the banks of the Salzach river. Like its Viennese sister, it’s still resplendent in 19th-century pomp, as its renovations have focused on maintaining the beauty of the hotel without altering its essential character. The rooms and suites are uniformly luxe and elegant, with décor that’s bright and contemporary, but still rooted in the Sacher’s past — ornate prints and fabrics abound, but the color palette is tightly focused, as are the layouts.”
Sacher Sky Suite
The Sacher Sky Suite spans 1,485-sq.ft. From your private roof terrace and living area, you enjoy a unique view over Salzburg’s Old Town, majestically framed by the local mountains and Hohensalzburg Fortress. Newly built on the roof of Hotel Sacher Salzburg, the Sky Suite is the largest self-contained suite in the city/
More suites at Hotel Sacher Salzburg.
4. Hotel Goldgasse
Michelin Guide writes, “From Salzburg you might expect wedding-cake opulence and a relentless focus on opera. So when a hotel like Hotel Goldgasse challenges your expectations with a healthy dose of modern design, it’s a welcome surprise. A central Old Town location on the south bank of the Salzach has much to do with the hotel’s appeal, barely a stone’s throw from the university and the Baroque cathedral. Goldgasse’s public spaces and guestrooms retain some period ambience, clad in classic stucco and antique stone flooring. On the ground floor, the hyper-regional Gasthof Goldgasse preserves the essence of a traditional Austrian inn, down to the knots in the ceiling beams and the wine list bursting with national pride. You’ll get a sense of the building’s heritage in the copper tableware; these Kupferpfandl’n reflect the livelihood of the skilled coppersmiths who once ran a workshop here.”
Rooftop Terrace Suite
The duplex rooftop terrace suite includes your own private views over Salzburg with your own terrace.
More suites at Hotel Goldgasse.
5. Hotel Bristol
The Telegraph reports, “The Bristol, opposite Mozart’s former home in the heart of Salzburg’s right bank, is all about timeless grandeur, with its chandelier-lit interiors, refined dining, polished service and antique-filled rooms. Breakfast is served in palatial surrounds – the wow-factor Crystal Ballroom. The Bristol is redolent of a more graceful era. Its elegant late 19th-century façade, bedecked with red geraniums in summer, gives way to a grand lobby – all polished brass and marble, chandeliers and oil paintings. Most notable of all is the large-scale painting by Austrian painter Hans Makart, showing Nero during the fire of Rome. You immediately sense this is a hotel with history, and indeed the foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Paris Lodron in 1619. Famous past guests include Sigmund Freud and conductor Herbert von Karajan.”
Deluxe Suite
The 1,250-sq.ft. Deluxe Suite brings you back to the era of Mozart with modern conveniences.
More suites at Hotel Bristol.
6. Romantic Hotel Gmachl
The Telegraph says, “This hotel on the fringes of Salzburg manages the delicate act of combining more than 600 years of Alpine tradition with nouveau-rustic design. Go for the spirit-lifting views of the Alps, the panoramic spa, restful vibe and gourmet dining below creaking wood beams. One of Austria’s oldest businesses, Gmachl has been going strong for 675 years and is now in the 23rd generation of loving family hands. While the shuttered, lemon-fronted hotel has been brought up to date with a sprinkling of slick new rooms, bold patterns and pops of bright colour that have sent it winging into the 21st century, the spirit remains truly Alpine. The overall look is rustic elegant, with an eye for romantic detail shining through in the beautiful flower displays, crackling open fires and candlelight (even at breakfast).”
Rooftop Suite
The new Rooftop Suite is 1,050-sq.ft. and features a terrace daybed and indoor/outdoor hot tub.
More suites at Romantic Hotel Gmachl.
7. Schloss Monchstein
Michelin Guide writes, “Even in the rarefied company of Austrian castle hotels, Hotel Schloss Mönchstein stands out. Quite literally, in fact — this medieval-meets-modern castle stands atop the Mönchsberg, a hilltop overlooking the picturesque Salzburg old town. Its 24 rooms and suites are similarly modern-classic in their style, capturing the atmosphere of this baroque gem of a city but updating the details for the contemporary luxury guest. Of particular note are the spa, with its small but lovely outdoor infinity pool, and the Glass Garden restaurant, with its Michelin star.”
Maria Theresia Suite
The Maria Theresia Suite spans 950-sq.ft. and combines history, art, and comfort. The extraordinary window design – inspired by Leonardo da Vinci – offers an iconic view over Salzburg’s cultural centre and the tranquil castle park. Precious originals such as the painting of its namesake, an 18th-century Murano chandelier, and a Rubelli sofa create an ambiance that transports you to another era.
More suites at Schloss Monchstein.
