The Best Independent Bookstores In Salzburg

Salzburg is a city of peace and tranquillity, and it also provides the perfect setting for locals and visitors alike to settle down with a good read at a quaint bookstore. Here are some of the city’s best independent bookstores to visit and spend some time in.

Buchhandlung Höllrigl

Bookstore, Store

Located a stone throw away from Mozart’s birthplace, Austria’s oldest bookstore, Buchhandlung Höllrigl, offers a generously stocked, beautifully-traditional store with antiquated charm. Inside, patrons will find an amazing range of newspapers, magazines, and books on nearly every subject imaginable including history, travel, music, and art.

Buchhandlung Stierle

Bookstore, Shop

An elegant space, with an arching ceiling and plenty of room to browse the shelves, this family-owned business contains an extensive collection of German-language books as well as some foreign volumes. Subjects include nature and travel to body and soul. One particularly enchanting feature is the shop’s cat, Kira, who can be found curled up among the copies.

Xenex Verlags-und Salzburg

Store

This small yet generously-stocked store has a distinctly-local vibe. Tucked away on the corner of Festungsgasse close to the Mozarteum, they provide an extensive selection of German-language books as well as a decent variety of foreign-language books.

Rupertus Buchhandlung

Bookstore, Store

Located in the Old Town on Dreifaltigkeitsgasse, this spacious yet cosy store has an incredible range of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books. A favourite with both locals and tourists, the staff are always polite and friendly, on hand to give out any recommendations and answer questions. After finding the perfect book, head around the corner and find a space in the park for an afternoon’s read if the weather allows.

The English Center

School

Specialising in children’s books, The English Center also has a great collection of young adult and adult literature. This bookstore and coffee shop are perfect for English-speaking visitors to Salzburg in search for a good read for their holiday. The wide range of courses and talks they organise provide another wonderful feature. Easy to find, it is located in the heart of Salzburg between the Salzach River and the train station.