An Alternative Guide to Salzburg
A sophisticated Alpine city with an underrated cultural scene, Salzburg has for many years been synonymous with The Sound of Music and Mozart. However, there’s more to see and do beyond these cultural icons. Read on to discover the Austrian city’s subtler side, with our alternative guide.
Lively Arts Scene
Being the birthplace of Mozart, the city’s classical music scene is often considered one of its most alluring assets. While this isn’t untrue, it’s also worth making time for Salzburg’s contemporary music scene, which is surprisingly lively. Jazzit — the city’s most happening jazz bar — is a wonderful antidote to the ubiquitous Mozart-related attractions. Hosting weekly ‘electro swing’ parties and various blues and jazz concerts, it is a great place to end up on a night out.
Salzburgian Street Art
Unusual Architecture
The image that most people have of Salzburg is a perfect toy town, pristine and orderly and with not one hair out of place. However, there are some exceptions. In striking contrast to the tidy architecture of the Old Town, the Heizkraftwerk Mitte on Schwarzstraße is a brutalist beast of a building, standing ugly and imposing on the outskirts of the city. Designed by Marie-Claude Bétrix und Eraldo Consolascio in 2003, it was widely considered a vulgar eye-sore by the public. However, it’s a refreshing stand-out structure that is well worth checking out.
An Underground Ice Palace
Venture out of the city to the world’s largest Ice Caves in Werfen, roughly an hour’s drive from Salzburg. An underground cavern of twisted organic sculptures that have formed in a manner that appears deliberate, this incredible structure is as imposing and it is impressive – a completely unique spectacle to behold. Open to the public between May and October, guided lantern-lit tours take you through the steep and winding alleys and glistening walls, giving you scientific and historical facts about the phenomena along the way. Be sure to wrap up warm, whatever the weather.
Eishöhlenstraße 30, A-5450 Werfen, +43 06468/5248
Crystal-clear Waters
The glittering emerald-green Lake Fuschlsee, a 20 minute drive from the city, is a gorgeous oasis of calm and tranquillity. Crystal-clear waters beckon and the water is of such pure quality that it passes the Austrian standards for drinking. The shores around the lake are also popular hiking tracks, with some taking you to natural bathing beaches for a refreshing dip.
Lake Hintersee, a little further afield, is also a favourite spot for swimmers who want to escape the stifling summer heat. Largely a local hangout, the public beaches and bathing pools are never overly crowded. Perfect for a relaxing day out of the city.
Alternative Eats
In a departure from Austria’s conservative coffee-houses with their formal, tuxedo-clad waiters and white tablecloths, Afro Cafe favours a more unconventional approach to coffee culture. It’s bursting with colour and is inspired by Africa, with the interior designed by African artists. Alongside fragrant coffee, there are many exciting contemporary dishes to try, including a ‘hangover breakfast’: a generous plate of baked beans, fried eggs, Boerewors (a spicy sausage) and toast, all rounded off with a Bloody Mary shot.
Inside the Afro Cafe | © Dan Sakamoto / Flickr
Wise up on Austrian Wine
After hours, Gastlokal Fridrich is a sophisticated and stylish venue in which to sample a glass of Austrian wine (one of the most underrated varieties in Europe). With the choice of 100s of bottles from Austria and all over the world, there’s a bottle for every taste.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
Culture Trip Spring Sale
Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.
- Post ID: 1339180
- Sponsored? No
- View Payload