The Best Hotels in Salzburg for Every Traveller

Hotel & Villa Auersperg is conveniently located close to Salzburg’s Old Town, with restaurants and cafés nearby. In contrast to the alpine lodges and ski chalets that characterise the region, the Auersperg, which is run by the same family who first opened the hotel in 1959, bursts with pops of colour and modern flavour. After exploring the birthplace of Mozart, warm up in a steam bath or stylish Finnish sauna, which also offer rare views of the green slopes of Kapuzinerberg. Plus, the whole hotel is Bio Austria-certified, and the organic breakfast buffet offers fresh local produce, cakes, juices, spreads and warm Ayurvedic mueslis and compotes.

Despite being the Baroque city’s oldest guesthouse, Arthotel Blaue Gans feels refreshingly modern thanks to an offbeat collection of objets d’art – more than 120 in total. Steeped in over 600 years of history, this eclectic abode is characterised by a mix of retro flair and a modernist approach to restoring traditional architecture, which sees contemporary art against a backdrop of authentic timber. Owner Andreas Gfrerer’s oddball approach is echoed in the kitchen, where Austrian gastronomy gets the Blue Goose treatment with creative twists on national staples, such as the Austrian pasture goose with red cabbage, curd bread dumplings and candied grapefruit. Make sure to also pick up artsy crockery and hand-blown glassware from the always-interesting in-house design store.

A mischievous air permeates the Romantik Hotel Gmachl – from the flirty “I’m going to sleep with you” copywriting to the candlelight dinner vouchers that promise to get last-minute valentines out of a bind. In short, amour is the order of the day at this alpine-adjacent retreat, and the Gmachls – Austria’s oldest business family whose roots date back to 1334 – are all too happy to facilitate. Though guests needn’t work too hard at wooing, the free-flowing spa offers 360-degrees views of the majestic mountains, and the wood-panelled dining room is lit by ornate candelabras from morning coffee until late-night supper. Should that fail, a hot stone massage and afternoon spent sauntering between the infrared sauna and mountain-facing sun terrace is sure to melt the heart of even the most determined ice queen – or king.

Unabashed opulence is the driving force behind Sacher hotels, which have outposts in Salzburg, Baden and Vienna. The historic Hotel Sacher Salzburg is every bit the height of old-world luxury, with antique artworks, marble bathrooms and priceless antiques. The 109 ornately decorated rooms – some replete with views of Salzburg’s Old Town and the Hohensalzburg Fortress – are trimmed with the same furnishings you’ll find in the four huge eateries, each seemingly more lavish than the last. The Café Sacher is especially Instagrammable, while chef Michael Gahleitner’s Sacher Grill serves up traditional Austrian fare such as wiener schnitzel and offers views of the Salzach River.

With a treasure trove of key attractions within easy reach, the Radisson Blu Hotel Altstadt needn’t work too hard to cement its position as a prime escape in Salzburg’s Unesco-listed Old Town – but it does anyway. Comprising two medieval buildings, the squat hotel is a much-loved fixture of the historic centre. The authentic Symphonie restaurant will please history enthusiasts, as will the wood-beamed ceilings which date back to 1377, the intricate stucco and plentiful antiquities. The Café Altstadt is crowned with an authentic vaulted ceiling, and is an ideal spot to tuck into any pastries you stash from the morning’s generous buffet spread.

Boutiquehotel am Dom is loved for its central location near the town’s historic centre. Despite the townhouse exterior, the low-slung bolthole deals in rustic alpine charm with original wood beams and metallic accents. Drawing influence from Mozart – as many hotels in the area do – and the nearby Festival Hall, an antique aesthetic isn’t exclusive to the centuries-old walls that comprise the hotel. The medieval vault, where you’ll enjoy a generous buffet breakfast each morning, is the trophy sight of this compact yet convenient stay.

Dating back to 1407, Hotel Goldener Hirsch, in Salzburg’s Old Town, oozes traditional Austrian charm that’s enhanced by ancient stonework, hand-crafted tables and traditional tapestries. With its name translating to “golden deer”, the hotel aptly glows with gilded accents and warm lowlights that further add to the antique romance. Rooms bounce from Prussian blue to rosy pink furnishings; the latter lends a Wes Anderson vibe that’s accentuated by The Grand Budapest Hotel-style colour coordination and regal dining areas, where you’ll be treated to packed breakfast spreads of cheeses, breads, pancakes, meats and eggs.