The Best Museums in Salzburg, Austria
When it comes to choosing which of Salzburg’s museums to visit, there are so many that it makes good sense to ask for expert local advice. Culture Trip has set out to do exactly that and speaks with Mag. Natalie Fuchs from the Salzburg Museum about some of her favourite museums and what makes a trip to the city so special.
There isn’t a street in Salzburg that isn’t steeped in history – from the magnificent Baroque architecture on every corner to the imposing Medieval fortress watching over the city. With so much history on offer, Culture Trip asks local expert Mag. Natalie Fuchs about her must-visit museums in the city.
“People are drawn to the city for many reasons – for its UNESCO World Heritage status, its beautiful architecture, the abundance of its cultural offerings, even its idyllic location,” Fuchs says.
Whatever your reason for visiting Salzburg, the following museum guide is bound to have something for you.
2. DomQuartier
Museum
The impressive DomQuartier complex encompasses the Salzburg Cathedral and the Residenz (the former centre of the prince-archbishops’ power), which includes the Benedictine Monastery of St Peter’s. Touring the five museums here, visitors can marvel at the Italian-style Baroque features, with highlights including the staterooms of the Residenz, the Residenzgalerie, the Cathedral Museum and St Peter’s Museum. The current exhibition from the Rossacher Collection presents significant Roman Baroque artworks from artists such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Peter Paul Rubens. With five museums to explore over a 1.3-kilometre (0.8-mile) tour, be prepared with maps and audio guides available at the DomQuartier entrance.
3. Museum of Modern Art (Museum der Moderne)
Museum
Dramatically set atop the sheer cliff of Mönchsberg overlooking Salzburg, the Museum of Modern Art (Museum der Moderne) is home to approximately 55,000 national and international artworks from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, with a focus on graphics and photography. With a second location (Rupertinum) nearby, the museum offers a continual and eclectic stream of unforgettable exhibitions for lovers of modern art. For students under the age of 26, don’t miss the Lazy Sunday Afternoon special at Mönchsberg, which costs just €2 (£1.70), including a free tour. “I enjoy going to the Museum of Modern Art,” says Fuchs. “On the one hand, I like the curatorial concepts of my colleagues on the mountain; on the other hand, the atmosphere is very nice.”
4. Museum of Natural History and Technology (Haus der Natur)
Museum
The Museum of Natural History and Technology (Haus der Natur) is the perfect place for inquiring minds of any age. With a regional and international focus, the museum exhibitions encompass classical natural history, zoology and science. Permanent exhibits include the aquarium and reptile zoo, where you’ll find over 35 tanks displaying animals from around the world; an interactive science centre offering hands-on experiences to learn about everything from energy to the body and fitness; and a space exhibit offering glimpses of distant galaxies. The museum also runs the nearby VEGA Observatory, one of the most powerful publicly accessible observatories in Europe.
5. Toy Museum (Spielzeug Museum)
Museum
The Toy Museum (Spielzeug Museum) is a special treat for young and young-at-heart visitors to Salzburg. In this world of play, the interactive exhibitions include antique model trains, a Carrera racing track, a labyrinth, a treasure chamber, a doll shop and so much more. The museum also houses an intriguing collection of antique playthings to set anyone’s imagination alight, a cinema and a children’s library. In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the museum holds special exhibitions, and admission prices start at €2 (£1.70) per child and €10 (£8.50) for the entire family, making it one of the best-value attractions in Salzburg. “The Toy Museum is another of my favourites,” says Fuchs. “The very young guests are introduced to the museum world in a very playful way. The children have fun discovering new things; they can look at historical toys and play with new toys.”
6. Hangar-7
Museum
7. Mozart’s Birthplace
Memorial, Museum
Mozart’s Birthplace is reputedly one of the most visited museums in Austria, fascinating visitors with a first-hand experience of the home where the musical genius spent the first 17 years of his life. The Mozart family residence has been authentically reconstructed to include a collection of family items, letters and other memorabilia, and even Mozart’s violin and clavichord. For fans of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the museum offers an immersive insight into his short life (1756-1791) and prodigious musical accomplishments, comprising over 600 works. “Salzburg has many fascinating cultural events, including Mozart Week,” says Fuch (Mozart Week runs 23 January to 2 February 2020).
8. Mozart Residence
Museum
Having been partially destroyed in an air raid during World War II, the Mozart Residence on Makartplatz was carefully reconstructed and opened to the public as a museum in 1996. It was home to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from 1773 until 1781 when he eventually moved to Vienna. The exhibition provides rich detail about the lives of the Mozart family, including original portraits, documents and musical instruments (including Mozart’s fortepiano). The Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation offers special exhibitions, concerts and talks at the Mozart Residence.
9. Fortress Hohensalzburg
Forest, Hill Station, Museum
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