Top Rated Attractions in Salzburg

Located right next to the Salzburg Airport, Hangar-7 is by no means an ordinary hangar. In fact, this private hangar owned by Dietrich Mateschitz, founder of the energy drink company 'Red Bull', is one of Salzburg's prime attractions. Avant garde technology, passion for flying, appreciation of art, and culinary refinement come together in this fancy steel and glass structure. Besides hosting Mateschitz's private aircraft collection comprising an impressive assembly of vintage and contemporary aircrafts, Hangar-7 also houses some Red Bull Formula-1 racing cars. Two elegant bars, the Mayday and the Threesixty, the Carpe Diem Lounge and the unique fine dining restaurant, Ikarus, constitute the gastronomic space. Hangar-7 also hosts art exhibitions and is an exclusive venue for select events. It is easily accessible from the city center by bus and if you have a couple of hours of waiting time at the airport, just walk over and have a look around. Entry is free.

Among the largest of Salzburg's magnificent churches, the splendid Salzburg Cathedral serves as the backdrop for the annual Jedermann Festival. The first church to be erected on the site dates back to the latter part of the 8th-century and was dedicated to St. Virgil and St. Rupert. The building that we see today is the third avatar of the original structure and was erected sometime between 1620 to 1628 by the acclaimed architect Santino Solari. The church witnessed its moment of glory when it was consecrated by Archbishop Paris Lodron during the tense spell of the Thirty Years' War. The cathedral can be seen from many points in the city, which makes it an unmissable sight in Salzburg.

Till the 19th Century, the Archbishops of Salzburg held court in the Residenz. Nowadays the vast complex serves the municipal government for receptions and meetings. Within these buildings, the Residence Gallery, maintained by the Salzburg province, has displayed its collection of European Art for visitors to admire. Masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Brueghel, and Italian and French painters offer a glimpse of European art. Austrian masters from the 19th Century (Romako, Waldmüller, Amerling and others) and temporary exhibitions complete the program.

Situated just to the south of Schlosspark Hellbrunn, Hellbrunn Zoo contains a variety of animals from all over the world. The main attraction are the wild vultures which are free to fly around but continually return to the zoo to be fed. Another highlight is the cheetahs' feeding time, whereby the cheetahs have to catch a piece of meat being propelled along the ground at a speed of 56.32 kilometers per hour (35 miles per hour). On certain occasions the zoo is open after dawn to allow visitors to observe the nocturnal animals.

The undefeated Hohensalzburg Fortress is the defining feature of Salzburg's skyline, towering high above the Old Town on its lofty perch atop the Mönchsberg. Originally constructed in 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard, the castle was expanded over the years, taking its current form in the year 1500 under the guidance of Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach. Built to monumental proportions, the castle is one of Europe's largest Medieval structures, its sprawling embrace a cornucopia of Medieval artistic and architectural riches. The State Rooms and Princely Chambers are the most lavishly adorned, closely followed by the Chapel of Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach. Today, the castle houses the Museum of the Rainer Regiment, the Fortress Museum and the Marionette Museum, and hosts the annual Salzburg Fortress Concerts amid the mount's ancient trees. Multimedia displays and interactive experiences bring the Medieval Era alive at the Hohensalzburg Fortress, historic Salzburg's crowning glory.

Situated by the banks of the river Salzach, Schloss Mirabell is one of the finest medieval structures in the city. A classic example of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture, this building is known to have been the residence of prominent aristocrats, including King Otto of Greece. The palace is surrounded by beautiful, geometrically-shaped gardens which house sculptures and statues of characters form Greek mythology.