Day trips from Salzburg in Austria

Buses number 25 and 28 from Salzburg city centre

The public buses will quickly take you to the starting point of extensive hiking trails. The cable car in the village of Grödig will conveniently transport you to the summit of the legendary Untersberg Mountain. The cable car will take you to soaring heights at almost all times of the year (except during maintenance periods). The mountain station Geiereck is a popular starting point for hiking tours and one of the favourite excursion destinations for the people of Salzburg.

Climbing, hiking, paragliding and skiing – the Untersberg Mountain is an El Dorado for sports aficionados. Enquire about the possibilities for sports activities during your stay in Austria at the reception desk of the Salzburg city hotel, the Schwärzler Hotel Neutor.

Bus number 25 from Salzburg city centre

Hellbrunn Castle has always been a place of entertainment, grand spectacles and displays of the extraordinary. Now as then, Hellbrunn Castle and the famous water games have barely changed over the 400 years since their erection. Between 1613 and 1615 the Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus (1574-1619) had a “villa urbana” built following the Italian tradition.

The inviting, spacious park of 4 hectares, 4km to the south of Salzburg is an example of exquisite garden architecture and has a long history. Hellbrunn is a perfect synthesis of the arts and is rightfully known as a “miracle of garden architecture“, the secrets of which have only partially been revealed. Construction work started in June 1613. The architect was Santino Solari, who was also assigned to design Salzburg Cathedral.

The route from the city of Salzburg to Hellbrunn leads through the Hellbrunner Allee Boulevard with its more than 250 ancient oak trees. The park at Hellbrunn is one of the most important recreation areas for the people living in Salzburg. Since 1922 Hellbrunn has been the property of the municipality of Salzburg.

Hellbrunn Castle and water games

A sightseeing tour of the state rooms of Hellbrunn Castle and the fascinating water games reawakens the magic of the long past era of the prince archbishops of Salzburg. The water games especially will enchant visitors. The only remaining baroque water automatons in Europe spirit you away into a realm of mythology and illusion.

For centuries marvelling visitors have been surprised by the playful waters.

The mechanical theatre, which was built in the gardens in 1752, offers a unique insight into the daily life of a small town of that time. More than 100 wooden figures move, rotate, bow or bend their limbs with the help of an intricate mechanism. Townsfolk enjoy a stroll, musicians play their instruments, soldiers march, gipsies dance with a bear, a butcher butchers a calf and many craftsmen are at work.

The entire mechanism is powered by water, driving wooden gears and cogs and putting in motion the countless levers “backstage”. To soothe the loud clanking of the mechanism, the inventor of the mechanical theatre built a hydraulic organ. The music emanates from a large rotating drum – such as you can find in a music box – to complete the merriness of the entire scene.

You will approach the grotto on an insecure path. Jets of water shoot from the ground on your left and right, forming a liquid arch to walk through. When you leave the grotto again, the tour guide might play you a little trick and activate further jets of water, striking you from a completely unexpected direction – right when you think you have safely escaped!

Everybody has fun in Hellbrunn, and there is as much laughter today as there was 400 years ago – the visitors of old reported how much they enjoyed Hellbrunn and the water games. It is a simple, pristine joy, which unfortunately is rarely found in the gardens of today.

Hellbrunn Palace

Daily shuttle service departing from Mirabellplatz Square

Welcome to Salzburg in Austria, city of culture and history, surrounded by the majestic summits of the Alps. If you decide to come to Salzburg in winter, the team at the Schwärzler Hotel Neutor-Künstlertreff recommends the ski shuttle service of the Salzburg Snow Shuttle.

In addition to cultural highlights, museums, concerts and excellent food, Salzburg is a winter sports El Dorado: on every day a ski shuttle service will take winter sports aficionados from the city of Salzburg to the most beautiful skiing regions of the province of Salzburg. Set out onto a winter sports adventure in the company of a multilingual Snow Shuttle Guide, who will assist you with ski rentals, purchasing tickets or finding a ski school.

The Salzburg Snow Shuttle is available every day at 8.30 am (departing from the Mirabellplatz Square) between December 20th 2008 and March 8th 2009. Travel time takes between 60 and 100 minutes. Departure from the skiing regions is at 4pm, you will return to the Mirabellplatz Square in Salzburg at approximately 5pm. The following skiing regions are your destinations, depending on the snow situation: Obertauern or Zauchensee, Gastein, Kitzbühel, Schladming, Flachau, Ski-Zirkus Leogang, Zell am See or Kitzsteinhorn. On demand various alternatives to skiing are available, such as snowboarding, tobogganing, swimming, skating, cross country skiing or just enjoying a leisurely stroll in the snow.

Get further information on the attractive Salzburg Snow Shuttle at the reception desk of the centrally located Schwärzler Hotel Neutor – meeting point for artists in Salzburg. Combine winter sports in the most attractive skiing regions of Austria with cultural highlights during your stay. Send a no obligation enquiry today and look forward to receiving an appealing offer.

Your specialist for excursions in the province of Salzburg and Bavaria is Panorama Tours. The long time partner of the centrally located city hotel Hotel Neutor-Künstlertreff Salzburg guarantees exciting experiences, incomparably beautiful impressions of the province of Salzburg and Bavaria, and professional care and support during your excursion.

Why not combine your cultural holidays in Salzburg with an unforgettable day trip to the surrounding area, the province of Salzburg or Bavaria? Get further information on the attractive package deal offers at the Salzburg city hotel, the Schwaerzler Hotel Neutor. Send a no obligation enquiry right away and you will promptly receive an attractive holiday offer for your stay in Austria.

All Panorama Tours depart from the bus terminal at the Mirabellplatz Square. A shuttle service will pick you up at the Hotel Neutor and take you to the point of departure. Please book your chosen tour at least one day in advance at the reception desk of the Hotel Neutor. The team at the Hotel Neutor recommends a choice of highlights from the list of day trip destinations:

The Salzkammergut region is a beautiful landscape of mountains and lakes, where picturesque villages and towns wait to be discovered. The Austrian imperial court spent their summers in the Salzkammergut region, and the prince archbishops of Salzburg equally appreciated the beauty of the region. Panorama Tours will take you to the romantic village St. Wolfgang with the famous guest house “Weisses Rössl”. A boat cruise from St. Wolfgang to St. Gilgen, the birth place of Mozart's mother, will leave you plenty of time to take in the fantastic landscape. The final destination on your excursion is the mysterious Mondsee Lake.

Tour: Salzburg (Mirabellplatz Square) – Fuschl – St.Wolfgang (boat cruise between May 1st and October 26th) – St. Gilgen – Krottensee Lake – Mondsee Lake – Salzburg (Mirabellplatz Square)
Time of departure: 2pm
Duration: 4 hours

Reach the highest summits during an excursion to Bavaria. Leave Hellbrunn Castle behind as you cross the border to Bavaria and enter Berchtesgaden. Travel through the wildly romantic valley of the Königseeache River, past picturesque farms and fantastic mountain scenery. Finally you reach the starting point for the ascent (bus or lift) to the Kehlsteinhaus chalet. The 20 minute ride will grant you a fantastic view of the soaring summits and deep chasms of the Bavarian Alps.

After that enjoy a stroll through the picturesque town of Berchtesgaden or treat yourself to a delicious Bavarian speciality.

Time of departure: 9am
Duration: approx. 4 hours
Tour available from the beginning of May until the end of October

The story of the von Trapp family from Salzburg continues to enchants countless people all over the world to the present day. Follow in the footsteps of the von Trapp family, made immortal by the film “The Sound of Music“, and learn interesting information on their exciting history.

The Sound of Music tour will take you to original film locations in the city and province of Salzburg: Mirabell Gardens, Castle Leopoldskron, Hellbrunn, Nonnberg Convent, St. Gilgen, Wolfgangsee Lake, Mondsee Abbey Church.

Time of departure: every day at 9.30am and 2pm
Duration: approx. 4 hours

Please take into account that this particular tour is only available in English!