Salzburg Holiday Weather Overview
Salzburg literally translates as Salt Fortress and is the fourth largest city in Austria. The Old Town of Salzburg is renowned for its beautiful baroque architecture.
The city is situated in the Austria Alps and has three universities, so it is a hive of student activity. It is also a popular place for those wanting to relax in an Alpine setting to visit. Salzburg is also the birthplace of Wolfgana Amadeus Mozart.
Things to do and see in Salzburg
Unlike other Austria Alpine towns and cities, Salzburg isn’t a ski resort; instead it is a cultural marvel featuring beautiful architecture, art, heritage and breath-taking mountain walks and views.
If you want to see where religion meets with beautiful architecture then St. Peter’s Abbey is something that should not be missed, the elegant structure, combined with the intricate design speaks of a devotion displayed through the artistry that went into this house of worship.
If instead you are much more interested in historical sites then there are the Mirabell Palace and Gardens along with the Salburg Fortress (Festung Hohensalzburg) and the Salzburg Cathedral.
For those who are more modern in their tastes there is the Red Bull Hangar-7 that contains some of the incredible creations that the caffeine drink company has created over the years. If that wasn’t enough there is also a great day out for kids in the Haus der Natur.
Top places to stay in Salzburg
There are some newly built hotels in Salzburg, but when staying in the Austrian city, there are so many beautiful old buildings that have been turned into hotels it is hard to imagine wanting to stay in a new construction.
You can choose from the Hotel Mozart, Bristol Hotel Salzburg, Hotel-Pension Bloberger Hof, and Hotel Rosenvilla Hotel but when it comes to beautiful buildings with stunning views it is hard to beat the Schloos Monchstein and Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron. Schloss translates in a similar way to English as Chateau does, meaning, very loosely, castle.
If you are getting away for a romantic break in the is beautiful city then nothing could be better than staying in a converted castle with a landscape around them that is just as beautiful as the buildings that are settled in them.
Best food and places to eat in Salzburg
When it comes to food, the Austrians certainly know how to make sure you don’t go to bed feeling hungry. From cafés that serve delicious coffee, hot chocolate and strudel to extravagant restaurants, Salzburg has plenty to tempt even the fussiest palate.
For those who enjoy dining out in a relaxed atmosphere there are restaurants like Il Padrino, Café Sacher, Gasthaus Zwettler’s Stiftskeller and Bangkok, that cover a range of different cuisines from local Austrian delights to Thai and Italian fare.
For those who prefer a much more formal dining experience there are places like the Restaurant Esszimmer, Zirkelwirt – Maxglan and Weiserhof that will provide you with an excellent dining experience from food, to atmosphere to service that is quiet and enjoyable, especially if it is a private meal for two.
Or if you would rather just dive straight into the beer hall atmosphere then there are places like the Augustiner Braustueberl that are more than happy to oblige.
Best month to visit Salzburg
Those that live in Salzburg will tell you that there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. Given the altitude and the amount of activities there are to do that don’t involve going outside, Salzburg weather is pleasant enough to visit at any time of year. Though those who don’t enjoy humidity should avoid summer and if you are wanting to escape to the sun there are better places to visit.
Salzburg experiences a humid continental climate which means that it experiences very cold winters, rain all year round with warm summers. The weather on the whole is not as bad as its reputation would have you believe. The German proverb “Salzburger Schnürlregen” isn’t whole unfounded, yet the weather is marginally better than you might expect.
Most of the rainfall that Salzburg experiences is down to its location on the northern edge of the Alps and is much appreciated during the summer months where there is a high humidity during the hot days.
Summer in Salzburg
Unfortunately for Salzburg, the hottest months of the year are also the wettest months of the year, with the highest annual rainfall being recorded for Salzburg between June and August. The temperatures do reach an average of 24 degrees Celsius during the day and have an average low of around 12 degrees Celsius at night, but the amount of rain means that there isn’t really a suitable time to go sunbathing.
Winter in Salzburg
Though the temperatures may be colder than during the other seasons, during December, January and February there is significantly less rainfall, so it is actually a much more pleasant time to visit the Austrian city. Be prepared for the cold though, the average temperature high during the day is around 3 degrees Celsius and the night time low gets down as far as -5 degrees Celsius.
Autumn in Salzburg
Autumn sees temperatures dropping rapidly towards winter with an average difference of 12 degrees Celsius in the average daytime high between September and November. Equally the nights get colder very quickly with the average temperature in September being around 10 degrees Celsius and the average night time temperature in November being around 0 degrees Celsius. This drop in temperature means that there are short heavy burst of rain, but on balance it is drier for more days in October than at any other point in the year.
Spring in Salzburg
Spring sees temperatures improving very quickly between March and May but on the flip side the rain days also increase, though June may be the wettest month of the year in Salzburg, April and May are not far behind when it comes to rainfall, though it is lighter than you would expect in Autumn, it is over a longer period of time due to the increasing temperatures.
What to pack for Salzburg?
Make sure that you pack your waterproof clothing no matter which season you are visiting Salzberg and sensible shoes that can come with the rain. During the summer light clothing is advisable and in the winter be sure to pack your long johns so you can wear them at night as well as during the day.
Best months to visit Salzburg?
August and June are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Salzburg. The weather averages gathered from Salzburg weather forecast and Salzburg weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 23°c and average of 216.8667 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Salzburg?
January and February are the coldest months with temperature at around -5°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Salzburg?
May and June receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 173.25mm.
Travelling to Salzburg? Check out our Weather averages of Salzburg to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Salzburg section.