For a small city, Salzburg has an impressive amount of great walks and hikes.
From leisurely strolls in beautiful woodland parks and along the river. To active days hiking up hills and mountains (yes, mountains!) with amazing city and valley views.
The best part? All of these hikes are either in Salzburg or within easy reach by local bus or train!
I spent a month in Salzburg and absolutely fell in love with all the beautiful walks that were on my doorstep. And I didn’t scratch the surface!
This blog post focuses on walks and hikes in the city that I have personally done. I also include my experiences, which were my favourite and the hidden gems that I stumbled upon!
Interested in day trips? There are so many hikes reachable from Salzburg via trains and regional buses. See my separate blog post here for more inspiration!
1. Hohensalzburg & Mönchsberg Ridge
Where: Starts from the Old Town next to the monastery walking past the funicular entrance.
How long: Short (1 – 2 hours).
Type of Trail and Conditions: Short uphill section on pavement (can be skipped if using the funicular). At the top, it is mostly flat with defined walking paths and signposts.
From an 11th century fortress (Hohensalzburg) to great city and mountain views amongst old fortifications – This walk is a perfect introduction to Salzburg once you’re ready to escape the hustle bustle of Old Town.
My Experience: Whilst I enjoyed exploring the top sights of Salzburg, I preferred the adjacent hill Kapuzinerberg for great views of the fortress and quieter woodland paths!
See my full guide on how to visit the Fortress and what to see here
2. Kapuzinerberg Hill
Where: Pick up the path along Linzergasse on the right hand side of the river (Google Maps Location here) , then return via the ‘Imbergstiege’ stairs to Gnigl.
Type of Trail and Conditions: A mix of stairs, paved or rocky paths amongst woodlands – an initial climb to the church and a stretch of ascent to the top viewpoint.
How long: Short (1 – 2 hours).
The less visited hill of Kapuzinerberg (across the river from Mönchsberg) is one of my favourite walks. From quiet trails to old bastions, a series of beautiful woodland paths and multiple observation decks. It is also home to a beautiful church and an impressive 15th century monastery. Kapuzinerberg has it all!
Not to mention some of my favourite views of the Hohensalzburg Fortress.
Check out my full guide here on how to get the most of your visit to Kapuzinerberg, including visiting the nearby Arenberg neighbourhood.
My Experience: I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the woodland trails and often had observation decks to myself!
3. Arenberg: Hidden Hilltop & Sculpture Gardens
Where: ‘ Gedekstein am Burglstein fur Maria Theresia von Neapel-Sizilien ‘ on Google Maps.
Type of Trail and Conditions: Short section of stairs (5 minutes) and a mixture of woodland, garden and paved paths.
How long: 1 -2 hours – a short, leisurely stroll depending on how long you want to stop at each point.
From a quiet sculpture garden with a 15th century palace, a hidden hill top viewpoint and winding medieval streets – the right-hand side of the river starting in Arenberg is full of hidden gems.
This walk starts with a short uphill path through woodlands to a hilltop viewpoint. Here, you’ll find a concrete area with two benches looking out to my favourite viewpoint of the fortress!
Continue to Schloss Arenberg’s Sculpture gardens (private land but welcomes visitors). Then stroll through the quiet neighbourhood of Arenberg before being transported back in time along the cobbled Medieval street of Steingasse.
My Experience – I stumbled upon these hidden gems purely by accident. If you’re looking for a great viewpoint and sculpture garden all to yourself – this is the walk for you!
Recommendation – At the end of Steingasse, you’ll step out onto Linzergasse. This is where you can pick up the trail for Kapuzinerberg Hill to continue your day of exploring! See my full guide here
4. Gaisberg Mountain Hike
Starting point: Aigen Woodlands (however, there is another popular start point from Gnigl).
Length: 2 – 3 hours (one way) with return via bus number 151 (recommended), or 4 – 5 hours (round trip).
Difficulty: Moderate (A steady elevation gain of 886m).
Trail Conditions: From Aigen, it is a steady incline on a mixture of well-maintained, woodland sections, quiet forest roads and dirt paths. One trickier short section (left fork of the Zistelrundweg) which is narrow, steep and with loose rocks. This can be skipped by taking the right-hand fork instead to rejoin the mountain road.
If you’re looking for an active challenge: Gaisberg Mountain is the perfect 3 – 5 hour hike. Referred to as the local’s mountain – Gaisberg sits at the eastern edge of Salzburg at an elevation of 1287m. It is a popular local spot for cycling, longer hikes in Salzburg AND paragliding. With incredible views of the city and valley, this is the hike you NEED to make time for.
My Experience: I hiked from Aigen Woodlands meaning I combined two great walks in one including the peaceful, residential area of Aigen! Nothing super technical, quiet trails and incredible views. I also loved watching the paragliders take off from the top!
5. Hellbrunn Park, Garden & Woodlands
Where: Schloss Hellbrunn (20 minutes on the Number 25 Bus from Mirabellplatz).
Type of Trail and conditions: The park’s gardens are flat. In the woodlands, there is an initial elevation and mixture of dirt trails, rocky paths and steps to points of interest.
Entrance: The gardens and trails are free (the palace and trick fountains are paid entry).
Whilst the star of the show is Hellbrunn Palace – you’d be surprised how much else there is to explore. It is home to an impressive palace backed by gardens brimming with colourful flowers, trick fountains, ponds, statues, and museums. It is also home to the white pavilion from Sound of Music.
But the best part? There is also a series of quiet woodland trails on the edge of the gardens that lead you up to three different viewpoints as well as an impressive 16th century stone theater that is one of the oldest examples of open air theatres.
My Experience: Visiting the Stone Theatre in the woodlands was one of my favourite parts of Hellbrunn. It’s a quiet, peaceful and seriously impressive landmark!
6. Salzach River
Type of Trail: Flat, pedestrian and shared cyclist paths. Plenty of benches.
Where: The Salzach River runs through the centre of Salzburg and south to the neighbouring towns of Hallein, Werfen and for miles into the Austrian Alps. You can reach different stages of the river by a short walk from public transport.
Key features: Small river beaches, bridges with views to the fortress or the mountain ranges, passing through the edge of quiet residential areas and villages.
The Salzach river is a defining feature of the city. Not to mention the centre of Salzburg local life – with joggers, cyclists and walkers alike! From the Old Town, you can reach Volksgarten (10 minutes), Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens (1 hour one way) and the historic town of Hallein (3.5 hours one way).
My Experience: During the month, I walked along this river most days! It’s a great spot for a stroll and I also highly recommend timing it with the sunset. A local hotspot to watch the sunset is from Uberfuhrsteg Bridge.
7. Aigner Park: A Charming Woodland Walk
Where: On the Northern edge of the Aigen neighbourhood – see location on Google maps here.
Type of trail: The woodland is at the base of the Gaisberg Mountain meaning there are some steeper and some flatter paths. Sections of stairs and crossing the streams via wooden bridges. Woodland paths with loose rocks, tree roots and can be muddy.
A local favourite – Aigner Park is a quiet woodland with series of leisurely trails. Not to mention, the starting point for the Gaisberg Peak Hike. This park has two impressive city viewpoints ‘Jägerhöhe’ and ‘Kanzelhöhe’. You can also explore paths along the natural ‘Felberbach’ stream, leading to small waterfalls, a grotto, a series of cute wooden bridges and small caves.
This woodland is also the perfect place to escape the hot summer sun and dip your toes in the cooling streams.
My Experience – Very few tourists make it out to Aigen or the woodland park and I loved the local feel. I had the viewpoints and trails mostly to myself except an occassional appearance from a family or two!
8. Volksgarten: The Local's Favourite City Park
Where: Ten minute walk along the river south of the Old Town.
Type of Trail: Mixture of gravel and pedestrian paths looping around the park.
Another easy and leisurely spot for a stroll is Volksgarten Park. A charming, residential park where locals come to enjoy the sun, go for a run, play volleyball, and enjoy their downtime.
Fun Fact: If you’ve been to Vienna, you’ll have come across the quirky Hundertwasser House. This park was designed by the same architect! Whilst slightly less wacky, you can see how no path is perfectly straight and there’s a pleasant flow between nature and man-made.
My experience: I regularly walked the loop and enjoyed sitting on the benches to people watch. There was also multiple live events happening in the park so it’s well worth checking if there is anything going on during your stay!
9. The Knappensteig ‘Miners’ Trail (Hallein)
How to get there: It takes 20 minutes by S-Bahn (S3) Train to get to Hallein. At the edge of the Old Town, the trail can be picked up behind the Bundesgymnasium (Schützengasse 3, 5400 Hallein, Austria).
Type of Trail: (Easy / Moderate) Does involve a steady elevation (over 300m). Starts along pedestrian paths through the Old Town then onto hiking paths, sometimes steep with sections of stairs through forest.
Duration: 3 hours (Out and Back) or 1 – 2 hours (one way, then take the 41 bus down).
Whilst not technically in Salzburg, this hike starting from the Medieval town of Hallein is super close by. Not only is the town worth a visit, it is also the starting point for some pretty great trails including the ‘Knappensteig’.
The ‘Knappensteig’ hiking trail follows an Ancient Celtic route and in later years, the Old Miner’s everyday commute to the hilltop Salt Mine and the quaint village of Bad Dürrnberg.
Key points of interest:
- Wolf-Dietrich-Stollen (a historic mining tunnel),
- Quaint churches: Knappenkapelle and The Red Chapel,
- The Salt Mine (+ free observation deck from the cafe!)
- Maria Dürrnberg pilgrimage church
- Gradierwerk – Hilltop park with great views and the perfect lunch spot!
Optional: Nearby, there is also a chairlift and summer toboggan route ‘Keltenblitz’ (on ‘Hofgasse’) that can be reached by a ten minute walk from Dürrnberg .
My Experience:
I struggled to find the start point for this trail initially. I was using a guide that recommended starting at a little museum (that no longer existed!). However, it is a lovely hike up through the forest and I enjoyed exploring Bad Dürrnberg at the top.
Warning – There used to be a circular loop connecting Knappensteig with the gorge of Raingraben along a ‘Lower Miner’s Trail’. The gorge has been closed for sometime now and confirmed by residents on my attempts to pick up the trail (at time of visit in 2026).
Additional Walks & Hikes
Despite spending a wonderful month in Salzburg – there are so many trails that I did not get to explore.
This additional list is all the hikes or walks that are on my future Salzburg list but can’t personally vouch for or add my own experience. But it may be a great starting point for your own research!
Untersberg Mountain
A hard-hitting mountain hike with 1300 + metres of elevation. Reached in 30 minutes by Bus (Number 25) and takes up to 3.5 hours (one way) with an option to descend via cable car.
There are two trails (I have linked to helpful trail routes):
- The Dopplersteig – Easier, less exposed, and mostly forest paths.
- The Reitsteig – Narrow, exposed sections with ladders, rocky steps and safety ropes.
All Trails – This is the full loop ascending via Dopplersteig and descending via Reitsteig. If descending via cable car, just follow your chosen trail section of the loop to the summit.
Nockstein Loop
Neighbouring Gaisberg, the Nockstein Summit sits at 1000 metres. The Loop takes about 1.5 – 2.5 hours, 300 metres of elevation and starts in the border alpine village of Koppl.
It is reported to be relatively easy to follow and doesn’t require any technical ability. However, there could be some short rocky sections and scrambling at the summit.
All Trails Link here
Saalachspitz and Naturpark Salzachauen
North of the city, there are a series of nature reserves, lakes, and natural swimming pools:
- Salzachsee – a local swimming lake that is free. Nearby, Badesee Lierfering is a smaller swimming lake with an entrance fee but is better equipped with lifeguards, toilets, picnic tables and benches.
- Saalachspitz – a popular picnicking spot where you can see the Salzach and Saalach rivers join.
- Anteringer Au – a wildlife park with a series of trails situated in the flood plains. It is common to spot wild boar and deer. Trails can be picked up from nearby ‘Anthering’.
Grober Barmstein, Hallein
Starting in Hallein, this is another epic trail you can explore. Starting within the forest, it leads to a rocky ridge and a series of rugged stone towers. It is reported that sections of the trail are rocky, exposed and require a head for heights. However, it provides incredible views of the valley below and a series of old ruins. All Trails Link here
Salzburger Almenweg
Did you know that Salzburger (the region of Salzburg) has an official long distance trail? I didn’t either!
It comprises 25 sections connected by cosy, alpine huts and leading through some of Salzburger’s most impressive mountain ranges and alpine valleys. You can find the official trail site here
The good news? Salzburger Almenweg 1 is easy to reach. The trail starts in Werfen – a town reached by regional train in just 30 minutes and ending in Arthurhaus which is connected by regional buses.
Hikes in Salzburg Round Up
There you have it – My top nine walks and hikes in Salzburg! From woodland trails, mountain hikes and city hills – it really is a small city that packs a punch when it comes to the outdoors. Not to mention – all of the walks and hikes listed are easy to get to by public transport, felt safe as a solo female hiker and are well signposted.
Fancy sprinkling in a day trip or two whilst you’re here? Check out my post on the best day trips or find inspiration for great hikes outside of Salzburg. All easily reached by Salzburg’s extensive public transport network!
I quickly fell in love with Salzburg and I hope you do too! Which trail are you excited to get out and explore? Or perhaps, you’ve found another trail not listed – I’d love to hear! Comment below 🙂