Overview
Salzburg sits in a dramatic Alpine setting on Austria's border with Germany, a baroque city of domes and squares beneath the Hohensalzburg Fortress. It is Mozart's birthplace, the backdrop to "The Sound of Music" and the gateway to the Salzkammergut lakes and several well-known ski resorts. For UK travellers it works as an easy city break or a winter sports base, with a compact, walkable centre and an airport just minutes from the Old Town.
Best time to fly to Salzburg
Winter, roughly December to March, is peak season: this is when the choice of direct flights from the UK is widest, driven by the ski trade and the Christmas markets. Expect cold, snowy conditions and high demand around the festive period and February half-term. Summer (June to August) brings warm days in the low to mid 20s, lake swimming and the Salzburg Festival in late July and August. Late spring and early autumn are quieter and milder, though direct services thin out once the ski season ends. The When to book chart above shows how fares move across the year.
Airlines and routes
Direct flights from the UK to Salzburg are strongly seasonal. In winter, easyJet, Jet2, British Airways and Ryanair between them serve Salzburg from airports such as London Gatwick and Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Leeds Bradford, though routes and frequencies change each year. Outside the ski season the choice shrinks and you may need to connect — Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich, Austrian via Vienna, or KLM via Amsterdam are typical. Direct flying time is around 2 hours from London and about 2 hours from Manchester.
Things to do in Salzburg
Almost everything sits within the UNESCO-listed Old Town or a short walk across the Salzach river.
- Hohensalzburg Fortress: One of Europe's largest intact medieval castles, reached on foot or by funicular for sweeping views.
- Mozart's Birthplace: The bright-yellow house on Getreidegasse where the composer was born in 1756, now a museum.
- Mirabell Palace and Gardens: Formal baroque gardens with fountains and familiar "Sound of Music" scenery.
- Salzburg Cathedral and Residenzplatz: The ceremonial heart of the Old Town, ringed by churches, squares and cafes.
- Hellbrunn Palace: A 17th-century pleasure palace on the edge of town, famous for its playful trick fountains.
At W. A. Mozart Airport (SZG)
Salzburg Airport lies about 4 km west of the centre, one of the shortest airport-to-city journeys in the Alps. Trolleybus lines 2 and 10 run to the main railway station and the Old Town in roughly 15 to 20 minutes, and taxis take around 10 to 15 minutes. In winter, many resorts run direct transfer coaches from the terminal, and hire cars are available if you plan to explore the lakes or mountains.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Salzburg
- Book ski-season flights early: Fares for Christmas, New Year and February half-term climb quickly, so booking a few months ahead usually pays off.
- Travel midweek and off-peak: Tuesday to Thursday departures, and dates outside school holidays, tend to be cheaper and quieter.
- Stay flexible with dates: Moving your trip by a day or two can make a real difference — use the price charts on this page to find the cheaper windows.
- Compare carriers and nearby airports: Check easyJet, Jet2, BA and Ryanair together, and price up flying into Munich or Innsbruck as an alternative.
Travel essentials
Austria is in the Schengen area, so UK passport holders can visit for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least three months after your planned departure. A European travel authorisation (ETIAS) is expected to apply to UK visitors in future, so check the current rules before you book. The currency is the euro. Bring a UK GHIC or EHIC for state healthcare and take out travel insurance — essential if you are skiing. Plugs are the European two-pin type at 230V.
