Salzburg vs Vienna: An Honest Comparison To Help You Choose!

Last updated on April 17, 2023 by Wandering our World

When it comes to travelling Europe, Austria is one of the continent’s best-kept secrets. It’s smaller than many of its neighbours, but this little country has so much to offer.

While Austria may be small, you’ll find it packed with exciting things to see and do. In particular, Vienna and Salzburg are Austria’s biggest cities, and they’re the two that you’ve probably heard most about. But because they’re both brilliant places, if you’ve only got time to visit one it’s going to be hard to choose.

Vienna is the capital city, and it’s known for its coffee culture and Hapsburg-era palaces. It’s got a big city vibe, and it’s full of upmarket shops, decadent palaces, and a lot of delicious food.

Salzburg on the other hand, is best known as the setting for the Sound of Music, and for its breathtaking views of the Austrian Alps. It’s smaller than Vienna, but still bursting with culture, cobbled streets, and classical music.

Do they both sound like the perfect holiday destination? That’s because they are!

Luckily, we know both cities well, so we’ve put together an honest comparison to help you make up your mind.

A Quick Overview: Salzburg vs Vienna

Salzburg: A Quick Overview

Salzburg is the second largest city in Austria, and it’s right on the border with Germany. It’s so close to Germany that you can get to Munich quicker than you can get to Vienna!

So, if you’re travelling overland from Germany and you’re short on time, Salzburg might be a good destination.

It’s a small city, and while it’s home to just over 155,000 people, it’s very popular with tourists. In the high season, you’ll find more tourists in Salzburg than locals!

The name means “Salt Castle”, which came from the city’s early years when the main industry was salt extraction. It’s not known for that any more, however, and instead you’re more likely to know of Salzburg as the setting of the “Sound of Music” film, or as the birthplace of classical musician Mozart.

Salzburg is a UNESCO World Heritage site worthy old-town, and while you’re wandering the streets you’ll be able to look up and catch a glimpse of the Austrian Alps, just 20 minutes out of the city centre.

Vienna: A Quick Overview

Vienna is the biggest city in Austria, and around 2.9 million people live here – that’s more than a quarter of Austria’s entire population!

It’s the capital city of Austria, and it’s located near the border with Slovakia. From Vienna, you can get to Bratislava (the capital of Slovakia, in less than an hour!).

Vienna is known for its incredible old town and the baroque buildings that were constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries. Beethoven and Mozart both called this city home, as well as psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.

Which Is Better For Nightlife?

In Salzburg, you won’t find a big city nightlife, but there are still some excellent bars and clubs to visit if you’re in the partying mood! There are some sophisticated cocktail bars, and there’s also more than one authentic Irish pub.

You’ll easily be able to find bars like the Augustiner Braustubl which offer an authentic Austrian experience and are complete with an in-house brewery.

Or, for something different, you could visit the Salzburg Whiskey Museum and taste some of the hundreds of whiskeys they have available.

If you’re looking to experience some Austrian nightlife, Vienna is a great place to visit. There’s a good techno and electronic music scene in Vienna, and you’ll find bars and clubs located along the Donaukanal (Danube Canal) which are great for partying all night long.

If electronic music isn’t your style, don’t worry, because there’s something for everyone in Vienna.

Which Is Better For Food?

Vienna is famous for its food, starting with the Wiener Schnitzel. This is named after Vienna, as “Wien” is what Austrians call this city.

It’s a piece of veal, breaded and lightly fried, and delicious. There’s more to Vienna than just schnitzel, however, including the Austrian classic meal of Knodel, Käsespätzle, or wurst (sausages).

When it comes to sweet food, Vienna has just as much to offer. The Sachertorte chocolate and jam cake was created at the Sacher Hotel in Vienna, so you can visit them and taste the cake for yourself.

You’ll easily find great cafes in Vienna to sip on a Viennese coffee (espresso topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder), or perhaps nibble on some world-class apple strudels, or Kaiserschmarn.

And if you’re in the mood for something different, perhaps some international flavours, you’ll be able to find them in Vienna.

As well as other European restaurants including French and Italian cuisine, you’ll also be able to find Chinese food, Indian food, and so much more. Vienna offers high-class dining, and it also offers street stalls for quick eats, so you can find something to suit your budget here.

Salzburg doesn’t have quite the same range of restaurants or internationally recognised food, but don’t let that put you off. There are still a lot of good restaurants and cafes in Salzburg, and there are many good spots to enjoy a meal out.

The local market, or “Grünmarkt” is held in the centre of the city Monday – Saturday, and it’s full of stalls selling delicious Austrian delicacies.

For something specifically from Salzburg, the Salzburger Nockerl is a dessert you can’t miss. Made from sugar, egg yolk, flour, and vanilla, the Salzburger Nockerl is baked into the shape of three peaks, said to represent the hills surrounding Salzburg. It’s usually served dusted with sugar, and perhaps a raspberry sauce.

Another Salzburg classic is the Mozartkugel, a marzipan ball covered in chocolate, nougat and pistachio.

Which Is Better For Nature?

Salzburg is built on the edge of the River Salzach, and there are plenty of parks and walking tracks spread around this area. More importantly, though, Salzburg is located on the edge of the Austrian Alps, and the city is surrounded by hills.

You can get out of the city and into the Alps in just a few minutes. The Untersberg is the closest alpine peak, measuring in at over 1,900m high and only 16km (10 miles) from the city centre.

So if you’re looking for somewhere to go hiking or biking, Salzburg is the place for you. When you’re in Salzburg, it’s easy to immerse yourself in nature.

Vienna doesn’t have as much to offer when it comes to striking scenery and mountains, but there are some great parks and nature reserves here if you’re looking for somewhere to stretch your legs.

The Volksgarten and the Vienna Zoo are great options for some well-curated nature areas.

Another place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city is the Schonbrunner Gardens. In summer these gardens are home to beautifully maintained trees and flowers, and you can easily enjoy an afternoon wandering through.

Which Is Better For Shopping?

If you enjoy shopping, there’s a lot for you to experience in Vienna. You can’t miss a stroll down Mariahilfestrasse, right in the centre of the old town. This street is full of stores worth a visit, including local chocolatiers, fashion designers, jewellers, and bookshops.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for there, then there are several big shopping malls in this city, including the Ringstrasse Galerien.

This is also in the middle of the old town, and there are more than 50 shops here, with several well-known brands. Or for something more splendid, you can visit the shops in the Goldenes Quartier, a shopping mall which is home to international luxury brands – they certainly come with a price tag!

Salzburg doesn’t have as much to offer for a shopping experience. For your everyday shopping, there is Europark Salzburg Mall, which has a wide range of stores to visit, and a lot of stores that you could find anywhere else in Europe.

For something more uniquely Salzburg, take a walk down Getreidegasse. This street is in the middle of the old town, and it’s the same street that Mozart’s birth house is on.

Which Is Better For Couples?

Vienna has a reputation as an incredibly romantic city to visit. The old town is lined with cobbled streets and delicate baroque architecture which provide a beautiful backdrop for you to steal a kiss in front of.

The Danube River also provides a great backdrop, and you can even take a cruise along it to see Vienna from a different angle. For something romantic, we recommend a sunset cruise!

There are also other romantic attractions to visit if you’re visiting Vienna with your partner. One is the Gustav Klimt painting called “The Kiss”, which is housed in the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere Museum.

This painting has been in Austria for over 100 years, and its nature has caused much controversy over this time.

Just like Vienna, Salzburg also has cobbled streets, and beautiful buildings to wander by. What Salzburg has that Vienna doesn’t though, is the Alps to gaze up at. These majestic mountains provide spectacular views at all times of day and night.

To make your visit to Salzburg extra-romantic, a visit to Schloss Mirabell is a must. This beautiful palace was built as a symbol of everlasting love, and it comes complete with marble floors, a “staircase of angels”, and a blooming flower garden.

Which Is Better For Families?

If you’re travelling with children, or the whole family, there’s a lot to see and do in Salzburg. It’s a very family-friendly city, largely because it’s small.

That means that Salzburg is easy to explore and hard to get lost in! Because many attractions are right next to each other, you won’t get too tired travelling from place to place.

There are a lot of great, child focussed attractions in Salzburg too, for example, the Toy Museum, which has hundreds of toys from different centuries to play with.

The nature museum, “Haus der Natur” is also a great place to spend an afternoon.

This museum is full of interesting, interactive exhibitions including ones on the human body, outer space, and dinosaurs that will keep children and adults entertained for hours. If you’ve ever wondered how Mozart made his music, head straight for the giant “walk-in” violin!

Vienna also has some great spots to visit if you’re on a family trip. Just like Salzburg, it’s a very safe city, and there’s so much excitement to experience, so don’t let the classical music and historical architecture fool you.

If you’re travelling with children, the Prater Park amusement park in Vienna is a great place to visit, and you can easily spend a day or more here.

Which Is Cheaper?

Salzburg is not a cheap city to visit. The cost of food, accommodation, transport, and visiting attractions will start to add up quickly.

Despite this, you can still find hostel-style accommodation in town, and if you hunt out places like the market to eat, you can plan a trip to Salzburg to suit your budget.

Vienna is also an expensive city to visit. You can plan a trip to Vienna to suit your price range, and there are plenty of hostels and budget-friendly meal options in Vienna.

Overall, however, prices in Vienna are more expensive than in many other cities around Europe.

Where To Stay According To Your Budget

Which Is Better For History?

If you’re looking for historical sites, then look no further than Salzburg. This city is the birthplace of the famous composer Mozart, and you can take a tour of his house, right in the centre of the city. It’s one of the many historical sites to visit here.

The old town of Salzburg has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, because of its cultural importance, most notably the intermingling of German and Italian cultures that’s taken place here over the centuries.

While the city centre was heavily bombed in World War Two, many buildings have been carefully preserved, and there’s still a lot of baroque architecture around Salzburg today.

Vienna has also been an important city for both Austria and Europe for many centuries. There’s a lot of history here, dating back to the Hapsburg Empire, the Napoleonic Wars, and the World Wars.

Just from the last few hundred years, in Vienna, you’ll find the homes of Sigmund Freud and Beethoven.

The predominant baroque architecture style of the city, as well as the carefully preserved old town, make this a fascinating place to wander with a historian’s eyes, and you can sign up for a free walking tour to find out more about it.

Which Is Easier To Get Around?

Salzburg is a small city, which means that most of its main attractions are located in the same area. Getting around the city centre is easy, and you can walk nearly everywhere you want to go.

When you’re not in the mood to walk, Salzburg has great public transport. In particular, there are regular, efficient buses and trolley cars which connect a lot of the city.

The trolleys are electric powered, which is a big bonus if you’re looking for eco-friendly transport.

If you plan to use public transport, then the SalzburgMobil App is great for planning your trips. It also might be worth buying the Salzburg Card.

You can choose to buy a card for 24, 48, or 72 hours, and during that time you get all public transport for free, as well as free admission to city attractions and museums!

Vienna is easy to walk around as well, although it’s a lot bigger than Salzburg. This means that attractions are more spread out, and you’re likely to spend longer walking from one place to another.

The old city is especially good for walking around because many streets have been pedestrianised and you won’t have to share with cars.

The public transport in Vienna is another good way to get around. There are buses, trams, trains, and subway networks which will all help get you where you need to go.