A harmonious interplay of landscape and architecture fills Salzburg with a unique charm. Art, culture, and traditions shine through the narrow lanes and broad squares which constitute this baroque city, earning it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is also famous for being the birthplace of Mozart, and the shooting location for The Sound of Music.
As One of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Salzburg beckons travellers from near and far to relish its surrounding lakes, alpine foothills, and mountain peaks, whilst indulging in the conveniences of a graceful urban metropolis.
Salzburg’s hotels have been carefully preserved over the centuries, and range from traditional hip-style boutiques to remarkable listed buildings brimming with grandeur. Here are the best cool and unusual hotels in Salzburg, Austria (in no particular order)…
1. arte Hotel Salzburg – a new, hip and trendy design accommodation providing guests with Insta-worthy picturesque views of the old town and countryside
Opening in 2019, The Arte is located right next to the main train station, a mere 15-minute walk from Salzburg’s quaint old town.
Embodying a vision of casual living, a sleek, modern appearance sets the tone in the lobby area, and continues to the gym, guestrooms, bar, and restaurant.
Offering the comforts of home, all rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a fully stocked mini-bar, as well as a spacious feel topped with an air of functionality.
This urban-chic oasis is furnished with sophisticated hues and an industrial outlook, with each social space carrying a distinctive ambiance.
2. NH Collection Salzburg City – an upscale, elegant and stylish hotel in a location perfect for partying Millennials and Gen Zs
Lying in the heart of the Andräviertel area of the city, this NH Collection hotelis surrounded by trendy bars and restaurants, as well as upscale designer stores.
Here, business and leisure travellers intermingle under one vibrant roof, in a place where modern urban elegance is combined with a traditional Austrian coffee culture.
Expect to be greeted by a warm atmosphere of locals and travellers embracing connection as you enter the hotel’s lobby. The 140 commodious guestrooms, both functional and elegant, offer stunning views and graceful interiors, and invite you to a heavenly detune from the life of the city.
3. Hotel Villa Carlton – Adults Only – cool, urban and trendy accommodation conveniently situated at the entrance of the Old Town
Pairing traditional heritage with innovative style, this vintage, family-run villa offers four different interior design concepts across four floors.
The 39 tastefully furnished guestrooms are equipped with plush linens and state-of-the-art amenities, and are the perfect spaces to unwind after a day exploring Salzburg.
Villa Carlton also offers a communal lounge directly at the hotel’s entrance, inviting you to soak up the city’s charm upon arrival in a pleasant, feel-good atmosphere.
Especially during the summer months, the vibrant Café terrace is the ultimate spot to relax in an open-air ambiance, as you relish sweeping city panoramas and artisan coffee.
4. artHotel Blaue Gans – one of the first boutique hotels in Salzburg where guests can enjoy a unique, urban and contemporary stay
Here we have Salzburg’s oldest inn, which proudly looks back on over 600 years of history. Tradition, bespoke craftmanship, and fresh design are cleverly fused within this city-centre masterpiece, owing to the indelible stamp of the art-loving owners.
The flair of the 14th century is exuded through the vaults, stucco, and timber beams which beautifully contrast the modern aesthetic, while 120 thought-provoking artworks add a creative touch.
The guestrooms are brought up to date with streamlined furniture, subtly juxtaposing the knotty oak floors and woollen fabrics that pay homage to Austria’s alpine roots.
The elegant, vaulted restaurant serves an exquisite menu from breakfast to dinner, offering the best of local, seasonal produce in an appetising spread.
5. Small Luxury Hotel Goldgasse – a creative, unique and art hotel located in one of the best spots to explore around the city
Nestled in the Baroque heart of Salzburg, Hotel Goldgasse is situated down a narrow back alley, and has stitched together 700 years of history, a passion for opera, and contemporary styling.
Keeping things intimate and idiosyncratic, you will be greeted by a twisting stone staircase leading you to the first-floor reception area, where exquisite attention to detail has curated a charming design touch.
The hotel was a coppersmith’s workshop during the 16th century, and memories of this period are evoked through flagstone floors, beams and stucco.
The 16 rooms are each devoted to a different opera staged at Salzburg’s summer festival, and feature hardwood oak floors, snowy white bedding, and are accented by large, wall-covering murals that radiate glamour.
6. Boutique Hotel Auersperg – a charming, quirky-chic and quiet accommodation featuring a spa and wellness center
Teeming with an authentic attitude towards life and positioned delightfully close to popular tourist spots, Boutique Hotel Auersperg is a beloved meeting place for locals and travellers alike.
Family-owned for three generations, this sophisticated city hideaway is located in the heart of Salzburg, and offers a garden in bloom where you can laze on a sun lounger under the branches of hundred-year-old swaying trees.
The hotel’s enthralling roof terrace boasts awe-inspiring views over the rooftops of Salzburg, offering both the sunrise and sunset. The in-house spa provides unique opportunities to relax and let go, and refreshing yoga classes are offered every Wednesday and Friday morning.
7. Hotel Stein – Adults Only – a hip and vibrant design hotel within walking distance of popular local attractions
Occupying the same spot on the banks of Salzach since 1399, a Venetian-inspired revamp has maintained this building’s historical panache and made it one of the coolest hotspots in town.
Its design is a blend of heritage and modernity, with chandeliers and light sculptures commissioned from centuries-old makers, and brightly coloured soft furnishings representing the Venice lagoons.
The rooftop bar, restaurant and terrace area is filled with an aesthetic splendour that brings an air of extravagance to your evening escapades, while the ground-floor café and deli is one of the city’s favoured breakfast spots.
The 56 cocooning guestrooms enhance the ‘home-from-home’ feel through deep beds, boldly coloured walls, and comfy seating areas.
8. Boutiquehotel am Dom – a quirky, historic and stylish accommodation ideal for a couple’s unique romantic getaway
This stylish retreat lies in a narrow alley just off the Residenzplatz, a short walk from the Salzburg Cathedral and many other attractions, making for excellent sightseeing.
Though converted from a centuries-old townhouse, the hotel is imbued with a contemporary style, skilfully combining original features with high-end furnishings to create a striking effect.
The perfect time to visit Boutiquehotel am Dom is during the city’s festival season in July and August, where the surrounding streets are filled with a unique buzz.
This intimate haven offers only 15 rooms, however all are fitted with ultra-modern bathrooms and if you choose one of the courtyard-facing cocoons, you can easily switch off from the vibrant metropolis.
9. Motel One Salzburg-Süd – a cool, hip and Instagrammable accommodation perfect for Millennials and Gen Zs
Backdropped by scintillating views of the Alps, the design-led Motel One brings an air of luxury to the budget-conscious traveller.
As you arrive, you will face a reception area crafted from four layered plates of glass, depicting three of Salzburg’s famous mountains.
In your room you will find Groeger’s photographs perched above the green, textured headboards, as well as comfortable box spring beds.
The bar area is ornamented with a mosaic of decorative wooden mouldings and carvings, exuding a sense of craftsmanship and artistry. Several communal nooks are embellished with fabrics sharing a nod to the Trachten, a traditional Austrian/German attire.
10. Austria Trend Hotel Europa Salzburg – an elegant, classic and modern hotel located in the heart of the city
Seamlessly blending a high level of comfort and service with a one-of-a-kind location, Austria Trend Hotel invites you to a stay full of life and vitality in Salzburg’s highest building.
Whether you choose a Classic, Executive or Superior Executive room, you can embrace high tones, quirky wall art and cosy bedding as you retreat to a spot of requiescence.
Kickstart your adventure-filled day with an Austrian gourmet breakfast, where oven-fresh croissants and fruit juices have been organically prepared. Head to the restaurant to savour culinary delights at lofty heights, with unique views across the city’s enchanting cityscape from the 15th floor.
11. IMLAUER HOTEL PITTER – a newly renovated, charming and pet-friendly hotel steps away from the famous Mirabell Gardens
The charming mix of family flair and noble ambiance makes Imlauer Hotel Pitteran exceptional option for the culture-savvy traveller.
A long tradition of cordial service has set the stage for this vibrant inner-city haven to become one of Salzburg’s most sought after, with the best of the metropolis right on your doorstep.
Here, you can keep up with your workout routines in the state-of-the-art gym, before soaking your skin in the sauna, or relaxing on your private terrace with a view of the surrounding mountains as you watch the sunset.
The 192 guestrooms have been individually styled on the long history of the property, and are characterized by natural materials from the region, giving the hotel its Ecolabel.
12. B&B Villa Verde – a beautiful, bright and modern accommodation in close proximity to an outdoor pool, tennis court and golf course
B&B Villa Verde is the ideal spot for business travellers, cultural enthusiasts, and families alike. Located at the foot of the Rainberg, about a 15-minute walk from the old town, this stunning bed and breakfast offers 11 graceful rooms, and has been permeated with a family atmosphere since 2015.
The property’s vision embraces those special moments of well-being, an essence reflected through a bespoke service and extraordinary attention to detail.
The breakfast buffet awaits you with exclusively selected regional products, providing a charming tone to kickstart your day of urban exploration.
Villa Verde also features a lush, manicured garden and other outdoor seating areas. These spaces are backdropped by the mountains and surrounded by soaring trees and stone pathways, making you truly feel as if you’re in the Sound of Music.
My first true adventure began as a six month voyage around South East Asia as a fresh faced backpacker and ever since I’ve lived a semi nomadic existence, clocking up visits to over 40 countries. I’m a lover of US Road Trips, deserted beaches bathed in warm glow of a sunset, Cuban mojitos, travel destinations far away from the tourist crowds and all things Scandinavian – from cloudberry liquors to Nordic noirs. When not wandering the world and running Global Grasshopper, you’ll find me walking my ex Athens street dog in leafy South West London, strolling around the Brighton Lanes on random day trips, hunting for photogenic landscapes or daydreaming about my favourite places; Havana, Copenhagen, Italy, Borneo, Finland, Greece, Berlin, Laos, California and the surreal and beautiful landscapes of a wintry Iceland.
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