Why stay in Salzburg?
If you mention Salzburg to most people, they might immediately think of "The Sound of Music" - but, thankfully, there is much more to this charming Austrian town than that. Besides, most of the locals probably haven't even seen the movie anyway.
Salzburg's old center is easily walkable, and full of shops and cafes. You'll find Mozart's birth house in the busy center of town, and a museum dedicated to the famous composer is inside. Even if you don't go in, you can buy Mozart memorabilia from any tourist shop in town, including the popular candy, Mozartkugeln. The Getreidegasse is a tourist-filled street lined with expensive shops; the highlight just might be the old-style sign for the McDonald's. You can climb to the top of the Hohensalzburg Fortress for commanding views of the city below, and visit Salzburg's many fine churches and interesting cemeteries as well. If you're hooked on the Julie Andrews movie, you can take a theme tour dedicated to "The Sound of Music". In addition to being a nice stop on any tour of Austria, Salzburg is ideally placed to be a lovely day-trip from a visit to Munich, so it hosts plenty of day-trippers as well as those who spend the night.
Salzburg has plenty of hostels, but if you're planning to visit during the city's famous Salzburg Festival (July and August), be warned that lodging of any price is hard to find - book well in advance to avoid breaking the bank. And keep in mind that "hostels" are no longer only for young backpackers (even if it has "backpackers" in the name!) - they're perfect for any budget-conscious traveler who's interested in the social aspect of travel as well. A few notable Salzburg hostels are highlighted here.
Haus Christine is a few minutes from the central train station and the garden boasts a nice view of the city center. Yoho International Youth Hostel Salzburg plays "The Sound of Music" every day at 10:30am, so if you haven't seen it in awhile, you're in luck.
Adlerhof is a 15 minute walk from the town center and a three minute walk from the train station. Haus Lindner is just at the city's edge in a country house, with a view of both Salzburg's center and the Alps.
Don't worry if none of these hostels sounds like it's perfect. There are other Salzburg hostels listed here which you can choose from. Keep reading the descriptions until you find the right one.
What else do you need for your trip? Whatever it is, you'll find it here! You can look for international airfare to Austria (you might also consider flying into Munich, since it's much closer) and book it today. You can also read more about what to do and see in the city in our Salzburg Travel Guide.
Check out more hostels in Salzburg on EuropeanHostels.