Castles Near Salzburg: Hohenwerfen, Mauterndorf and More
Castles near Salzburg range from the Hohensalzburg fortress above the city to Hohenwerfen and Mauterndorf in the mountains. Here is how each fits a route.
On this page
Start with Hohensalzburg Fortress on the Festungsberg above the city: it is the one castle near Salzburg you can see without a car, a bus timetable or a day of planning. Everything else in this guide sits in the Salzburg region and the Salzkammergut, from Hohenwerfen in Werfen to Mauterndorf deep in Lungau. Here is what each place is, how you reach it, and how the stops fit a route through Austria.
Hohensalzburg Fortress: the castle on the hill in Salzburg itself
Hohensalzburg is one of the largest and best-preserved fortified complexes in Europe, and construction began in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein during the investiture conflict between Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII. Its present shape owes most to expansions around the 16th century under Archbishop Leonard von Keutschach. Inside, look for the Salzburg Bull, a 16th-century mechanical cylinder organ that has been restored over time.
The reward for the climb is the view: the old town, the Salzach and the mountains beyond. Because the fortress sits directly above the historic center, you can pair it with a walk through the streets below on the same half-day, which makes it the natural first stop before any out-of-town castle.
Hohenwerfen Fortress in Werfen
Hohenwerfen Fortress is the mighty castle complex in Werfen, south of Salzburg, and its signature draw is the bird of prey show that runs alongside a calendar of events. If a flight demonstration is the reason you are going, build the day around show times rather than around the train.
Can you walk up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, or do you need the funicular? The fortress sits on the Festungsberg directly above Salzburg's old town. Check current access options before you decide how much climbing you want before a morning on the terraces and courtyards.
Do you need a car to see castles outside Salzburg? For Mauterndorf in Lungau, a car is the realistic choice given the distance and the limited bus connections. Werfen and Hohenwerfen lie on the rail corridor south of Salzburg.
Are there ruins near Salzburg you can visit without a ticket? The Wartenfels ruins date to 1259, changed hands repeatedly, and were conquered and burnt down during the peasant wars. What remains is a ruin reached on foot.
For travelers coming from the US, UK or Canada, Werfen is the most straightforward out-of-town castle: it lies on the rail corridor south of Salzburg, so an ÖBB train plus a short connection is a realistic option. Confirm train and Postbus times on the official ÖBB and Postbus timetables before you commit to a return leg, since alpine connections thin out in the afternoon.
Mauterndorf Castle in Lungau
Mauterndorf Castle is the third of the Salzburg region's medieval complexes, and it sits far south in Lungau, which changes the trip completely. This is a car day or an overnight, not a quick side trip from Salzburg; the drive is long and the bus connections are limited.
The castle is experienced through guided tours and seasonal programs, so the tour schedule is what decides your arrival time. Treat the drive from Salzburg as the anchor of the day.
Mirabell Palace: a baroque palace with ornamental gardens inside Salzburg
Mirabell Palace is the easiest baroque stop in the city: Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau had it built in 1606 outside the then city walls for his secret lover, Salome Alt. The ornamental gardens are the reason to come.
Treat Mirabell as a city stroll rather than a castle expedition. It works well on the same day as Hohensalzburg, because both sit within Salzburg and need no transport planning. For the wider baroque story behind buildings like this, the guide to Austrian baroque covers the architects and the era in more depth.
Schloss Fuschl on Lake Fuschl in the Salzkammergut
Schloss Fuschl is a listed former hunting lodge from the 15th century at Hof bei Salzburg on Lake Fuschl in the Salzkammergut, and today it houses a five-star hotel. You see the building and its lakeside setting from outside.
Plan it as a viewpoint on a Salzkammergut drive rather than a destination with a ticket desk. If you are heading toward the lakes anyway, the pull-off and the lake views justify the stop; if you are chasing furnished state rooms, spend the time at Hohensalzburg or Hohenwerfen instead.
Wartenfels Ruins: a 13th-century castle ruin in the Salzkammergut
The Wartenfels ruins date back to 1259, changed hands repeatedly, and were conquered and burnt down during the peasant wars. What remains is a ruin reached on foot, which puts it in a different category from every other stop on this list.
Come for the walk and the setting rather than for interiors, exhibitions or guided tours. Because access is on foot, this is the stop to drop first if the weather turns or the day is running late.
How to get to the out-of-town castles
Hohensalzburg and Mirabell need no planning beyond the city; Werfen is reachable by ÖBB train with a local connection, and Mauterndorf in Lungau is realistically a car day. Postbus services cover the valleys, but alpine frequencies drop outside the morning and afternoon peaks, so a missed connection can cost hours.
Take the official ÖBB and Postbus timetables as the authority for every leg and check the return times before you set out. A rental car buys flexibility for Lungau and the Salzkammergut but adds mountain-road driving and parking decisions in Werfen and the lake villages.
Guided tours and set tour times versus walking the grounds on your own
Fixed tour and program times are the biggest factor in planning a castle day. Mauterndorf and Hohenwerfen work through tours and programs, so a scheduled departure governs your arrival. Hohensalzburg, by contrast, rewards time spent on the grounds and terraces at your own pace.
Build the day around the tour slot first and the transport second. If the tour times do not fit your train, swap the castle for one you can walk freely rather than rushing the connection.
What each stop costs in EUR
Ticket prices for Hohensalzburg, Hohenwerfen and Mauterndorf vary by ticket type and are set by the castles themselves, so check the current EUR prices before you buy. Mirabell's gardens and the Schloss Fuschl exterior are free to see.
Budget for transport on top of admission: ÖBB and Postbus fares are published in the official timetables, and a rental car adds fuel and parking.
A practical order for a day or two
Do Hohensalzburg first, on foot from the city, and add Mirabell on the same day. On day two, take the train to Werfen for Hohenwerfen if the bird of prey show is the draw. Only add Mauterndorf in Lungau if you have a car and a spare day, and fold Schloss Fuschl and the Wartenfels ruins into a Salzkammergut drive rather than a dedicated trip.
That order puts the city sights first and the out-of-town tours on a second day. If you are building a longer castle route through Austria, the guide to Austrian Castles and palaces sets out the wider picture, including Festung Kufstein, while Castles Near Vienna covers the eastern counterparts such as Kreuzenstein Castle. Travelers heading west instead can compare Castles Near Innsbruck.
Which castle near Salzburg should you book first?
Book Hohensalzburg first: it needs no car, no timetable and no tour slot, and it delivers the fortress, the organ and the city view in one morning. Add Hohenwerfen only if the bird of prey show and the Werfen rail connection fit your day, and save Mauterndorf for a Lungau trip with a car.
Treat Mirabell, Schloss Fuschl and the Wartenfels ruins as scenery on the way rather than ticketed castles, and let the published tour times decide the rest.
Explore more Austria guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you walk up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, or do you need the funicular?
The fortress sits on the Festungsberg directly above Salzburg's old town. Check current access options before you decide how much climbing you want before a morning on the terraces and courtyards.
Do you need a car to see castles outside Salzburg?
For Mauterndorf in Lungau, a car is the realistic choice given the distance and the limited bus connections. Werfen and Hohenwerfen lie on the rail corridor south of Salzburg.
Are there ruins near Salzburg you can visit without a ticket?
The Wartenfels ruins date to 1259, changed hands repeatedly, and were conquered and burnt down during the peasant wars. What remains is a ruin reached on foot. Schloss Fuschl, a former 15th-century hunting lodge, now houses a hotel and is seen from outside.
Sources
Notes for your next Austrian town break
Optional updates when we add or revise town guides.
You might also like
Continue reading
More guides you'll find useful
