Salzburg has many great museums thanks to its history and Mozart.
Table of Contents
Best museums in Salzburg
Mozart’s Birthplace (Mozarts Geburtshaus)
The famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756 at Getreidegasse 9. He lived here until 1773.
In the early 20th century, the Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation bought the house to turn it into a museum. It opened to visitors in 1941.
The museum’s collection includes personal items of Mozart’s family, such as instruments, manuscripts, and letters. The exhibitions showcase Mozart’s childhood piano and violin, as well as his first compositions written as a child. The museum also hosts various temporary exhibitions.
Mozart’s Residence (Mozart-Wohnhaus)
The residential building on the other side of the Salzach River also functions as a museum. Mozart lived here from 1773 to 1787, and it was one of the most modern and prestigious buildings in the city at the time.
The three-story building contains several rooms furnished with the Mozart family’s original furniture and personal items. Inside, you can find Mozart’s piano, other instruments, manuscripts, scores, and objects that provide insight into the family’s daily life.
There is a combined ticket that allows entry to both the birthplace and this residence. All information here!
The House of Nature (Haus der Natur)
The museum showcases the world of natural sciences and technology, highly recommended for children.
The museum was created by Eduard Paul Tratz, an enthusiastic naturalist, and Eduard Richter, a geologist. Initially, the museum’s aim was to present local natural treasures, but they gradually expanded the collection and exhibition areas to include global natural science and technology topics. Today, it functions as a modern, interactive museum.
Visitors can learn about local and global wildlife, geological processes, the functioning of the human body, as well as the basics of physics and astronomy. A prominent part is the aquarium and terrarium showcasing live animals, where various aquatic and terrestrial creatures can be observed. In addition, the museum has a space research section that presents the mysteries of space and astronomy.
All information here!
Toy Museum (Spielzeug Museum)
This special museum showcases the evolution and role of toys in different eras.
The museum was established in 1978 by Friedrich Bartenstein, who passionately collected toys of historical and cultural significance. Since then, the museum has continuously expanded and now maintains one of the largest collections of its kind in Europe.
The museum’s collection is extremely diverse, containing more than 5,000 toys from the Middle Ages to modern times. These include traditional wooden toys, dolls, trains, cars, board games, and many other types of toys. Special attention is given to mechanical toys and vintage toy cars.
All information here!
Salzburg Museum of Modern Art (Museum der Moderne Salzburg)
The museum focuses on 20th and 21st-century fine arts.
It is located at two sites: one opened in Mönchsberg in 2004, the other has been operating in the Rupertinum building since the 1980s. The Mönchsberg building is very impressive: built on top of a rock, made of marble and glass.
Its collection covers the areas of painting, sculpture, graphics, photography, and video art. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum organizes numerous temporary exhibitions showcasing the latest trends and movements in modern and contemporary art.
The museum places particular emphasis on experimental and innovative art forms, as well as works dealing with social and political issues.
All information here!
Museum St. Peter Salzburg
The museum is located in the famous St. Peter Monastery, founded in the 7th century, and is one of the most important religious and cultural centers of the city.
Its interior should also be highlighted. We can see decorated ceilings, frescoes, and rich carvings.
Its collection encompasses religious art and material memories of monastic life. The exhibited objects include relics associated with saints, medieval manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, liturgical instruments, and ecclesiastical vestments. Among the museum’s special pieces are early medieval scriptures and gilded liturgical objects.
All information here!
Christmas Museum (Salzburger Weihnachtsmuseum)
The creation of the museum is the result of the work of a passionate collector, Ursula Kloiber, who collected Christmas-related objects and decorative elements for decades.
Her collection is impressive, consisting of thousands of pieces, ranging from the mid-19th century to the present day. The exhibited objects include traditional Christmas decorations, handmade nativity scenes, angel figures, old Christmas cards, and many other Christmas memorabilia.
The museum pays special attention to old Austrian and German Christmas traditions, showcasing the characteristic Christmas customs and decoration techniques of different regions.
All information here!
Marionette Museum
Located in the Hohensalzburg Fortress, it offers insight into the special world of puppetry.
Visitors can learn about the history and techniques of marionette art and try manipulating marionette puppets themselves. One of the most interesting parts of the museum is the miniature theater, where we can see behind the scenes of marionette performances.
The exhibition displays both old and modern marionettes, including famous figures known from Mozart’s operas and other classical works. The exhibited pieces also showcase the history of the Salzburg Marionette Theater, which is world-renowned for its performances.
All information here!
Best museums in the world
There are many great museums in the world. Here are some of the best!