Salzburg's 5 Best Boutique Hotels

Whether you’re a first-timer or seasoned visitor looking for a special stay in Salzburg, these properties were selected by the Austrian Tourist Office for their prestigious ‘Austria Collection’. This is why…

1. Arthotel Blaue Gans

The Arthotel Blaue Gans is the oldest inn in the city of Salzburg, dating back 660 years.

Arthotel Blaue Gans restaurant in Salzburg, Austria. — The arthotel Blaue Gans is the oldest inn in the city of Salzburg.

It boasts a prime location in the heart of the historic centre, which has been declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, and is only a short walk from Mozart’s birthplace.

Today the historic walls of the inn pop with modern design and contemporary art, making it both a timeless classic and a haven for the well-travelled and well-read.

From €164 a night.

Address: Arthotel Blaue Gans, Getreidegasse 41- 43, 5020 Salzburg

2. Hotel Sacher Salzburg

Opened in 1866, this historic hotel offers magnificent views of Salzburg.

The family-owned, five-star hotel combines elegant luxury and tradition and prides itself on impeccable service.

After a major refurbishment, all 113 rooms and suites are now decorated with original paintings, antiques, precious rugs and silk wallpaper to enhance the historically-rich setting.

At the legendary Café Sacher Salzburg, the world famous Original Sacher-Torte is served with traditional coffee specialities, while The Sacher Bar comes with a riverside terrace popular with locals and visitors alike.

From €385 a night.

Address: Hotel Sacher Salzburg, Schwarzstraße 5-7 , 5020, Salzburg

3. Hotel Schloss Mönchstein

Hotel Schloss Mönchstein in Salzburg, Austria. — Hotel Schloss Mönchstein is set on Mönchsberg Mountain in a three-and-a-half-acre castle park.

Located in the heart of Mozart’s home city of Salzburg, this five-star hotel boasts unparalleled views over the city, idyllically set on Mönchsberg Mountain in a three-and-a-half-acre castle park.

Meanwhile inside are just 24 exclusive rooms and suites, each individually designed as either a ‘Viennese studio’ or in a more traditional style with precious antiques.

While there, make time to savour the award-winning cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant, or relax in the outdoor infinity pool and whirlpool.

From €450 a night.

Address: Hotel Schloss Mönchstein, Mönchsberg Park 26, 5020, Salzburg

4. Romantikhotel Gmachl

The Hirnböck-Gmachl family has run this boutique spa and wellness hotel for 23 generations.

Located in a small town three miles outside the city of Salzburg, the hotel is famous for its romantic setting with beautiful gardens set amongst the luxury accommodation.

It is the perfect hideaway for discerning travelers.

From €274 a night.

Address: Romantikhotel Gmachl, Dorfstraße 14, 5161 Elixhausen, Austria

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5. Hotel Goldener Hirsch Salzburg

Hotel Goldener Hirsch has retained all its romantic charm as a former 15th century guest house and added the sophistication and ambience of a modern five-star hotel.

The vaulted ceilings, taxidermy and staff’s traditional Austrian dress create an atmosphere of both comfort and distinction.

A collection of antiques and handmade furniture reflects the hotel’s 600-plus years in Salzburg.

Being in the center of the medieval old town makes it a great location for strolling the historic centre of Slazburg.

From €215 a night.

Address: Hotel Goldener Hirsch Salzburg, Getreidegasse 37, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

For more information on what to do and where to stay in Austria, read our guide here.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Your guide to Salzburg’s best boutique hotels