Mozart's Birthplace & Residence★★
Salzburg is Mozart's city — and it doesn't let you forget it. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born here in 1756, is omnipresent: his face on chocolate balls, his name on squares, streets, and hotels. Behind the commerce, however, are two authentic museums that show the person behind the genius.
★★★ Mozart's Birthplace
In this yellow bourgeois house at Getreidegasse 9, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756. The family lived here until 1773 in cramped quarters on the 3rd floor. Today, the museum displays original instruments — including Mozart's childhood violin and his clavichord —, letters, portraits, and everyday documents. You learn how father Leopold toured his son as a child prodigy through Europe and how the family lived between genius and financial worries.
The birthplace is Salzburg's most visited museum — the rooms are accordingly small and often crowded. Come at opening at 9 AM or after 4 PM.
Getreidegasse 9. 14 € (combined ticket with residence 20 €). Daily 9 AM–5:30 PM (July–Aug until 8 PM).
★★ Mozart's Residence (Dance Master's House)
In 1773, the Mozart family moved to the more spacious Dance Master's House at Makartplatz on the right bank of the Salzach. Here, the young Mozart composed many of his early masterpieces. The museum is more modern and less crowded than the birthplace, with multimedia stations, original sheet music, and an impressive collection of Mozart portraits. Chamber concerts are regularly held in the Dance Master's Hall — Mozart in Mozart's living room.
Makartplatz 8. 14 € (combined ticket with birthplace 20 €). Daily 9 AM–5:30 PM.
Mozart beyond the Balls
For those who want to experience Mozart beyond the commerce:
Mozarteum — The International Mozarteum Foundation (Schwarzstraße 26) houses Mozart's original piano and hosts concerts year-round. In the garden stands the "Magic Flute House," where Mozart supposedly composed parts of the opera.
Sebastian Cemetery — Here lies Mozart's father Leopold buried (Linzer Gasse 41). A quiet, beautiful cemetery in Italian style with the mausoleum of Archbishop Wolf Dietrich.
Mozart Week (end of January) — The most prestigious Mozart festival in the world, founded in 1956. The Vienna Philharmonic and international soloists perform Mozart's works at historic venues. Tickets from 35 €, top concerts 120–250 €.
💡 Tipp
Save the 4 € difference and buy the combined ticket (20 €) for both Mozart museums. The residence is often the better experience — more modernly curated, less crowded, and with the Dance Master's Hall, a place where you can hear Mozart's music in his own space.
