We visited Salzburg in October which is one of the best times to experience the city without the summer rush. When we started looking for a hotel, Hotel Goldener Hirsch, a Luxury Collection Hotel part of the Marriott family, consistently ranked at the top of every list we found online due to its walkable location, glowing reviews, and its connection to the Marriott family.
From the moment we arrived, the hotel felt warm and timeless in a way only historic European properties manage to pull off. Nothing about it felt flashy yet it was refined and comfortable in all the ways you’d hope a hotel in a timelessly classy city like Salzburg to be.
Goldener Hirsch is a Salzburg institution sitting right on Getreidegasse, a narrow street lined with wrought iron signs, traditional storefronts, and that classic Old Town charm. The hotel dates back hundreds of years, and its interiors preserve that heritage with wooden beams, hand carved décor, and traditional Austrian fabrics.
The overall atmosphere is calm and inviting. It’s a luxury hotel with a sense of place, not a modern tower that could exist anywhere. You feel like you’re staying inside a piece of Salzburg’s history (which, you are).
If your plan is to see as much of Salzburg as possible on foot, this location is unbeatable. We walked everywhere from the hotel, including:
For American travelers especially, the proximity to Sound of Music locations makes the hotel even more appealing. Many iconic spots are a short walk or quick ride away.
You truly feel in the center of everything without needing public transportation or taxis.
During our stay at the Hotel Goldener Hirsch in Salzburg we had a junior suite on the third floor of the main building. Our room blended classic Austrian style with just the right amount of modern comfort. Think wooden beams across the ceilings, traditional textiles, and subtle updates that make the stay feel cozy rather than dated.
The bed was a wonderfully comfortable kind size, the room stayed quiet at night even with the busy foot traffic below, and the bathroom was beautifully renovated with a separate room for the toilet, double vanity, high quality toiletries, bluetooth sound system and mood lighting, and heated floors. Storage was easy and plentiful in the room. The lighting was warm which made the room feel even more cozier and inviting after long days out exploring Salzburg.
Our room also featured a writing desk that doubled as a light up vanity (perfect for doing makeup), an espresso machine, fridge, smart TV, safe, wi-fi, plenty of electrical outlets including bedside USB charging ports, robes and slippers, and thermostat.
The only thing the room didn’t have that I wish it had was a yoga mat. The property does not have any sort of gym (which is normal for historical, boutique properties in Europe) so it would have been nice to at least have an in-room yoga mat for stretching out and getting a little bit of exercising and yoga in during our stay.
Breakfast offered a good mix of Austrian dishes and international classics, convenient for getting an early start without hunting for food outside. The hotel offered a buffet as well as a menu with additional items that were made to order. The dining room was casual and pleasant with good service and a relaxing way to start the morning before heading out into the busy town center.
We also dined at the hotel’s Restaurant Herzl for dinner and everything we tried was delicious! We intentionally tried a variety of things to ensure we tasted a range of the restaurant’s offerings from pasta and steak to salad and soup. Everything was wonderfully made and presented and the service was top notch.
Unfortunately during our stay at The Hotel Goldener Hirsch their main restaurant, Goldener Hirsch, was closed for renovations. By the time this blog post goes live the restaurant will be open again. I’m only mentioning it here because the only reason we didn’t try it was because it was getting a glow up for you. Maybe during our next stay at the hotel (because we’re hoping to return one day!) we’ll get to try it!
However, during our visit to Salzburg we happened to be there during the 60th anniversary of the Sound of Music. The hotel created a special menu featuring schnitzel with noodles and crisp apple strudel in honor of the occasion.
We had the meal delivered to our room and watched The Sound of Music from bed which might be the most fitting way to end a day in Salzburg. This was truly a once in a lifetime bucket list experience to be watching The Sound of Music while in Salzburg and eating crisp apple strudel. Anyone who grew up watching this movie and singing “My Favorite Things” will understand!
It should also be noted that the hotel has a beautiful, full-service bar on the main floor of the hotel (right near the check-in lobby) that serves seasonal cocktails and any drink you can think of in the evenings. During the afternoons the bar area also offers an afternoon tea that should be booked in advance.
This is not a resort-style property, so amenities focus on comfort and quality rather than quantity. You’ll find:
Goldener Hirsch is designed for travelers who want to explore the city rather than stay indoors all day. Everything you need is available, without unnecessary extras. All that being said, the service at the hotel is top notch and if it’s a spa day you’re looking for or a guided tour you need, they can point you in the right direction and help you arrange all of the details.
Valet parking is available at the Hotel Goldener Hirsch for an additional €47 a day. If you would prefer to self park then self parking can be found in one of the city parking garages.
No, the Hotel Goldener Hirsch does not have a gym. However, visitors are allowed to access the gym at the hotel’s sister property, the Sheraton Grand Hotel, which is a 20-25 minute walk away.
No, the Hotel Goldener HIrsch does not have an onsite spa.
Service was consistently kind and helpful. Staff offered suggestions for Sound of Music sites, helped with directions, and made us feel genuinely welcomed. It never felt scripted or forced. It felt human and authentic and the staff was quick to give us their personal favorite spots around town when asked.
Pro tip: Hotel staff will generally guide tourists to the best of the most popular spots, but ask them what their favorite spots are. Where do they go to get their favorite dinner out? What’s their favorite hiking trail or favorite bar? That’s a really great way to find some local gems that are far less popular than the tourist hotspots!
Many hotels in Salzburg offer comfort, but Goldener Hirsch offers charm, history, and location in one package. What sets it apart is its authenticity. Nothing feels manufactured. You stay here because you want to feel the heart of the Old Town, not escape it.
It is the opposite of a modern generic luxury hotel, which is exactly why it works.
While the Hotel Goldener Hirsch is welcoming to any and all (we saw people from all sorts of countries, races, and ages including young kids), it does seem like an especially wonderful fit for a few specific groups.
A few helpful things to keep in mind:
The best way to book Hotel Goldener Hirsch is directly through Marriott's website. Alternatively you can book through websites such as Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia. Sometimes third party sites offer discounted rates, you'll just wanted to be sure you're 100% locked in with your plans before booking through a third party site because changes and cancellations are next to impossible.
No, there are no official Hotel Goldener Hirsch promo codes. However, Marriott does run various promotions and offers throughout the year through their official website.
Yes, dogs are allowed at the Hotel Goldener Hirsch for a nonrefundable deposit of €90 per stay. Keep in mind that the hotel reserves the right to deny the dog access to certain parts of the hotel, although we never found an area where our dog was denied access the entire time we were there.
Yes, the Hotel Goldener Hirsch is handicap accessible. However, keep in mind that not all rooms are created equal due to the historic nature of the building. Be sure to check out the hotel’s specific accessible room options here if your mobility is very limited.
Yes, the Hotel Goldener Hirsch welcomes children of all ages.
Yes, the Hotel Goldener Hirsch remains open all year. Each season in Salzburg offers something unique and a different reason to visit.
The official address for the hotel is: Getreidegasse 37, 5020 Salzburg, Austria | Google Maps
However, if you are driving to the hotel you’ll want to map to this address: Getreidegasse 37, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
The second address will take you to the valet spots where they will help you unload. The official address maps you to a street where vehicles are not permitted.
Check-in is at 3:00 pm and check-out is at 12:00 pm.
Our stay at Hotel Goldener Hirsch made our trip to Salzburg even more memorable. The combination of location, history, comfort, and service created the perfect base for wandering the Old Town, visiting Sound of Music landmarks, and experiencing the city at a slower, quieter pace. We would absolutely stay here again and hope we get to one day soon!
