Two days in Salzburg. Nature/Hiking tips?

1. I would go to the Augusteiner Brau beer hall

2. We stayed in an inexpensive JUMA hotel.

Don't have much on the others. The Augusteiner beer hall was fun, inexpensive, and very local. Many Stammtischer Tafeln were there - permanently reserved tables for local groups. Most there were locals. Vielen Manner sprach nur Deutsch.

Two days really is not much time at all to explore beyond your destination cities, so extensive scenic hikes are likely off the table. The good news is Salzburg is beautiful with absolutely gorgeous scenery around you. Salzburg is small, just stay near the town center (not tons of difference from the New/Old town). Based on your interests, I would recommend renting bikes and biking out to Schloss Leopoldskron (Sound of Music mansion). Bike rentals along the river in the town center. It’s a easy, flat ride through some lovely countryside. Even if you don’t care about Sound of Music, the grounds are elegant and make a nice place for a picnic under the mountains. A hike around the hill next to Salzburg castle is also nice.

For a beer/ meal with a view, there is no question: Augustiner Brauhaus! It’s just about my favorite place in the world. There’s also a bar up in Salzburg castle that looks out away from town that has amazing views of the mountains and countryside! Well worth stopping there for a tall Steigl. (Oh, skip the Stiegl brewery btw.)

Can’t speak to Garmisch/Dolomites, but I will tell you that the regular train route from Munich to Salzburg was plenty scenic. You’ll have mountains all around for the majority of the trip. I don’t think you need to do anything special for a view, just reserve window seats!

1. Augustiner Braeu
2. Stay in the center
3. No
4. There is only one route. It is pretty flat until you reach Salzburg.
5. Smaller town
6. No idea

Since you want nature, why are you staying in two cities? As great as Salzburg is, its a large city, not a tucked-in-the-mountains ski resort like Garmisch. I'd stay in Berchtesgaden instead of Salzburg. Close enough to visit if you want, but if you want nature. . . .

I like Salzburg a lot, but you would have to get out of the city for what you're describing. Between Garmisch and Berchtesgaden, I think I'd choose Garmisch. IMO.

1. Augustiner is the most popular tourist destination. Meh. I suggest that, if the weather's nice and they put out the tables in the square, you sit and have a beer at Café Tomaselli. It's a great place to people watch. If you'd prefer scenery then the place you want is the Panorama Restaurant up on the castle walls of the fortress.

2. I always stay at the Boutique Hotel am Dom. Excellent place and staff, and the location cannot be beat. Very clean and modern.

3. No. Just take the train from Munich to Salzburg. The scenery is nice, mostly rolling hills, and it's a fast, smooth, ride.

4. There's only one route.

5. Salzburg is a city built in a broad, flat, valley with a river cutting through the town and the ridge that the original fortifications were built on. Garmish-Partenkirchen is built at the bottom of a mountain in a narrow valley with minimal room for expansion. Totally different. You can walk to the top of the hill in Salzburg in less than an hour, climbing the Zugspitz is a very long day for someone in very good shape.

6. I used to ski Tyrol. May is a little late for that, and it's a little early to be hiking the dolomites. Go to G-P.

Some added notes...In G-P - Take the tram up the Zugspitz from Garmish; you'll enjoy that. (If you like trains you may also want to take the incline rail up to the fortress in Salzburg.) Go up to the St Anton Monastery in G-P. The casino (downtown) has a dress code, you'll need a jacket and tie. I recommend visiting the public swimming pool/ ice skating rink which is left over from the Olympics; they have most of the normal spa facilities. Garmisch is very photogenic at night, especially around the main church.

In Salzburg - Go to the Kapuzinerberg Park (across the river from the fortress) and hike the old fortification walls. Have your camera ready and go to the Residenzplatz around sunset. They light up the seahorse fountain and it's a great photo op. The Botanical Gardens in Salzburg are worth visiting. There's usually an open air market during the day in the square by the University. If you look around behind the University and east along the river you can find some fairly cheap eats in places catering to students.

I answered on your nearly duplicate question over in the German Forum.

It must have slipped through just before the no duplicates enhancement came in to the Forums