Surrounded by the picturesque Alps, Salzburg is perhaps best known for its historic Altstadt (Old Town), which draws thousands of visitors annually. It is here where you will find the highest concentration of the city's hotels, many of which are housed in charming heritage buildings. Accommodation in Salzburg comes at a price, but what you pay for will rarely disappoint.

A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, Salzburg's Altstadt (Old Town) teems with cultural monuments and consequently with visitors in peak seasons. Staying amid the district's charming Baroque buildings requires planning ahead as the choicest hotels get booked up quickly in the summer months.

Bordering the Altstadt is the Salzach River, along which you will find a number of modern hotel choices with river views. One of the top sights in the Altstadt is Salzburg Cathedral, which is flanked by two bustling squares: the Residenzplatz and the Kapitelplatz.

In walking distance of these attractions you will find the city's top four- and five-star hotels such as the luxurious Altstadt Radisson SAS, the welcoming Crowne Plaza Pitter Salzburg and the upscale Sheraton Salzburg as well as a number of comfortable mid-range options with more affordable room rates.

The western part of the Old Town houses Mozart's birth house and the upmarket Getreidegasse, Salzburg's exclusive shopping strip. In among the old houses here are smaller, locally managed hotels. Surrounding the charming Mirabell Palace on the north bank of the river are several parks and gardens, making this a quieter place to stay.

Close to Hauptbahnhof Itzling, the city's main railway station, are a number of business orientated hotels such as the Renaissance Salzburg Hotel Congress Centre. This is a convenient district for business travellers due to its proximity to the railway station, which services regular connections to Vienna and German cities.

The Taxham district hosts the city's largest shopping mall, Europark, a leisure centre and a stadium as well as a handful of hotels. To the south, Aigen is an affluent area with pricey real estate yet it hosts a small selection of affordable guest houses. The city's airport lies to the west of the city centre; visitors wanting to stay close by have a choice of a limited number of off-site hotels within minutes of the air hub.